22 August 2016

Page 1

Frankston

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Books club

STUDENTS at Patterson River Secondary College are facing a ban on technology in school this week but it not a punishment for any misdemeanour. The ‘ban’ on mobile phones, iPads and laptops in the school library is a way for students to rediscover the joy of the printed word on the page during the Children’s Book Council organised Book Week (22-25 August) in partnership with state government. The week, dubbed ‘Lit Fest’ at Patterson Secondary, will be an interesting technology separation experience for some students who have known nothing else than a time when reading on glowing screens is prevalent. ‘Stories around the campfire’, a competition matching teachers with their favourite books and collaborative story writing activities as part of book making fun will be part of Book Week at the school. See cbca.org.au/book-week-2016 for further information on Book Week and activities for school students. On same page: Cougar Raphael, left,Christine Bantow, Megan Stenson and Seth Ali enjoy some time out from technology at Patterson River Secondary College. Picture: Yanni

Council saved from sack Neil Walker neil@baysidenews.com.au ALL nine of Frankston’s councillors have been saved from being stood down next month after the state government intervened in the aftermath of an administrative blunder by Frankston Council. Several councillors and councils across the state, including all Frankston councillors, faced the axe (‘All councillors face sack’, The Times 5/8/16) with effect from 1 September for missing a 4 July deadline to sign a new councillor

code of conduct, as part of a state government instigated review of the Local Government Act. The new code of conduct, flagged late last year, is aimed at improving councillors’ behaviour although some councillors across Victoria believe it is also an attempt to stifle debate since councillors will not be allowed to criticise the voting decisions of fellow councillors at public council meetings. Frankston mayor Cr James Dooley confirmed council had “technically breached” Local Government Investigations and Compliance Inspectorate requirements when signing and sub-

mitting councillors’ completed documentation to abide by the new code of conduct. Frankston councillors faced disqualification from office from 1 September, as first revealed by The Times, since council CEO Dennis Hovenden did not witness their signatures on documents submitted to the inspectorate. “At the end of the day, the councillors gave their oath that they would abide by the code of conduct. It is the oath that is important, not the CEO’s signature. To suggest otherwise is bureaucratic nonsense,” Cr Dooley said on Saturday. Premier Daniel Andrews said last

week that several councils “failed to comply with the law of our state” but the Labor state government stepped in so councillors are not disqualified “in the interests of ratepayers”. Acting Local Government Minister Richard Wynne, the state Minister for Planning, subsequently said a new deadline of 22 February next year will be granted to councillors to avoid administrators being called in to run 13 councils who failed to comply and properly sign the revised code of conduct before the July deadline. “Our ultimate consideration here is ensuring residents don’t have to pay for

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the administrative mistakes made by their local councils,” Mr Wynne said in a statement. “The councils have admitted themselves to gross incompetence in not meeting this simple requirement, and they have asked the government for a solution to ensure ratepayers don’t suffer as a result of these mistakes. “Communities should be able to rely on their elected councillors to behave with the utmost integrity and professionalism at all times, so it’s important they abide by codes of conduct that reflect these values.” Continued Page 8

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22 August 2016 by Mornington Peninsula News Group - Issuu