Geoff has always focused on the things that matter most to local residents – ensuring that Monash Council is not distracted by the mission creep some other councils get carried away with. He has the priorities we share.
Priorities we share…
- Low rates
- Focusing on core council functions, not mission creep
- Protecting our neighbourhoods from inappropriate development
- Transforming Kingsway
- Fighting for rate reform to stop ‘bill shock’ caused by skyrocketing property prices
- A new 800 to 1,200 space FREE car park on Montclair Avenue in the heart of Kingsway
- Backing residents over unfair Council red tape
- A Council working efficiently for us
Posted by Geoff Lake on 2:01 pm in Councillor performance, Effective meetings, News | 0 comments
At a special Council meeting on 19 July 2016, Council resolved its frustration that Cr Theo Zographos and Cr Robert Davies were not showing the professional courtesy to Council or the community they represent by providing apologies in advance of meetings missed or providing reasonable notice of a planned extended absence. At the special meeting of Council, the Council resolved to require that Cr Zographos and Cr Davies provide certain apologies and undertakings to Council in relation to improving their conduct. Neither Cr Zographos or Cr...
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Posted by Geoff Lake on 9:36 pm in Poker machines | 0 comments
At the 26 July 2016 Council meeting, Council resolved to support my recommendation to sign an open letter in support of the gambling reform agenda proposed by Senator Nick Xenophon, Andrew Wilkie MP and the Alliance for Gambling Reform. Monash Council is a current partner of the Alliance for Gambling Reform (Alliance) which campaigns for gambling legislation changes in the industry. The Alliance is a national collaboration of organisations with a shared concern about the harmful impacts of gambling in Australia. It is governed by a...
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Posted by Geoff Lake on 11:27 pm in News | 0 comments
It was great to attend the Monash Business Awards last month and see a number of outstanding businesses in Monash recognised for their innovation and hard work. You might not be aware, but Monash is home to more jobs than any other area in Victoria outside of the Melbourne CBD. This is significant because being such an employment and technology hub brings great opportunity to everyone who lives, works or plays in Monash. Not only can our residents live close to tens of thousands of high quality jobs, but the benefit to the local economy from...
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Posted by Geoff Lake on 8:53 am in Councillor performance, Effective meetings | 0 comments
I called a special meeting of Council on 19 July 2016 to consider issues relating to councillors not turning up to meetings and not providing reasonable notice of apologies. I had become alarmed at the attendance record of some councillors and, in particular, the approach that some councillors were taking in either providing no prior apology when they are absent from a Council meeting or providing unreasonable or insufficient notice of a planned extended absence. All councillors who are elected to Monash Council are aware that Monash Council...
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Posted by Geoff Lake on 11:39 pm in News | 0 comments
Following the adoption of the Council budget for 2016/17 last month, rates notices will be arriving in letterboxes in the coming weeks. I know receiving a bill for such a significant amount is never appreciated, but there are a few things worth reflecting upon when you open your notice. 1. Monash rates are the lowest in the state My single biggest focus since being elected to Council 16 years ago has been keeping rates as low as possible. A few years ago we achieved my goal of having the lowest average rates in the state – out of all 79...
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Posted by Geoff Lake on 11:45 pm in News | 0 comments
Welcome to my second post since becoming mayor again. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the past month, particularly the additional opportunities to attend local events and meet more people in our community. Firstly, a very warm welcome to our newest councillor, Nga Hosking, who has replaced Stefanie Perri in Oakleigh Ward. Nga is the first person of Cook Islands descent to be elected to public office in Victoria and we were honoured to have a traditional Cook Islands cultural ceremony in the Council Chamber to welcome her as a new councillor in...
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Posted by Geoff Lake on 10:58 pm in Councillor performance, Effective meetings, Record | 0 comments
Past meetings of Council prior to my election as mayor had seen a pronounced decline in behavioural standards amongst a small group of councillors and persons in the Public Gallery. This had led to meetings being unacceptably unruly, disruptive and unpleasant. In particular, there have been a number of instances where these councillors or persons in the Public Gallery have completely disregarded the rulings or directions of the previous mayor. A number of complaints have been made in response to this conduct. It is important that Council...
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Posted by Geoff Lake on 2:17 pm in Councillor performance, Effective meetings | 0 comments
Prior to my election as mayor, Council meetings had seen a pronounced decline in behavioural standards amongst a small group of councillors. This had led to meetings being unacceptably unruly, disruptive and unpleasant. In particular, there had been a number of instances where these councillors had completely disregarded the rulings or directions of the previous mayor. A number of complaints have been made in response to this conduct. It is important that Council takes action to require all councillors to observe reasonable professional...
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Posted by Geoff Lake on 8:08 am in Councillor performance, Effective meetings, Record | 0 comments
Upon my election to fill the vacancy in the position of Mayor three weeks ago, I signalled to Council and the community that restoring the orderly and respectful functioning of Council meetings would be my main focus in the role. Preceding my election as mayor, the previous three meetings of Council had finished at midnight, 3.00 am and 11.30 pm, respectively, which are well past the latest finishing time contemplated by Local Law No 1 of 10.00 pm. This concerning trend of excessively late finishing times indicates that Council is not...
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Posted by Geoff Lake on 10:31 pm in Councillor performance, Effective meetings, Record | 0 comments
Past meetings of Council have seen a pronounced decline in behavioural standards amongst a small group of Councillors and persons in the Public Gallery. This has led to meetings being unacceptably unruly, disruptive and unpleasant. In particular, there have been a number of instances where these Councillors or persons in the Public Gallery have completely disregarded the rulings or directions of the previous Mayor. A number of complaints have been made in response to this conduct. It is important that Council takes action to restore its...
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