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Value for money

23/6/2017

21 Comments

 
Cr Les Larke wants to cut 46 council jobs to save money. But perhaps he should look at his own position first.

​
By Catherine Watson

LAST November, Les Larke was elected to Bass Coast Shire Council on a platform of fixing council finances by cutting waste.
 
His latest of several cost-cutting proposals is for the council to lay off 46 staff – 15 per cent of the total workforce – over the next three years. Those in the gun are “managers, co-ordinators, supervisors and team leaders” – pretty much anyone in charge of anyone else, whom Cr Larke clearly regards as providing little value for money to the community.
He estimates this would save Bass Coast ratepayers $14 million by 2021, although he makes no allowance for paying redundancies or finding someone else to do the work, or the social dislocation the job cuts would cause in the shire.  
 
If Cr Les Larke really wants to cut waste and improve council efficiency, perhaps he should look at his own position first.
 
Cr Larke is paid an allowance of $24,127 a year – $463 a week – plus super to fulfil his duties as a councillor. Not a fortune for the average councillor who puts in 20-plus hours a week on council business but a nice little stipend for anyone who coasts.
 
In the five months to March 31, the latest date for which figures are available, Cr Larke also received mileage, phone/internet and travel expenses totalling $5400. His mileage claim was $1824, by far the highest of any councillor. By the same date, he had racked up $1860 in conference and training expenses, almost as much as the other eight councillors combined.
 
While he is apparently keen on attending conferences, he seems less enthusiastic about councillor briefings and policy workshops, with council records showing he attended just three of the eight held between April 12 and May 24.
 
While these meetings are not compulsory, his eight fellow councillors, even those with full-time jobs or other responsibilities, rarely miss them since they are essential backgrounders for the often complex decisions they must make.
 
At the monthly public meetings, councillors provide a brief report on their activities over the preceding month. At last Wednesday’s council meeting, while his fellow councillors spoke animatedly of the events they had attended, Cr Larke’s response was: “Nothing of substance to report.”
 
Not surprising since he is rarely seen at public events where he might meet his constituents.
 
His councillor profile on the council website lists his membership of four committees and organisations but in fact he has resigned from two of them. He stepped down as the councillor representative on the audit committee last month – a surprise given his frequent boast that he is the only one of the councillors to understand accounting and auditing. This month he resigned from the access and inclusion committee.
 
While his fellow councillors all serve on four, five, six or more committees, he now serves on just two external committees – the Municipal Association of Victoria and the Victorian Local Governance Association – but has not attended a meeting of either since April.
 
Cr Larke first proposed the staff cuts in preliminary discussion on the budget. Finding little enthusiasm from his fellow councillors, he then made a submission on the draft budget as a ratepayer rather than a councillor. At Wednesday’s council meeting he attempted a last-minute amendment of the strategic plan to include the staff cuts and a reduction in the council’s long service leave reserve.
 
Mayor Pamela Rothfield declined to accept either amendment since both involved such substantial change to the budget that it would have had to be readvertised.
 
A third amendment proposing that the council dump plans to lease part of the Cowes cultural centre to Phillip Island Nature Parks was defeated seven to two, after a sharp rebuke of Cr Larke by his fellow councillor Michael Whelan.
 
Cr Whelan said he had prepared for the meeting by ensuring he was familiar with the agenda, reading the background reports on each issue and attending council briefings.
 
“I’m not complaining. That’s my job. And then at 3pm today, before the meeting, Cr Larke, who hasn’t attended any of the briefings, appears with half a dozen motions and amendments. There’s no I in team, Cr Larke. The problem is there’s no you in it either.”
 
The Post asked Cr Larke if he felt he was fulfilling his obligations as a councillor and providing value to the people he represented. He responded as follows:
 
“The amendment quoted by Mr Whelan Wednesday evening has been known by Cr Whelan for several months, and in fact Mr Whelan signed it off with his personal signature though later withdrew his signature and support.
 
“Family circumstances including a recent close bereavement have impacted [on his attendance at meetings], however when the time is right, I will reconsider.
 
“I have not shared this with Cr Whelan given his overt and personal animosity as demonstrated last Wednesday evening. I have since received feedback and support from the gallery and members of the press who were appalled by such behaviour.
 
“I have no doubt that the governance, key performance indicators and financial standing of Council is significantly enhanced principally because of my advocacy, experience and expertise. Whilst not optimal, four years of projected underlying operating surpluses 2018-21 compared with the previous five consecutive years of substantial underlying operating deficits is an important turnaround.”
21 Comments
Nola Smith
24/6/2017 08:49:02 am

Excellent and informative article Catherine. This local representative falls far short of my expectations, although nothing seems to surprise me with Cr Larke. The only positive thing I can note is that he has resigned from the Access and Inclusion committee.

Reply
Frank W Schooneveldt
24/6/2017 09:32:18 am

Catherine, thank you for your detailed article.
I agree that Cr Les Larke should look at his own position first.
As I have expressed in this forum and elsewhere, I fundamentally disagree with Cr Les Larke's stated position on the state of the Bass Coast Shire's finances.
I note that for the 2015/2016 year the average rates and charges for the Bass Coast Shire Council was $1684 which is low when compared to the Baw Baw Shire Council of $1987 and South Gippsland Shire Council of $1990.
In view of this I am all for increasing council rates and charges to improve services and infrastructure for the people of Bass Coast.
There are numerous examples of austerity measures that poison growth. For example take a look at the UK government actions.
But this does not mean that there should not be good corporate practice by the Shire officers and accountability to the people of Bass Coast.

Reply
Les Larke
25/6/2017 10:39:15 pm

Dear Frank
I have enjoyed our robust conversations and note you are supportive of Bass Coast Shire Council and the fact that it has 71.4 fulltime equivalent employees (General Managers + Managers + Coordinators + Supervisors + Team Leaders + Others with direct reports) with managerial responsibilities for 244.7 full time equivalent employees - a span of supervision of less than 1:4, which may be of interest given your financial and commercial background.

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Frank W Schooneveldt
26/6/2017 08:03:15 am

Les,
I enjoy reasoned arguments that are based on facts.
And yes, I am supportive of the Bass Coast and desire to see it grow through population growth and this requires infrastructure and services.
The numbers you quote are meaningless unless you can benchmark your numbers
with similar large Shire councils.
The Bass Coast is unique in that we have a large coastline to look after, a lot of holiday residences and a lot of tourists....which is all good but I am sure creates management and financial issues that need a team approach to resolve.
We all need to work together for the greater good of the Bass Coast.


Michael Whelan
24/6/2017 09:50:35 am

I have no personal animosity toward Cr Larke but I do object to the grandstanding that he is pursuing.
Councillors expect a reasonable time to consider their position on matters that are important to the Shire, two hours for multiple motions and amendments is not reasonable - hence my rebuke was not in respect to a particular amendment but his overall approach and abuse of Council time. My comment goes to his failure to work as part of a team. A councillor cannot achieve anything on his or her own other than generate publicity for himself.
In respect to the document to which he refers I did sign a document that dealt with the span of control of managers. I had the expectation and had expressed the view at the time it would go to the CEO for his input and advice as to the accuracy of the figures in it and a possible long term strategy consistent with the reviews that are already underway.
The figures it turns out are spurious and self serving.
It was however represented to the CEO as a Councillor decision for implementation. I realised how stupid I had been and withdrew any association with the paper. I now have a better understanding of the procedures for Councillors to raise matters with the CEO and senior staff.

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Ursula Theinert
24/6/2017 10:33:23 am

An excellent article Catherine and insightful comments.
Thank you all.

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H Torley
24/6/2017 12:29:13 pm

Quick decisions create regret.
Cr Larke's non attendance at pre briefings and meetings is showing his disinterest and disrepect to his fellow councillors, council officers, his ward constituents (the ones that voted him in) and the wider Bass Coast community. Rocking up on Council Meeting day with uninformed and wordy alternate recommendations (that you need a PhD to deipher) is wasting everyone's time - work with the team Cr Larke, you'll get much better results for the community. If your heart is not in it, or personal issues are taking a priority (which they should) step aside and let someone else take on the opportunity, and the training and the money.

Reply
Les Larke
25/6/2017 10:24:57 pm

Victorian Ombudsman Statement: "In relation to briefing sessions for councillors, other states have specific legislation and guidance materials aimed at deterring agreement or consensus being reached by councillors in briefing sessions and other fora outside council meetings". I support that ethical approach.

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Maddy Harford
24/6/2017 01:23:25 pm

How fortunate we are in Bass Coast, to have journalism of such excellence and rigour. Congratulations Catherine on your thoroughgoing research revealing and analysing Cr Larke's contribution to council's efforts.

For Cr Larke's, (or any other councillor bar Cr LeServe), to claim credit for any improvement in council finances is spurious and pure hubris on his part, given the hard work invested by the previous council and the CEO, in long term financial planning, which is now, slowly bearing fruit.

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Cr Geoff Ellis
25/6/2017 09:03:29 am

The buggered boat ramp, the Grantville pot hole, line marking across the misty hills of Krowera, the three bin bonanza……the list is endless and clocks are ticking.

As one lone councillor I can shout from the Cape Horn Lookout but I need a mob to get things done…

… The VEC decreed that Bass Coast needed nine councillors and the underlying surplus of three councillors per ward infers a collegiate approach to collective action – or inaction, Hypocrites had the right idea: firstly, do no harm!

One of my electoral commitments was to fix that damn pot hole outside the Pharmacy and I could do it tonight – don my farmer’s hi viz, grab a bucket of gravel and ….fixed.

There are too many metaphorical pot holes and that’s where the mob steps up. I have yet to meet a council employee who wasn’t gainfully occupied with at least one task or question.

Many that I speak to are trying to prioritize several competing demands on council time and limited resources. What ever their title, they are working for the good of the community.

The need for teamwork is clearly self evident – especially in a small shire with a huge coastline and shifting support from other levels of government.

The team needs to be the residents and ratepayers, the council and the councillors. The four year plan, SRP, annual budgets and long term financial and strategic plans are the things that bring us together – you spoke, we listened, this is what we heard, what do you reckon – a six month conversation and now we need to work together.

Council is not a reality TV show. We spend long days together and there are codes of conduct, local laws, state regulations and, what should be the most easily adhered to – the bounds of certain common courtesies and respect for each other.

There is a confidentiality around our deliberations but then there is a readership that wants to know what is going on. That line is as clear as diluted printer’s ink. Hopefully we haven't crossed it - I'm saving all those scribbled notes for my memoirs while watching for the next pot hole.

I agree with the comments about giving credit where it is due - we are building on reviews and strategies that commenced when I was simply a writer of letters to the editor(s). That ink's dried.









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Mohan de Run
25/6/2017 05:11:01 pm

Les - Be not afraid of the criticism. Continue to have the courage to bring about the changes needed in fiscal and governance fields. The people who voted you in want that outcome. Expect betrayal. That's a part of human history. Chase the dynamics, articulate the case, get the numbers around you and pick the fruit higher up the tree leaving the low hanging stuff to those who do not have the reach. In cricket parlance it is time to take take the bowling apart. The silent majority are behind you. Good Luck! Mohan

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Frank W Schooneveldt
26/6/2017 06:04:09 am

Mohan,
I always thought a majority was greater than 50%.

At the last election Cr Les Larke achieved a primary vote of just 16.79% and after distribution of preferences it increased to just 25% which is hardly support of the silent majority.
I note that former Cr Neil Rankine got 16.61% of the primary vote but was not elected.
I also note that after distribution of preferences there was just 14 votes between Mr larke's winning his seat on council and Mr Rankine's failure to retain his seat on council.
It is interesting to see that all the elected Councilors for Bunruong ward received 2.5 times to 3.5 times the preference votes that Mr Rankine received.
Which begs the question what preference deals were done, but that is another story.

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Geoff Ellis
26/6/2017 01:11:15 pm

Strange fruit ahead? Thanks for agreeing with me Mohan and can commentators please stick to one analogy/metaphor/simile/cliche per comment, please ?

I appreciate the follow on from Ms Harford's comment but cricket parlance tosses up so many words and phrases that I think references to people's stature (physical or moral) in comparison to orchards deplete the image of leather against willow. And better fit Austen-like forebodings of betrayal.


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Cr Brett Tessari
26/6/2017 05:24:37 pm

Frank, while I agree with most things you have written and I enjoy your side of the story, I just want to be clear that there certainly weren't any deals done for preferences, not by myself anyway. While I did align myself with Max Wells and didn't hide from the fact, we (Max and myself) did not publish preference order and made it quite clear that while we shared similar ideals we were not running together as a 1 vote 2 vote.

In fact from memory Neil did publish preferences as did Jessica, Mohan and Mark. The other 5 Bunurong candidates didn't. Apart from the rate payers association which had me at 5 and Julian at 4 we all had to work hard for our votes.

I might not agree with all Cr Larke’s views on everything and he may have gotten the bonus of being number 1 on the ballot and the BCRRA's number 1 selection no one can deny he walked the miles, met the community and put in a campaign worthy of selection.

Hopefully this current hard working council will start getting results worthy of this robust discussion and I look forward to those moving forward.

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Frank W Schooneveldt
26/6/2017 05:39:34 pm

Brett,
Thank you for the explanation.
Local Government always creates robust debate.
I am alll about results and not excuses.

Reply
Geoff Ellis
26/6/2017 06:24:54 pm

Glad to hear that Frank; we are too.
(all about results and not excuses).

Lorrie Read
26/6/2017 05:26:14 pm

Excellent article Catherine, the analysis is spot on, people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones!

Reply
Kay Setches
27/6/2017 12:16:45 pm

It took me a long time to understand my varied responsibilities when I was elected to State Parliament years ago. Government Departmental briefings, state wide organisations, businesses and not for profits, constituents,ALP, unions, local organisations, schools, local hospitals etc. provided me with invaluable correct information to ensure I could carry out my work as effective MP.
On the surface it appears to be so easy to balance a budget by reducing costs by reducing 40+ Shire employees.
The resultant reduction in Shire services would be a severe related cost to ratepayers. Also this huge reduction in wage earners within Bass Coast would be felt in less money spent on goods and services.

Cr. Larke cannot have thought through the outcomes of his draconian measure. It serves the Shire if Councillors are working together to deliver good governance. Cr Larke should review his stance on attending Shire Briefings, where he would have been advised of the folly of his purely financial view.

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Frank W Schooneveldt
27/6/2017 05:37:58 pm

Thank you Kay for your wise words.
I totally agree.

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Anne Heath Mennell
29/6/2017 03:59:12 pm

Superb article, Catherine. Thank you.

I have never been any good at maths, stats or anything involving figures, equations or formulae. I can't comment on the differing views on budget matters held by Cr Larke, Frank S and others on the many differing ways to improve Council's finances. I'm reminded of the old saw, 'there are lies, damn lies and statistics' and know that there is a variety of ways to interpret all those figures. Perhaps we could all, including Cr Larke, agree that Councillors, Council staff and ratepayers are all trying to do the best they can for the Shire, in whatever way they think is best. We are all on the same team and have to live with the decisions which are made. If Council asks for community input, listens, seeks advice from staff, openly debates all the options and comes up with a Plan, takes that draft Plan back to the community for further feedback, makes any adjustments that would improve the Plan and then debates it again before finalising, I don't see what more it can do. I may not agree with some of the priorities or feel that some pet issue has been left out but I know that the outcomes are the result of a robust and transparent process, not cooked up by some group behind closed doors.

Risking another cliche, Rome wasn't built in a day, and any problems within Bass Coast won't be resolved in this Council's first year. Perhaps Cr Larke could think about a 3-4 year plan to address his concerns in a way which his fellow Councillors and the community could understand and support.
Anne Heath Mennell

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Bob Middleton
30/6/2017 02:43:58 pm

Oh my what an avalanche, your value for money article has attracted 20 comments so far showing that good reporting can generate good discussion. Yet despite all that followed I think the opening comment by Nola Smith said it all.

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