No submissions were received on the ‘Community/Council Plan’ or the Strategic Resource Plan. Here’s what the councillors said.
LIPSHUTZ: noted that no submissions were received on the Council Plan and Strategic Resource plan so the ‘motion’ stands.
DELAHUNTY: Began by saying that in Glen Eira the terms Council Plan and Community Plan were interchangeable and that she ‘disagrees with this practice’. Said that the ‘community plan is the community plan’ and the council plan is a ‘separate document to that’. The council plan ‘outlines’ what council ‘intends to do’ but it’s based on community ideas of ‘what we should be doing’. Went on to say that if they had done it like other councils then maybe there would have been some submissions. Thought that ‘it is confusing’ the way it is presented ‘at the moment’ and ‘not in step with any other council’ and that ‘we are underselling ourselves’ if council doesn’t believe it can ‘strategically plan out our term in office’. Supported the motion because it is ‘true’ that there were no submissions but she doesn’t support the process that lead to the motion.
HYAMS: Said that he liked calling what was going to be done for the community the ‘community plan’ rather than ‘council plan’. Said that what council does is ‘put them both together and incorporate’ what the community wants into the council plan. Didn’t think that ‘having this delineation’ stopped people from putting in submissions and that people weren’t that ‘pedantic’. Whilst ‘disappointing’ that no submissions were forwarded that this could be seen as ‘a vote of confidence from the public’ and that ‘people tend to be more involved in things they’re not happy with’. Said that council would ‘continue to consult with the community’ and that they would ‘take on board anything they tell us’.
MOTION PUT AND CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Glen Eira Debates 
June 16, 2013 at 12:27 PM
Hyams can rave on as much as he likes. The truth is that the “community” is irrelevant to this council and its ruling elite. The lack of submissions is partly apathy but mostly the acceptance that the community does not matter in Glen Eira. It has been this way for far too long. People also need to ask why on earth anyone would bother putting in the time and effort on a community plan that is identical to the garbage that came out last year. This was supposed to be reviewed yet not a word has been changed. If they didn’t listen last year why should they listen and do something this year.
Delahunty’s approach is correct. But it takes more than just getting up and sprouting the proper sentiments. If the chamber floor is meant to be the place for debate, then let’s have debate. How about some councillors asking proper questions about the way consultation is conducted in Glen Eira and why the views of people are continually ignored.
June 16, 2013 at 2:40 PM
Here in lies the spin. The LG act calls for a Council Plan.
Newton has always called it a Community Plan. This is the spin. Obviously he has the mayor on side as well. One hand washes the other and together the wash the face. Spin,spin, spin.
June 16, 2013 at 4:56 PM
Don’t they realise that instead of a satisfied or content community, we’ve been beaten into submission over time. Community consultation is non existent and community feedback is ignored. Why bother? They’re reliant on apathy….sadly and that’s what they’ve got.
Why should I spend hours making a submission for it to be ignored by the arrogance of the Hyams and the CEO?
All credit to Delahunty who appears to have far more knowledge and integrity than some of her colleagues. Why does GE always have to distinguish themselves in such negative ways?
June 16, 2013 at 5:54 PM
If you’ve got Lipshutz as chair of the consultation committee this is the bullshit that happens. I’ve heard rumours that those who sat on this committee were far from impressed with the goings on and the inaccuracy of the final minutes that were published.Maybe that’s why these 3 residents got the boot. They tried to do their job but were stymied all the way by the officers and Hyams and Lipshutz.
Other councils get scores of submissions because they bother to do it properly. Not here and not ever. They’re a disgrace.
June 16, 2013 at 6:56 PM
What would Hyams know about ‘community consultation’ (MODERATORS: rest of sentence, plus next two sentences deleted)
Parents of McKinnon Basket Ball and AJAX’s have had enough of him always claiming he is always right.
Last term all three – Hyams, Esakoff and Lipshultz were on the community consultation committee to maintain hold on no-transparency and the three community representatives were fed up with changing of the minutes etc. Apparently, Hyams does not want the previous community reps for this year?
Any guesses?
June 17, 2013 at 6:54 PM
Hyam’s response to Delahunty is ridiculous ‘that what council does is ‘put them both together and incorporate’ What is it,a cocktail? Community Plan contains the need of the community and Council Plan prioritising the needs in the budget.
Hyams is often found attacking his councillor colleagues who have opinions and suggestions. . It would make a world of good if he accepts knowledge and experience that other councillors bring to the Council.
Since becoming a Mayor (by a toss of the coin) he has been nothing but arrogant and undermining the chair’s fairness which is one of the important duties.