One item in the current agenda is fascinating in what it might portend for Glen Eira – especially with a new CEO at the helm. We draw readers’ attention to the following –
- Council will NOT BE PROCEEDING with its application for a 1.42% rise above the rate cap.
ITEM 9.14 – RATE CAPPING
Things to note regarding the decision not to proceed with the ‘variation’ to the rate cap:
- A formal council resolution is sought. No formal resolution was sought under Newton to apply for a variation
- Community consultation was sought in January/February 2016 by external consultants (although not ‘advertised’ and certainly not announced by any official council statement)
- Result of this consultation is: It is clear that in the absence of better community information and understanding of Council’s finances, and a shared sense of priority around the use of funds generated through a variation, there is insufficient community support to apply for a variation to the rate cap at this time.
- Figure of $24m shortfall over the ten years of the Strategic Resource Plan if rates capped, necessitating the development of a new Community Plan…..which will seek wide community input on priorities for the next ten years….. This is forecast to be started in 2016 and will be the subject of a further paper to Council.
Why this decision has been made is entirely open to conjecture and only time will tell. We posit the following as some possibilities underpinning this decision:
- The influence of the new CEO?
- Council realising that they may not be successful in their application?
- Strong community opposition on top of all the other problems (ie planning)?
- Laying the ground for service reductions and vastly increased charges?
- The fact that councils had to provide evidence in any submission on how the views of ratepayers and the community have been taken into account in proposing the higher rate cap. In Glen Eira there had been no ‘consultation’ of course. Hence a legal obstacle perhaps?
The positives? If there is to be genuine consultation on a new Community Plan, then it is imperative that residents be provided with full information; that their views not only be listened to, but ultimately acted upon through integration and implementation into any subsequent Council Plan/Resource Strategic Plan.
Needless to say, time will tell whether this represents a real shift in culture or whether it is nothing more than smoke and mirrors.
Glen Eira Debates 
March 11, 2016 at 1:46 PM
Interesting to see what happens.
March 11, 2016 at 4:29 PM
Could be a new direction. Judging by some of the other items I won’t be holding my breath. Buck passing galore over rock concerts at the racecourse and legal advice again. I suspect this is about Lobo and wanting a right of reply. If I’m right then another shot at shutting him up.
Good luck to Ms McKenzie. She’s got a mammoth task if she’s about better governance.
March 11, 2016 at 5:03 PM
I heard on good source, Rebecca tripped over Hyams, apparently she not used to him crawling and grovelling about the floor in front of her office door, she’ll get used to it.
March 11, 2016 at 10:16 PM
Item 12.5 is curious. Meetings don’t have to be closed “in order to consider” anything. Council *may*, at its discretion, choose to close a meeting when discussing certain matters. Last meeting it decided to consider a matter in public that “would prejudice the Council or any person”. Why the change of heart? Does it concern breaches of the Code of Conduct by the Liberal faction?
March 11, 2016 at 10:38 PM
I’m with Macca on this one. Someone wants to say something or get something on the agenda and they’re sticking the gag on again at our expense. Would love to be a lawyer employed by council. I’d be laughing all the way to the bank with job after job after job.
March 12, 2016 at 8:38 PM
Without indulging in speculation on the reasons for Council proposing to pass a formal resolution to abandon the application for a rate capping variation I support this proposal.
Firstly, the application for the variation was made by the Administration without formal Council approval, scant analysis and no input from those required to foot the bill.
Secondly, the more appropriate course of action was for Council re-assess the Open Space Contribution Levy paid by developers. Just under 2 years ago, Council implemented an updated Open Space Strategy which, based on detailed analysis of current and future population growth (ie. demand for open space), spelt out the open space acquisition goals for Council over the next 20 years. Despite residents arguing that strategy’s levy rate was too low to generate the required revenue, Council maintained the strategy’s recommended 5.7% levy rate would ensure sufficient funding was available to achieve the strategy’s 20 year goals.
Seems to me, that less that 2 years into a 20 year strategy, Council’s seeking of a variation to provide additional funding for the open space strategy’s long term goals provides a clear indication that something is seriously amiss. I therefore welcome Council’s abandoning of the variation application and hope that Council takes full advantage of the opportunity it creates to re-assess the Open Space Contribution rate and open and transparent community consultation.
March 12, 2016 at 9:24 PM
Community consultation? You must be joking.
March 13, 2016 at 6:31 PM
Kudos to the new CEO. Perhaps she’s already found the enormous waste under the Newton regime and incompetent Council that sat on its hands while it occurred.
March 13, 2016 at 9:00 PM
Proof will be in the pudding, according to Council’s figures $24m over 10 years equates to just over $2m per year. Shouldn’t be a big deal for a body with a budget of $80+ m per year to pare back on costs (it’s a well known fact that Council costs are 4 times higher than commercial enterprises) and increase revenue by raising the open space levy, re-implementing the Development Contribution Levy (ie. paid by developers to offset increased requirements and maintenance of drains) and implementing for the first time in Glen Eira a Parking Levy (ie. each time a parking waiver is sought, the applicant pays, to Council an amount equal to the cost of providing that parking). Must be able to recoup more than the predicted $2m deficit.
Hopefully, the new CEO is on the ball and is willing to take on the challenge of changing both the Councillors and Admins culture of self preservation regardless of the costs. If she is, residents should assist by getting rid of all current incumbents in October.
March 13, 2016 at 9:21 PM
The CEO cannot change Councillors. Neither he/she cannot change the Administration culture, processes or regulations without Councillors approvals in terms of fiscal and expenditure policies. The best example of that was that after 2005 elections it was the Libs dominated Council that decided to totally reject Labor’s Melbourne 2030 policies. It was also the same Councillors that quickly accepted Libs Matthew Guy zoning policies in 2013. Do not blame ALL on Andrew Newton. You may find that our new CEO Rebecca McKenzie has her hands tied in many respects until there is a change in the Council composition. At least 5 of the current Councillors need to change to ensure that there is a real chance for change in Glen Eira.
March 13, 2016 at 11:32 PM
The administration runs the Council. Councillors aren’t permitted to direct officers to do anything. The administration also has the knowledge and power. Newton ran the show as he saw fit. The Council was there to be his servant and they obliged without a murmur.