Month: February 2010

Media Release: Council opposes proposed planning changes

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Maroondah City Council will write to the Planning Minister and the Local Government Minister to express its serious concern with proposed changes to the Planning and Environment Act (the Act).

Mayor of Maroondah, Cr Alex Makin, said while the changes contained a number of minor administrative improvements, it was worrying that they also proposed a significant reduction in the role and power of councils in local planning issues.

Cr Makin said proposed changes to the Act would further centralise planning powers with the Planning Minister.

“The change that would allow the Planning Minister to appoint a private individual or developers to amend local planning schemes will disenfranchise local communities and signifies a move towards the partial privatisation of the planning system,” Cr Makin said.

“The centralisation of planning powers with the Planning Minister, coupled with several changes to fees, further reduces the position of local government in the planning process,” Cr Makin said.

“The significant increase of the involvement of the State Government in local planning matters facilitated by these changes will undermine community and broader industry confidence in the planning system as the decision-making system becomes potentially more political and uncertain,” Cr Makin said.

Council will outline its serious concerns in its submission to the Planning Minister and Local Government Minister – including the timing of the consultation process for the Planning and Environment Act Reform Bill (held over the Christmas and New Year period).

Council will also express its serious concern that the role of local government as the primary decision maker in local planning matters in Victoria is being continually reduced, and will contact local members of parliament to express Council’s concerns with the changes proposed in the review.

The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) has taken a similar stance, with its President Cr Bill McArthur stating that “the erosion of council roles in the planning system means less community input to the decision making process.”

“People are passionate about protecting the character of their neighbourhoods. It’s disappointing that the reforms seek to undermine the important role of councils and existing local planning policies that have taken significant time, cost and care to develop with input from the local community and the State Government,” Cr McArthur said.

The MAV has made a submission on the proposed changes to the Planning and Environment Act, outlining its concerns including the significant proposed changes to councils’ role as planning authority, loss of provisions useful to applicants (such as secondary consents), and the Planning Minister potentially authorising any person to prepare a planning scheme amendment.

– ENDS –

Media Release: Council pushes for conflict of interest law amendments

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Maroondah City Council on Monday night endorsed a submission to the State Government identifying issues with the Local Government Act’s conflict of interest provisions.

Mayor of Maroondah, Cr Alex Makin, said the submission highlighted Council’s concerns with elements of the provisions, which were established by the State Government in 2008.

“Maroondah City Council has a long-standing and ongoing commitment to serving the community with the highest levels of leadership, with associated standards of good governance and behaviours,” Cr Makin said.

“Conflict of interest laws are an important element of open and transparent governance and are welcomed by Council,” Cr Makin said. “As councillors, we would like the community to know we will always be acting on their behalf and in their best interest – conflict of interest laws are one way of achieving that.”

“However, the provisions set out by the State Government have caused much concern not only at the City of Maroondah, but across the Victorian local government sector,” Cr Makin said.

“Council’s submission on the State Government’s conflict of interest provisions reflects two key concerns – that the exclusion from debate of Councillors with an indirect interest in an agenda item may lead to important information being excluded from that debate; and that an increase in the complexity of the provisions warrants the establishment of a central resource, funded by the State Government, be available to councillors to seek advice on possible conflicts,” Cr Makin said.

“In relation to the first concern, Council strongly believes that councillors should be able to participate within debate on an issue even if they have an indirect interest. Currently, councillors are required to leave the room for both debate and the vote on such matters – previously, they could participate in debate and left only for the vote,” Cr Makin said.

“This would ensure that full information on the issue is available to Council as the councillor with the indirect interest frequently has the most amount of information on an issue,” Cr Makin said. “Secondly, Council is calling for the establishment of a central resource, funded by the State Government, for councillors to seek advice on possible conflicts.”

“Currently, the onus is on councillors to seek their own advice. Given the increasing scrutiny being placed on conflict of interest, and the associated increased complexity, the provision of such a service would be a reasonable step,” Cr Makin said.

Council’s submission was prepared in response to the State Government’s release of a discussion paper on the operational issues relating to conflict of interest provisions detailed under the Local Government Act.

Media Release: Maroondah’s new CEO takes office

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The City of Maroondah on Monday welcomed incoming Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Frank Dixon to his first day with Council.

Mayor of Maroondah, Cr Alex Makin, extended a warm welcome to Mr Dixon on behalf of Council staff and the community.

“Frank brings with him 28 years of local government experience, including four years as General Manager (equivalent of CEO) of Launceston City Council,” Cr Makin said.

“His broad-based experience will ensure Maroondah remains well placed to deal with the challenges and opportunities we will encounter in coming years,” Cr Makin said.

“Frank has a passion for making a difference in the community and is looking forward to bringing that passion to Maroondah,” Cr Makin said.

“My fellow councillors and I are looking forward to working closely with him,” Cr Makin said.

Prior to Mr Dixon’s work with Launceston City Council, he was with Hume City Council for 12 years, where he held a number of positions including Corporate Director – Resident Services, Director Strategy and Organisation Development and as Executive Director (Deputy CEO).

Mr Dixon holds a Graduate Diploma of Arts (Recreation), Diploma of Management, and Master of Business Administration. He also holds an Advanced Company Director’s Diploma, and is a Fellow, with the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Maroondah City Council – Audit Advisory Committee

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The Maroondah City Council Audit Advisory Committee meets on a quarterly basis to oversee and provide advice on matters relating to accountability and internal controls within the Council.

The Committee comprises of two Council representatives, the Chief Executive Officer and two external members.  As the Mayor for the 2009-2010 Council Year, I am a member and Chair of the Audit Advisory Committee. Cr. Rob Steane is also a Councillor representative on this committee.

Opening the VAPAC Managers Meeting

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The Victorian Association of Performing Arts Centres (VAPAC) promotes a cooperative network of performing arts centres across Victoria and Tasmania. This collaboration aims to achieve best practice in programming, management and operations to foster and develop the performing arts across Victoria and Tasmania.

The Karralyka Centre, a facility owned by the Maroondah City Council, is a member of VAPAC and I was invited to officially open the VAPAC Managers meeting, which was held at Karralyka this morning.

The Karralyka Centre opened in 1980 and the VAPAC meeting provides an opportunity to showcase the Centre. Please continue reading to view the speech delivered at the opening:

Continue reading “Opening the VAPAC Managers Meeting”

Delegates’ Report: Entering 2010

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While we are just officially starting the new Council year, December was a busy month, with end of year functions, followed by January, where events and community organisations began to meet for the year ahead.

Some of these events include:

Conflict of Interest – Government Round Table

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This afternoon I attended a round table discussion on the State Government’s Conflict of Interest provisions for Local Government. The session was convened by the State Government and held at Knox City Council, enabling Mayors and council staff to discuss potential reform to the current provisions.

While I can appreciate the intent of the Government’s conflict of interest reforms to local government, this has had unintended consequences, including difficulties in being advocates for community causes.

For example, when I was Treasurer of the Croydon Conservation Society I was unable to vote or discuss Council’s Sustainability Strategy, since the Croydon Conservation Society wrote a submission in response to the strategy.

This hampered my ability as a Councillor to discuss environmental sustainability and led to my resignation as Treasurer of the Society. While strong conflict of interest provisions are definitely required to ensure accountable local government, it should not hamper a Councillor’s ability to represent their community.

Further more there seems to be a significant amount of variability as to how these provisions are implemented across the local government sector. Conflict of Interest provisions need to be clear and concise without any ambiguity that might hamper their intent.

These concerns are widespread across the local government sector and it is hoped that the State Government considers amendments that do not hamper a Councillor’s ability to represent their community to the fullest extent possible.

RDCA vs Ringwood Cricket Club – Charity Cricket Match

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Each year the Ringwood and District Cricket Association and the Ringwood Cricket Club compete in a charity match, which aims to raise funds for a nominated charity.

This year the chosen charity was Wesley Mission Victoria, with a representative from their Ringwood Office present during the game. The game was a Twenty20 match with the Ringwood Cricket Club narrowly defeating the RDCA.

Wesley Mission has an extensive presence within the eastern region of Melbourne, including support services and crisis accommodation. Wesley Mission Victoria’s eastern region office is located on the Maroondah Highway in Ringwood.

Media Release: Striking a chord with stroke

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Council is calling on interested parties to participate in a new initiative aimed at improving the quality of life of people living with aphasia, a language difficulty caused by damage to the brain.

Mayor of Maroondah, Cr Alex Makin, said a choir was currently being formed to allow people with limited or no speech to experience something positive and joyful with their voice in a social and understanding environment.

“Imagine not being able to speak but having the ability to sing perfectly. This is the reality experienced by a number of people living with aphasia,” Cr Makin said.

“After learning during Stroke Week 2008 that several people in Maroondah were living with aphasia, Council took the first tentative steps towards the formation of a choir for people with the condition,” Cr Makin said.

“I’m proud to say that with the help of a number of external organisations, that vision is set to become a reality in the early half of 2010,” Cr Makin said.

A qualified music therapist will be engaged to work with the choir, named Stroke a Chord, thanks to a $15,000 grant from the Helen Macpherson Smith Fund.

The initiative is a partnership between Council, Yooralla, Royal Talbot Hospital, University of Queensland, Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, Croydon Stroke Support Group and Melbourne University.

If you or someone you know would like to find out more about Stroke a Chord, phone Jack Mulholland on 1300 88 22 33 or email jack.mulholland@maroondah.vic.gov.au.

Maroondah Journal: Event highlights online safety

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Safer Internet Day 2010 is held on Tuesday the 9th of February and is supported by the Australian Communications and Media Authority through its cybersafety education program.

The Maroondah Journal has reported on Maroondah City Council’s involvement in the event:

Maroondah Mayor Alex Makin said this year’s theme, ‘Think before you post’, was an important message for people when using the Internet and mobile phones.

The theme reflects the growing popularity of services such as Facebook, Myspace and Twitter and calls on community to think twice before submitting personal information through these services.

“Taking the simple step to stop and think before sending or posting information may help reduce negative experiences online. What you send or post is placed in the public domain so it pays to be careful.”

While the Internet is certainly a useful communications platform it is imperative that people are mindful of their safety when using online services.