Getting things done on Council

For more than a decade, Geoff has been a hardworking councillor – diligently working to put residents first on Council, keep rates low and keep Council focused on the things that matter.

Right through his time on Monash Council, he has played a big part in shaping most significant Council decisions.  Whether while leading the Council as mayor or heavily influencing it as its longest continuous serving councillor (a status he has held since his re-election to Council in 2003), he has always been readily available to talk issues through with residents across Monash.  He personally attends to each issue raised with him and he regularly fixes problems and gets results for residents.

Of the 1,810 logged Councillor Action Requests for this Council term (through to 12 October 2016), 835 have been logged by Geoff.  This represents 46% of all constituent contacts with councillors compared to an average of 5% for the other 10 councillors.  He is seen as the preferred contact point by many residents across Monash when they need help with a Council issue.

He has also presented significantly more councillor Notices of Motion to Council meetings than all other councillors: 55 out of 121 (this excludes the routine councillor discretionary fund reports which are submitted by officers in the mayor’s name).  This  amounts to 45% of all Notices of Motion submitted across this term of Council compared to an average of 7 reports submitted by other councillors.

Notices of Motion submitted by Geoff

Below is a list of the reports which Geoff has submitted to Council over the 2012-16 Council term – which collectively have shaped our community and the way that Monash Council operates today:

1. September 2016: Report recommending zero interest be charged on deferred rates for pensioners and 2.5% for other ratepayers in hardship
2. September 2016: Report in relation to the Governance and Behaviour Monitor
3. August 2016: Report recommending that Council join the ‘Keep Me Posted’ campaign
4. August 2016: Report recommending that Council express concern that the state government’s proposed outdoor dining smoking ban will not be effective and recommending that Council use its local powers to make outdoor dining areas in Monash smoke free (with Cr Drieberg)
5. August 2016: Report recommending positions for Council to adopt in response to the Local Government Act review
6. August 2016: Report recommending Council agree to the ‘Transforming Kingsway’ plan by committing in principle to building a new 800 to 1,200 space car park, the removal of kerbside parking from Kingsway and making Kingsway pedestrian friendly
7. August 2016: Report in relation to the Governance and Behaviour Monitor
8. August 2016: Report recommending that Council introduce a separate waste charge to address the growing unfairness where some residential ratepayers are currently paying for waste collection services which they do not receive
9. August 2016: Report recommending that Council highlight the unfairness of significant rate fluctuations as a result of property revaluations and to seek legislative change
10. July 2016: Report recommending censure of Cr Davies and Cr Zographos for failing to respond to Council’s concerns about missing meetings without providing an apology
11. July 2016: Report to restore funding to the Waverley War Widows and Widowed Mothers Association
12. July 2016: Report in relation to the Governance and Behaviour Monitor
13. July 2016: Report recommending Council sign an open letter supporting gambling reforms
14. July 2016: Report recommending support for Melbourne Rebels/Rising games in Monash
15. July 2016: Report recommending the reinstatement of part of Glen Waverley in the proposed Neighbourhood Residential Zone 4
16. July 2016 (special meeting): Report recommending a new, strengthened Councillor Code of Conduct
17. July 2016 (special meeting): Report in response to the conduct of Cr Davies and Cr Zographos in missing meetings without providing an apology
18. June 2016: Report recommending that the October Council meeting be moved to avoid clash with Rotary’s Mayor’s Annual Golf Day and dinner
19. June 2016: Report in relation to the Governance and Behaviour Monitor
20. May 2016: Report recommending that the October Council meeting be moved because of the Council elections
21. May 2016: Report recommending the introduction of tough new governance standards to improve the functioning of Council meetings
22. March 2016: Report on engagement with primary schools in Glen Waverley
23. February 2016: Report on covenants not being recognised in the building permit process
24. February 2016: Report recommending that Council endorse a submission to the Review of Gaming Machines Entitlements in Victoria
25. November 2015: Report recommending that Council increase the involvement of objectors and applicants in the consideration of planning applications
26. November 2015: Report updating Council on recent advocacy and actions in relation to the unfair conduct of private car park operators and their advisers
27. October 2015: Report recommending that Council review its annual expenditure on legal services
28. August 2015: Report recommending a motion be submitted to the MAV State Council relating to the unfair conduct of private car park operators and their advisers
29. August 2015: Further report in relation to an improper demand for payment served on Council and unfair conduct by private parking operators
30. August 2015: Report recommending a motion be submitted to the MAV State Council in relation to smoking in outdoor dining locations
31. July 2015: Report recommending Council participate in proposed research into spatial analysis of poker machine gambling
32. July 2015: Report recommending that Council advocate to the federal government reverse its decision to freeze the indexation of Financial Assistance Grants
33. July 2015: Report in relation to an improper demand for payment served on Council and unfair conduct by private parking operators
34. June 2015: Report recommending to Council that it supports the newly formed Alliance for Gambling Reform
35. April 2015: Report recommending a fairer rating system for Monash
36. April 2015: Report recommending that Council embrace new communication channels and improve communication with our non-English speaking community
37. October 2014: Report recommending that Council continue to provide Family Day Care on a cost neutral basis
38. October 2014: Report recommending an Acting Mayor be appointed
39. September 2014: Report recommending that Council allocate an additional $10,000 to the ‘Helping Hands’ supported playgroup program, facilitated by Bestchance Child and Family Services
40. August 2014: Report recommending that Council allocate $5,000 to the Enough Pokies campaign
41. August 2014: Report in relation to the State Government’s sale of five former school sites in Monash
42. July 2014: Report recommending that Council change the car parking restrictions within the Euneva Avenue multi-level car park to five hours
43. July 2014: Report recommending that Council advocate for a police station in Clayton to operate 24 hours per day
44. June 2014: Report on Financial Assistance Grants freeze – impact on local government – update on previous Notice of Motion
45. June 2014: Report recommending that Council contribute $10,000 to a statue of Sir John Monash to be located at Monash University
46. May 2014: Report on Financial Assistance Grants freeze – impact on local government
47. April 2014: Report recommending that Council submit a motion to the MAV State Council on reforming poker machine regulation
48. April 2014: Report recommending guidelines be adopted in relation to councillors contesting state or federal elections
49. April 2014: Report on community survey results in relation to five vacant school sites in Monash
50. March 2014: Report recommending Council express its support for the local Cambodian community’s efforts to improve elections in Cambodia
51. February 2014: Report recommending a response to the Minister for Planning’s rezoning of five vacant school sites in Monash
52. January 2014: Report recommending that the CEO’s delegation be amended to appoint an acting CEO for up to four weeks
53. December 2013: Report recommending process to be adopted for Council’s final decision on its divestment of its residential and retirement living portfolio
54. April 2013: Report on constitutional recognition of local government (with Cr Lo)
55. November 2012: Reporting recommending that amendments be prepared and progressed to Council’s Vegetation Protection Overlay