COUNCILS across the Wimmera are becoming more transparent, according to the findings of a state inquiry into secret councils.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The inquiry by Victorian Ombudsman Deborah Glass in 2016 into the number of closed meetings being held by councils has seen positive outcomes in the region’s councils.
Ararat Rural City Council – which was listed seventh on the list of what percentage of meetings were held behind closed doors – is now live streaming its meetings on Facebook and its website.
Mayor Gwenda Allgood said council had turned things around and people could now watch meetings on their devices.
“We’ve embraced it,” she said. “The amount of people who look at it is amazing.”
She said that after all the issues council had been through, they were trying to engage with the community a lot more.
“We are conscious that we are making decisions for our people,” she said. “People can look for themselves.”
Cr Allgood said there were thousands of people viewing the meetings.
“Everyone’s on the screen in the meetings,” she said.
“People just want to know what’s going on and how the system works. We don’t get many negative comments, people just want to be engaged.”
One of the suggestions from the Ombudsman’s inquiry was also for amendments to the Code of Conduct for Councillors. Ararat amended its code last year.
Related: Monitor steps in to help Ararat
The Local Government Act 1989 also incorporated amendments around council meetings in its authorised version of September 1, 2017.
Meetings have always been allowed to be closed under specific circumstances, but the council or special committee has to minute why the meeting was closed, to be accountable.
In her report, Ms Glass said local government transparency was an essential facet of a successful council.
“Transparency must be a cornerstone of local government practice, not merely a box to be ticked,” she said.
West Wimmera Shire was sixteenth on the list.
Shire mayor Jodie Pretlove said the council had reviewed its Code of Conduct for Councillors in 2016 and was complying with the Local Government Act 1989.
Regarding in camera meetings, the Act allowed council to hold certain meetings in camera.
“Council uses this authorisation to discuss and make decisions regarding: Contractual matters which are commercial in confidence; Confidential legal advice; and awards and award winners, which council presents for Australia Day and Senior Citizen of the Year,” Cr Pretlove said.
“The topic of each report that will be considered at a council meeting held in camera is listed in the Ordinary Council Meeting Agenda, under Item 17.”
She said council regularly engaged with communities through their meetings and a 30 minute question time from the gallery before each ordinary meeting.
Council also took meetings to smaller communities and groups in the halls where they would have a meal and discuss ideas, concerns or plans that the community might have.
Horsham Rural City Council was about the middle of the list.
Chief executive Sunil Bhalla said council’s intent was to put as many items in the open council meetings as possible.
There had been some concern around moving the meetings from fortnightly to monthly because there was a perception that there might be more decisions made outside the meetings.
Mr Bhalla said this was not the case but in fact would make it better for councilors to be more informed about decisions they did have to make in council.
With a month between meetings there was time to get more detail and read reports well, plus attend briefings with council staff around the reports, to be able to make more informed and quality decisions.
With regard to closed meetings, council was aware that as much as possible needed to be open to the public, and to do what was in the best public interest.
Even if some processes had to go into camera, the results were always given and the reason for being in camera was always recorded.
“Our intent is always to put as much information in the open as possible,” Mr Bhalla said.