Fix the Drains and Secure the Ramparts

Mosman Council recently called a public meeting to explain its plans to increase rates permanently by up to 10%.  There was suspicion that the proposed rate increases were in some way related to Mosman Council campaign against amalgamation.

drains feature highly in Mosman's future 

I was not looking forward to this meeting, imagining a gathering of fellow grey haired residents combing over endless columns of numbers and inspecting kilometres  of dilapidate drains.

Fortunately the Mayor's introduction was brief and to the point. He said the rate application was being done now ‘to get clear of any election’ and to ‘maintain independence’.

One of the rate increase options proposes a lesser increase of 5%, it is designed to replace an existing 5% Community Environmental Contract. The Mayor said ‘we can live with that’ ‘we are in pretty good shape anyhow’, ‘without the threat there would not be the will to go for extra 5%'.

One of the Councillors offered an assessment that we had a 50% chance of stopping amalgamations if the higher rates were approved.  He said ‘get ramparts secure, then we can make any argument we like’.

Mosman's iconic ramparts

At which stage the General Manager interjected to explain that the 'bureaucratic' reason for the rate increases was that 'the additional funds were needed to increase service levels particularly infrastructure renewal and maintenance and to achieve operating surpluses over the next 10 years.'

In response to a question about whether efficiencies could be gained from scale, a councillor said ‘resource sharing across councils in NSW had been pathetic and he hoped that when the amalgamation threat passes, it will trigger better resource sharing.  Someone rightly suggested mergers would solve this problem.

The event ended with a call for a round of applause for the staff and councillors.  The meeting was attended by 6 councillors, 6 council staff and 14 residents.

The suspect motives turned out to be well founded,  Mosman Council is looking to permanently increase rates beyond what is necessary to bolster its ‘fit for the future assessment’ all in the name of ‘An Independent Mosman’.

In the meantime the Government has released its Fit For the Future Templates.
The thresh hold issue is Scale and Capacity. Financial sustainability measures will only be assessed once this question has been answered.

Screenshot from guidelines

To read more see the guidelines for Fit For The Future.
http://www.fitforthefuture.nsw.gov.au/content/just-released-%E2%80%93-council-self-assessment-tool-templates-and-guidance

Mike Baird Could Have Said 'Put Self Interest Aside and Put the Community Interest First'

The NSW Premier Mike Baird recently addressed the Local Government Conference and was quoted by the SMH,

"How can we use this process to deliver better services and more infrastructure for our community? It's almost that sense of having to put pride into the back seat and put the community into the front seat."

I imagine the Premier was using the word 'pride' to diplomatically say put aside 'self interest' and put the community interest first.

I have now attended three community forums over the last year on the issue of council mergers and the same story emerges each time. The rooms are populated by people like me, grey haired, active in the community, well informed and well connected to existing council structures.  Every one upholds the virtues and achievements of their council, they say they know who to talk to and how to get things done. They fear this will all change if their council merges with its neighbour.

Sitting amidst the protest at an ILGRP consultation

Many meetings are addressed by former Mayors, Councillors and General Managers all speaking with fondness for their contributions to civic life, their involvement with their communities.

It is hard not to be sympathetic to these appeals.

The reality is however, that these very well meaning people, who are making a real contribution to their communities and current and past Councillors, have a strong interest in the status quo. They know how it all works, they know the right people, they have the established relationships, they hold local power and they don't want anything to change.

But we are not representative of the community, with our knowledge, contacts and relationships, we are a privileged and very small minority. Most residents would not know the name of their ward Councillor or the name of their council's General Manager.  They simply want cost effective services and representation.

This is the appeal the Premiere is making, it is in the interest of the community that councils merge, to have the capacity and scale to provide better services, become more efficient and better represent their communities.  So please put aside 'self interest' and put the community first.  Premiere Mike Baird is right on this occasion.

SMH Article: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/premier-mike-baird-tells-councils-to-put-pride-in-the-back-seat-as-merger-talk-heats-up-20141020-118ktt.html#ixzz3Gkji53r6

Mosmanly

According to News Local, a plan to divide and conquer Warringah and include Mosman in a mega Manly Council is set to be discussed by Manly councillors.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/northern-beaches/manly-mayor-jean-hay-mulls-mosmanly-megacouncil-as-merger-pressure-grows/story-fngr8hax-1227085452264

Dubbed “Mosmanly” by Mosman mayor Peter Abelson, the mythical municipality would extend from Taronga Zoo to Curl Curl. Warringah Council would be dissolved, while Pittwater Council would control the peninsula’s north.

Manly mayor Jean Hay, who will put the idea to councillors, said the name might need some work “as we know Manly gathers no moss,” but that councils must consider mergers or face being frozen out of state and federal government funds.

Peter Abelson is quoted  'Council would prefer to remain independent but is under pressure to merge with North Sydney. Cr Abelson said a merger with Manly would be a “better fit” as both areas are residential.'

Really, you must still be joking! 

Cremorne is at the border of Mosman Council and North Sydney Council. It is a five minute bike ride from Mosman Council Chambers.  Mosman is separated from Manly by water in the form of Middle Harbour and the ever congested Spit Bridge.  

Willoughby councillor Angelo Rozos says benefits of amalgamation must be considered

Willoughby Councillor Angelo Rozos is quoted in this week Telegraph in favour of council amalgamations.  

He thought the suggested Willoughby Council, Lane Cove, North Sydney, Hunters Hill and Mosman  amalgamation was too big, but he could see merit in two councils for the area.

 “If amalgamation was to occur, the north shore should be divided into two – upper and lower,’’ Cr Rozos said.

He suggested a council made up of Lane Cove, Willoughby, some parts of Ku-ring-gai and Hunters Hill and a second council containing North Sydney and Mosman could result in cost savings.

The councillor said amalgamation would offer more services to the community and much better value for the ratepayer’s dollar.

“There seems to be a bit of a resistance regarding amalgamation, but we need to have that serious debate on the north shore. I am all for retaining local and independent council representation, but we need to get the balance right with financial responsibility for the long term,” Cr Rozos said.

read the full article here

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/north-shore/willoughby-councillor-angelo-rozos-says-benefits-of-amalgamation-must-be-considered/story-fngr8h9d-1227054990093

In the meantime, Lane Cove Mayor David Brooks-Horn has named the issue as the biggest challenge his council would face in the next 12 months.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/north-shore/public-meeting-to-be-held-on-council-amalgamations-at-lane-cove-council-civic-centre-on-october-8/story-fngr8h9d-1227081624711

Lane Cove Council is holding a public meeting meeting at the Lane Cove Council Chambers, 48 Longueville Rd, Lane Cove from 7pm, Wednesday, October 8.

'Fit For the Future' with some measly pieces of silver

The NSW Government has announced its response to the Sampson Review  (media release) and it has not been well received by Mosman Council.

This is what the Mayor had to say in his 'occasional letter'.

'Secondly, the State Government has nearly done a full U-turn on its frequent pledges not to force council amalgamations. Councils have been told that by June 2015 they must come up with proposals for scale and capacity that are consistent with the recommendations of the recent Independent Local Government Review Panel (ILGRP) which recommended that council areas in Sydney should contain some 250,000 people. Councils are also being offered some measly pieces of silver (which works out at about $100 per household) to amalgamate. It is not clear at this stage what happens to Councils (communities) that do not wish to be part of huge local government areas or whether they will have the opportunity to show that they are “Fit for the Future”, whatever that may mean. If the review panel for “Fit for the Future” is similar to the ILGRP, whose three members were wholly pre-committed to amalgamation, it could be another hatchet job. I will provide more details as they become clearer. We will of course consult our community in setting our position.'

The Seven Things Keeping House Prices High

The Conversation recently published an article "The Seven Things Keeping House Prices High"

One of the seven is the fact that population growth is outpacing dwelling approvals.

Local Councils are seen to be slowing up approvals.

Something has to change.

http://theconversation.com/seven-things-keeping-house-prices-high-and-foreign-investment-isnt-one-of-them-31345

Reserve Bank Glen Stevens - Funding conditions are not an impediment to infrastructure

Sydney like most capitals in Australia is having a housing price boom and there is concern that we are in a boom bust cycle.  The problem is the shortage of land for development.  

Glen Stevens, Reserve Bank Chair, recently made this point albeit in a diplomatic way, 'monetary policy (very low interest rates) could not add to the amount of land available for housing or improve the ability of the construction sector to respond to demand for extra housing.'  'Funding conditions are not, in fact, an impediment to infrastructure.'

For the sake of the economy and the need for affordable housing for an extra 2 million people, the State and Federal Governments must make a priority the release of development land. The problem is local government and small councils which are captive to anti development local politics.

Mosman Council is a prime example, having refused to endorse its own Spit Junction Master Plan, because of fears of an residents backlash to building heights going from 5 stories to 7 stories in a few highly selected places.  The master plan recommend higher building heights and increased FSR (2.5 to 3.5) to allow for  public amenities in the form lane way setbacks, public arcades and bus terminals.

The State Government funded the Spit Junction Master Plan, they must now be shaking their heads in disbelief.  The obvious solution from their point of view, make councils larger  and more responsible.

Extract from Glen Stevens speech reported in the Fin Review

http://www.afr.com/p/national/rba_glenn_stevens_urges_action_to_zQDQkxTeiTKlXdg9qXSN8H

“It is stating the obvious that at present, while we may desire to see a faster reduction in the rate of unemployment, further inflating an already elevated level of housing prices seems an unwise route to try to achieve that.” Mr Stevens indicated to a function organised by the Committee for the Economic Development of Australia in Adelaide on Wednesday that it was the task of state and federal gov­ernments to help ensure price gains didn’t become unsustainable.

He said monetary policy could not add to the amount of land available for housing or improve the ability of the construction sector to respond to demand for extra housing.

“Other policies have to do that – and it’s important that they do, if we are to see easy credit result in more dwellings as opposed to just higher prices for the existing dwellings,” he said. “Monetary policy can’t create the additional in­frastructure that most people agree we need. Funding conditions are not, in fact, an impediment to infrastructure.