Frankston Tax Returns
Basic, Business, Rental Properties
Business Advisors Under 21 - Half Price On the Spot Tax Refunds
YOUR GUIDE TO WHAT’S ON THIS WEEKEND FOR PENINSULA FAMILIES FACEBOOK:
peninsulakids.com.au INSTAGRAM: mornpenkids
Ph: 9769 6660 60 Station St, Frankston Open Evenings & Saturdays
An independent voice for the community
FREE
Your weekly community newspaper covering Frankston, Frankston South, Karingal, Langwarrin and Seaford For all advertising and editorial needs, call 03
Tuesday 18 February 2020
5974 9000 or email: team@baysidenews.com.au www.baysidenews.com.au
Lightning strikes
Wild weather and storms lashed Frankston on Friday, 14 February. Heavy rain hit statewide, with the south-eastern suburbs hit badly. Picture: Gary Sissons
Audit into Green Wedge action delay Brodie Cowburn brodie@baysidenews.com.au THE process undertaken to act on changes to Frankston’s Green Wedge management plan has been referred to an audit for review. On 14 October last year, Frankston councillors voted to reject a proposal to open up Green Wedge land in Carrum Downs to allow for the expansion of the industrial estate. More than three months later, a new motion was brought before council seeking to reverse that decision. Although the renewed push to open up Green Wedge land failed, councillors at the meeting expressed concern that their previous resolution to authorise council officers to write to the planning minister about the green wedge management plan had not been acted on. Last week, a council statement acknowledged that there had been a “failure to enact the implementation of council’s October 2019 Green Wedge resolution in a timely manner”. The statement read that “an error in the process for making the short stay accommodation local law” had also occurred. Council CEO Phil Cantillon said that “to address councillors’ concerns, and ensure good governance and transparency, these matters will be referred to the audit and risk committee for full
Record HEAT WAVE predicted for March and April!
ORDER NOW! to beat the heat! Phone (03) 9775 1726 21/61 Frankston Gardens Drive, Carrum Downs www.undercoverblinds.com.au info@undercoverblinds.com.au | follow us on Facebook: undercoverblindsandawnings
review and oversight.” “Councillors and the executive team are working to develop a robust approach to improving transparency and accountability across the organisation, to ensure we are achieving not just good, but exceptional governance outcomes,” Mr Cantillon said. Frankston’s audit and risk committee comprises six members, with three being councillors. Cr Colin Hampton, who was behind the recent motion to reconsider opening up the Green Wedge, is a member of that committee. In December, state government appointed monitor Prue Digby handed down her report into Frankston Council’s governance. “Following Ms Digby’s report, council is required to provide a written submission to the minister for local government outlining its commitment and actions taken to address the monitor’s recommendations listed in the report, of which the need to strengthen governance is one,” Mr Cantillon said. Cr Quinn McCormack was among the councillors who shared their concerns about council’s processes at their 28 January meeting. “How can we have confidence in our governance if one councillor can hold up a resolution for three months,” she asked (“Industrial expansion rejected again”, The Times, 3/2/2020). Continued Page 4