Peter Bernard - 26 June 2018

Peter Bernard made the below comments at the Ordinary Council Meeting 26 June 2018.

COUNCIL/COMMUNITY COMMUNICATIONS .

LIVE STREAMING OF PUBLIC FORUM.

MADAM MAYOR IT WILL BE RECALLED THAT I HAVE PREVIOUSLY ADDRESSED THIS COUNCL IN PUBLIC ACCESS AND REQUESTED THAT THE LIVE STREAMINING OF PUBLIC ACCESS OF NON AGENDAS ITEMS BE INTRODUCED..

YOU INDICATED THAT YOU WOULD GIVE YOUR IT YOUR ATTENTION! WOULD YOU PLEASE ADVISE THE PUBLIC AND I WHAT STEPS, IF ANY, HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO INTRODUCE THIS. IF NOT WILL YOU REAFFIRM YOUR PREVIOUS SUPPORT. AS I HAVE STATED BEFORE I BELIEVE LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS THE CLOSEST FORM OF GOVERNMNENT TO THE PEOPLE. LIVE STREAMING OF NON AGENDAS ITEMS SHOULD BE INTRODUCED TO REINFORCE THIS BOND. IT SHOULD BE RECOGNISED BY THE GOVERNING BODY AS IT DRAWS ATTENTION OF THE ELECTED BODY AND THE GENERAL COMMUNITY TO CONCERNS THAT THEY MAY NOT BE AWARE OF. - INDEED THERE ARE MANY!

REGULAR SPEAKERS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS USUALLY SPEAK ON ITEMS WHICH ARE USUALLY OF GREAT CONCERN TO THE COMMUNITY RATHER THAN BUREAUCRATICALLY GENERATED REPORTS WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO NON ELECTED MANAGERIAL CONTROL.

I AM REFERING NOT ONLY TO THE GENERAL MANAGERS REPORTS BUT TO THE MANY OTHER '"ACTING GENERAL MANAGERS "NUMBERINING AT LEAST FOUR'. THESE SEEM TO BE TAKING TURNS OFFICIATING FOR THE GENERAL MANAGER WHEN SHE IS OTHERWISE OCCUPIED. IN SOME CASES THIS MAY BE A GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY IF INTRODUCDED ON A PERMANENT BASIS- AS A COST SAVING MECHANISM, JOB EXPERIENCE FOR OTHER DIRECTORS AND  GREATER VERSATILITY IN MANAGERIAL DIRECTION AND IN SOME CASES RELAXATION OF DICTATORIAL CONTROL

MADAM MAYOR I BELIEVE IF LIVE STEAMINING OF PUBLIC FORUM IS INTRODUCED IT WILL BE A GREAT STEP FORWARD TOWARDS REGAINING THE ESTEEM OF THE OVERALL PUBLIC THAT MOST COUNCILS OR SHIRES HAD IN THE "DAYS GONE BY". THE PUBLIC HAS EVERY THING TO GAIN AND YOU NOTHING TO LOSE. YOU HAVE TAKEN A NUMBER OF STEPS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION ON OTHER ISSUES- DO NOT HESITATE ON THIS ONE.

PETER BERNARD 26/6/2018