We revisit this issue since the Leader article has omitted to mention the most important aspect of the hour long ‘debate’ that occurred – the refusal by Hyams, Lipshutz, Esakoff, Pilling and Ho, to include Notice of Motion as part of the proposed changes to Council’s Meeting Procedures. We also note that 9 days after the resolution to seek an amendment was passed there is still no public notice up on council’s website, nor is there any advertisement in the local paper advising residents that their views will be sought via submissions. There is of course, a full page colour ad celebrating GESAC’s 4th birthday! How much did this cost we wonder?
To put the record straight, readers will be interested to know that the following list of councils ALL HAVE NOTICE OF MOTION. Hence in Glen Eira, 5 individuals are effectively gagging councillors and hence the community!
Alpine Shire
Ararat
Ballarat
Banyule
Bass Coast
Baw Baw
Bayside
Benalla
Boroondara
Brimbank
Buloke
Campaspe
Cardinia
Casey
Central Goldfields
Darebin
Colac-Otway
Corangamite
East Gippsland
Frankston
Glenelg
Golden Plains
Bendigo
Dandenong
Geelong
Greater Shepparton
Hepburn Shire
Hindmarsh
Hobson’s Bay
Horsham
Hume
Indigo Shire
Kingston
Knox
LaTrobe
Loddon
Macedon
Manningham
Mansfield
Maribyrnong
Maroondah
Melbourne
Melton
Mildura
Mitchell
Moira
Monash
Moonee Valley
Moorabool
Moreland
Mornington
Mount Alexander
Murrundindi
Nillumbik
Northern Grampians
Port Phillip
Pyrenees
Queenscliff
South Gippsland
Southern Grampians
Stonnington
Strathbogie
Surf coast
Swan Hill
Towong
Wangaratta
Warrnambool
Wellington
West Wimmera
Whitehorse
Whittlesea
Wodonga
Yarra City
Yarra Ranges
Glen Eira Debates 
May 4, 2016 at 8:07 AM
These idiots deserve to be harrassed
May 4, 2016 at 9:34 AM
Five extreme right wing (MODERATORS: word deleted) run council
May 4, 2016 at 2:06 PM
Notice of motion is a perennial issue in Glen Eira. The arguments put up by Hyams and Lipshutz don’t bear up to real scrutiny. They claim that their decision making is better when it is accompanied by an officer report. Two assumptions are to be found here –
1. that officer reports are indeed objective and detail all necessary and relevant information. They often don’t
2. that notice of motion excludes officer comments and recommendations. Again this isn’t true. Many councils have notice of motions and they are accompanied before decision by officers reports and reactions to the proposed resolution. Councillors can also get all the information they want by asking for it since notices of motion are usually tabled and then voted on at the next meeting. That gives councillors 3 weeks to do their own research if they really want to or get the information from officers. You don’t have a notice of motion crop up today and voted on in 5 minutes.
Those councillors opposing a notice of motion are doing it for other reasons. They don’t want issues discussed in public. They don’t want some councillors to be able to get things on the agenda. They don’t want their control to be lessened and they don’t want residents to get any kind of foothold that might create some publicity. That’s what all this is about and it is time it changed and these councillors were changed.
May 4, 2016 at 4:27 PM
Headline is somewhat inaccurate. It isn’t Council [yet] that is trying to stifle public questions, but the conservative councillors who argued, regardless of community feedback, that the Local Law should be amended as requested. Have to wonder why people who so dislike democracy wish to be councillors. Certainly a lot of rubbish has been spouted by those councillors about public questions.
Here’s a suggestion. Proponents each identify 5 public questions that they consider to be an abuse or illegitimate. If they truly believe them to be inappropriate, state their reasons why and in particular identify the grounds under 232(2)(j). I’m sure our councillors have never read the Local Government Act—by words and deeds they appear oblivious to the Objectives of a Council. This latest effort cannot be said to ensure transparency and accountability in Council decision making.
If nothing else, clearly Cr Lipshutz has no confidence in the way the Mayor is currently exercising his power of discretion re public questions.
May 4, 2016 at 5:54 PM
A good comment. If councillors do feel harrassed then this would mean that residents aren’t satisfied with either the words or the actions of council and public questions are not being answered as they should be in many cases. That breeds frustration. It is one thing trying to silence councillors and something entirely different when the attempt is to silence residents who pay for the privilege of allowing these councillors to impact on their lives. For this they should be accountable all the time – in their decision making and the rationale behind any decision. Presenting lame arguments which this blog site records is not conducive to trust and respect. Avoiding answers is akin to having something to hide.
May 5, 2016 at 12:07 PM
(MODERATORS: sentence deleted)
He treats everyone in contempt. Why is the gang on Council? They are on good wicket with six figure salaries, are they on the Council for money or what else?
It is bloody high time that they be chucked out of the Council as yet yesterday.
The new Councillor Ho is brain washed and people of Carnegie should get rid of him and other two Councillors of Carnegie.
May 5, 2016 at 12:11 PM
(MODERATORS: comment deleted)
May 4, 2016 at 6:30 PM
Lipshutz logic is wonderful. People ask the same question to embarrass council. Following this through to the end, it means that the 130 questions on Skyrail from very worried residents was designed to harass and embarrass him.
May 4, 2016 at 7:17 PM
Eating crow MRC style with its Clayton’s apology to members who passed the motion and are now classified as ‘disinfranchised’!!!!! – https://mrc.racing.com/news/2016-05-04/special-general-meeting-update
May 4, 2016 at 7:25 PM
The Age report – http://www.theage.com.au/sport/horseracing/melbourne-racing-club-declares-controversial-vote-null-and-void-20160504-gomc87.html
May 4, 2016 at 7:29 PM
gosh a minority of members who knew about the vote are the problem!. Great word integrity
May 4, 2016 at 8:33 PM
Corpvote won’t be happy with their name being tarnished by association with the executive of the MRC. Don’t understand how Brodie Arnhold could think the members who previously voted are being disenfranchised, unless he hasn’t a clue what the word means. The MRC sure have some governance issues to sort out.
May 4, 2016 at 8:25 PM
A long list of councils with notice of motion and Lipshutz and Hyams want residents to swallow the guff that Glen Eira is better because they don’t have this. Pull the other leg you bunch of arrogant power hungry so and sos
May 4, 2016 at 9:42 PM
Colin, and ALL other complainants you should really have a look at the independent umpire, who gives thumbs up for Glen Eira. Glen Eira according to this website http://knowyourcouncil.vic.gov.au/compare-councils is 4th to 8th out of all 22 metropolitan councils, regardless of Local Laws being manipulated and keep the residents like mushrooms ‘feed them shit and in the dark’.
According to the State Government website there is nothing to worry about, just go to sleep and when you wake-up enjoy the good life
May 4, 2016 at 10:44 PM
Worth a giggle but that’s about it. Quite a stretch to call DELWP an independent umpire. Had a look at some of their metrics, but didn’t see “number of decisions made in Assembly of Councillors” or “years since review of planning scheme” or “months taken to respond to FOI requests” or “number of investigations by LGI” or “number of complaints received by State Ombudsman”.
I followed one of the “Council Says…” links: “This measure is highly skewed by satisfaction with Council decision making as it relates to town planning matters dictated by State rules and regularly overruled by VCAT. It is not an effective measure of community engagement.”
Rather than tackling what it controls, it has consistently sat back and bleated about VCAT—it hasn’t attempted to tighten its LPPF, hasn’t reviewed its planning scheme for 6 years, has ignored all hints from VCAT identifying places where its planning scheme is inadequate.
May 5, 2016 at 1:20 AM
Does anyone know if the MRC non democrats and our very special councillors all took a training course in China or Russia?
They all appear to find it better representing minority thought with due regard for the majority rights.
AMAZING THAT ALL THESE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THINK A NOTICE OF MOTION A GOOD THING!!
ARE THERE ANY OTHER “PEOPLES’ REPRESENTATIVES” AROUND WHO ARE ALSO SCARED OF THE NOTICE OF MOTION LIKE THESE POOR LITTLE COUNCILLORS :- LIPSHUTZ, PILLING, ESAKOFF, HYAMS AND THE VERY QUICK LEARNER HO HO (who has responded to the coaches oh so fast)? Should he have a prize for accelerated learning?
May 5, 2016 at 12:45 PM
Frisbee, destruction of icon Conservatory, guns in park (not Council’s business to pass a motion when it is Polices responsibility), the fcuking residential zones destroying an Aussie dream of owning their own home. Destroying Aussie life of sausage on the BBQ and beer to watch games, invasion of looking into houses, supporting MRC and selling residents for VIP treatment during racing season, destroying Frogmore because they need to convert this heritage place for old age retirement etc etc etc and nothing but preferring to support the liberal party.
If nothing is done than residents will be abused even though we are rate payers. The gang is exposed and therefore all residents have to draw the attention of Andrews government before we are wiped out from our homes to country side. Gagging is the nail on residents coffins. Wake up residents and sign a petition by addressing our grievances to the government. Gang knows that the residents have no fire in their bellies and like to walk over all residents just to please? (MODERATORS:part of sentence deleted) etc, please prepare a petion and we need every one to sign it. 10,000 residents will be a landmark like GESA
L
May 5, 2016 at 2:20 PM
Reminder: Cr Ho has said he will make himself available 10am-12pm 2nd Tuesday each month in Carnegie shopping centre [probably Nude Duck cafe]. That is an opportunity for people to ask him to explain his reasons for voting as he did [minimal consultation and only for those changes the conservatives want; no notice of motion; nobble public questions because people who ask questions are the wrong sort of person council wants asking questions]. It is likely the truth is ugly: he needed to support his fellow conservatives in order to gain their support for whatever it is he wishes to achieve—not that I know what that might be.
May 5, 2016 at 11:22 PM
Next Tuesday is the second Tuesday… so what’s the address?
May 6, 2016 at 2:46 PM
I’m expecting it to be The Nude Duck Cafe, 63 Koornang Rd Carnegie