Below is the amended version of the post from Cr. Pilling’s blog on the ‘discussions’ re the GESAC basketball allocations. The original post has been altered (without identifying the changes) and we now have this new version of history and thinking:
“I will post details of the motion passed and comments re item 12.8 GESAC Multi-Use Courts that involves the allocation of basketball as soon as publically available which normally takes several days.
Council considered the issue over the the past two nights after reaching the 11pm time limit at the Tuesday night meeting.
The main problem in my view has been the design and oblectives of the original process. I feel the emphasis was too much on fees and ‘future marketing plans’.
I have no critisism of the way officers administered the expression of interest process but question the criteria and objectives that have led everyone to the present situation.
Like the increased childcare fee issue I feel Council has taken a too narrow economic rationalist approach at the expense of genuine community need. This really goes to the heart of the matter. There is certainly a need to review the whole process for future basketball allocations at GESAC in the new year.
please note- the posting date can be a day behind”.
COMMENT
- Is this a mea culpa to placate Newton and Burke? – ie. no criticism of officers?
- Questioning ‘criteria and objectives’ is surely questioning the planning/strategic direction of the whole project and who set these criteria and objectives? If officers then the blame must be laid at their feet. If councillors, then they are all implicated in the failure to meet community needs. More relevant, is the issue of councillor involvement in the creation of these ‘criteria and objectives’. Did councillors know what was happening? If they didn’t were they derelict in their duty?
- Is it ‘intellectually dishonest’ for Pilling to amend his original blog posting without indicating that this is now a new, updated version?
- And what does the last sentence really mean – that there still is no decision and that this will linger on until ‘sometime in the new year’?
Glen Eira Debates 
December 16, 2011 at 11:13 AM
Agree with your comments moderator – Council (administration and councillors) have, once again, failed to do their job. No fancy, sidestepping wording will change or hide that.
Perhaps Pilling would like to expand his last sentence to – there is certainly a need to review a boat load of things in Glen Eira
December 16, 2011 at 11:16 AM
What this shows is the need for Committees to work with Administration. It’s time the silly committee’s dissappear and the Councillors involve themselves in the real stuff. Set up Ministries.
December 16, 2011 at 11:57 AM
Ministries have been tried in the past. You can have whatever system you like, but in the end it all comes down to who weilds the power and how much councillors are prepared to take a stand and do what they’re supposed to do.
December 16, 2011 at 2:42 PM
Cr Pilling’s new version of events is really disheartening – moreso, for the hundreds of basketball kids who are waiting with baited breath to know where they will be playing in the next few months. If no decision has been arrived at as yet, then councillors deserve all the criticism that comes their way. I wouldn’t mind a dollar for every hour that this has consumed plus even 50 cents for what lawyers and others are getting paid.
Reviews are pretty pointless at this stage. Everyone should know what went wrong. Burke just made the wrong decision off his own bat without consultation and possibly even informing councillors what was going on. Councillors response to all this has been equally pathetic in the time it’s taken and the money that’s been wasted. If they’d been on the ball right from the start, then none of this would have happened.
December 16, 2011 at 4:54 PM
….and in the meantime McKinnon Basketball continues to grow…..bursting at the seams so 3 extra courts will satisfy the growth of basketball in Glen Eira tremendously while still keeping our other local stadiums full.
Please Councillors be more aware of future EOI’s. Officers of the Council please ensure your employers are fully briefed and this will not happen again. Bring on a decision!