Records Of Assembly
Cr Pilling – Need to take care with Council information provided to the Councillor Group as some seems to be shared outside of the group.
Cr Hyams – Councillor Code of Conduct has a requirement that all Councillors read Council briefing and Agenda Papers.
Cr Hyams – Cr Lobo has foreshadowed a Right of Reply at the next Council Meeting. Councillor Code of Conduct regulates what Councillors can say about other Councillors.
Cr Lobo – Councillor Code of Conduct, information being passed to other persons.
Cr Lobo – Does the Councillor Code of Conduct govern behaviour outside of Council duties.
Visitor Car Parking
Car parking, which includes visitor parking and access, is often identified as a key issue. Applicants typically respond by redesigning a proposal. Those that do not amend their proposal risk having their application refused or modified by Council through conditions. This risk, in effect, encourages applicants to provide an adequate amount of visitor car parking.
Continuing this approach is preferred. This ensures that:
- Visitor parking is not given higher priority than other valid planning matters, such as amenity impacts on neighbours, scale, and open space.
- Visitor car parking is correctly assessed in the wider planning context, which includes consideration of the particular parking conditions in the area.
- The integrity of Council’s fast track processes is maintained.
Consultation Committee
A paper determining community preferences for consultation using a community wide questionnaire was tabled. The committee noted that the process of sending a hard copy questionnaire to all members of the community cannot guarantee that a representative sample of the community completes the questionnaire. The statistically reliable method is stratified random sampling; different subgroups are established and a questionnaire is distributed to a random selection of respondents in the subgroup.
Council’s 2013 Community Satisfaction Survey included a question on residents preferred method of communication from Council. The results gave a clear indication that a multi method communication approach is required to ensure all sections of the population are provided with the best chance to participate in community engagement opportunities.
Racecourse
In order to encourage the involvement by the Valuer General, Council could
- Write to the Trustees advocating for them to involve the Valuer General
- Write to the Valuer General, including a copy of this Item
- Write to the Minister for Crown Lands.
Glen Eira Debates 
March 16, 2014 at 4:20 PM
fyi from http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/property-titles-and-maps/managing-crown-land/leasing-of-crown-land
What is the rental applied to leases on Crown land?
The community expects a fair return for the use of Crown land under commercial or private lease arrangements. Therefore, if the land is to be used for a commercial or private purpose, the rent will be based on market rates determined by a valuation having regard to comparable commercial rentals in the private sector. Rent is reviewed and adjusted to market rates every three years.
If the land is to be used for community purposes, a reduced rent will apply.
I spose they will argue it is a community purpose ie a place to gamble!
March 16, 2014 at 5:06 PM
“integrity” in association with planning is an oxymoron and nowhere more so than in Glen Eira. Noone’s asking for “higher priority”. All that’s asked for is that the standards are applied consistently. That never happens and nor does the requirement for open space and height.
March 16, 2014 at 7:58 PM
if this Council was serious about addressing the car parking issue, which is growing daily, they would instantly place time restricted 24/7 car parking signs in all streets (both sides) in Glen Eira. They would also exclude any development which increases the dwelling intensity from the residential parking permit scheme (this applies to all zones).
Of course this would also have the flow on impact of really encouraging sustainable transport options (public transport, walking and cycling) and also support local businesses (via increased parking turnover).
But they wont – because they aren’t serious
March 16, 2014 at 10:28 PM
I note that after all the efforts to get “suitable” community reps on the Community Consultation Committee, only one of the four managed to attend the last meeting.
March 16, 2014 at 11:25 PM
2 were also absent for the 5th Feb meeting and 1 for the 11th December 2013 meeting. Ms Miller has missed 3 of the 4 meetings held thus far. One might also ask why meetings weren’t postponed if it was known that the vast majority of community reps would not be available? Would be pretty hard going for the one sole community rep having to front up to a full complement of heavies:-)
March 17, 2014 at 6:43 AM
My guess is frustration has already set it. They’ve realised that Council only wants show ponies. Council isn’t interested in their input and only wants them so they can pretend to care about community participation.
March 17, 2014 at 7:35 PM
Nope. If you are on a committee you make the time to turn up. it just gives council another reason not to have community reps on committees. Very disappointing.
March 17, 2014 at 9:35 PM
Council’s “fast track processes” has never had integrity to maintain. From the outset, Council has admitted that the information supplied doesn’t have to be accurate and that Council staff will not check the accuracy. Carparking provision has been open to abuse, with Council adopting an unofficial policy of ensuring its decisions are unsustainable. It has knowingly encouraged reliance on on-street parking for multi-unit development. The Records of Assembly doesn’t give me a warm fuzzy feeling. Under Council’s Local Law no information should be given to the public under any circumstances. Councillor behaviour remains appalling wherever they believe their comments are not being recorded. The Code of Conduct is mostly ignored but remains as a punitive tool should the dominant clique wish to silence criticism.