“As can be seen, reports are regularly requested. They are submitted promptly – usually  to the immediately following Council Meeting”. (6th  June 2011). Thus wrote Andrew Newton on why Notices of Motion are not required  in Glen Eira.

The  Local Government Act, mandates that it is the duty of a CEO to provide council with ‘timely’ advice. Further, he/she is bound to carry out council resolutions expeditiously. This does not appear to have been happening in Glen Eira. We have had discussions with the Victorian Local Governance Association who have informed us that Requests for Reports that become council Resolutions must be tabled at ordinary council meetings. We have also taken the trouble of going  through the minutes of the past 5 years in order to determine:

  • Why successfully passed resolutions for ‘requests for reports’ have NOT been tabled at Council meetings as required, and
  • How long has it taken for those reports which were tabled to be produced?

Our results on the first question are listed below. We have included the dates that the resolution was passed at council. We ask readers to make up their own minds as to how well this administration has acted in accordance with the requirements of the Local Government Act. We also ask why no councillors appear to have demanded that these outstanding reports be tabled, nor have they requested any explanation for their non-appearance.

Requests for Reports which WERE NEVER TABLED

Crs Staikos/Robilliard

That a report be prepared  documenting a recent incident at the Duncan Mackinnon Reserve Pavillion in which  it is alleged that a group of people entered the pavillion while unauthorised.  That this report document all correspondence related to this issue to date. (16th  October, 2006)

Crs Tang/Feldman

That a report be prepared detailing expenditure and programs directed to the Glen Huntly commercial area over the last five years. The report should also include a comparison to the total expenditure directed to Glen Eira shopping precincts in each of those years. (4TH September, 2007)

Crs Lipshutz/Whiteside

That a report be prepared as to the Council depot in Caulfield Park being removed from Caulfield Park to another location in or out of the City (16th October, 2007)

Crs Staikos/Robilliard

That a report be prepared on the operation of Village Committees in the City of Kingston. (27th  November, 2007)

Crs Staikos/Robilliard

That a report be prepared on the feasibility of introducing a ban on the sale of ‘silly string’ in conjunction with a ban on spray cans. (18th December, 2007)

Crs Spaulding/Staikos

That a report be prepared into missing sports in Glen Eira, sports clubs that are wholly or in part required to relocate because of a lack of Council facilities within our municipality and within this report the administration to investigate the development of sporting facilities also in partnership with commercial entities and in particular but not limited to Moorleigh Reserve. (5th February, 2008)

Crs Staikos/Robilliard

That a report be prepared investigating ways of expanding Council’s Australia Day celebrations. (5th  February, 2008)

Crs Staikos/Spaulding

That a report be prepared about possible improvements to Mackie Road Reserve including, but not limited to: walking path; birdie cage; playground and barbeque area improvements; and the disused land on Orange Street. (29th April, 2008)

Cr Whiteside/Spaulding

That a report be prepared on the status of the draft heritage guidelines such report to include recommendations for best practices to strengthen these guidelines so as to maintain consistency in our heritage areas. (29th April, 2008)

Crs Staikos/Spaulding

That a report be prepared on the provision of bus stop infrastructure in the City of Glen Eira (20th  May, 2008)

Crs Staikos/Magee

That a report be prepared on the granting of Tucker Ward funds to Bentleigh Recreation Tennis Club for the purchase and installation of a water tank. (15th December, 2008)

Crs Magee/Tang

That a report be prepared on the Foundation for Youth Excellence in regard to the eligibility criteria and guidelines. (17th March, 2009)

Crs Magee/Hyams

That a report be prepared on the feasibility of relocating the two tennis courts on Mackie Reserve in East Bentleigh to 31 Orange Street in East Bentleigh. (1st  September, 2009)

Crs  Penhalluriack/Esakoff

That a report be prepared into the tree clearance requirements under the Electricity Safety (Electric Line Clearance) Regulations 2010; documenting the typical effect on trees in Glen Eira if the regulations are enforced; documenting the estimated cost of  implementing the tree clearance requirements; documenting the number of trees likely to be removed as a result of the requirements; and providing guidance as to whether Council could seek an exemption from applying the regulations. (3rd
November, 2010)

Cr  Tang/Esakoff

(i)  That Council prepare a report detailing the costs and feasibility of reinstalling the free mulch service previously provided at the former Council depot, then Caulfield Park and then most recently at Glen Huntly Reserve Car Park at another site in Glen Eira. (ii) The report should consider the adoption of all recommendations the Environmental Health Assessment completed in February 2011. (17th May, 2011)