Community Participation in Council Committees

This is an issue I have recently raised with other councillors- I would like to see our committees here in Glen Eira opened up to members of the community to enable and encourage participation and input.

A good example/model is Willoughby council in NSW-http://www.willoughby.nsw.gov.au/Committee-List.html
where ALL committee meetings are open to the public who can participate and engage in discussions.These meetings are advertised with set dates throughout the year-

This would also rejuvenate our committees and enable a broader range of views to be expressed.I would like to see more community participation in Glen Eira along these lines.

Welcome readers comments.

Glen Eira votes unaminously to retain aquatic facilities in Carnegie‏

At Tuesday nights council meeting I moved an amendment to item 9.8 - a report on GESAC (glen eira sports and aquatic centre-bentleigh) progress and recent attendance figures at Carnegie Pool-

that council

a- continue to operate Carnegie Pool

b- is committed to retaining aquatic facilities at this site

c-undertake research and community consultation once GESAC is operating

Pleased to report that this was voted for unaminously.

An important step forward!

Full details at http://www.gleneria.vic.gov.au/ clicking onto council and community.

From the Chamber - COUNCIL MEETING 27TH APRIL

The council meeting was rather short but contain several important items- Full minutes can be seen by clicking on the council link below right and going to meetings.

Leamington Cres development - council voted to approve the amended plans for a 3 storey 34 dwelling apartment complex. This site is at the junction of the Frankston and Dandenong railways lines on the approach to Caulfield stn. Even though technically this site is zoned minimal change - the uniqueness of the site and its closeness to public transport and the pheonix precinct was deemed good justification to approve this development.

VCAT Watch- a particularliy disappointing result was the decision to allow the construction of two double storey attached buildings at 10 Packer st Murrumbeena, a street covered by the Boyd Park Significant Character Area (SCA). In somewhat of a first for this area VCAT overuled a previous refusal notice by council to grant a permit, giving little weight to the SCA policy.

The planning scheme review currently taking place will consider stronger neighbourhood character protection for the SCAs in our municipality- it would seem a very timely move!

Council Plan and Strategic Resource Plan- both plans will be advertised and submissions are welcome until the closing date of 27 May. Full details at http://www.gleneira.vic.gov.au/

Environmental Sustainablity Strategy - this strategy was developed with input from those attending the Glen Eira environmental forum in July 09 and with reccomendations from the Environ. Advisory Committee.-some of the initiatives include

- the funding for ewaste collection days in each ward

- the introduction and implentation of a carbon neutral plan for council.

- an increase on the uptake of Greenpower electricity use to 25% of all council operations

the ESS is currently being highlighted on the home page of GE website - link bottom right

with final date for comments/submission on 15 June 2010.