COUNCIL MEETING PROTEST STALLS SPECIAL RATE

We put our Protest case to Council on Tuesday night's City of Port Phillip Council meeting.

Congratulations to all the Speakers against the SMBA's special rate scheme - well done!

Although the process was again truncated (Questions were moved to Comment time, and then speakers were limited to a ridiculous 3 mins, effectively meaning Questions were NOT allowed in the time, and speakers could NOT put all their points.)

RESULTS:

The Protest point was made and Council has undertaken to do something.

Councillors suggest:

1. A 'Pause' on the striking of the rate ( NOTE: if they decide to eventually go ahead it could well be implemented retrospectively).

2. A 'Forum' so all involved can have a fair say about this rate.

Council advised they would not run this Forum, that SMBA should set it up, and it be independently moderated. (Who is that independent moderator???).

This begs the question AGAIN, who will be invited? because seeing as Council and SMBA DO NOT have a correct database, how will we know everyone has been contacted?

3. Council will then review the results of this forum and decide whether to "modify, reduce, expand or abandon" the scheme.

HOWEVER, the councillor who suggested this - Cr Frank O'Connor, stated adamantly that although he thought this review was now required in the light of our protests, that he was totally IN FAVOUR of the special rate and thought it should go ahead.

The Councillor who seconded this motion - Cr Serge Thomann, stated he also wanted the special rate to happen. So no objectivity there.

4. After the Forum is held, the Council proposed to POSSIBLY re-advertise the rate and start again, meaning we would all have the chance to vote again.

5.This is not certain however. If they try to modify the scheme and we are still not happy, remember we have OVER 300 signed objections.

ALSO Remember this - NOT ONE OF YOUR OBJECTIONS was included in the 'Consideration of Submissions Report to Council, Report 4'.

Not one.

They distorted the evidence, cut short our speaking time, many many points critical were not even put and ALL our questions remain unanswered.

A very diminished democracy indeed.