Move to Monthly Council meetings

The Beagle Editor, Though submissions to Council have now closed I thought your readers might be interested in the submission I have lodged in regards to their 'Move to Monthly Council meetings'. The current Public Access/Forum model at Council Meetings is akin to almost courtroom orthodoxy and is quite intimidating for first timers.

Strict adherence to the 7 minute timing often leaves one with the impression that counting of time is way more important than listening to the message.

Unless a Councillor shows sufficient interest to ask a question there is no engagement.

Often for the want of additional information which senior staff who are present often know, the matter being discussed is left undetermined. The reluctance to ask senior staff for information is wasteful of the occasion. Council should be confident that senior staff in this situation have the intelligence and experience to be helpful.

A modified Public Forum which addresses the above deficiencies should still be maintained for residents to present matters on the meeting agenda. The agenda item should have an informative report to which discussion can be focussed.

Public Access is similar to the Forum but without staff reports . In this case an issue is raised for 7 minutes perhaps a Councillor’s question and then the matter invariably disappears without any outcome.

Street meetings with Councillors were short lived probably for a variety of reasons.

Councillors are key to how Eurobodalla should develop, look and feel. Their involvement with what’s happening on ground and how the community responds is essential.

Since being elected over 12 months ago and due to delegation of all D/A’s to staff for determination Councillors have only formally dealt with one D/A.

D/A’s with issues referred to Council shouldn’t be the occasion for inexperienced Councillors to learn.

It’s vital that Councillors have been involved with the community when these issues arise.

The draft “Meeting Practice” proposal effectively halves community engagement distancing Councillors further from the community.

Never forget how the previous Council grew away from the community, how the present Council campaigned on inclusiveness and how the community embraced the change.

There is a need for an alternative engagement model.

Community engagement which is less formal perhaps on the Q&A format that also has follow up and maybe an outcome would be worth trailing.

For your consideration.

Ross Hayward

Broulee