• Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Read Our Newspapers Online
    • Read the Latest Western Port News
    • Read the Latest Mornington News
    • Read the Latest Southern Peninsula News
    • Read the Latest Frankston Times
    • Read the Latest Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending
  • Win drought ends for Langy
  • Brown has another talented stayer on his hands
  • Pythons win a close one, Kangaroos clear on top
  • An update on activities in Balnarring
  • Morris calls on Wynne to ‘end’ Ryman application
  • Happy finish to greyhound’s run
  • Prom catch threat to bays’ whiting
  • Experts fancy strait flight for parrots
Facebook Twitter
MPNEWSMPNEWS
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
MPNEWSMPNEWS
Home»Council Watch»Fraser returns with rules feedback
Council Watch

Fraser returns with rules feedback

By Keith PlattJuly 12, 2021Updated:July 13, 2021No Comments3 Mins Read
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

UNDEMOCRATIC, manifestly inadequate, vague, ambiguous and absurdly long [time for lodging notices of motion] are just some of the words by former councillor Hugh Fraser to describe proposed changes to rules under which Mornington Peninsula Shire operates.

Mr Fraser’s detailed critique of parts of the draft Governance Rules is made in one of the submissions now being collated by shire officers.

Councillors will be briefed on the feedback from the public to the proposed changes on 3 August, and the Governance Rules will then be listed for discussion at the council’s 24 August public meeting.

Mr Fraser’s main objections to the proposed changes are centred around the powers of the chief executive officer, including the CEO’s ability to rule on what items are confidential, accept notices of motion and correct “factual errors” raised during meetings.

Mr Fraser resigned as a Nepean ward councillor in March, just four months after being elected for the third successive time (“Fraser bows out after “differences” with CEO” The News 15/3/21).

However, Mr Fraser also aims some of his scathing criticism to a proposal to replace the council prayer, traditionally spoken before a council meeting, with a pledge.   

When calling for feedback about the Governance Rules in May, the shire said that “in particular council seeks your input in relation to the prayer”.

Cr Anthony Marsh was supported by a majority of councillors last December in having the wording of the council prayer replaced by a pledge, although it was still listed as a prayer on subsequent council meeting agendas (“God purged from council prayer” The News 14/12/20).

The shire’s in-house lawyer, governance director Amanda Sapolu, advised council that the wording could be changed provided it was still labelled as a prayer.

Mr Fraser, a barrister, disagreed at the time and wants the traditional prayer retained, “not words of a civil pledge masquerading under the heading of prayer”.

“The civil pledge adds nothing to councillors’ statutory and sworn duties and introduces a needless ambiguity,” Mr Fraser said.

“The prayer … with words of prayer, is consistent with over 3000 years of Judeo -Christian tradition that underpins Australian politics, law and morals, is referred to in the Australian Constitution and a prayer it is said at the commencement of daily sittings of federal and state houses of parliament.

“If local government truly considers itself as a third tier of government in Australia, local council deliberations ought consistently to do so and remind councillors of their humanity and humility as democratic representatives of the community.”

When calling for public comment on the proposed changes to its Governance Rules, the shire said it was “committed to working with the community to improve public confidence in the decisions it makes and to ensure decisions reflect the best interests of all sections of our community”.

Mr Fraser said “the only window” for designating information as confidential should be in accord with the Local Government Act.

He said requiring councillors to lodge notices of motion two weeks before a council meeting was “absurdly long” and a requirement for a rescission motion or revocation motion to be signed by two councillors (including one who had previously supported the resolution) was “undemocratically wide”.

“[This] undermines this principle and is an undemocratic process contrary to all principle and the individual responsibility of each councillor.”

First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 13 July 2021

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

Related Posts

Shire offers $500,000 to performing arts

May 2, 2022

Mayor claims record in trust appointment

April 26, 2022

Councillors split over colleague’s course

April 19, 2022

Shire sets aside $300,000 for CFAs

April 11, 2022
Add A Comment

Comments are closed.

Weather
May 20, 2022 - Fri
Mornington, Australia
12°C
overcast clouds
overcast clouds
4 m/s, SSE
66%
774.07 mmHg
fri05/20 sat05/21 sun05/22 mon05/23 tue05/24
broken clouds
14/10°C
sky is clear
12/11°C
sky is clear
13/11°C
few clouds
12/10°C
sky is clear
13/10°C
Peninsula Essence Magazine

Click here to read

April 27, 2022
Peninsula Kids Magazine

Click here to read

March 2, 2022
Council Watch

Shire offers $500,000 to performing arts

May 2, 2022

Mayor claims record in trust appointment

April 26, 2022
Elections 2022

Shire accused of being off track with pledges

May 17, 2022

Security takes precedence

May 17, 2022

Liberals slide as independents climb

May 17, 2022
Interview

Volunteers track koalas for science

May 2, 2022
Property of the Week

278 Dundas Street, Rye

May 11, 2022
100 Years Ago This Week

An update on activities in Balnarring

May 17, 2022
Contact
Street: 63 Watt Road, Mornington, 3931
Mailing: PO Box 588, Hastings, 3915
Menu
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
About

Established in 2006, Mornington Peninsula News Group (MPNG) is a locally owned and operated, independent media company.

MPNG publishes five weekly community newspapers: the Western Port News, Mornington News, Southern Peninsula News, Frankston Times and Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News.

MPNG also publishes two glossy magazines: Peninsula Essence and Peninsula Kids.

Facebook Twitter
© 2022 Mornington Peninsula News Group.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.