Integrity and transparency

Integrity and transparency are key concerns for me as a resident and prospective councillor.

If elected to council, I commit to:

Improved consultation with residents and improve communication on local issues and Council decisions.
Listening to residents and respecting their input.

I will not support the gagging of debate on Council motions using "I move that the motion be put"

Councillors should represent their residents, not the interests of a political party

We need and expect genuine consultation on local issues and policies with better transparency free from party politics. Negative party politics has been a serious problem with previous Boroondara councils.

Some people use council as a stepping stone for their political career. For example, Cr Cynthia Watson and Cr Nick Stavrou both retained their positions on council while they were campaigning as candidates in the last Victorian state election. Ref: Two Liberal candidates to keep council positions during campaign, The Age

Most local governments in Victoria ask councillors to temporarily step down when they formally nominate to contest a state or federal election. But Cr Watson and Cr Stavrou both voted to support a motion that allowed them to keep their active council roles, despite a clear conflict of interest.

I am not a member of any political party. I will represent residents, not party politics.

Council must have a good working relationship with the state government

Boroondara Council needs a good working relationship with the Victorian Government to get good outcomes for our community whichever party is in power.

Local election candidates who belong to a political party are not true independents

The Age surveyed key issues candidates across 31 councils in Greater Melbourne say they will back if elected. This article includes an interactive search of what candidates told the Age: Victorian council elections 2024: What your candidates said.

A councillor who is a member of a political party will often vote following backroom party agreements rather then representing residents in their ward.

Removal of the Birdcage Parklet in Balwyn East Shopping Centre - Cr Watson ignored residents

The "Birdcage Parklet" was initiated and funded by Council at a cost of $70,000 in November 2020 and was appreciated by local residents as a friendly space to meet and have a break.

During 2023 community consultation 72% of 237 respondents supported footpath widening and retaining the parklet.
Over 2,300 people signed petitions (online and on paper) to keep the parklet
Councillor Officers recommended widening the footpath and making the parklet permanent.

However, on 8 July 2024, Cr Cynthia Watson (Maranoa Ward) ignored community feedback and did not put the council officer's motion. Instead she put a motion to remove the parklet. The council voted to remove the parklet, including Cr Watson (8 for, Cr Victor Franco & Cr Wes Gault against), and now its gone.

If elected, I will seek to have this decision reviewed.

Boroondara needs a transparency hub

It is very difficult to find out how a councillor voted during their term on council. How an individual councillor votes is currently not recorded unless a division is called, as Cr Franco has done repeatedly.

Some councillors claim they support an issue or policy but then vote against it.

The City of Frankston’s Transparency Hub is an example of how residents can get easy access to information about decisions, council data, stories, reports, detailed financial records, asset management data, procurement data and councillor voting records.

If elected as Councillor for Maranoa Ward I will advocate for Boroondara to provide a similar portal to residents.

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse