Cr Les Larke By Catherine Watson
Bass Coast councillor Les Larke continues to perplex. It’s been many years since he attended a council meeting in person (he does Zoom in). His latest council lark is not to vote.
He abstained twice at the December meeting, without explanation and without speaking to the motions. The first time was on a motion for the council to apply to the Growing Regions Fund for $3 million funding for the Bass Coast Dinosaurs Trail.
The second was to amend the council’s investment policy to divest from banks funding fossil fuel projects. The motion passed unanimously, apart from Cr Larke’s abstention.
Bass Coast councillor Les Larke continues to perplex. It’s been many years since he attended a council meeting in person (he does Zoom in). His latest council lark is not to vote.
He abstained twice at the December meeting, without explanation and without speaking to the motions. The first time was on a motion for the council to apply to the Growing Regions Fund for $3 million funding for the Bass Coast Dinosaurs Trail.
The second was to amend the council’s investment policy to divest from banks funding fossil fuel projects. The motion passed unanimously, apart from Cr Larke’s abstention.
Before 2013 councillors had to vote if they were present at a meeting. Following a change in the Local Government Act, they were permitted to abstain and this is counted as a no vote.
The general understanding was that it would only be done in exceptional circumstances.
A former vice-president of the Victorian Local Government Association described abstaining as “the coward’s vote” because it allows councillors to vote down motions without being accountable for their actions.
We elect - and pay - our councillors to make decisions on our behalf. These are sometimes difficult decisions that cause them great angst and subject them to the wrath of ratepayers. Cr Larke gets off scot free. No angst, no wrath. At the very least we deserve an explanation.
The Post asked Cr Larke why he abstained from voting on so many occasions but he did not respond by deadline.
Cr Larke rarely speaks at council meetings. He does not serve on any committees, he doesn’t attend community events and he doesn’t submit a monthly report on his council activities.
Last July when the Post asked him about his limited involvement in council affairs he responded: “Three major surgeries and extended periods of rehabilitation (ongoing) have been the main reason.”
Fortunately the rehabilitation does not seem to interfere with his private life as he is seen enjoying daily walks around Wonthaggi.
The general understanding was that it would only be done in exceptional circumstances.
A former vice-president of the Victorian Local Government Association described abstaining as “the coward’s vote” because it allows councillors to vote down motions without being accountable for their actions.
We elect - and pay - our councillors to make decisions on our behalf. These are sometimes difficult decisions that cause them great angst and subject them to the wrath of ratepayers. Cr Larke gets off scot free. No angst, no wrath. At the very least we deserve an explanation.
The Post asked Cr Larke why he abstained from voting on so many occasions but he did not respond by deadline.
Cr Larke rarely speaks at council meetings. He does not serve on any committees, he doesn’t attend community events and he doesn’t submit a monthly report on his council activities.
Last July when the Post asked him about his limited involvement in council affairs he responded: “Three major surgeries and extended periods of rehabilitation (ongoing) have been the main reason.”
Fortunately the rehabilitation does not seem to interfere with his private life as he is seen enjoying daily walks around Wonthaggi.