Tom Sharp's
Blog
09-04-2021
SHARP COMMENT 16 - An open Letter to Cr Jeff McConnell
Dear Jeff,
I note with curiosity your councillor comments in the Scenic News edition, dated 25 March 2021.
Your first concern is what you term as “the vitriolic nature of anti-council posts on Facebook” and why one would become a councillor. You go on to discuss the popularity of decisions, helping people and making a difference. You also add that you always look at the long-term strategic impact of all decisions.
You state further that a councillor should be free from personal conflict and that you will not be opposing contentious issues the Mayor supports just to go against him because you do not like him and to score political points.
I can only suggest the people of the region expect nothing less with regards to personal conflict or political point scoring. However, I ask you this, are the “contentious issues” being addressed with proper knowledge and integrity? Knowledge is two-fold in terms of the information being provided by the bureaucracy and the councillors possessing the knowledge of its constituency’s thoughts on the contentious issue at hand i.e., knowing how to read public opinion. Without the proper knowledge, how could anyone possibly hope to make a decision with any integrity? One could not.
The increase in “constituency temperature” right across this region by way of Facebook, local journalists, commentators, community leaders, and petitions is due to a total misalignment with people’s values and principles versus Council’s “clarity of process”.
You highlight that the Scenic Rim is too small to have an opposition party like Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
I would like to point out that while Brisbane City Council is political party based and currently governed by an LNP majority, the Gold Coast City Council is not. You will find that the elected Gold Coast members mostly, if not all, fly under an independent banner and there is no political party governing this municipality.
While on the subject of party politics, could you advise why during the 2020 State Election Campaign the Scenic Rim Regional Council gave an exclusive full council briefing to One Nation Candidate, Paul Henselin and Paul’s party leader, Pauline Hanson? I was made aware of this by Paul during the campaign and while consulting other candidates discovered the same opportunity was not afforded to either the LNP candidate, Jon Krause; ALP candidate, Luz Stanton; UAP candidate, Bradley Fowler; IMOP candidate, Deborah Husbands and QG candidate, Pietro Agnoletto?
While I do not begrudge Paul and One Nation for this opportunity, I find this secret, exclusive meeting conducted by an independent council to be of the most extraordinary behaviour in the worst possible way and totally unaligned with the values and principles of the people of this region. Please explain?
Jeff, you go on to advise there are no secret meetings in council yet in the same breath there is a “confidential” workshop. Could your workshop be defined as a “meeting” of councillors and officers?
In these “workshops” are not council business matters discussed and proposals formulated?
If you do not engage with the constituents with regard to these “workshops” and secure their knowledge, how do councillors and bureaucrats alike make the appropriate proposals with any integrity?
Do you agree or disagree that democracy is best served by meetings conducted in public, not behind closed doors?
Jeff, you went on to state that confidential workshops were the standard practice before amalgamation.
This I can assure you is complete bunkum and can advise that the “committee system” was in place in the first term of Scenic Rim Regional Council post amalgamation of Beaudesert and Boonah Shires.
These various committees covering finance, planning, operations, community service, waste etc were made up of councillors and officers formulating policy and proposals that were put forward at the next full council ordinary meeting. Additionally, it was made law by the State Government of Queensland circa 1988 that all committee meetings were made open to the public and media for scrutiny. If you wish to refer back to the annual reports of both Beaudesert and Boonah Shires you will find these committees represented.
Lastly, you claim decisions are only made in Ordinary Meetings. This has already been proved to be completely false with regard to decisions relating to:
· Water for Warrill Project
· COVID-19 relief package – announced while Council was meant to be in caretaker mode.
· Cancellation of Eat Local Week 2019
· Scenic Rim Farm Box
· Cancellation of the Helen Street Pig and Calf Saleyard Lease.
These are simply a handful of instances that immediately come to mind.
I wonder how many changes to the SRRC budget have occurred that have not been brought before an ordinary meeting in open session and are required to by Queensland Government legislation and regulations?
What would it take to find out? A full independent audit and investigation?
If I am in anyway, shape or form incorrect, please do advise me, along with the exact details and evidence.
In closing Jeff, please consider that maybe Council is not all knowing and use the next three years left in this term to fight for your people, understand their needs and put those needs back on the council agenda for deliberation in an open public and knowledge-led forum.
I note with curiosity your councillor comments in the Scenic News edition, dated 25 March 2021.
Your first concern is what you term as “the vitriolic nature of anti-council posts on Facebook” and why one would become a councillor. You go on to discuss the popularity of decisions, helping people and making a difference. You also add that you always look at the long-term strategic impact of all decisions.
You state further that a councillor should be free from personal conflict and that you will not be opposing contentious issues the Mayor supports just to go against him because you do not like him and to score political points.
I can only suggest the people of the region expect nothing less with regards to personal conflict or political point scoring. However, I ask you this, are the “contentious issues” being addressed with proper knowledge and integrity? Knowledge is two-fold in terms of the information being provided by the bureaucracy and the councillors possessing the knowledge of its constituency’s thoughts on the contentious issue at hand i.e., knowing how to read public opinion. Without the proper knowledge, how could anyone possibly hope to make a decision with any integrity? One could not.
The increase in “constituency temperature” right across this region by way of Facebook, local journalists, commentators, community leaders, and petitions is due to a total misalignment with people’s values and principles versus Council’s “clarity of process”.
You highlight that the Scenic Rim is too small to have an opposition party like Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
I would like to point out that while Brisbane City Council is political party based and currently governed by an LNP majority, the Gold Coast City Council is not. You will find that the elected Gold Coast members mostly, if not all, fly under an independent banner and there is no political party governing this municipality.
While on the subject of party politics, could you advise why during the 2020 State Election Campaign the Scenic Rim Regional Council gave an exclusive full council briefing to One Nation Candidate, Paul Henselin and Paul’s party leader, Pauline Hanson? I was made aware of this by Paul during the campaign and while consulting other candidates discovered the same opportunity was not afforded to either the LNP candidate, Jon Krause; ALP candidate, Luz Stanton; UAP candidate, Bradley Fowler; IMOP candidate, Deborah Husbands and QG candidate, Pietro Agnoletto?
While I do not begrudge Paul and One Nation for this opportunity, I find this secret, exclusive meeting conducted by an independent council to be of the most extraordinary behaviour in the worst possible way and totally unaligned with the values and principles of the people of this region. Please explain?
Jeff, you go on to advise there are no secret meetings in council yet in the same breath there is a “confidential” workshop. Could your workshop be defined as a “meeting” of councillors and officers?
In these “workshops” are not council business matters discussed and proposals formulated?
If you do not engage with the constituents with regard to these “workshops” and secure their knowledge, how do councillors and bureaucrats alike make the appropriate proposals with any integrity?
Do you agree or disagree that democracy is best served by meetings conducted in public, not behind closed doors?
Jeff, you went on to state that confidential workshops were the standard practice before amalgamation.
This I can assure you is complete bunkum and can advise that the “committee system” was in place in the first term of Scenic Rim Regional Council post amalgamation of Beaudesert and Boonah Shires.
These various committees covering finance, planning, operations, community service, waste etc were made up of councillors and officers formulating policy and proposals that were put forward at the next full council ordinary meeting. Additionally, it was made law by the State Government of Queensland circa 1988 that all committee meetings were made open to the public and media for scrutiny. If you wish to refer back to the annual reports of both Beaudesert and Boonah Shires you will find these committees represented.
Lastly, you claim decisions are only made in Ordinary Meetings. This has already been proved to be completely false with regard to decisions relating to:
· Water for Warrill Project
· COVID-19 relief package – announced while Council was meant to be in caretaker mode.
· Cancellation of Eat Local Week 2019
· Scenic Rim Farm Box
· Cancellation of the Helen Street Pig and Calf Saleyard Lease.
These are simply a handful of instances that immediately come to mind.
I wonder how many changes to the SRRC budget have occurred that have not been brought before an ordinary meeting in open session and are required to by Queensland Government legislation and regulations?
What would it take to find out? A full independent audit and investigation?
If I am in anyway, shape or form incorrect, please do advise me, along with the exact details and evidence.
In closing Jeff, please consider that maybe Council is not all knowing and use the next three years left in this term to fight for your people, understand their needs and put those needs back on the council agenda for deliberation in an open public and knowledge-led forum.