An apology was received on behalf of Councillor Lalios for this meeting.

Moved:                       Cr Kelly

Seconded:               Cr Kirkham

THAT Councillor Lalios’ apology be accepted.

Carried

Immediately after the motion was voted on, Cr Kirkham called for a division which resulted in the following votes being recorded.

For

Cr Pavlidis

Cr Kozmevski

Cr Kirkham

Cr Alessi

Cr Kelly

Cr Monteleone

Cr Desiato

Cr Sterjova

Cr Joseph

Against

Nil

Abstained

Cr Cox

Based on the votes cast during the Division, the motion was carried.

carried

THAT Council resolve to request the Minister for Local Government to appoint a Municipal Monitor for a period of 18 months.

The Monitor is requested to review and report on the following areas:

a)   Council governance processes and practices; and

b)   Provide advice to Whittlesea City Council about governance improvements Council should make.

Moved:                       Cr Monteleone

Seconded:               Cr Kirkham

THAT Council resolve to request the Minister for Local Government to appoint a Municipal Monitor for a period of 18 months.

The Monitor is requested to review and report on the following areas:

a)    Council governance processes and practices; and

b)    Provide advice to Whittlesea City Council about governance improvements Council should make.

Moved:                       Cr Cox

Seconded:               Cr Alessi

THAT Council resolve to amend the motion as follows:

Insert a new Section 1 as follows;

1.    Note the following:

a)            Despite several procedural resolutions in attempt to delay implementation of council operations council business has progressed normally;

b)            Despite the unruly behavioural changes that have occurred since the 2017 Mayoral election, Council has been able to implement policies and decisions;

c)            These include and are not limited to proposed changes to Procedural Matters Local Law which is currently out for public comment;

d)            The 2018/19 Budget and the Council Action Plan also out for public input;

e)            A Council retreat to improve Councillor relationships and behaviours;

f)             A number of ejections from Council meetings following refusal to withdraw comments or failure to adhere to direction from the chair;

g)            A number of failures to adhere to Code of Conduct;

h)            Recent introduction of new Council/staff protocol following allegations of inappropriate councillor behaviour;

i)             Use of media statements to portray Council as non-operational;

j)             The failure of Councillors to attend meetings on 12 December 2017 and 1 May 2018 despite being appropriately summonsed in accord with the Local Government Act.

Insert a new section 2a to modify the time period so that the section would read:

2.    a)                   Request the Minister for Local Government to appoint a Municipal Monitor             for a period of 6 months.

Insert a new section 2b to read as follows;

2.    b)          The Monitor, if appointed, is requested to review and report on the                           following areas:

Insert a new sub section to point (2b) which incorporate points (a) and (b) of the original motion as follows;

                       i.       Council governance processes and practices. Noting the constant interjections under Point of Order to continue debating;

                      ii.       The failure of individual Councillors to follow direction from the chair;

                    iii.       The failure to withdraw inappropriate comments when directed by the chair;

                    iv.       Review the outcomes and application of the principles from the Council retreat related to meeting procedures and behaviours; and

                     v.       Provide appropriate advice to Whittlesea City Council about governance improvements that can be made.

After the above amendments are incorporated, the amended motion reads as follows;

THAT Council resolve to:

1.    Note the following:

a)       Despite several procedural resolutions in attempt to delay implementation of council operations council business has progressed normally;

b)       Despite the unruly behavioural changes that have occurred since the 2017 Mayoral election, Council has been able to implement policies and decisions;

c)       These include and are not limited to proposed changes to Procedural Matters Local Law which is currently out for public comment;

d)       The 2018/19 Budget and the Council Action Plan also out for public input;

e)       A Council retreat to improve Councillor relationships and behaviours;

f)        A number of ejections from Council meetings following refusal to withdraw comments or failure to adhere to direction from the chair;

g)       A number of failures to adhere to Code of Conduct;

h)       Recent introduction of new Council/staff protocol following allegations of inappropriate councillor behaviour;

i)         Use of media statements to portray Council as non-operational;

j)         The failure of Councillors to attend meetings on 12 December 2017 and 1 May 2018 despite being appropriately summonsed in accord with the Local Government Act.

2.    a)         Request the Minister for Local Government to appoint a Municipal Monitor for a period of 6 months.

       b)         The Monitor, if appointed, is requested to review and report on the following areas:

i)     Council governance processes and practices. Noting the constant interjections under Point of Order to continue debating;

ii)    The failure of individual Councillors to follow direction from the chair;

iii)   The failure to withdraw inappropriate comments when directed by the chair;

iv)  Review the outcomes and application of the principles from the Council retreat related to meeting procedures and behaviours; and

v)    Provide appropriate advice to Whittlesea City Council about governance improvements that can be made.

Moved:                       Cr Sterjova

Seconded:               Cr Kirkham

THAT Council resolve to extend the speaking time for Cr Cox for a further two minutes.

CARRIED

Moved:                       Cr Kelly

Seconded:               Cr Desiato

THAT Council resolve to extend the speaking time for Cr Kirkham for a further two minutes.

CARRIED

Moved:                       Cr Kirkham

Seconded:               Cr Desiato

THAT Council resolve to extend the speaking time for Cr Kelly for a further two minutes.

CARRIED

Moved:                       Cr Cox

Seconded:               Cr Kozmevski

THAT Council resolve to extend the speaking time for Cr Alessi for a further two minutes.

CARRIED

Moved:                       Cr Cox

Seconded:               Cr Alessi

THAT Council resolve to amend the motion as follows:

1.    Note the following:

a)            Despite several procedural resolutions in attempt to delay implementation of council operations council business has progressed normally;

b)            Despite the unruly behavioural changes that have occurred since the 2017 Mayoral election, Council has been able to implement policies and decisions;

c)            These include and are not limited to proposed changes to Procedural Matters Local Law which is currently out for public comment;

d)            The 2018/19 Budget and the Council Action Plan also out for public input;

e)            A Council retreat to improve Councillor relationships and behaviours;

f)             A number of ejections from Council meetings following refusal to withdraw comments or failure to adhere to direction from the chair;

g)            A number of failures to adhere to Code of Conduct;

h)            Recent introduction of new Council/staff protocol following allegations of inappropriate councillor behaviour;

i)             Use of media statements to portray Council as non-operational;

j)             The failure of Councillors to attend meetings on 12 December 2017 and 1 May 2018 despite being appropriately summonsed in accord with the Local Government Act.

2.    a)         Request the Minister for Local Government to appoint a Municipal Monitor for a period of 6 months.

       b)         The Monitor, if appointed, is requested to review and report on the following areas:

                              i.        Council governance processes and practices. Noting the constant interjections under Point of Order to continue debating;

                            ii.        The failure of individual Councillors to follow direction from the chair;

                           iii.        The failure to withdraw inappropriate comments when directed by the chair;

                           iv.        Review the outcomes and application of the principles from the Council retreat related to meeting procedures and behaviours; and

                            v.        Provide appropriate advice to Whittlesea City Council about governance improvements that can be made.

The amendment was put and carried and became the substantive motion.

carried

Moved:                       Cr Kelly

Seconded:               Cr Kirkham

THAT Council resolve to include the following to part 1 of the substantive motion;

k)    Inconsistencies in the Mayor’s chairing and rulings

l)     Processes surrounding the assurance audit in relation to the departure of the previous Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Michael Wootten.

m)  Inconsistencies and inaccuracies of Council Minutes since November 2017

n)    Closure of the 6 February 2018 Council Meeting

o)    Abuse of power by the chairperson in exercising her legislative and local law meeting procedure.

p)    To review the Monitors finding at the end of the six month term.

Moved:                       Cr Kirkham

Seconded:               Cr Monteleone

THAT Council resolve to extend the speaking time for Cr Kirkham for a further two minutes.

LOST

Moved:                       Cr Cox

Seconded:               Cr Sterjova

THAT Council resolve to extend the speaking time for Cr Alessi for a further two minutes.

CARRIED

Moved:                       Cr Kelly

Seconded:               Cr Kirkham

THAT Council resolve to include the following to the substantive motion;

k)    Inconsistencies in the Mayor’s chairing and rulings

l)     Processes surrounding the assurance audit in relation to the departure of the previous Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Michael Wootten.

m)  Inconsistencies and inaccuracies of Council Minutes since November 2017

n)    Closure of the 6 February 2018 Council Meeting

o)    Abuse of power by the chairperson in exercising her legislative and local law meeting procedure.

p)    To review the Monitors finding at the end of the six month term.

LOST

Moved:                       Cr Kirkham

Seconded:               Cr Sterjova

THAT Council resolve to extend the speaking time for Cr Desiato for a further two minutes.

CARRIED

Moved:                       Cr Joseph

Seconded:               Cr Cox

THAT Council resolve to extend the speaking time for Cr Alessi for a further two minutes.

CARRIED

Moved:                       Cr Sterjova

Seconded:               Cr Alessi

THAT Council resolve to extend the speaking time for Cr Cox for a further two minutes.

CARRIED

Moved:                       Cr Kirkham

Seconded:               Cr Monteleone

THAT Council resolve to extend the speaking time for Cr Kirkham for a further two minutes.

LOST

Moved:                       Cr Monteleone

Seconded:               Cr Kirkham

THAT Council resolve to:

1.    Note the following:

a)            Despite several procedural resolutions in attempt to delay implementation of council operations council business has progressed normally;

b)            Despite the unruly behavioural changes that have occurred since the 2017 Mayoral election, Council has been able to implement policies and decisions;

c)            These include and are not limited to proposed changes to Procedural Matters Local Law which is currently out for public comment;

d)            The 2018/19 Budget and the Council Action Plan also out for public input;

e)            A Council retreat to improve Councillor relationships and behaviours;

f)             A number of ejections from Council meetings following refusal to withdraw comments or failure to adhere to direction from the chair;

g)            A number of failures to adhere to Code of Conduct;

h)            Recent introduction of new Council/staff protocol following allegations of inappropriate councillor behaviour;

i)             Use of media statements to portray Council as non-operational;

j)             The failure of Councillors to attend meetings on 12 December 2017 and 1 May 2018 despite being appropriately summonsed in accord with the Local Government Act.

2.    a)         Request the Minister for Local Government to appoint a Municipal Monitor for a period of 6 months.

       b)         The Monitor, if appointed, is requested to review and report on the following areas:

i)             Council governance processes and practices. Noting the constant interjections under Point of Order to continue debating;

ii)            The failure of individual Councillors to follow direction from the chair;

iii)          The failure to withdraw inappropriate comments when directed by the chair;

iv)          Review the outcomes and application of the principles from the Council retreat related to meeting procedures and behaviours; and

v)           Provide appropriate advice to Whittlesea City Council about governance improvements that can be made.

The substantive motion was put and carried.

CARRIED