Workshops were introduced by many councils around the state in an attempt to circumvent the "open meeting" provisions of the 1993 Local Government Act. A revision of the Local Government Meeting Regulations gave workshops official status but no indication as to whether they were open to the public or closed. The Derwent Valley Council took the view that they were "closed".
In 2009 the ousting of the former mayor and the election of several new councillors led to the council deciding to advertise its workshops and open them to the public. This lasted about a year, until late 2010 when the majority of councillors decided to cease the advertising, reportedly to save money. Despite the lack of advertising, workshops remained open but the occasional attendance by members of the public has not sat well with some councillors. This was evident at last week's workshop on Willow Court, when the mayor suggested the public should sit in the rear rather than at the table. Another councillor grumbled about the presence of the public and asked who had invited them.
The recommendation to further exclude the public from workshops is contained in the report of a working party which had been formed to improve openness and transparency at the council. Instead, it decided against a committee system; indicated
CORRECTION: Readers please note the amendment above, rectifying an error with respect to membership of the future audit committee. A review of the Auditor-General's recommendations of late 2011 makes it clear his preference is for independent members in this role.
Don't you just love the contradiction in terms of government ... a working party is formed to improve openness and transparency of council (who we, as rate payers, employ) but then does a backflip.
ReplyDeleteCr Graham recently waxed lyrical about the Council being an organisation in which we are ALL stakeholders (ie, the community, DVC staff and councillors). Well, how does that work when the vast majority of stakeholders are not kept informed of what's going on at 'the top end of town' or given due opportunity to participate.
As for the lame excuse about advertising costs - that doesn't sit very well with previous expenditure of $4000/week on "security" at Willow Court, nor does it sit with the Council's civic duty.
Perhaps if DVC actually had a decent website manager (last I heard, someone in Adelaide administers the site, huh??), then the website would be a far better conveyor of info. Additionally, Council could put notices on the Community Notice Board or set up an indoors (away from weather and firebugs) notice board at the NN Library where updates are regularly posted - these forms of advertising have a nominal/notional cost.
What is Council trying to hide now? What are they afraid of?
I agree Are you serious! - what a load a rubbish! Given the restrictions already on the ratepayers as to asking questions at an open meeting of council amd the ENORMOUS number of 'closed' council meetings that this current administration seem so keen on having, closing any workshop to anyone is simply a very backward step and any current councillor who votes for such a move should be named and shamed!! Former councillor Elliott was the one who moved that the advertising of workshops should cease and the then majority agreed - what a load of......!
DeleteIf the Mayor believes that we ratepayers aren't entitled to be part of council's information sessions, then RESIGN because we WANT a transparent council. And the grumbling councillor should do so too, let someone else who has the interests of this community have a go!!
Ticked Off Ratepayer
Before the editor of this very one sided editorial writes any further comment, it would be a good idea that the editor should first be in receipt of the facts or at least inform the public of all the facts. The facts in this particular instint are that there is nothing in the agenda or minutes of the Council Meeting that formed this committee that says it was to improve the openness or th transparency of the Council. Get it right
ReplyDeleteDerwent Valley Council
DeleteCouncil Meeting Agenda
15 March 2012
(p32-33 excerpt)
"The view was that we were trying to stream line processes for the more effective and efficient operations of Council, as well as making the process more transparent." (SIC)
I again ask the editor to go to the minutes of the Council Meeting of the 17th November 2011. There is no reference to openess or transparency is there.
ReplyDeleteSo Anonymous are you saying that council doesn't really want to be open and transparent? I don't get where you're coming from and it seems to me that you are a councillor so how about you be open and transparent (or maybe you don't have the intestinal?) I'm certainly not on council but I do maintain an interest, so come on, declare your position!!
DeleteTicked Off Ratepayer
Please name the councillor who grumbled about the public being present at the Willow Court workshop. As a rate payer and elector I have a right to know who this was, as does every other rate payer and resident. We need to know so that appropriate action can be taken at the next council elections, or earlier if further acts of misconduct occur.
ReplyDeleteThe DVC councillor code of conduct states:
“Councillors will show respect and courtesy when dealing with other Councillors, Council employees and the public, and refrain from any form of conduct which may cause any person offence or embarrassment;"
"During Council meetings, committee meetings and any other proceedings of the Council, Councillors will act in accordance with the Local Government (Meeting) Regulations 2005, showing respect to the chair, other Councillors, Council staff and members of the public."
It seems that this particular un-named councillor is potentially in breach of this code, and I trust the council as a whole will attend to this as a matter of urgency.
The council needs to remember that they are there for only one purpose - the benefit of the residents. They are not there to exercise some delusional view of their own power, or to treat the public as some hindrance or nuisance.
There is a council meeting tomorrow night. I intend to be there. I may even take my own notes and report back here as a concerned member of the public.
And, no, I will not be anonymous.
The question that we are all asking is "What do you have to hide?" This council really comes across as a bunch of old men scratching each others backs.
ReplyDeleteGive us some answers here! And while you're at it, give us some bloody transparency.
Here's a idea, maybe, just maybe, to get some change when the next two rounds of Council elections come around, the people of New Norfolk vote for anyone who hasn't been on Council before. That way new blood be be in and hopeful things might get changed.
ReplyDeleteNew Norfolk has a lot of new people moving to town, a lot of interstate'ers, who have seen how other councils do things. New Norfolk needs people with a wider view of the world. Not the Bush Council we have now!
I've been here for slightly over 18 months, and I'm not happy with how this council operates. If they don't want a groundswell push for council amalgamations, then they had better listen to the residents and start to get moving.
DeleteWhat do banjos have to do with it?
DeleteI'm one of those interstate'ers, moved to New Norfolk just over 3 years ago. Believe me, the banjo force is strong in this town.
Delete'Another ticked off ratepayer', we need more fresh blood like you.
DeleteJust like the Royal Family!!! ;o)
To those who have moved to Nawfick from elsewhere-why move here if you don't like the way it is.Why should things be changed to suit outsiders.Go back to the mainland if you are not happy here.
DeleteMaybe they move here mainly for the lovely views, NOT the incompetent Council. Maybe they want to make the "whole" picture better and having lived outside, they have a better view on how things could be run, for the benefit of everyone!
DeleteOne thing that is very clear and transparent is that the Council as a whole do not want to be held accountable for anything and prefer to do as little as is required of them as possible, without any sense of vision or obligation (and here I include management in particular while also noting that some individual Councillors are doing their best to operate Council otherwise, but it's a bit hard when you're in the minority). And no, I am not on Council. I am a ratepayer who is continually flabbergasted (amongst other things) at how this Council (dys)functions.
ReplyDeleteIt is a pity that this community is so insular (and that's not a criticism, just an observation) as perhaps they don't realise how much better it all could be and what more they could expect/demand of Council. Works well for Council though - har har.
I call for a vote of no-confidence on this Council and the Council Management!
ReplyDeleteTo Bill Aucoin ... "outsiders" move to New Norfolk for many reasons, probably not least of all the natural majestic beauty and close proximity to Hobart without having to be in suburbia proper.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, dysfunctional local government is not something which is advertised with properties when put on the market. However, luckily, dysfunctional local government can be changed ... the views, history and so forth remain.
Outsiders are not trying to change things to suit them - they are trying to change things to benefit the town that they have chosen as home. They are, perhaps, in a better position to see the potential of the town as they come in with fresh eyes; rather than the blinkered vision of generations living in the same place. This town has so much untapped potential, the mind boggles.
Bill, if you are happy with they way things are (and your spelling of New Norfolk speaks volumes), then you must be of the school of thought that 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it', that High Street is attractive and welcoming, that the town can survive, prosper and provide a better place to live for its residents and youth without the input of tourists and new business, that a Council which does the barest minimum (with as little public consultation and transparency as they can get away with) is acceptable and that Willow Court should be bulldozed. Shame.
I dare say there are a number of locals who feel the same as the "outsiders" but are probably so exasperated by years of inaction from Council that they have given up, become complacent and/or are happy to leave it to the newbies, with fresh ideas and enthusiasm to try to make it happen.
I reckon a lot of mainlanders move to NN for the cheap real estate and then realise its cheap for a reason.You gets what you pay for i'm afraid.
ReplyDeleteGlen - all of Tassie real estate is cheap compared to the mainland. You mustn't have a very high opinion of New Norfolk.
DeleteLess expensive real estate doesn't excuse incompetencies in local government or mean the residents can't have a vision, town pride and so forth. The people here are friendly and good natured enough (on the whole) but the physical town is tired and uninspired. You only need to take a real look at a lot of the shops in High Street to see that, rather than glossing over them because you see them every day.
There are plenty of rural towns which have got their act together far better than NN.
Editor: I'll give you another one-liner quote "This town needs an enema" from The Joker; Batman (1989)
i moved here from melbourne 10 years ago and love new norflok and most of the people in it
ReplyDeletethe last thing i want is new norfolk to become another melb
but we could do things a lot better
so if the council cant or dont want to help then we need to change the council at the next election
and get councillors that will listen
I reckon that we should give those standing for election an IQ test!
ReplyDeleteDiscontented
How come most of the people writting in do so as Anonymous?
ReplyDelete(barking behind a fence) can someone (interstaters) please give us an example of another council any council who has open to the public workshops and can any of the authors of these comments tell me if they would want their personal details discussed in the public forum, closed council meetings are held under the apropriate local govenment legislation and are held in closed session to ensure that confidential information is keep confidential.
well said "ANONYMOUS"!! LOL
DeleteDear Anonymous (pot calling kettle black) - if you look at the Agenda for the last DVC meeting, you will see that they are also closing workshops re matters which are not necessarily inappropriate for discussion in a public forum - eg, security of Council property (read Willow Court), proposals for DVC to dispose of land (ie, Willow Court) ...
DeletePS - while I may not disclose my name I at least use a consistent moniker (and the editor knows who I am anyway)
Are you serious Mar 19,2012
DeleteNo work shops have been closed yet. Some sessions of council meetings are. Closed meetings are conducted under the local Gov. Act, if you or anyone else feels that meetings are not being conducted in the appropriate manner then you should contact the Local government minister.
It shouldn't always be up to "the people" to pull the Council into line. It is up to Council to ensure it is abiding by all applicable laws. We are all watching though ... and thanks for the suggestion. I am sure action will be taken where warranted. This Council appears to be hanging by a very fine thread d as far as those who are prpeared to voice their opinions are concerned.
DeletePS - Bill Aucoin, disappointed you don't have anything to add.