LAUNCESTON COUNCIL MEETINGS: QUESTIONS ARISING

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Questions Arising

1 Why did the GM/CEO, acting as the meeting's Secretary, personalise the ratepayers' questions to the meeting and attribute them to the organisations' President as if they were his questions, his alone, and not questions posed on behalf of ratepayers and residents and drawn from ratepayers representations?

2 Also, given the nature of the COVID-19 Crisis and its impact upon the municipality's ratepayers' economic viability, why aren't staff salary reviews being considered at all levels? Indeed, what justification is there for not considering salary reviews relevant to the changed status of an officer/staffer in the obviously changed and changing circumstances relevant to the COVID-19 Crisis and the shifts evident relevant to social, financial and cultural realities currently and looking ahead?

3 In addition, is it appropriate, or in fact relevant, to dismiss a question asking about the duties and services that staff are employed or indeed redeployed to carry out and/or provide? In fact, was the dismissal an indication that Council regards the provision of such information as something that is not a relevant or legitimate concern for the municipality's ratepayers and residents?

4 Why might not the GM/CEO have been able to, possibly still unable to, provide an overview of what Council is exploring/considering in regard to repositioning its operation relevant to the COVID-19 Crisis currently and looking ahead beyond the need to observe social distancing?

5 Given the generous budget provisions in the 2019/2020 budget for marketing and external expert advice, not considering experts employed employed directly by Council, was the mode of presentation the most appropriate or the best possible relative to currently accessible technologies? In fact, was this a demonstration of Council's 21st Century technical competence and capability?

6 Is this meeting model, with adjustments in a post social distancing circumstance, to be a method used for community engagement?

7 Taking Cr Walker's concerns expressed during the meeting in consideration of the relevance of and the need for Council to delegate any further authority to the GM/CEO over and above his current power to disregard Council policy and strategic determinations, that are in use and have been used outside an emergency circumstance, was the delegation either appropriate or even necessary? In fact, what circumstance, in the context of the COVID-19 Crisis does the GM/CEO expect to actually need for this power over and above an beyond his current powers which in fact render the elected representatives functionally powerless in the wake of powers in the 1993 Act?

8 Taking the circumstance of the COVID-19 Crisis into account why wouldn't Council need to meet more frequently, rather than less frequently, given the GM/CEO's forecast of "unpredictability" looking forward months rather than a few weeks? In fact, the Council should, or could , be meeting weekly using current technology and enabling constituents to make contributions online, even indicate support or otherwise for a measure, so why isn't that opportunity being considered or on the agenda right now?

9 Given the circumstance of the COVID-19 Crisis and the flagged  "Community Care and Recovery Package" provisions, why is it focused upon, largely, Launceston's CBD when the entire municipality is being "rained on" and  only the CBD gets to be given an umbrella? In fact, Council has arguably overspent ratepayers investments via rates and eligible grants on the CBD, so why is it that these ratepayers being disproportionately considered over and above most others?

10 Given the circumstance of the COVID-19 Crisis how can Council continue to support the GM/CEO's strategic realignment that effectively increases the salary levels of a so-called senior executive basically doing the same work but new branding and titles? In fact, how can Council justify paying the GM/CEO the equivalent of the State's Premier's salary PLUS something like the equivalent of minimum wage ($741.00 per week) over and above that PLUS other benefits? In addition, comparing the Premier's KPIs and the GM/CEO's KPI's is this level of payment justifiable ad if so how can it be justified given the changed and changing circumstances?

11 Given the circumstance of the COVID-19 Crisis and budget outcomes in recent times that have regularly exceeded the GM/CEO's salary level by something in the order of something like  threefold for every million dollar overrun, and there have been multiple overruns exceeding several millions, how can Council justify expending ratepayers funds on executive salaries at current levels?

12 Given the circumstance of the COVID-19 Crisis, and beyond it, when can ratepayers expect Council to begin advising ratepayers and residents about what they can do rather imposing fees and penalties upon their constituency to support unsustainable property taxes etc. etc.?

13 Given that the Council is trusted with the community's investment in own collective wellbeing contributed via rates, taxes and fees, at what point will Councillors begin to consider that when determining appropriate policies and strategies relative to new and changing circumstances, economic and social circumstances, emerging in the wake of the COVID-19 Crisis?

14 Given that the Council is face with an unprecedented situation, and that its internal expert advice base cannot realistically provide the guarantees called for in Section 65 of the Local Govt. Act 1993, will Council actively seek community submissions for deliberation on open Council meetings. Alternatively, is Council proposing to continue to defer to the GM/CEO and accept all his written guarantees relative his advice being expert or provided by people he deems to have the required expertise?

NOTE: These questions hve been posed by various ratepayers and residents following the City of Launceston's meeting made available online. If others come to the association's attention they will be added to the list. Also, if Council provides answers to any of the questions the too will be posted. Please post your questions in the comments section below.