Tonight’s council meeting could arguably be said to represent the nadir of councillor/community relations. At the start of the meeting Esakoff began to give her ‘report’ on the MAV State Conference. She actually started to disclose not only some motions which Glen Eira council had put forward, but how they voted! A first – but always after the fact and never as a tabled document for a full Council Resolution but discussed and decided in secret assembly meetings.
Following about a minute of her report, approximately 50 to 60 residents carrying placards entered the chamber and once assembled started chanting ‘Save the Conservatory’. The chants continued for about 4 to 5 minutes. THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE TIME ESAKOFF CONTINUED SPEAKING AS IF NOTHING WAS HAPPENING. NO COUNCILLOR UTTERED A WORD ALTHOUGH AT ONE POINT PILLING DID ‘CONFER’ WITH BURKE. Whilst many may regard disrupting a council meeting as inappropriate, in our view, what is even more inappropriate is that Esakoff’s actions speak volumes. Not only is this totally ignoring ratepayers and refusing to even acknowledge their presence, but it embodies the ‘us and them’ mentality which is the hallmark of this council and its attitudes and treatment of residents. The latter simply do not exist. Their opinions, aspirations, and even presence in chamber, does not matter! This is more than rudeness. It says very, very clearly ‘get stuffed’ to residents and we will continue along in the same autocratic and anti-community fashion.
The complete betrayal by the ever growing ‘gang’ was in relation to the C60 Development plans. It was voted in by 6 to 3 with some pathetic little cosmetic amendments put up by Lipshutz – ie peak hour times were now 8.00am; more visitor car parking which still doesn’t cover the loss of existing car parking spots. Trivial, insignificant, and just tinkering. The arguments presented were woeful in their inconsistency and in their self-serving. We will report on this in detail in the next day or so. Suffice to say that those who voted to accept the Development Plans were (and this shouldn’t be a surprise) –
LIPSHUTZ, ESAKOFF, HYAMS, PILLING, OKOTEL AND SOUNNESS.
Voting against were – LOBO, MAGEE AND DELAHUNTY
The big screen was voted in unanimously (Okotel had left the meeting at this stage). More fun and games were evident by the fact that both Hyams and Esakoff left the chamber, but not by declaring a conflict of interest – but this time a ‘personal interest’ as Trustees. Lipshutz not only stayed in chamber – he seconded the motion and voted!
May 20, 2014 at 11:35 PM
The scum were trying to disrupt a Council meeting. Good on Margaret for maintaining her composure.
May 21, 2014 at 12:03 AM
Residents aren’t scum. I was there and the majority of the group left immediately after their protest. Esakoff was the one who made a mockery of this council meeting because I’d bet that no one could even hear a word of what she was saying and that included the other councillors. Burke then went up and whispered in her ear and looked like he was about to give her a kiss on the cheek. A rehearsed performance where all councillors were involved. I’ll take 5 minutes of chanting any day compared to the hypocrisy of this lousy lot.
May 21, 2014 at 7:45 PM
Not all residents are scum, but there was some real riff raff there last night. Conservatory versus Elsternwick station park development? Elsternwick wins. Helps when the CEO and a vocal Councillor live nearby.
May 21, 2014 at 9:47 PM
scum rises to the top
May 21, 2014 at 9:11 AM
Council’s handling of the Caulfield Park Tree Removal and Conservatory issues graphically illustrates the fallacy of Council’s Community Engagement claims (ie encourage, foster community spirit, provide better outcomes etc.).
In both instances Friends of Caulfield repeatedly tried to discuss the issue with Council and made alternative proposals aimed at reaching a consensus solution (ie, a solution that while not ideal for everyone was at least acceptable to all). All to no avail – a dawn raid on the trees ended that issue and in the case of the conservatory just simply and unexpectedly reversing Council’s September, 2013 unanimous decision to restore (based on long term extensive community consultation – 4 times in 4 years) is the solution. Why? Because Council failed to adequately estimate the cost of restoration and when the real costs became apparent (budget estimate $120K, real cost around $400K), without any consultation with the community, Councillors Delahunty, Esakoff, Lipshutz and Pilling decided it was too much. Hence a structure that has been a park focal point since the 1920’s (and subject to continued neglect by Council) is to disappear.
The loud and clear message this sends to residents is that while the legal requirements related to community consultation will be fulfilled, the more difficult to prove development and application of policies and strategies in accordance with residents expressed aspirations will not (unless, of course, they align with the Administration’s already determined intentions)
What this Council (with all its ratepayer funded deep pockets) has failed to realise is that the times have changed. Internet development has enabled residents to obtain and disseminate substantial and substantiated information to the broader community. The end result being an increasingly concerned, informed community that is beginning to find its feet and beginning to ask questions and seek answers – not an easy thing to do with Glen Eira Council.
Residents who have been involved in the conservatory consultation and those who protested at last night’s Council Meeting should not be so easily dismissed. They have expressed their views and made valid points which deserve to be listened to and considered. The protest was the culmination of long period of frustration and it was a legitimate form of protest which they have the right to undertake.
It is the function of government to accord them some respect (remarkably absent from Pillings communication over the trees) and listen to them. It is not the function of government to ignore, dismiss or treat them as “ratbags” because, when asked, they expressed their views.
May 22, 2014 at 7:59 PM
Why don’t the toffy FOCP each part with $5000 each and provide that to Conservatory repairs rather than expect it from ratepayers such as me in my one bedroom flat in East Bentleigh. Get a grip people.
May 23, 2014 at 2:15 PM
So anyone living in more than a 1 bedroom flat in any location other than East Bentleigh has no right to say anything about maintaining what is supposedly Glen Eira’s premier park?
Great thinking, I suggest we meet for coffee and have a joint whinge about the toffs
May 21, 2014 at 10:55 AM
About the giant screen I’d like to know what happened to the argument that some of these people put up about commercial profit on crown land and how it was not on. That must have gone right out the window on this one. More money to the Mrc so no worries in passing it.
May 21, 2014 at 11:59 AM
How hard would it be for three times mayor Esakoff to at least acknowledge the protests? Very bad manners from someone who should know better.
May 21, 2014 at 1:37 PM
Esakoff is one out of nine. Where was Pilling, Magee, Delahunty, Okotel, Hyams, Lipshutz, Sounness, Lobo. Struck dumb and blind?
May 21, 2014 at 1:41 PM
From The Leader –
Residents disrupt council meeting at Glen Eira town hall with chanting protest over planned conservatory demolition
Andrea Kellett
May 21, 2014 1:09PM
0
GLEN Eira ratepayers angry at their council’s decision to demolish the city’s conservatory disrupted last night’s council meeting with an organised protest.
About 40 people gathered inside the Glen Eira town hall chamber and delayed the start of the public meeting by about five minutes with chants of “save our conservatory”.
> > Do you agree with the protest? Have your say below or email theleader@leadernewspapers.com.au
Councillors, officers, security and other members of the public gallery sat in silence while the Friends of Caulfield Park and supporters hammered home their dissent at the council’s 4-3 decision last month to demolish the ageing public building in Caulfield Park, without consultation.
Cr Margaret Esakoff continued to address the chamber during the protest, but her voice was drowned out.
Cr Jamie Hyams said the Friends of Caulfield Park seemed to think council had a “bottomless pit’’ of money for Caulfield Park.
“It was a childish stunt that did them no credit and did nothing to help their cause,’’ he said.
Residents and ratepayers are angry the council ditched plans to restore and repair the structure after tenders came in too high.
The council surveyed residents last year, for the second time, about what they wanted done with the conservatory and the majority voted in favour of restoring it.
Friends president David Wilde told the gathering before they entered the chamber that Glen Eira Council had let the community down and residents’ voices were not being heard.
When asked after the meeting if his group had lost faith in the council he said: “Yes, as a group, yes’’.
“The community’s least preferred option was demolition but, for comparatively modest cost reasons, this is what the council has opted to do,’’ he said earlier.
“The conservatory is a historic artefact, purchased from Rippon Lea in 1949, but allowed to fall into disrepair over many years.’’
David Wilde, president of the Friends Of Caulfield Park, was among last night’s protester
David Wilde, president of the Friends Of Caulfield Park, was among last night’s protesters. Picture: Derrick den Hollander Source: News Limited
The council received eight tenders to restore the conservatory. Their average was almost double the budget to do the work and Mayor Neil Pilling said those costs had to be weighed up.
The nearby amphitheatre will also be demolished and returned to open space.
Cr Mary Delahunty told the meeting councillors had to weigh up expenditure of ratepayers funds when making decisions and said that if residents were aware of the cost when surveyed, the outcome would most likely have been different.
No date has yet been set for demolition.
The interior of the glass conservatory at Caulfield Park.
The interior of the glass conservatory at Caulfield Park. Source: News Corp Australia
May 21, 2014 at 7:23 PM
What is particularly galling is that Esakoff got voted on to Council because of her opposition to a planning matter.
Since turning being a Councillor into an occupation she appears to have turned her back on those who seek to do little more than she did.
That said, you the voters continually vote her back. So……..
On a slightly different tack, noticed in the HS today:
“BRIBERY, fraud and serious corruption investigations have been launched by Victoria’s anti-corruption agency into State Government departments, police and local councils.
The Herald Sun can reveal the Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission has executed 56 judge-approved search warrants as it ramps up its investigations into dishonesty in the public sector.”