DECLARATION OF OFFICE AND REMEMBRANCE DAY

 

Well, what an exciting week!

On Tuesday, the new Council all signed the Declaration of Office to officially make us Councillors.  It has allowed Mike Symons and I to use the title of Mayor and Deputy Mayor as well. 

Councillors then got down to business by attending their first workshop as a briefing on some matters.  Next Tuesday, they will attend an induction workshop that will be very extensive in its content and cover the myriad of matters that make up local government.  It can be daunting but we have a committed group of people to serving the GSBC municipal area for the next 4 years. The induction will equip them with the knowledge to undertake the role in a sometimes volatile environment.  

Being a local government councillor takes commitment to your values of integrity and ethics. I have no doubt that the Councillors elected for the next 4 years will uphold those values to the highest degree.

There were lots of phone calls and emails that filled the rest of the week until today - Remembrance Day.  I am fortunate that I was appointed to the role of Co-Ordinator for Anzac Day and Remembrance Day by the Spring Bay RSL some time ago and that gives me the privilege of being MC on those ceremonial days (as me; not the Mayor).  Today we were fortunate to have the Minister for Veterans Affairs the Hon Guy Barnett attend our service and deliver the Remembrance Day address.  Minister Barnett is a strong supporter of all veterans and their support services.  

One of the roles I hold is as a member of the Veterans Reference Group (VRG) due to being the parent of a current serving defence member.  The VRG plays an important role in providing information to the Minister about the many issues that our veteran and current serving members experience.  If you are a veteran who is in need of assistance, I encourage you to contact your local RSL sub-branch for support.  Alternatively, please don't hesitate to contact me.

So to the end of the week and it is Onwards and Upwards from here for GSBC (this is me plagiarising the General Manager's favourite saying!) 

Stay in touch.  Until next time....

Cheryl

ELECTION AND THE FUTURE

Following a recount,, I have been confirmed as Mayor for the upcoming term of Glamorgan Spring Bay Council.  I am so grateful to everyone who voted for me particularly the 1550 people who marked 1 in the Mayoral first preference box.  With some returning Councillors and three new councillors, the future is looking very bright for Glamorgan Spring Bay.

Clr Michael Symons was overwhelmingly voted in as Deputy Mayor and I could not be more delighted to have him in that role.

Former Deputy Mayor Jenny Woods returns as a Councillor and will bring her extended experience and governance skill to the Chamber. Former Mayor Robert Young and Clr Rob Churchill round out the returning councillors.  

Three incoming Councillors with no local government experience in Neil (Teddy) Edwards (Orford), Carole McQueeney (Orford) and Greg Luck (Swansea) have been elected.  All three Councillors bring to the Chamber a broad skill set of business, governance and life experiences that will be invaluable to the debate.  Of course, it will be a steep learning curve in terms of the legislation and other governance matters as well as becoming familiar with the many issues that come to council from time to time.

I have said consistently that being a Councillor is not an easy gig.  It can be distressing and mentally challenging.  An election can be even worse!  It is easy to abuse those in public office. All Councillors put up their hand to take on an often thankless role and sometimes controversial one so any form of abuse is not deserved.  

We were elected by the community to serve the community but we can only do that with clear and concise communication.  The incoming Council is committed to opening lines of communication and I would encourage everyone to communicate with the Councillor of your choice if you have an issue.  Talk to us.  One of my favourite sayings in relation to complaints is 'kicking the gravel in the carpark'.  It means that people will often do just that when amongst others and not actually raise the matter with those they may have an issue.  Kicking the gravel in the carpark rarely achieves anything other than angst for either or both parties so let's talk! 

I have no doubt that the new Council will have spirited debates but rest assured the best interests of the ratepayers and residents will always be at the forefront of minds.

Thank you once again to everyone who voted in this election.  Your support of all the candidates who were elected to Glamorgan Spring Bay is very much appreciated.  

RESPONSE TO LETTER IN LOCAL PAPER

In a local paper recently, Council Candidate Kenneth Gregson made some statements that required a response.  The paper determined that because I had named the candidate any response would be in breach of the Electoral Act as I didn't have the candidate's permission to name him.  Whilst that is accurate if one is spruiking a particular candidate for election, my response was hardly doing that!  I amended to generic terms in the letter but with no publication success so I've decided to self-publish here in the original format.

Council Candidate Kenneth Gregson made several comments in the last issue of GOBC news that cannot go unanswered.

The amount of pensioner rates remission is not a decision that is made by Council.  The amount of the pensioner rates remission is the sole decision of the State Government.  It is a reasonable assumption that there should be a whole of sector submission put to the State Government on the matter and LGAT may well be the forum for that to happen.  It is a matter that not only affects GSBC pensioners but the whole local government sector.

The change from AAR to AAV is not a decision that I agreed with.   It was very poorly implemented by Council with seemingly little regard for the plight of older ratepayers who now have the good fortune to reside in homes that have a high AAV.  The reasons given for the change were flawed and as such I voted against the decision.

When did Mr Gregson become an expert on planning matters in relation to the Prosser Plains Raw Water Scheme (named as Tassal pipeline)?   The matter was dealt with by full Council in accordance with qualified advice presented at the time.  The Solis development is still an active DA.  It should be noted that Tassal is currently meeting all financial obligations (principal and interest repayments) in accordance with their contract.

Why were previous GSBC’s allowed to operate outside of the Local Government Act, and by whom? What evidence does the writer have to support such an allegation?  I seriously doubt the Local Government Division would allow a Council, any Council, to operate outside of the Act if this is an evidence-based statement.

Again, when did Mr Gregson become a planning expert without the benefit of the qualified advice reports presented to Council at the time?  Cambria will be dealt with by Council acting as a planning authority when/if the necessity arises.  Should Mr Gregson be elected to Council, he can put all his planning expertise to good use!!

(Authorised by Cheryl Arnol 10 Aubin Court Orford)

SO THIS IS ME

 

Gender	Female (She/Her)
Occupation	Director
Location	Tasmania, Australia
Introduction	I have had a long involvement with local government; becoming a Glamorgan Spring Bay Councillor in 1996, Deputy Mayor in 1997, Mayor 1999 - 2005 and Deputy Mayor from 2014-2018. Served continuously as Councillor from 2007 till present. Awarded a Centenary of Federation Medal for Services to GSBC. Current panel member with the Marine Farming Planning Review Panel (5 year appointment)  Currrent Member Veterans Reference Group. Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (MAICD) and Member Institute of Community Directors (MICDA). December 2021 completed two terms (6 years) as a Director of the Forest Practices Authority. 2019-2022 Lay Member Legal Profession Disciplinary Tribunal I have been a club, State, National and International administrator over a 40-year competition clay target shooting career. In 2012 awarded the Australian International Shooting Ltd Fellowship Award for services to international shooting which included being Chair of Selectors for London and Beijing shooting teams. I have won numerous titles including National Ladies High Gun and Macintosh Ladies Team High Gun.
Interests	Reading crime novels, sewing, clay target competition
Favourite Films	Anything with Richard Gere in it!
Favourite Music	Roy Orbison, Luke Bryan, Bruce Springsteen
Favourite Books	Anything by John Grisham, Linda LaPlante, James Patterson. In fact, any crime or law based!

POSTED YOUR BALLOT PAPER YET?

  

Have you posted your ballot paper yet.  This is the return as at 3 pm today

4479  Glamorgan Spring Bay      2616   58.41%

It represents 8% over the State average and 16% in front of Hobart City.  Currently our area is running 4th in returns - Dorset and Kentish are at 59%, GSBC and King Island are neck and neck on 58%

GSBC has traditionally polled well even before compulsory voting and it looks like that trend is continuing.  

Don't leave your ballot on the kitchen bench and risk a fine.

Your No. 1 vote would be appreciated for both Councillor and Mayor.  Don't forget Mayor and Deputy Mayor candidates have to be elected as a Councillor too.  It does get a bit confusing when the votes for Mayor and Deputy Mayor are counted first.  It can then be an agonising wait to see if you have been elected as a Councillor. 

VOTE 1 - CHERYL ARNOL - COUNCILLOR

VOTE 1 - CHERYL ARNOL - MAYOR

(Authorised by C Arnol 10 Aubin Court Orford)

PLAY NICE SAYS MINISTER FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT

 

The headline in today's issue of the Mercury -

Local government minister Nic Street has slammed bad behaviour during campaigning for council elections, urging candidates to be accountable for their actions.

What I find distressing is that candidates across the State are being targeted in one way or another but are they being targeted by other candidates?  Why should the signs of candidates be defaced especially signs of candidates who have never stood before for election?  Why should those candidates who have been on Council for previous terms be subjected to inuenndo and derogatory statements about past decisions?

If that is the case, then candidates need to be accountable but more importantly how do they intend to sit around the table with those who may be elected with them and maintain a good working relationship.

The Minister went on to say - 

“Individuals that hold public office at all levels of government should be held to high standards in terms of behaviour. They are leaders in the community and are relied upon to represent, and make important decisions on behalf of, the community.”

In this week's edition of the GOBC news, there is a letter from a candidate that makes a number of comments about previous councils and how matters should have been dealt with by incumbent councillors.  What is missed by the writer is that individual councillors cannot make decisions in isolation.  All decisions are made by a majority or in some cases an absolute majority.  What is worse is this allegation -

Why were previous GSBC’s allowed to operate outside of the Local Government Act, and by whom? 

Who is the writer referring to as 'by whom'?  Again, in Council there is no one person who can make decisions that would mean Council is operating outside the Local Government Act.  As a long-term councillor, I'd like to see any evidence that the writer may have.

Don't forget to vote.  It is compulsory this year. 

ARNOL/SYMONS - GETTING GSBC BACK TO BUSINESS!

 

 

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                                   VOTE 1 – ARNOL (MAYOR)/SYMONS (DEPUTY MAYOR)

GETTING GSBC BACK TO BUSINESS!

 

In terms of shared values on community consultation, Cheryl Arnol and Michael Symons are on the same page!  A strong Mayor and Deputy Mayor team will be paramount in achieving change.

A Mayor and Deputy Mayor, both with local government experience, and who are committed to working together will provide sound leadership for Council 

Glamorgan Spring Bay residents and ratepayers deserve a leadership team that will encourage Council to listen and advocate for communities.  

(Authorised by G Arnol 10 Aubin Court Orford)