We strongly recommend that every single Glen Eira resident should at least once in their lives attend a council meeting in order to view the continual circus, and general incompetence of our elected representatives. Tonight was no exception. Below is a very brief summary of what occurred. Full reports will follow in the coming days.
MORTON AVE APPLICATION
1. Pilling and Magee moved to accept the recommendations for a 6 storey development with the usual arguments of ‘appropriate’ for this zone; ‘reasonable’ high density; ‘right building for right place’, etc. etc.
2. Arguments against were waiving of loading bay, reduction in visitor parking.
MOTION PUT AND LOST.
3, Esakoff then moved another motion that this be 5 storeys and 33 dwellings plus 4 visitor car parking spots. Seconded by Okotel. Main arguments were problems with traffic, parking, and that 5 storeys was okay plus a waiver of 3 parking spots ‘was fair’.
MOTION PUT AND LOST
Great confusion at this point since: – (a) no decision on application and, (b) no amendment had been put. Everyone scurried around like lost sheep ‘consulting’. Pilling then came up with a third motion – back to 6 storeys and 3 visitor car parking spots! This time motion got up unanimously!
MAV CONFERENCE
Esakoff reported on the MAV conference she attended and the raft of resolutions passed at the conference. All well and good. Trouble is that not once did she say anything about the voting pattern of Glen Eira City Council!!!! We remind readers that none of the motions were presented at an ordinary council meeting and no formal resolution has ever been taken on how to vote on any of the motions. Worse still, is that residents are kept in the dark. It is secrecy, lack of transparency and abysmal governance all over again!
Plenty of calls for Lobo to withdraw some of his comments which he eventually did but not before he named Lipshutz as the councillor who told him that officers could not understand him. Okotel was having hearing problems and attempted to use ‘right of reply’ to counter some comments from other councillors (Lobo, and she assumed an error by Delahunty) – so, on and on, with utter nonsense – especially the interminable, and in our view either trivial, or irrelevant, Requests for Reports. Perhaps we should consider retitling this post since circuses are entertaining. Tonight’s effort was definitely not ‘entertaining’ but an indictment of councillors, their priorities, and their total lack of knowledge when many have been councillors for yonks!
Finally, responses to public questions were either evasive, non-informative, or entirely irrelevant to the questions. Well done Mr Burke!
Glen Eira Debates 
November 7, 2013 at 1:30 AM
It is downright alarming that these persons filling counciolors positions are spending millions of rate payer funds willy nilly. From all reports and the account of the post cup meeting they would keep re-drawing the chook raffle until the result required was obtained or to speak in racing terms they would re-run the race for a different result and then after the decision declared Cr Okatel would say she had a question..
THERE IS AN URGEN NEED FOR THOSE SITTING THERE TO ENSURE PROPER RULES OF DEBATE ARE ADHERED TO. FANCY THE MAN IN CHARGE SAYING HE DIDN’T KNOW WHJAT HE SHOULD DO NEXT IN HIS OWN SELF CREATED CRISIS AFTER CRISIS IN THE DISCUSSION.
November 7, 2013 at 7:10 AM
Letting you know – Leader Online – article on Franks court case – not good for Council – http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/central/glen-eira-council-cops-costs-in-adjourned-case-against-former-councillor/story-fngnvlpt-1226754412798
November 7, 2013 at 7:18 AM
Re Lipshutz and Lobo – another article in the latest Leader, much the same as the previous weeks with a little more emphasis on Lipshutz claiming “ïnnocuous”. Ain’t gonna work – there is no context in which Lipshutz question could be considered that either then or now.
This stoush is going to continue.
November 7, 2013 at 3:27 PM
You always seem to pop up when the gang needs defending – something is not kosher here.
November 7, 2013 at 10:02 AM
Item 9.1. Lobo voted against but when the alternate was put up Lobo again voted against. He was not listening. The only joke on Council is Lobo.
As for his stoush with Lipshutz, (MODERATORS: rest of comment deleted due to unsubstantiated allegations. If this commentator would care to provide us with ‘evidence’, we will consider publishing the full statement).
November 7, 2013 at 12:26 PM
Re the Morton Avenue discussion, I’m not surprised that Councillors were flummoxed. These Councillors have probably never looked at the plans, have not read (or understood) either the previous Planning Scheme (Min Change & Housing Diversity) or the new Planning Scheme (zones) and are unable to recall, or link together, anything said in a previous meeting to the current meeting.
Morton Avenue was previously and is now currently in a Commercial Zone – no height limits apply because Council has consistently refused to do a structure plan or apply for height controls either under the current or previous system. Combine this with the absence overlays (eg. Heritage, Neighbourhood Character, Design and Development), a stated preference to let activity centre character emerge overtime (let the developer decide) and proximity to the Carnegie Train Station and major activity centre and I’ll bet the developer’s representative has already lodged his appeal.
Rather than grandstand to the gallery during Council Meetings and then blame VCAT these Councillors need to do their homework and actually start to representing their electorate to ensure that policies and planning lines up with the aspirations of that electorate..
November 7, 2013 at 1:38 PM
“…aspirations of that electorate” ? What is it? I think the Council may be doing justice to the ‘aspiration class’ wanting to make more money. Isn’t that what most would like to do, say building a 6 storey development?
November 7, 2013 at 2:58 PM
Actually, the aspirations of the community are in the Community Plan.
Give it a read – “wanting to make more money” isn’t mentioned once. On the other hand it’s full of things like a strategic approach to development that considers current and future residential amenity, sense of community and an inclusive community, open space and trees, infrastructure to meet the needs of the community and some say in the activities of Council.