canineclub

This is a very long post for which I apologise in advance. However, it is of vital importance that the wider community be made aware of the outright misrepresentation that Glen Eira Clowncil continually inflicts on its citizens and the wider community. Late last year, a ‘consultation paper’ was presented for discussion and public submissions were invited. Today’s (Feb 1^st) agenda items include these submissions and Clowncils’ response to them. I firstly cite what Clowncil has said as a ‘summary’ of these submissions -
 
“In the period of nine weeks Council received seven submissions (attached).Many of the responses comment about some of the statements in the front sections of the discussion paper. The core of Council’s Paper was the six steps (attached). Several of the submissions endorsed the six steps and no submission opposed them.
Respondents would particularly welcome Step Six: “Those who participated in the consultative process should, wherever possible, be informed of the outcome”.
 Is a paltry 73 words is all that can be mustered as a summary???? This is not only inadequate, but it deliberately distorts the thrust of these submissions and their criticisms, not only of the discussion paper itself, but of what has been endemic in Glen Eira for well over a decade – the total alienation, and disenfranchisement of the majority of its residents.

I now quote directly from these submissions in order to put the record straight and also to illustrate a common theme – namely, the COMMUNITIES TOTAL DISENCHANTMENT WITH CURRENT AND PROPOSED ‘CONSULTATIVE’ PROCESSES. Clowncil’s response does nothing to address these concerns except to concede that those who bother to make submissions should be informed of the outcome!!! (the full submissions may be read at: http://www.gleneira.vic.gov.au/Files/Feb05-agenda.pdf

1. Mrs. V. Johnstone – Indicators: surely this has to be far more than perception of engagement; this is what contributes to mistrust, etc. there are a range of indicators that are quite easily achieved with good objectives and strategies as a guide.

  Transparency of decision making – absolutely vital

1. Andrew Bunn -  ‘Having been involved in numerous public consultation exercises over some years I have found the most frustrating aspect to be the lack of acknowledgement of contributions from the community. Frequently the outcome of the process seems to bear little relation to the community input. There is an appearance that although extensive consultation is conducted, community input is all but ignored in the final decision making. I suggest that guidelines for future consultation include some obligation on council to acknowledge community input. This could comprise a requirement to respond to the public input – perhaps to give a formal response to the issues raised …and reasons for acceptance or rejection of suggestions made. (Please note that this is not merely asking that submitters be ‘informed of the outcome’ which is council’s interpretation, but that REASONS AND RATIONALE BE PROVIDED. In other words the need for transparency in decision making – my comments)

 3. Glen Eira Residents association: “Often the basic flaw in the usual strategy for consultation by council is that council consults AFTER it has decided what is best. So from council’s viewpoint the procedure becomes a project to ‘sell’ the decision already reached by its experts.

The form of enquiry needs careful composition so that it does not restrict comment to merely Council’s own perspective of the issue but presents the wider picture as well.

The council statement illustrates that there needs to be a major change in attitude by council which the community will judge

4. Dr. Kate Dempsey - ‘Fristly I want to say how disappointed I was in the general tone of the document. …A consultation policy provides a great opportunity to engage with the citizens of the city and yet in this document it seems that talking with the communities of Glen Eira is not a positive and enlivening activity, rather it is something which must be controlled, strictured and is carried out with a sense of obligation.

The electorate has no obligation to the elected representatives, except to elect them and later elect others should they not perform to the communities’ expectations. It (obligation) is an entirely inappropriate term to use in this context and betrays the attitude of the administration of the council that the community that it serves is in fact a ‘lesser party’ in some form of a contractual situation.

Principles of good governance on the other hand would suggest that it is in fact incumbent upon council to ensure that its processes are transparent and that all its dealings with the community are accountable.

No Principles of consultation are articulated in the document…..

There is a tone of maintaining control throughout the entire document.
 
5. Bridget Cramphorn - This is a disappointing document and certainly does not constitute a good consultation strategy

From the tone of the document it is very much about controlling the level of influence of the community …

There is a failure to recognize the difference between communication and consultation

There is no way suggested to properly monitor the success or otherwise of the consultation policy…..

 
6. Mrs. N. George - Unless a petition is gathered or a media campaign conducted, the views of residents hold little value.

I feel consultation has become a waste of time and effort for me. To put in a submission on an issue or attend a meeting requires a lot of time and effort by both council and residents, but often with no satisfaction for residents.

Being made aware of a proposal and having the chance to comment upon it is not regarded as consultation if it is just a process and no one puts much significance upon the views of those affected

 
7. - Glen Eira community associations - It is not consultation when councilors merely listen and do nothing. Real consultation cannot be ‘guided consultation’ when the outcome is already predetermined by some secret ‘briefing’ meeting.