February 11, 2009.

The Hon. Richard Wynne MLA

Minister for Housing. Local Government and Aboriginal Affairs

Dear Minister Wynne,

Re the City of Melbourne Council Resolution

We trust that you will recall that the Coalition of Residents and Business Associations (CoRBA- Melbourne) has long been advocating for an independent and objective review of the Melbourne City Council structure and electoral system. 

During the election campaign, it was most gratifying to find that the majority of candidates and teams included in their election policies, the need to press for a review of the Council structure and electoral system.  We were very pleased also to find that the newly elected Council acted promptly to honour their election promises and voted unanimously to call for a Review at the first Council meeting on December 16. (www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/opm/bc/CTEE/meetings/C4_minutes_200812160530.pdf)

Now that this formal Council request for a review is in your hands, we would be pleased if you would once again agree to meet with a CoRBA-Melbourne delegation so that we may understand your views on the terms of reference for this review, on the mechanism for community in-put, on ways to improve voter participation and, most importantly, the time frame you plan to adopt in conducting the review.

For your convenience a copy of the Council Resolution is attached and, by way of background, our previous correspondence with you on this matter.

We look forward to meeting with you at your convenience.

Yours sincerely

 Dr. Jackie Watts

On behalf of CoRBA –Melbourne.

Telephone 9347 8699