Cameras aplenty, not at Council
• Main street Scottsdale and some of the 44 security cameras.
By Tony Scott,
June 30, 2021
Public and councillor question time, questions taken on notice from previous meetings.
Q: Karl Willrath - Scottsdale resident
In the three financial years before GM Watson recommended Mayor Howard be supplied with a fully funded vehicle, how many kilometres did Mayor Howard claim for in each given year?
A: Tim Watson - General Manager
The request is voluminous and the allocation of staff resources cannot be justified.
Q: Lawrence Archer – Bridport resident
Previous questions have revealed that the Aminya operating costs increased significantly in 2019/20 financial year to more than $1 million.
What was the increase over the previous financial year?
A: John Marik – Director of Corporate Services
Before answering the question, the previous answer pertaining to the 2019/20 net cost to Council requires further elaboration.
What was not explained was that a further $223,000 in State Government reimbursements had not been claimed in 2019/20 but was subsequently claimed in 2020/21.
The adjusted net cost to Council for 2019/20 is therefore $689,000.
This represents an increase of $368,000 over the previous financial year.
Q: Karl Willrath – Scottsdale resident
On what date did Mayor Howard take possession of the Mayoral car and thus stop using the per kilometre reimbursement method?
A: Tim Watson – General Manager
At the September 2019 Council Meeting, Council resolved to provide the Mayoral role with a fully maintained motor vehicle in accordance with Council’s operational plant and vehicles use Policy.
The motor vehicle was supplied to the Mayor on 29 October 2019.
Q: Karl Willrath – Scottsdale resident
Why does the Dorset Council have security cameras in main street Scottsdale, in the public areas of the Council officers, and in other areas around the Dorset Shire, but still do not have a camera on the Council meetings so people can see what our Councillors do/do not get up to?
A: Greg Howard – Mayor
Cameras placed around the community are for the identification of perpetrators of vandalism and unsocial behaviour.
They have proved very effective and have resulted in the successful prosecution of many of those involved.
Apart from a small number of exceptions, persons attending Council meetings usually behave in a courteous and responsible manner and pose reasonable questions which we do our best to answer.
Thus cameras are not required at meetings, plus the cost of erecting cameras at all of the nine venues across Dorset where we hold meetings would be quite prohibitive and not a wise spend of public money.
Any such cameras would only be likely to catch out the very poor behaviour exhibited by the aforementioned exceptions.
Q: Karl Willrath – Scottsdale resident
As the current municipal logo appears to be fit for purpose, what is the reason that no formal IP protection has not been taken out?
Section 336 of the Local Government Act 1993 only offers very limited protection.
A: Greg Howard – Mayor
There is no need.
Q: Karl Willrath Scottsdale resident
How many Dorset Council video surveillance cameras are in the Shire that cover streets, buildings, public toilets etc.?
A: Dwaine Griffin – Director of Works and Infrastructure
44.
Q: Karl Willrath - Scottsdale resident
Have GM Watson and all other office staff that are authorised to gain access to the Dorset CCT footage, had recent National Police checks?
A: Greg Howard – Mayor
No
Q: Edwina Powell – Councillor
So why is it that Council reports to the North Eastern Advertiser before it reports to Councillors?
Now you’ve explained that you have a weekly meeting, but I was surprised to read in reasonable detail the outcome of the scheduled appeal hearing on the matter of the Rail Trail development.
Since knowing about the six-week adjournment to allow Dorset Council to seek expert advice at this late stage on the matters raised, how much are these expert opinions costing Council.
It was stated at the last Council Meeting that the solicitor was pursuing grounds of appeal to be dismissed on judicial grounds and questioning the authority of the Tribunal to hear the appeal and it was explained that there would be a hope that it would be dismissed on that basis.
How much is this costing Council and what is the estimated cost of this appeal?
A: Rohan Willis – Director of Community & Development
The approximate six-week adjournment period was agreed to by both Council and the appellant to allow both parties opportunity to gather further information relating to the remaining ground of appeal, which is to be decided at a tribunal hearing in late June.
This appeal relates to water quality management; noting that a previous, additional appeal ground pursued by the appellant was dismissed by the tribunal.
Council remains optimistic that the tribunal will similarly determine the remaining appeal ground pursued by the appellant to be inapplicable to the Rail Trail application; however this will unfortunately not be established until the tribunal hearing has been held.
In the event that the tribunal, at the hearing, decided the appellant’s appeal ground to be an applicable consideration, Council would need to be equipped with information, to the tribunal’s satisfaction, demonstrating water quality would be adequately managed by the project.
This information is therefore being sourced by Council and will be presented at the hearing. The final cost of sourcing this information will be determined in due course, as will the total cost of the appeal.
Further, it should be noted that since 2013, the Rail Trail development application is the only development application to go before a tribunal hearing.
Although a handful of other applications have been appealed, these have all been resolved via agreement prior to proceeding to a hearing.
Public question time
Q: Lawrence Archer – Bridport resident
Dorset Council has a youth policy and a consultation policy. What consultation was undertaken with the youth/skaters in relation to the design and location of the new skate park proposed for Bridport?
A: Dwaine Griffin – Director of Infrastructure
The designer, who designs skate parks all around the state, and he did the consultation online and in person with the youth of Bridport. He communicated face to face with the ones that had concerns or ideas.
Q: Lawrence Archer – Bridport resident
Council has advertised just last week for tenders for the construction of the new skate park in Bridport. Is it proper process to advertise tenders before council approves the budget to fund the development?
A: Tim Watson – General Manager
I wouldn’t say it’s inappropriate if council decides tonight not to include that as part of the budget estimates then obviously it could come out.
We workshopped it and have funding for it so there is no reason that it won’t be approved tonight. I don’t have a problem with the process.
Q: Lawrence Archer – Bridport resident
Mayor Howard I am advised you are appealing a decision of the Local Government Code of Conduct Panel, when will that appeal be heard?
A: Greg Howard – Mayor
I can’t tell you because it has been adjourned subject to an intervention from the Attorney General.
Q: Lawrence Archer – Bridport resident
Is this a deliberate strategy of yours to delay the tabling of the code of conduct panel decision?
A: Greg Howard – Mayor
No, it was just a dumb decision on behalf of the panel.
They failed to follow due process the legislation offers the people the right of appeal which I’ve exercised.
Q: Karl Willrath – Scottsdale resident
Just a clarification in the question Lawrence Archer asked in regard to a of conduct complaint being appealed. Did you say the Attorney General Elise Archer intervened in a code of conduct complaint?
A: Greg Howard – Mayor
She has requested to be involved in the appeal.