If the present Councillors don't like the voting system why haven't they worked hard to have it changed to a more appropriate system for a regional Council. They could have lobbied the minister for Local Government or taken the issue to local government conferences and get like-minded councils on side.
As I have said before it is a system that might be appropriate in large cities like Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong where political parties operate. But in a regional city it discourages individual members of the community from having a go. We need more individual voices on Council not groups voting in blocs and doing deals.
We need independent councillors who can represent the ratepayers with respect and reason.
Friday, 22 June 2012
Tuesday, 19 June 2012
Council committees
Very interesting night at some Council committee meetings last night. The Finance and Administration committee is fascinating. It would appear that the Council has something like $3 million of investments on their books which could probably be best described as "junk bonds".
Like a lot of Australian councils they bought some dubious investments and as maturity approaches we will find out how bad the situation is for our finances. But who made the decisions and how did the Councillors get on board.
Don't get me wrong, this stuff is complicated so we all need to ask questions and I certainly don't pretend that I am perfect. Perhaps we would still make the wrong decision but we must try. I have always asked questions when I don't understand. What do you do?
Make a comment or ask me a question. I'll try to answer.
Like a lot of Australian councils they bought some dubious investments and as maturity approaches we will find out how bad the situation is for our finances. But who made the decisions and how did the Councillors get on board.
Don't get me wrong, this stuff is complicated so we all need to ask questions and I certainly don't pretend that I am perfect. Perhaps we would still make the wrong decision but we must try. I have always asked questions when I don't understand. What do you do?
Make a comment or ask me a question. I'll try to answer.
Saturday, 16 June 2012
The Thurley Team
As you all know it's difficult, almost impossible, to get elected unless you have a group square above the line. To do that you need a group of at least 5 people.
I can now say that I have a group all of whom would be very able Councillors. The most important thing is that I have a number 2 who would be a great Councillor and is prepared to back me and the group. Ordette Mannering is standing at number 2 on the team. I'll let you know soon who the others are but they are all credible people who can give me great feedback and advice.
We want to bring respect and reason into the equation. Respect for all other Councillors even if we don't agree. We should all be prepared to argue strongly for the things we believe in but when the vote is taken we need to respect the decision made democratically.
And of course reason! Decisions need to be made with the evidence and the facts as much as possible. Get the evidence, talk to the ratepayers and listen and then try to make the best decision on the balance of the evidence. I know I will not be able to satisfy everyone about everything but I will be able to be honest and sincere and work as part of a team to bring about better governance than we have had for the last 4 years.
I can now say that I have a group all of whom would be very able Councillors. The most important thing is that I have a number 2 who would be a great Councillor and is prepared to back me and the group. Ordette Mannering is standing at number 2 on the team. I'll let you know soon who the others are but they are all credible people who can give me great feedback and advice.
We want to bring respect and reason into the equation. Respect for all other Councillors even if we don't agree. We should all be prepared to argue strongly for the things we believe in but when the vote is taken we need to respect the decision made democratically.
And of course reason! Decisions need to be made with the evidence and the facts as much as possible. Get the evidence, talk to the ratepayers and listen and then try to make the best decision on the balance of the evidence. I know I will not be able to satisfy everyone about everything but I will be able to be honest and sincere and work as part of a team to bring about better governance than we have had for the last 4 years.
Thursday, 7 June 2012
Deja vu
I've just come back from a week's holiday and reading the paper makes me feel like I've never been away. One Councillor calls another a liar and asks a third Councillor, who she hasn't talked to for 4 years, to corroborate the story that he lies. So another council meeting where the pressing issues for the ratepayers are secondary to the personal attacks and vitriol.
Isn't it time to change and that means we need some new blood on Council.
I can tell you that I have a good second member on my team and we will soon announce the group that will stand in September. Now I will have a group voting square and you can vote for me and my team with a vote above the line. I would also encourage you to vote below the line where you must number 5 boxes to cast a valid vote. My suggestion is that you number 9 boxes and make it clear to Councillors where they stand in your estimation. Who you want, who you will have and who you don't want.
If you send me a message I will listen so send a strong message to the other candidates to show that you are fed up with the way things are.
Isn't it time to change and that means we need some new blood on Council.
I can tell you that I have a good second member on my team and we will soon announce the group that will stand in September. Now I will have a group voting square and you can vote for me and my team with a vote above the line. I would also encourage you to vote below the line where you must number 5 boxes to cast a valid vote. My suggestion is that you number 9 boxes and make it clear to Councillors where they stand in your estimation. Who you want, who you will have and who you don't want.
If you send me a message I will listen so send a strong message to the other candidates to show that you are fed up with the way things are.
More shenanigans
I went on holiday for a week and when I came back it was deja vu. One Councillor calls another a liar and asks another Councillor who she doesn't talk to to corroborate a story! I really don't know how much business was discussed at last Monday's meeting.
Cr Betteridge has a team and he wants to see "an end to the brawling". Perhaps he could arrange for our publicans to give the Councillors a drink before meetings and it might calm them down. It doesn't seem to work in Dean Street but maybe our Councillors are more mature and can handle a quiet drink.
And now we read that candidates are struggling to get teams together. I am too but people should be ready to support good experienced people who have the interests of the city at heart and are prepared to put in. If you don't like the teams then vote below the line and choose the people you want to represent you and get things done for Albury.
Cr Betteridge has a team and he wants to see "an end to the brawling". Perhaps he could arrange for our publicans to give the Councillors a drink before meetings and it might calm them down. It doesn't seem to work in Dean Street but maybe our Councillors are more mature and can handle a quiet drink.
And now we read that candidates are struggling to get teams together. I am too but people should be ready to support good experienced people who have the interests of the city at heart and are prepared to put in. If you don't like the teams then vote below the line and choose the people you want to represent you and get things done for Albury.
Thursday, 24 May 2012
Council Voting System
Because of the power of political parties and the party political nature of council elections in places such as Sydney, Newcastle and Woollongong we too are saddled with an optional preferential voting system where we have a choice of voting above the line for a group of candidates. In big cities this would often be a political party. Above the line we only have to place one number for it to be a valid vote but you can number more squares if you wish.
Or we can vote below the line for each candidate. Unless you have a group (5 people needed in the case of Albury) yor name will be placed at the right hand side of the ballot paper below the line as an ungrouped candidate. Voters must now number at least 5 squares for their vote to be ballot and may number as many squares as they wish. Remember there are 9 positions to be filled.
So what does all this mean? Looking back at the last two elections only 30% of votes were cast below the line which means that it is very hard for an ungrouped candidate to be elected. In voting above the line your are really just voting for the first person in the group. The others are there in effect to make up the numbers. At the 2008 elections only one candidate who was not top of a group was elected. That was Cr Angus who got only 52 votes but was elected because he was in Cr Gould's group and she got a large number of votes. Many other candidates who got more votes than Cr Angus were not elected.
If you want to choose your candidates at this election the best way is to vote 1 - 9 below the line!
Or we can vote below the line for each candidate. Unless you have a group (5 people needed in the case of Albury) yor name will be placed at the right hand side of the ballot paper below the line as an ungrouped candidate. Voters must now number at least 5 squares for their vote to be ballot and may number as many squares as they wish. Remember there are 9 positions to be filled.
So what does all this mean? Looking back at the last two elections only 30% of votes were cast below the line which means that it is very hard for an ungrouped candidate to be elected. In voting above the line your are really just voting for the first person in the group. The others are there in effect to make up the numbers. At the 2008 elections only one candidate who was not top of a group was elected. That was Cr Angus who got only 52 votes but was elected because he was in Cr Gould's group and she got a large number of votes. Many other candidates who got more votes than Cr Angus were not elected.
If you want to choose your candidates at this election the best way is to vote 1 - 9 below the line!
Tuesday, 22 May 2012
Blogger: Blogger Dashboard
As a result of a story in the Border, the David St works will not go ahead this weekend. Cr Van de Ven talked to the relevant Council staff and it has been agreed that there will be more consultation and then a decision will be made.
This is a sensible move but the consultation process needs to be open to all not, just the business owners in David Street. The trees and the street belong to the ratepayers of Albury.
For me it's not just about the trees or the parking. It's about how we want our city to look and feel. Are the traffic problems in David Street so bad that we should spend $60,000, remove 8 trees and remove 30 car parking places? What are the traffic problems. Where are the studies of queueing times and traffic volumes that justify the proposed works?
This is a sensible move but the consultation process needs to be open to all not, just the business owners in David Street. The trees and the street belong to the ratepayers of Albury.
For me it's not just about the trees or the parking. It's about how we want our city to look and feel. Are the traffic problems in David Street so bad that we should spend $60,000, remove 8 trees and remove 30 car parking places? What are the traffic problems. Where are the studies of queueing times and traffic volumes that justify the proposed works?
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