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Better quality in elected representatives
Judging on the performance of some of the current councillors, Newcastle and its civic administrators would benefit from better informed and educated councillors who are civically minded enough to be involved in all aspects of their job and not just those issues that are important to them. Perhaps all candidates need to be educated in their responsibilities and duties BEFORE they actually run for election to prevent them then turning around and complaining about or participating in poor procedural process/es.
This online discussion forum has concluded. You can still browse the site but the discussion area will no longer accept new comments or votes.
Comment 1 11 Feb 2008, 4:58 PM
Removed by moderator. Comment was deemed offensive, inappropriate or spam.
Comment 2 11 Feb 2008, 5:02 PM
If you have ever been to a Council Meeting you will witness first hand how terribly some of the councillors behave. The meetings seem to be about the personal issues/ grudges/ political pointscoring of some councillors. There is not a sense of governing yet there is a sense of managing, and often managing the most minor details. There is also a lack of confidence in decision making with additional information requests drowning council staff / consultants/ lawyers etc and costing the rate payers a bomb. We desperately need councillors who are responsible, civically minded who can move this city forward. Newcastle has so much potential yet we continue to be held down by a disfunctional council. Unfortunately those who can lift us out of this mire are reluctant to put their hands up. It's time to move out of the retired teachers club and into the future. Please bring forward some good (fresh, educated and innovative) candidates in the next election.
Comment 3 11 Feb 2008, 8:40 PM
MESSAGE FROM ADMINISTRATOR
Whilst we value all your views at Bang the Table, This page is for consultation on the Newcastle City Council Management Plan. We do not want discussion to get sidetracked. We have allowed this discussion thread becasue the provision of additional training and support for Councillors may be a legitimate issue. However, please note that this page is not a place to make general comments on councillor performance. Such posts are irrelevant to this consultation and as such will be removed.
Comment 3.1 19 Mar 2008, 10:30 AM
Your approach to censorship is possibly one of the reasons why Bang the Table is not going to work and a waste of $5,00 to $10,000.
Some people use more emotional language than others to express their opinions - especially some Councillors (e.g. Lord Mayor reported as referring to a Councillor as a Donkey). If this site is censored then it must be regarded as nothing more than a propaganda exercise.
I welcome your reply.
Comment 3.1.1 19 Mar 2008, 2:27 PM
Hi Reformer
Perhaps I should clarify or moderation policy. Moderation is carried out independently by Bang the Table staff. We rule against material that is defamatory, obscene or irrelevant and do so without fear or favour. We do try, where possible, to post comments (like above) to keep the discussion on track rather than deleting postings.
Our concern above was the relevance to the discussion on the management plan that we are hosting here. You will see that nothing has actually been removed because people have kept themselves to the subject very well.
We do not consider removing irrelevant material as censorship. There is an open forum area of the site where you can talk about anything you care to. However, where we host a consultation for a client we will always seek to keep it relevant - this is no different to facilitation at a public meeting.
If you want to discuss this further or have any concerns please email me on admin@bangthetable.com or leave a comment on the Site Related Feedback Page on this site. I dont want NCC's page to be filled with a debate between you and me but I am interested to hear your views.
Comment 3.1.1.1 26 Mar 2008, 6:16 AM
The issue of Councillor experience and competence is very relevant to the Management Plan, as evidenced by events last year.
I don't know how much time you have spent on examining the Councillor workload, and the way in which the Budget is dealt with. I have spent the time and have the evidence. A number of complaints to the Ombudsman also document the concerns. This is fact.
You are correct in allowing this discussion thread "becasue (sic)the provision of additional training and support for Councillors may be a legitimate issue."
The key issue is extra SUPPORT for Councillors, rather than extra training. I admire people who put up their hands for election to Council, and accept that many very competent business people are reluctant to do so because political pointscoring often takes precedence over a sound management focus.
However, Councillors are seriously deprived of the independent, competent resources available to Company Directors in the discharge of their duties, so they are often starved of the facts required to make balanced decisions.
They may not say this publicly. However, a number of Councillors have told me this privately. Perhaps a Councillor or two may like to respond.
Comment 3.1.1.2 26 Mar 2008, 6:56 AM
The issue of Councillor experience and competence is very relevant to the Management Plan, as evidenced by events last year.
I don't know how much time you have spent on examining the Councillor workload, and the way in which the Budget is dealt with. I have spent the time and have the evidence. A number of complaints to the Ombudsman also document the concerns. This is fact.
You are correct in allowing this discussion thread "becasue (sic)the provision of additional training and support for Councillors may be a legitimate issue."
The key issue is extra SUPPORT for Councillors, rather than extra more…
Comment 3.2 26 Mar 2008, 3:55 PM
I agree that this site should be about the Draft Management Plan. Will you also remove the rest of the items that are not directly part of the Management Plan? This includes some of the discussions logged by Sam as they refer to an 18 month time frame. The Draft management Plan is a four year document with detailed information about the next financial year.
Comment 4 13 Feb 2008, 5:51 PM
There is certainly reason to be less than satisfied with the performance of the elected Council as a decision making body for our city. But there is just as much fault in the way the administration plays its role in providing Council with the support it needs to do a good job. In the end one of the greatest failures of the elected Council is its failure to insist on better performance from the administration
Comment 5 16 Feb 2008, 11:22 AM
I'd like to hear from the councillors about their vision. I dont know where they stand.