Budget papers are supposed to be an accurate representation of a council’s financial status, its assets, and forward planning. Budgets are also submitted to Ministers, the public, and Auditor Generals. We imagine that they would go through countless hands before they are made public; that they would be checked and double checked for accuracy and consistency. How the following then occurs is simply incomprehensible. This is only one example of what we consider to be totally unprofessional and sloppy performance.
We have followed through on 3 separate budgets at basically two year intervals – 2007, 2009 and the current 2012 budget. The focus is on the stated number of DRAINAGE PITS.
In 2007 it is stated that Council has 16,000 drainage pits (Minutes of May 15th 2007, page 5 of the budget)
In 2009 we’re told that Council has 17,000 drainage pits (Minutes of May 12th, 2009 – page 17 of the budget)
Perhaps there has been a magical increase of 1,000 in 2 years. However, the piece de resistance comes in this year’s budget.
On Page 32 of the Community Plan Glen Eira suddenly possesses 22,000 drainage pits! Amazing! Then on page 32 of the budget we suddenly are back to 16,000 drainage pits!!!!!!!! Which is it? Does this administration even know? Or are figures simply plucked from the air and any number will do? Who checked these papers? Who is responsible for the inconsistencies and spin?
PS: Some more very questionable figures –
2007 – 5,953 registered business providing 32,750 jobs
2009 –13,521 registered businesses providing 29,000 jobs
2012 –13,521 registered businesses providing 29,000 jobs
2007 – 57,7007 rateable properties
2009 – 58,609 rateable properties
Glen Eira Debates 
May 24, 2012 at 11:41 PM
Sloppy is spot on. Makes you think what else is wrong. Newton should hire another 10 people just to proof read. There’s staff coming out of our ears and they still can’t get things right.
May 25, 2012 at 11:31 AM
Drainage pits in themselves aren’t earth shattering news. In the context of the recent floods and the prospect of potentially more flooding today they do become important. How many there are and how often they’re cleaned and how much material is removed from them is a measurement of how well maintenance is being carried out. An extra 6000 pits which is the difference between the two cited numbers would mean an extra year of work on the current rate.
I’m also having difficulty in understanding how just under 6000 businesses provide 33000 jobs and then the double number of businesses can only offer 29000 jobs. Maybe I’m old school and pedantic but I do expect that when council publishes something that it is 100% reliable. Ironically one of the objectives in the action plan is for the publication of “accurate” information. Clearly the maxim is not practised.