Wednesday, 20 December 2017

More Secret Meetings For Launceston's Council

This news is a total denial of community access to their representatives.  The workshops being flagged in this story are in fact what was once called 'cutting and drying sessions'. Whatever, they are a denial of accountability and transparency and and an exemplar of 'discretionary accountability'.

Also,  this Council seems to be totally committed to secret backroom dealing contorary to its publish "values" ... https://www.launceston.tas.gov.au/Council/Our-Vision-Mission-and-Values.  See this on the CoL Website and think it through! Likewise, keep this quote in mind as you ponder these values ... “A body of men holding themselves accountable to nobody ought not to be trusted by anybody.” Thomas Paine

  Vision
Launceston is proud of its heritage and is a vibrant and inclusive community that is creative and sustainable, inspired by its diverse opportunities and rich natural environment.
Mission
We work together as one organisation to deliver quality and innovative services to our community.
Values
Integrity
  • We behave ethically
  • We tell the truth
  • We keep our commitments
  • We meet both the spirit and intent of the law
Stewardship
  • We care about people and the community in which we live
  • We operate safely
  • We are environmentally responsible
  • We strengthen the community   
Inclusion
  • We value diversity and respect the dignity of each person
  • We value differences in people and perspectives
  • We build relationships based on mutual trust
  • We recognise the contributions of every individual 
Initiative
  • We lead the way
  • We have the courage and creativity to shape the future
  • We have the discipline to manage risk
  • We act decisively in a timely manner
Teamwork
  • We work together to achieve superior results
  • We share ideas and talents to develop solutions
  • We support and rely on each other
  • We value clear and open communication 
Accountability
  • We take responsibility for our actions
  • We live our values
  • We set clear goals, measure results and seek to improve
  • We build and protect the Launceston brand and reputation 
                   

FROM THE EXAMINER

The Strategic Planning and Policy Committee will no longer operate

Local News
Launceston's Town Hall
 Launceston's Town Hall
The city council’s Strategic Planning and Policy Committee will be disbanded due to the public nature of its meetings.
Alderman agreed at Monday’s council meeting that it was difficult for matters to be discussed freely since the SPPC was first opened to the public in 2013.
“Indeed, the public nature of these meetings has caused issues for the council whereby matters are being prematurely released into the public realm before the council and council officers are able to thoroughly work through issues together,” the meeting agenda said.
“Accordingly, it is considered that the current SPPC is not fulfilling its primary purpose of providing a forum for aldermen and senior officers to consider significant long-term policy matters and as such it may be a more appropriate use of time and resources to dissolve the SPPC special committee in favour of council workshops.”
Council workshops are closed to the public and are often held at the conclusion of the committee meetings. 
“The opening up of the SPPC meetings to members of the public has caused fewer and fewer matters to be directed to these meetings,” the agenda said.
In 2015 the former general manager Robert Dobrzynski told The Examinerthe council was “in favour of transparency, which is why we have opened our SPPC meetings to the public …”
Many stories written by journalists at The Examiner have been sourced from information gathered at SPPC meetings.
Some of those from 2017 alone include:
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1 comment:

  1. Peed off Council worker3 January 2018 at 11:53

    Of course meetings are kept secret. Council spends $100 million every year and you'd expect a fair amount of it to 'stick' to various mates and managers, either directly as the money passes through their hands or to them for 'services', or indirectly by ramping up departmental budgets and management salaries, or through 'ratepayer transparent benefits' like overseas trips with all expenses paid etc. (e.g. Game of Mates - How favours bleed the nation: Murray & Frijters 2017). Controlling the money 'leaks' and making sure the books are fuzzy enough to hide them is closely held by the GM and CSM, while the aldermen are told plausible stories and/or offered other bribes like overseas trips or big note press stories. In other words they're mugs. So expect unquestioning dopes for aldermen, a dope in chief for Mayor and lots of undercover action that cannot possibly be 'explained' honestly to ratepayers. $100 million buys a lot of private sector favours and infinite 'nudge & wink' opportunities. Prove it? Only with State government help which is in the same boat really. The only people who can clean the rot up are part of the system.

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