The Ombudsman recently met with the CEO and the Mayor in relation to her investigation into ‘secrecy’ and lack of transparency in council decision making. It is therefore astounding that the following has occurred so shortly afterwards.
1.The online and hard copy agenda published on the Friday before the last council meeting did not contain any items for in camera consideration
- On the evening of the council meeting (ie last Tuesday week) there was this ‘insert’ into the agenda – please note the in camera item.
- The minutes have finally been published. Wonder of wonders, the above description has disappeared into the ether. All that residents are now told is this wonderfully uninformative single line –
12.1 Under s89(2)(d) “contractual”.
Then on ‘outcomes’ of the in camera discussion, the minutes state –
Item 12.1
Crs Lipshutz/Delahunty
That the recommendation in the report be adopted.
The MOTION was put and CARRIED unanimously.
What has happened to the far more expansive explanation regarding the open space item? Why was this edited down and by whom? Why is so much effort expended to keep residents uninformed? And why does this council continue to push the envelope when it comes to transparency and sound governance? Who is behind this latest attempt at secrecy? We would even suggest that given the resolution the item is no longer ‘confidential’, since the Local Government Act states on disclosure:
in relation to resolutions recorded in the minutes, incorporate relevant reports or a summary of the relevant reports considered in the decision making process.
Residents have no idea as to the ‘report’ much less any idea as to what this resolution concerns, or what its ramifications are? Will council be spending money for open space? If so, how much? Did the report recommend no purchase? Where is this potential open space? Is the location good value? We can only assume that if the wording of the item was changed then it is a deliberate attempt to conceal from the public what is really going on! What makes this even easier to conceal is that council sees fit to provide only half a dozen or so agendas in the chamber when the gallery over the past few meetings has at times contained 10 times this number of residents. Please remember that council has ‘promised’ several times over the years to consider displaying motions, amendments via some form of overhead, so that residents can follow what is going on. Nothing has eventuated!
We are confident that the ombudsman would be very interested in this latest example of Glen Eira’s approach to transparency and sound governance and non-adherence to the strictures of the Local Government Act!
August 23, 2016 at 10:45 AM
For all the talk on keeping residents in the loop and consultation Delahunty is a major disapppointment. No gallery for in camera decisions.
August 23, 2016 at 10:59 AM
secrecy = corruption
August 23, 2016 at 12:17 PM
Confidentiality = sound governance. Just because the Council decides not to share everything with you doesn’t mean they are corrupt. I hope you never take up a role in out Courts
August 23, 2016 at 1:06 PM
Please note –
“In her response to the review of the Local Government Act, Ombudsman Deborah Glass noted:
Secrecy in government can create conditions in which improper conduct and poor administration can flourish. It also fuels suspicions of wrongdoing and erodes community trust.
Members of the public who complain to my office about council decisions occasionally mention the fact that decisions were made ‘behind closed doors’ or ‘in secret’ as evidence to support their concerns.”
Source: https://www.ombudsman.vic.gov.au/News/Media-Releases/Media-Alerts/Ombudsman-investigates-transparency-of-local-gover
August 23, 2016 at 5:54 PM
Thank you Jamie, good to see your covering your ass with your usual propaganda
August 23, 2016 at 7:06 PM
Yep, Guns in Parks is a really good example of confidentiality = sound governance.
August 23, 2016 at 8:07 PM
Guns in Parks yes, we found that one out .. god only knows what else they have run off with, and we will never know
August 23, 2016 at 11:26 AM
Nothing changes in Glen Eira. The law is there to be undermined whenever it suits. I had hoped that with a new ceo there would be plenty of improvements in terms of governance and listening to the community. That does not look like it is happening. This was a unanimous vote. I would like to know the reasons why and did anyone speak up about the changed wording of the agenda. Being unanimous means that none of these 9 people deserve to be there come October when they can collude in such behaviour.
August 23, 2016 at 4:55 PM
Agreed
August 23, 2016 at 12:52 PM
the block in question may be the one at the rear of big development on East Boundary Rd next to the parkland, why the behind closed doors scheming, likely to many of Ho’s and other councillors developer mates in the gallery
August 23, 2016 at 2:33 PM
impossible to argue that this isn’t designed to bury some council decision. That being the case it is the opposite of transparent government.
August 23, 2016 at 6:57 PM
Betyas the dunces now havta pay top dollar when they coulda paid half if they had used sum brains 15 years ago and planned proper.
August 23, 2016 at 9:57 PM
With our very own pet developer on the inside sniffing around from inside info nothing will be safe from exploitation, and so long as the developer donations to the Libs keep flowing, it will be business as usual in GE