Bruce Kent By Catherine Watson
BASS Coast councillor Bruce Kent resigned today, following criticism of his minimal input into council affairs over the past six months. (Missing in action).
Bass Coast Shire Council has notified the Victorian Electoral Commission of the resignation, which clears the way for the return of former councillor Geoff Ellis.
Mr Ellis, who served as a councillor from 2016-20, will fill the vacancy as the only other candidate for the three-councillor Western Port ward at the 2020 election.
BASS Coast councillor Bruce Kent resigned today, following criticism of his minimal input into council affairs over the past six months. (Missing in action).
Bass Coast Shire Council has notified the Victorian Electoral Commission of the resignation, which clears the way for the return of former councillor Geoff Ellis.
Mr Ellis, who served as a councillor from 2016-20, will fill the vacancy as the only other candidate for the three-councillor Western Port ward at the 2020 election.
Mr Kent had served as a councillor since 2016, including a year as deputy mayor, but has struggled to fulfil his council duties since starting a new full-time job in Melbourne in February.
In a statement to the Post last month, he said he had asked for council meetings to be moved to late afternoon so he could attend in person but a majority of his fellow councillors preferred to stay with the 1pm meeting time.
“I am now of the opinion, that Council is limiting itself to future Councillor candidates who are not full-time employed, attending daytime education or to candidates who are prepared to sacrifice their full-time employment. The other alternative is attending all meetings on-line and a lot of study out of hours for the individual.
“Over the years, I have progressively seen the Councillor workload change from a very full Wednesday to being spread over the whole week. Community members considering to be a future Councillor need to have an insight into the current work practise time expectations.”
Mr Ellis told the Post he was looking forward to returning to the council and working with his fellow councillors to serve Waterline residents.
He thanked Mr Kent for his years of service to Bass Coast and to the Waterline community in particular.
The next Bass Coast Council election will be held in November 2024.
In a statement to the Post last month, he said he had asked for council meetings to be moved to late afternoon so he could attend in person but a majority of his fellow councillors preferred to stay with the 1pm meeting time.
“I am now of the opinion, that Council is limiting itself to future Councillor candidates who are not full-time employed, attending daytime education or to candidates who are prepared to sacrifice their full-time employment. The other alternative is attending all meetings on-line and a lot of study out of hours for the individual.
“Over the years, I have progressively seen the Councillor workload change from a very full Wednesday to being spread over the whole week. Community members considering to be a future Councillor need to have an insight into the current work practise time expectations.”
Mr Ellis told the Post he was looking forward to returning to the council and working with his fellow councillors to serve Waterline residents.
He thanked Mr Kent for his years of service to Bass Coast and to the Waterline community in particular.
The next Bass Coast Council election will be held in November 2024.