Sunday December 14, 2008

 

Dear Councillor

Congratulations upon your election.

Now that we have our new council, CoRBA would like to raise certain matters of urgent concern before the term commences.

As you know CoRBA-Melbourne, a coalition of all the residents associations and significant business associations, across the whole of the Melbourne municipality has in response to growing community disquiet, been very active over the last 12 months in raising certain matters prior to the Council election.

During the election campaign you will have noted our urgent objective to achieve an independent, comprehensive review of the structure of the Council and of the electoral processes. Over many months we lobbied the Premier, Minister Wynne, all political parties in the State parliament, all Councillors and the Melbourne community. We have received a very high degree of support amongst all stakeholders on the need for the review except the State Government and the So Team in the last Council.

However, perhaps you are not aware that even Minister Wynne and John So actually conceded to CoRBA prior to the election that a review was in fact warranted whilst at the same time arguing illogically that it should occur after the 2008 election. 

During the election campaign CoRBA sought to inform all candidates of our concerns and we have been encouraged to find that there was ‘in principle’ agreement on the need for a review from all Teams in the Council election. There was also support from most Teams for greater community responsiveness and an audit of Council finances.

This letter is call upon the new Council to now act upon these matters raised and agreed to during the campaign, at your meeting on 16 December.

We trust that you will implement the following:

1.     Immediately Call for a Review

CoRBA requests that the Council makes the decision to immediately call upon the State Government to review the structure of the Council, including the number of Councillors and the re-establish Ward Councillors and the electoral system. (Please see CoRBA Submission to Council Meeting 16/12). By way of background information, the attached document identifies in dot point form key matters of concern. May we also suggest that you see the CoRBA website. We will be glad to discuss any or all of them.

2.     Immediately appoint Councillors to take responsibility for specific areas within the Municipality

CoRBA argues that the arrangements operating under the So Council were not satisfactory to either the residents or to the business community. The arrangements did not provide adequate community access to Councillors and did not facilitate adequate levels of responsiveness from Councillors or from staff.  Until the Review deliberates upon the merits of reintroducing the Ward system, it is imperative that the Council allocate Councillors to be the contact point for specific areas of the municipality. This model would be similar the Wards structure that successfully existed during the Costigan Council.

 3. Immediately conduct a full audit of Council finances.

CoRBA argues that an audit would serve to reassure the community that the Council is actually solvent and is efficiently managing its financial matters equitably -  including the current rating system.  We request that an accurate explanation as to the size of  the “Nest Egg” be provided as soon as possible. The current financial situation of the City of Melbourne must be known an be on  public record  before the new Council can properly commence its deliberations.

All Councillors are reminded that a financial report was commissioned from Ernst and Young, around the middle of 2007 and it triggered a dramatic “downsizing” of Council staff. CoRBA remains concerned about the subsequent developments.

4. Restore an equitable balance of representation between constituents within the municipality – the old and new. 

CoRBA argues that balance of representation between residents and corporate stakeholders in the system is no longer equitable. As is the pattern in many capital cities, operations within our municipality specifically within the CBD, have n prioritised the interests of the corporate sector.  And, in view of the growing residential component of the City (Docklands, CBD, Southbank, Kensington North Melbourne) CoRBA recommends that a specific Councillor and a senior member of the administration be required to hold a monthly meeting with representatives of these particular residents associations.

5. Re-establish sensible areas for Precincts

CoRBA argues that the current areas allocated to business precincts are simply too large for volunteer groups to manage, particularly in the CBD. You may not be aware that the Collins Street Precinct area now covers the entire CBD and includes East Melbourne across to Hoddle Street with two small exceptions -Chinatown and the smaller Greek Precinct.  This is clearly untenable.

By way of background, the Devison Council recognised the value of Precincts, as a method of communicating with structured representative groups in specific areas and then through a system of grants, the Precincts were able to market the particular features within their respective areas. The second So Council significantly reduced the number of Precincts, whilst increasing the dollar value of grants available.

CoRBA recommends a simple method to identify new and smaller precincts, would be through an immediate advertising campaign, inviting new Precinct Groups to be formed as was done by the Devison Council.

We wish you well in your endeavours and look forward to working together for the constituents of Melbourne throughout the term of this Council.

 

Yours sincerely,

Dr Jackie Watts

Carlton Residents Association & Convener of CoRBA – Melbourne.

93478699

jackiewatts@netspace,net.au