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Welcome to 'Democracy' Manly Style

15/4/2016

14 Comments

 
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​It is very clear that the decision had already been made before the Councillors formally voted on Tuesday night on the successful tenderers for the Oval Car Park and Whistler Street site. Otherwise how can you explain the detailed information board being erected in Whistler Street on Friday morning?

Whether you agree with the proposals or not, you have a right to expect that due process will be followed.
 
From day one, this has not been the case with the Liberal-led Manly2015 Plan.
  • Time and time again legitimate Notices of Motion lodged by the non-Liberal councillors have been illegally refused by the General Manager and not put on the agenda.
  • Relevant information and important reports have been withheld.
  • The Local Government Act has been flaunted.
  • Pleas to the Local Member, Mike Baird, have been to no avail.
  • Ongoing complaints to the Office of Local Government have simply been filed, and no action taken.
  • A formal complaint lodged with the Minister of Local Government was brushed aside.

Then we had the tender process …

Tenders closed on 15th March.
On the 30th March a last minute (unscheduled) 20 minute presentation was given by the General Manager on the recommended tenders to Councillors saying the staff report had been finalised.
 
An extraordinary meeting was called for Tuesday 12th April.  Councillors were given notice on Thursday 7th April that they could view the tenders (massive documents) before the Extraordinary meeting the following Tuesday.  Councillors were required to sign not one, but two confidentiality agreements.
 
But this week was the absolute pits ….
 
On the night of the meeting, the general public were refused access to the Council Chambers to hear the start of the meeting.  Although a closed session was proposed none the less the law states that it’s the Councillors who decide, not the General Manager, and that a vote needs to be taken to go into closed session at the start of the meeting.  This was not done.
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Rangers refused access to some 80 local residents who turned up to hear the debate.  The police were called.  The meeting went ahead with the blinds closed and the doors locked. Attempts by the non-Liberals for the correct procedure to be followed were refused.

That wasn’t the end of it.
Although the meeting was in ‘closed session’ and therefore I am not permitted to report on what was discussed in the meeting, I don’t think you have to be Einstein to work out how the vote went – based on statements made by the four non-Liberal Councillors (Candy Bingham, Barbara Aird, Cathy Griffin and Hugh Burns) prior to the meeting and the ongoing recorded stand by the five Liberal Councillors led by the Mayor Jean Hay.
 
Councillors were told there was no opportunity for them, or the public, to make comments or suggestions about the winning tenders but that any feedback could be made at the time of the Development Application.  (This is exactly what was done with the Indoor Pool complex and we all know how well that has gone).
 
A rescission motion, signed by all four non-Liberal Councillors, was lodged after the meeting at 10.06pm by email.  But it was refused on the basis that the tenderers had already been notified.  (Not sure that a phone call to tenderers after 9pm is usual business practice?)
 
Then to add insult to injury ….
The very next day the winning tenders were announced on Manly Council’s website with substantial photographs, copy and a fly-though video which had not even being seen by the Councillors!

Two days later Council staff were erecting an elaborate information board in Whistler Street with all the details about the Oval Car Park and Whistler Street winning tenders.   That’s two days later … you think they would at least have had the decency to pretend the final decision was made by the full council and allow some time to look as though everything hadn’t been pre-prepared and ready to go.

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Impressive information boards were erected just days after the Council voted to proceed with the Oval Car Park and Whistler Street site redevelopment.

How is this possible unless the work had already been commissioned?
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As I said, democracy is dead in Manly.  The announcement of council amalgamations is expected to be in the next 10 weeks – what a mess the new Council will be left with.
 
But it is not over.  The Save Manly Oval Alliance has committed to fight the decisions firstly at the Development Application stage, and then in the Land & Environment Court if necessary.  They have my full support. 
14 Comments
Michelle
17/4/2016 07:40:52 am

According to Bairds office, the only way to get action against this council is to use the electoral process. Really... Wait for years saying nothing? Because they were elected they think that have the right to treat people and process with disrespect. No wonder the people are sick to death of these ongoing displays of power and corruption. Look globally .. It's sickening! Sad to think we are no different even in small town manly!

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Bruce Webb
17/4/2016 09:58:44 am

The residents and ratepayers can apply the methodology to the local state member. So, Mike Baird should enjoy the moment as Premier because if he does not hold his local seat then he'll be out, surely he has thought about this but on the other hand...

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Dr Susan Steggall link
17/4/2016 07:52:34 am

I concur with everything Candy Bingham has outlined, above. The actions and behaviour by Manly's 'Liberal' (surely an oxymoron!) were a disgrace to the democratic process.
I was part of that orderly, intelligent crowd outside Manly's Council Chambers on the evening of 12 April. Several members of SMOA spoke in reasoned and reasonable tones but it was clearly that every woman and man in that crowd were angry at the way their elected representatives were treating them.
I have looked at the 'pretty pictures' on Manly Council's news sites and I dismiss them as worthless. I intend to walk past any information panels littering our streets without a second glance, considering them little more than visual pollution.

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Susan Steggall link
17/4/2016 07:54:06 am

I concur with everything Candy Bingham has outlined, above. The actions and behaviour by Manly's 'Liberal' (surely an oxymoron!) were a disgrace to the democratic process.
I was part of that orderly, intelligent crowd outside Manly's Council Chambers on the evening of 12 April. Several members of SMOA spoke in reasoned and reasonable tones but it was clearly that every woman and man in that crowd were angry at the way their elected representatives were treating them.
I have looked at the 'pretty pictures' on Manly Council's news sites and I dismiss them as worthless. I intend to walk past any information panels littering our streets without a second glance, considering them little more than visual pollution.

Reply
Dr Susan Steggall link
17/4/2016 07:54:53 am

I concur with everything Candy Bingham has outlined, above. The actions and behaviour by Manly's 'Liberal' (surely an oxymoron!) were a disgrace to the democratic process.
I was part of that orderly, intelligent crowd outside Manly's Council Chambers on the evening of 12 April. Several members of SMOA spoke in reasoned and reasonable tones but it was clearly that every woman and man in that crowd were angry at the way their elected representatives were treating them.
I have looked at the 'pretty pictures' on Manly Council's news sites and I dismiss them as worthless. I intend to walk past any information panels littering our streets without a second glance, considering them little more than visual pollution.

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Edmund Maher
17/4/2016 10:12:46 am

This disgraceful behaviour by this clique in the Manly Council is the greatest reason for Council amalgamation to rid ourselves of dictatorial and unrepresentative members

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Jonathan Westley
17/4/2016 11:03:03 am

Shenanigans

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Warren Riley
17/4/2016 12:19:57 pm

Why am I not surprised. From the day that Mr. Wong took control, the opinion of the residents and particularly the ratepayers went out the window. Apparently, every council that he managed has experienced the same dictatorial behaviour. It's Henry's way or the highway. Similar events occurred in the Lane Cove council. So much for OLG and in fact Manly Council's own directive to the councillors "Councillors are the representatives of and accountable to their Community". Their behaviour on Tuesday night was deplorable and shows their total disregard for their ultimate employers. Amalgamation has to be better than this.

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Jim Mitchell
17/4/2016 12:35:35 pm

Yes a poor outcome the oval car park proposal is just too small, a lost opportunity to build more much needed spaces and free the streets up for residents. Need a campaign to address the parking issue as the permit system is not working.
Thanks again Candy for keeping the residents informed.

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S. Roper
17/4/2016 02:23:22 pm

Bring on council amalgamation!

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Michael Ace
17/4/2016 02:45:24 pm

This was really 'bottom of the bird cage" stuff on the part of those 4 brain dead liberal councillors, all jumping to jean hays whip.
It's amazing how those councillors under the jean hay whip, implore the Manly rate payers to take action against an amalgamation BUT seem totally deaf when we rate payers expect a fair hearing against the stupidity of a car park under the oval.....??

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Ian Thomson
18/4/2016 06:33:20 pm

I have voted Liberal for many years, but these 5 councillors have changed my mind. It seems that they along with some government decisions are ignoring the people who put them where they are.

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davidand Irene Sticpewich link
21/4/2016 08:14:40 pm

we both agree with jim mitchell we lived in lane cove for over 30 years and it breaks my heart to retun there there is so much high rise there now anyone could take a drive down mowbray rd from pacific h/way towards ryde one side is lane cove and you can pick where the develophers have been given free range to pull down nice houses and ruined a village other nice streets have also been taken over.Bring on a council election and also a state election save our village.

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    Candy Bingham, Manly Ward Councillor on Northern Beaches Council posts what's making news and issues relevant to Manly on this blog. 

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