councilors council officers Glen Eira
residents and community members viewing
our meeting this evening I'd like to
welcome you to the 21st of November 2023
extraordinary meeting of
council this evening's the items
we're going to consider tonight include
the terms of office for the Mayor and
Deputy Mayor the election of the Mayor
the election of the Deputy Mayor and the
appointment of councilors to committees
there are a few items I'd like to
mention before we begin this evening
first a reminder to councilors council
offices and members of the public that
all mobile phones are to be switched off
or placed on silent for the duration of
the meeting our meetings are being held
here in person here at council chambers
and are being live streamed to the
community rule 24 of council's
governance rule states where meetings
are held in person meetings can continue
if live streaming of the meeting
fails where a council is participating
virtually and a technical problem occurs
preventing Council from live streaming
the meeting will be adjourned for 10
minutes and then if the meeting cannot
be resumed up within 30 minutes the
meeting will be adjourned and reconvened
at 6: p.m. on Wednesday the 22nd of
November
2023 council is not responsible for any
data usage charges or technical issues
that members of the public may
experience in in accessing council's
live stream or recording of
meetings and a copy of each meeting and
live stream will be on council's website
as soon as possible or the next
following
day item one is this Glen Eira City Council
acknowledges the people of the Kulin
nation as traditional owners and
custodians we pay our respect to their
Elders past present and emerging we
acknowledge and uphold their continued
relationship to land and waterways and
Council extends its respect to all
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people
um item two is apologies we have an
apology from councilor Zyngier could I
please have a move and a second after
that move Council
Zmood seconded councilor Parasol all
those in
favour that motion is carried
?
unanimously council's item three
council's there is a requirement for
disclosure of conflicts of interest in
items listed for consideration on the
agenda or any item that is considered at
this meeting in accordance with Section
130 in Brackets 2 of The Local
Government Act of 2020 and Rule 60 in
Brackets 3 of the Glen Eira Council
governance rules now given the agenda
tonight I don't suspect there'll be any
conflicts of interest no we'll just move
on um now before we move to item 4.1
term of office of the Mayor and Deputy
Mayor there are sorry the
recommended ation is that Council
determines the office of Mayor and
Deputy Mayor to be for a one year term
council's can I have a move and a second
for that move councilor Parasol second
councilor
Athanasopoulos all those in favour that is
carried
unanimously um now section 25 in
Brackets 3 in Brackets a of the 2020 act
provides that the election of the Mayor
must be a chaired by the Chief Executive
Officer and be subject to section 25 of
the 2020 act be conducted in accordance
with the governance rules but before I
do invite the council CEO to preside
over the election of the Mayor I'd just
like to say a few words regarding my
time as the Mayor and I'd like to start
by actually welcoming ex-councilor
Jamie Heims and Joel Silva to um the
council and welcome them to the chamber
tonight
well tonight is my last council meeting
in the chair after two years as Mayor
being the Mayor has been an incredible
honour to have served two years
representing such a rich diverse the
diversity of Glen Eira and this incredible
councilor group it has been a privilege
and something I will never
forget every day I've worked to do what
I could to make Glen Eira an even better
place to
live but I'm also very excited what our
new Mayor and Deputy Mayor will achieve
in the final year of this Council term
and they will have my complete
support as I am chairing my final
council meeting I hope councilors and
those present in the public gallery will
allow me to just briefly reflect on my
time in the
role over the past two years this
council has worked work together to
achieve a lot for this
city we've embarked on an
intergenerational community defining
projects that we have planned for the
future these projects are a rich legacy
which will be highly valued by our
residents for many years to come this
council has had a strong focus on
creating public spaces that the
community can enjoy the Carnegie Memorial
Swimming Pool a beloved community icon has
seen its redevelopment
commence a lot of progress has already
been made to build one of the most
environmentally sustainable pools in the
world in the last two years we've
continued to work towards delivering new
public open spaces acquiring new land
for the future development and we've
built value really valued community hubs
like the Bentleigh Library and Youth Hub
down in my beloved Tucker Ward Murrumbeena Park
Community Hub Lord's Reserve Pavilion
the Bentleigh and Bentleigh Community
Space Princess Park playground the new
park in Eighteen Avenue the Rosanna Street
playground upgrade the community fitness
facility at Duncan McKinnon and a range
of other improvements and that's just
what I did
personally with a little
help
we we've kicked off the Mackey Reserve
master plan and secured $3 million in
funding for the new pavillion we've
continued our focus on increasing our
City's urban canopy and biodiversity we
planted new trees and created and
continued to with the ?? classified
tree register which is now councilor
Zmood can correct me 200
trees bit more or
more we've continued to plan for the
future with the creation of the housing
strategy that guides our plans for
population growth the housing strategy
is supported by structure plans for Caulfield
? Carnegie Glen Huntly and
Elsternwick the Bentleigh structure plan
will soon come to council for
consideration we strengthened our focus
and approached our community engagement
creating council's first ever um
centralized community engagement team
and delivering a community engagement
strategy and policy last Financial year
we delivered 22 engagements which
generated valued community feedback to
guide to guide our decision- making
we've responded to climate emergency
through our climate emergency response
strategy which will see us achieve Net
Zero Council emissions by 2025 and
support the community achieving Net Zero
by
2030 we've continued our support for our
community group securing the new forever
home for Mongala women's community house
and at Mongala Village I call Mongala Village my
little My Little Treasure Trove that's
where I put all my little jewels and
anyone who knows Mongala will know the
the funny part about jewels right Jamie
jewels it's your name
? we also found homes for the soup
angel and very soon we'll be announcing
a very exciting community group moving
into Morley but uh just keep your
antennas open for that
one we've strengthened our relationship
with the Glen Eira multicultural
communities by creating our first
multicultural advisory committee and
we've done all of this while maintaining
our high Community satisfaction and
customer service scores showing our
services are some of the most valued
Council services in the
state but councilors we we know that the
last two years have also brought some
challenges many of these challenges are
driven by external factors beyond our
control and have required Glen Eira to
Glen Eira to lead a sector-wide
conversation I'd like to think that my
time as Mayor I've never shied away from
advocating for our city and raising the
tough questions I started a sector-wide
conversation about the long-term
financial sustainability of local
government which is one of the biggest
issues facing our
sector I welcome the Victorian
parliament's inquiry and the Auditor
General's investigation which will take
place in the coming months in response
to these challenges as a member of the
local government um advisory committee
I've taken these challenges directly to
the
minister but I'm sad to say that while I
had hoped my feedback would be well
received tough conversations weren't
what the minister had in
mind the panel ended up being less of a
sounding board for the minister on these
issues that matter and more of an echo
chamber where the government initiatives
could be spooked this is incredibly
disappointing and counter to the spirit
of genuine engagement with our
sector I hope the minister will one day
soon turn her attention to local
government's biggest challenges because
we just can't afford to wait and of
course as a councilor we are not immune
to the challenges of ? rising costs and
inflation our revenue is shrinking
projects and services are costing much
more we're paying more for the
other level we pay more to other levels
of government while they continue to
shift their costs onto us it's becoming
tougher to operate and we need to be
responsible and planned now for our
long-term
sustainability that's why this Council
has embarked on one of the biggest ever
community engagement activities which we
which we call PRI our priorities our
future it's an open and honest
conversation about the challenges we
face we are asking residents which
services and infrastructure are
priorities for our community we're also
asking how can we best raise revenue
or cut cost to pay for what we value
most we heard from thousands of people
through our campaign including the
hard-to-reach groups of more than 1500
people through our community
survey this week Council has heard this
week's Council has heard from members of
our community priorities panel about
their informed recommendations and we
look forward to considering all of their
recommendation and feedback at our
December ordinary Council meeting and
that's going to guide our future plans
for 2024 and beyond but I leave this
chair proud of what we have achieved and
optimistic that we will tackle
challenges we face by working with our
community as we always do but I also
acknowledge that I leave this chair at a
time a time that is particularly
challenging for our Jewish
Community Glen Eira is the cultural home
of Victoria Jewish community and I'm
absolutely heartbroken by what I see
overseas as I felt incredibly
fortunate to have been supported and
embraced by our Jewish people and my big
thanks to council Parasol for all his
help and
guidance over the last two years as
always we have continued to stand with
our Jewish community and stamp out
anti-Semitism and celebrate the rich
diversity that makes Glen Eira a great
place to live I look forward to seeing
this spirit of multiculturalism and
togetherness guide our Council in the
next Mayoral term and
beyond it remains as important as ever
for this Council and all levels of
government to support and partner with
our diverse communities call out hate
and take positive and valued steps
towards acceptance and
diversity and finally I just like to
thank our CEO Rebecca
McKenzie her directors officers and all
the staff at Glen Eira
Council the success of this council is a
direct reflection on all of
them the City of Glen Eira is in very good
hands thank you
[Music]
everyone not yet I'm being
told I would like to invite council's
council's chief executive officer Rebecca
McKenzie to under the provisions of the
Local Government Act of 2020 and
council's governance rules will preside
over item 8.2 the election of the
Mayor thank
you
thank
you oh I always wondered how comfortable
this chair might be um but thank
you councilor McGee um you have been a
fierce voice and a committed advocate
for this community so thank you for your
leadership um good evening everybody my
name is Rebecca McKenzie I'm council's
chief executive officer and I will be
chairing this meeting until the Mayor is
elected by their fellow
councilors following the election of the
Mayor the newly elected Mayor will take
over as chair for the remaining items of
the meeting the election of the Deputy
Mayor and the appointment of councils
councilors to advisory committees
external committees and other committees
now this is all in accordance with rule
102 of council's governance rules um and
but before I do so can I congratulate
all councilors actually on um what was
another great successful year um and
just to sort of reaffirm that the
officers and I look forward to um
continuing to working with all of you um
and supporting you for the final year of
your term
so we will now proceed with item 4.2 of
the agenda which is the election of
Mayor for 2023
2024 now the recommendation is that
Council elects a Mayor for Glen Eira City
Council for a one-year term commencing
on the 21st of November
2023 the election of Mayor will be run
in accordance with section 25 of the
Local Government Act 2020 and rule 9 of
the governance rules if there is only
one nomination the councilor will be
declared the elected Mayor for the 2023
24 Council year if there is more than
one nomination the candidates in order
of nomination may speak briefly to their
nomination a vote will take place for
each candidate in the order the
nominations were received when I call
for nominations for the office of Mayor
could any nominated councilor for the
office of Mayor please respond by either
accepting or declining their nomination
we do not require a seconder for the
nomination are you ready could I please
call for nominations for the role of
Mayor councilor McGee yes thank you I'll
take
it I'd like to nominate councilor Ann Marie
Cade councilor Cade do you accept the
nomination I accept the nomination thank
you thank you councilor Cade are there
any further nominations for the office
of Mayor
there being no further nominations I
declare councilor Cade as Mayor of the
Glen Eira City Council for the 2023 2024
Council year
yI will now hand over the role of
chair to the newly elected Mayor
councilor Cade who will then preside over
the remaining items on the agenda but I
think councilor Cade you're going to
take a step stage right for one moment
and then reappear thank you if you just
give us a moment while councilor
Cade gets the robes and
chains
this takes a few minutes talk
much
e
I am deeply honoured to be elected to the
role of Mayor and would like to
acknowledge and thank my councilor
colleagues for placing your trust in me
when I got that call on the morning of
the 10th of January
2019 to tell me that I had been elected
as a councilor of the city of Glen Eira
on a countback I was definitely in a
state of shock as it was quite
unexpected and it took me a little while
to get acquainted to the role but I was
welcome instantly and I have grown to
love the work I do
immensely I would like to thank our
outgoing Mayor councilor Jim McGee for a
wonderful two years as the Mayor of this
city and congratulate you on your
achievements over that time thank you
also for nominating me I have enjoyed
supporting you as Deputy Mayor over the
past year thank you for your guidance
and advice along the way I have learned
a great deal and it has been a lot of
fun
too we have
sorry we have a very special group of
people here in Council both councilors
and
staff who are dedicated to putting our
community first and do the hard work to
achieve the goals we have set to our CEO
and Senior leadership team we have
achieved a lot over the past 3 years and
it is because of your courage commitment
and determination and I know we will
achieve more in this coming year to my
fellow councilors thank you for the
invaluable role you all play your
insights your contribution good
governance your compassion and kindness
the robust discussions and good humour I
could not ask for a better group to work
with I look forward to working with you
all to continue the good work we have
done over the past 3 years our success
as a council group relies on having
robust processes to guide our decision
making underpinned by a culture of
respect and
inclusion this foundation helps us to
ensure our deliberations and decisions
are transparent and build community
trust in the work we undertake on their
behalf I also look forward to continuing
our efforts to build a connected and
inclusive
community recent times have demonstrated
that connection and inclusion can never
be taken for granted we should be
vigilant and as councilors to keep the
community cohesion at the forefront of
all the work that we do in all parts of
our municipality I will work hard with
my fellow councilors to continue to
build a community where everyone can
live safely and happily this year we
will continue to work on the commitments
we set out at the start of our term in
our council plan 2021 to
2025 our council plan has shaped our
focus in ensuring we deliver highly
valued services and infrastructure and
work collaboratively with and for the
community we will continue to focus on
engaging with our Community about
things that matter to them feedback from
our community including our community
priorities panel that the for former
Mayor spoke about will be critical to
inform how we plan for the future I look
forward to continuing to engage with the
community on our future plans and
activities there is no doubt we like all
councils are facing financial
constraints with rising interest rates
and inflation and projects costing us
more than ever one of our greatest
financial pressures we face is cost
shifting to council by other levels of
government
addressing the impacts of cost shifting
and other financial pressures is part of
the reason it is so important for us to
be advocates for our community I will
continue the great work of the former
Mayor in advocating to the Victorian and
Australian governments to address the
impact of cost
shifting good relationships are key in
ensuring we all work together to deliver
change that benefits our community
fostering those good relationships and
through bodies like the municipal
Association of Victoria our neighboring
councils members of parliament and
others we work within government will be
uppermost in our approach to advocating
on behalf of
gla we have a truly remarkable community
in Glen Eira and it is indeed one of the
most wonderful places to live and work I
have a passionate belief that local
government plays a vital part in
improving the overall quality of life
for the community it
serves we have a great deal to be proud
of and so much to look forward to we can
be proud of our commitment to
sustainability and the part we play in
combatting climate change these and many
other projects that we provide
demonstrate our ability to tackle
challenges with positivity creativity
and optimism we also face the
opportunities and challenges presented
by population growth we must work
together to seek better housing and
transport solutions and find ways to
deliver highly valued open spaces for
the community to enjoy we must also
remember that there are many in our
community who are facing cost of living
pressures rising homelessness a rental
crisis and others dealing with the
challenges of loneliness and social
isolation some of our young young people
too are struggling and our community
need our support during what we doing
what we can as a counil to support the
mental health and well-being of our
community is something that is really
important to me I believe that the
connections we make through our
relationships and social connections has
a positive impact on our mental health
and contribute to lower levels of
depression and anxiety and help raise
self-esteem being part of a supportive
Community has a positive impact on one's
mental health and emotional well-being
and I will be advocating that we do more
in this area towards fostering a sense
of belonging and improving social
connections while continuing to raise
awareness about the good work that
council already does in this area I'm
very optimistic of for the year ahead
and I'm very excited to be part of this
team
representation matters and we still have
a fair way to go in Australia women are
earning less and we have not achieved
equal representation in all levels of
government at glena we are doing our bit
to ensure these changes and that women
are well
represented I have been lucky to have
some female mentors really great female
mentors in my life whose guidance has
been invaluable but I would not be here
and none of what I have have achieved
would have been possible if not for two
strong women I have been lucky enough to
have in my life my two maternal aunts
who brought me up after my mom passed
away when I was one and a half years old
they have inspired me with their
determination and courage as well as
their Fierce sense of Independence and
have shaped my thoughts and beliefs on
so many things without them I would not
have had the security of a home filled
with love and caring growing up I owe
them both a debt of gratitude and I'm
grateful for their ? advice thank you
to my family and friends who are here to
support me today you are truly special
and I'm grateful to each and every one
of you for your friendship as well as
your guidance and advice I'm truly
blessed to have you all in my life and
last but certainly by no means least
thank you to my three children Michael
Eric and Ry you three continue to
inspire me and I'm grateful for the
three of you you all fill me up and make
me complete and remind me every day of
how lucky I am to my family and friends
you all make it possible for me to serve
our community and you all have my en
wavering gratitude thank
[Applause]
you I would also like to now welcome
member for Caulfield David
Southwick thank you for being
here we will now move on to item 4.3 of
the agenda this evening which is the
election of the Deputy
Mayor the recommendation is that Council
elects the deputy Mayor for Glen Eira
city council for a one year term
commencing 21st November
2023 the the election of the Deputy
Mayor will run in accordance with
Section 27 of the Local Government Act
2020 and Rule 10 of the governance rules
when I call for nominations for the
office of Deputy Mayor could any
nominated councilor for the office of
Deputy Mayor please respond by accepting
or declining their nomination we do not
require a seconder for the
nomination could I now please call for
nominations for the role of Deputy Mayor
councilor
Zmood thank you Madame Mayor and
congratulations thank you I'd like to
nominate councilor
Zmood thank you councilor Zang and I accept
thank
you as there is only one nomination oh
sorry are there any further nominations
for the role of Deputy
Mayor no
as there is only one nomination for the
role of Deputy Mayor I'm pleased to
announce councilor Simone Zmood the
elected deputy Mayor for the in uh for
the coming
[Applause]
year I now invite the deputy Mayor to
say a few
words uh thank you Mayor Kate um I want
to ask extension before I start like I
sometimes do look I think first of all
I'd like to say 2023 this is the year um
we've got a number of Firsts for gGlen Eira
it's the first time we've had a female
Mayor and Deputy Mayor it's the first
time we've had a female Mayor Deputy Mayor
and CEO and as of 2022 it's the first
time we've actually had a majority of
female councilors at Glen Eira so this is I
think the beginning of a really
important stage of recognizing that that
our Council should re you know reflect
the diversity in our community um so I'm
really excited to be a part of that
we've been for the last year and a half
as a team um and we've actually in the
way that our council's worked we had
started with majority of males out of
nine and now we've got a majority of
females so we've got this very nice yin
and yang working at Glen Eira um if I
say a few words I uh started and was
elected as a councilor uh in 2020 which
was the co years um for many people they
were very challenging times um it was I
think the um baptism of fire in terms of
quite a traumatic start to becoming a
councilor um but I think as I've learned
the role better um and asked probably my
millionth question um it's moved from
being very challenging and tough to
something really inspiring because of
the people that I work with both my
fellowcouncilors the directors and
Senior staff who we have more to do with
but really all the staff at glena and
their passion for Glen Eira and our
community it is
just being a councilor and meeting so
many more people than you might
ordinarily just expose you to how
amazing Glen Eira is how many people
whether they're involved in engagement
committees different advisory committees
whether we're going to events how many
people just want to give want to give to
each other not just to the community but
to make this a better place to live um
so I think that reflects very much in
the way we've worked and developed as a
team as a group ofcouncilors focusing
on a conflict div ideas not a conflict
of people to make sure that we are
really effective and making the most of
this I guess privilege of being in this
role once we're elected to try and do
the best that we can for our community
um I won't repeat all the challenges
that immediate past Mayor McGee and our
new Mayor Cade have talked about but
this is quite a challenging time for uh
local government and for all government
um but I think we're up to the task as
team the councilors together with the
staff to try and make sure that we are
building on Glen Eira strengths um that
we further enhance the opportunities for
the people living and working here to
live really healthy and deeply
satisfying lives um to make sure that
Glen Eira is providing the appropriate
services that are needed and the
facilities some wonderful new projects
but also looking after what we have and
making sure that we continue to build an
inclusive and well-connected community
so that we are making sure that people
are living are living safely and and
really um that happiest best lives that
they can I I'd like to um have special
thank you to uh our immediate past Mayor
um Jim McGee Council Jim McGee now um
who really I think demonstrated for me a
work ethic that I haven't seen in many
people and I work with a lot of really
hardworking people um it has been
inspiring to watch it's been inspiring
to watch you as a advocate and I keep
on thinking oh you can do that um for
our community I'm taking it to um other
levels of government taking it to um
different people listening but also
speaking up and being very clear about
where things stand what what is movable
and what's not and I think perhaps the
nice world the absolute joy uh that he
has had in the role and being part of
our community but also being a leader in
our community so I will take that away
um as inspiration uh as I go forward uh
I'd also like to acknowledge uh after 2
years of we had had started off this
term in that difficult time with
councilor Esakoff who also was I think a
fantastic mentor and help in my first
year as a councilor um just letting me
know how it worked and explaining what I
couldn't couldn't do so that I didn't
step over too many boundaries and get a
reminder email from the CEO about what
was appropriate and what was not um I'd
like to acknowledge uh our now Mayor but
previously Deputy Mayor Ann Maree Cage who
has always I think role model a real
sense of how we should be working well
and effectively together using all her
skills um for mediation and law uh and
her zest for personal and professional
development to inspire all of us to keep
on being not just the best councils we
can be but the best people that we can
be um and then previous Deputy Mayor
councior Zhang um who has always whenever
she speaks up had something really
really um insightful to share so I'm
following in the footsteps of some
amazing councilors before me um and I'm
really pleased to um be able to take on
this role and to try and well continue
to to do what I can um for our community
I'd also like to do a special thank you
to councilor Sam Parasol without whom I may
not always get to meetings on time um so
he's been I think a fantastic sounding
board uh a a very
um uh strong critic but in the very much
that critical orientation of giving me
honest feedback and helping me become
both a better person and a better
councilor um so that is I think really
appreciated and you've been an absolute
pier advocate for Camden Ward along with
um our fellow councilor David Zyngier who
unfortunately can't be here tonight um
and obviously wishing him well and
looking forward to having him back I
have thanked almost everyone except uh
councilor penu who we've only had on for
part of the term but um I and councilor
? both of you often will put
up your hand and say things and I can
cross that off my list it's one less
thing I need to say or ask you bring
forward um so many ideas that sometimes
I wish I'd thought of them as well so I
really appreciate the the team that we
have um I've probably saved in a sense
uh the closest to my heart towards the
end um but my family my parents who were
here tonight um I think they weren't
quite sure what council was beyond roads
rates and rubbish until I became a
councilor and started telling them to
let all their friends know about the
different Community engagement surveys
that we offer and the different things
um and I I hope that I continue to make
them proud I'd like to thank uh my
soulmate and partner and husband um
Brett for always being there and
encouraging me even when he doesn't
necessarily want me to do things but if
I want them he's there supporting me I'd
also like to thank my kids three of whom
I have here tonight uh so two overseas
Yasmin I've got in the room Ellie Lily
and my son Ronan and my second son Isaac
who is also
overseas I'd like to um thank uh who I
had through ? um Bernardine Voss who
um mentored me in my first year as a
councilor learning about the role and it
was very nice to be able to get away
from our agendas and just talk about how
to become an effective councilor um and
I think just recognize that all of
people who take on the role of
councilors want to create a better
Community a better environment um we
really agonize over a lot of the
decisions um because it's not an
unlimited pool of funds so we have to
trade off things um we've committed to
some amazing projects in this term and I
think we're looking forward very much uh
to leaving a good Legacy uh for the
community for the next generation and
for the next group of councilors this is
the third and on the end of the third
and the beginning of the final year of
the four-year term um and I am looking
forward to us building on all of the
things that we've done um I'm
particularly proud of the things that
we've done around the the for people and
the places so with sustainability
looking very much at how we transition
in a very smooth way to our electric
vehicles our electric equipment in Parks
electric lawn mowers which not only are
better for the environment but actually
a cheaper to run and to maintain in the
long run so it's really effective for
budget in the longer term um I think
we've come up very clearly with some
strategies about tree canopy and
vegetation um and probably the thing
that I've pushed most for is making sure
which became very clear during Co that
everyone in Glen Eira will have appropriate
access to open space so as we have more
and more people living here and we have
a reduction in private open space it's
really important that we are providing
in our gap areas um public open space so
I was very excited when as a group of
councilors we committed to spending $26
million and we've almost spent all of it
um in buying land and converting it to
new open space and filling I think we've
filled about six out of 19 Gap areas in
one term which is probably a record for
Glenn Ira so I might wrap up there but
just to say thank you very much um for
nominating me for supporting me and I
look forward to the the next year and
the final year of our term to really
delivering on uh the Community Vision
and council's plan together with all of
[Applause]
you thank you councilor Zmood I would
also like to offer you my sincere
congratulations for the coming year I'm
stoked that you are taking on this role
and look forward to working with you I
know you will take on the role with
vigour and enthusiasm I have great
confidence in you and the contribution
you will make you are diligent and
hardworking and I've always had the best
interests of the community at heart your
election to the role of Deputy is a
testament to the manner in which you
have worked as a councilor over the last
three years and I'm looking forward to
the year ahead I'm also really excited
to be part of Glen Eira's first all female
Mayor and Deputy Mayor team and uh we
are leading the way in Glen Eira because
uh we are very well represented we have
a majority of female councilors and we
have a female CEO as well
I would now like to invite any other
councilors to say a few words councilor
? thank you very much Madame
Mayor I think it goes without saying
this year has been just so much fun
having you as a deputy we've looking at
my diary today we've missed two events
for the whole year that we couldn't go
to and that's quite outstanding so just
about every single item that came to us
wanting either one of us at an event we
took it up that's why it's been such a
busy year we' have danced together we've
sung together we've argued together and
ultimately we've just had a bloody good
time and it is a look it's a great job
you Embrace every opportunity that comes
with it um I couldn't have asked for a
more support of Deputy this year and
I've been blessed for my two years with
cancer young in my first year and you in
the second um you've been so supportive
anytime I've picked up the phone you've
just said yes before I told you what the
event was so we were very very fortunate
um I know what you bring to this Council
I've watched you for a number of years
you're very sensitive you're very
sensible you asked direct questions and
I believe you only ever have the right
intentions in your heart this is going
to be an extraordinary year for you
it'll be a great growth year for you I
hope you can stay in the country long
enough to do some of your meral duties
because you you you are our traveling
International but hopefully this will
keep you grounded for at least 12 months
um for our Deputy my goodness you think
I work hard um councilor smoo is um when
I first met her the very first night
when we all got together I thought who
is this woman she does not shut
up she talked she talked and from day
one she started taking in control and I
thought Hang on we're the old God we
should have a say here but from day one
she was upfront she was in your face and
you never walked away wondering what she
was thinking CU she was very clear and
letting you know and that is what I love
about her we have had so many uh
interactions on Council in assemblies
where we've been talking about mundane
items that there can be such a thing as
a mundane item at a council and Simone
will challenge the recommendation or
challenge the the outcome because she
didn't understand how we got to that
outcome how we actually came to saying
this is what we want to do but you can't
say what you want to do without knowing
how the journey how you got there and
that was quite inspiring for myself to
realize that just because An Officer
says so it doesn't mean it is so with
all due
respect and councilor smoo was certainly
one of the ones that actually turned the
light on a lot of that um I've been so
incredibly supported by councilor Smo as
I have by the whole councilor group um
and Madame Mayor and and Deputy you have
got councilor thanopoulos X May
councilor esakov X5 times Mayor and
myself now three so there's a lot of
experience around the table and I invite
you to call on that experience at any
time you need and I will always be there
for you thank
you
thank you councilor McGee any Council
esakov thank you Madame Mayor
wow when I first met you and Marie in
January
2019 uh it was a pleasure and you were
welcomed with open arms and ever since
been welcomed with open arms you've been
amazing uh the old saying is when you
want something done you ask a busy
person well she's one I'll get to our
Deputy she's also one um but amarie is
amazing I call amarie my brilliant
friend because I watched a series Once a
long time ago called my brilliant friend
and the the name stuck with me she is
the epitome of my brilliant friend she
has so many accolades in her career in
law and mediation and goodness knows
what else she's winning something every
week she's on the list of the top
lawyers in the in the country she's
winning bseries and traveling the world
and she just goes on and she manages her
work on Council uh as well so yes ask a
busy person and you'll get what you need
done she's a brilliant councilor and
it's been a pleasure to work with you
Amar and I congratulate you heartily
it's going to be a fabulous year you're
going to be busy a little bit busy um um
but you manage uh so well done and big
congrats and our Deputy Mayor councilor
Sim mood I couldn't have said it better
than councilor McGee uh Simone can talk
she certainly can talk but she's a
wealth of information for us all and she
goes in depth and that is not unmissed
and uh it's welcomed in the room even
though our meetings might go for twice
as long as they need to that's okay we
learn a lot so congratulations Simon um
you will enjoy your year as Deputy Mayor
I quite sure uh and the outgoing Mayor
counil McGee it's been a lot of fun the
last couple of years um you've not only
danced with the new Mayor you've danced
with me and probably many others at
different functions I won't mention the
CEO um but we've had a lot of fun it's
been a great couple of years and this
final year of this term should be no
different so well done to you your
accolades go on too and you've mentioned
them all in your speech in your outgoing
speech there have been many uh but you
did add that you did have a Little Help
from your friends around the table um so
well done to you and congratulations and
you know feather duster you're not going
to be a feather duster for a while yet
um so congratulations to you all and uh
look forward to the coming year thank
you
all
thank you councilor
esakov councilor
parasol thank you and congratulations
Madam Mayor and Madame Deputy Mayor um
it's really amazing and fantastic that
for the first time we do have a total
women leadership group including a
majority in in our chamber so we look
forward to really working well with you
all together and I know we got a lot to
achiev this year just because it's the
last year doesn't mean it's the end of
all the things we do so let's make it a
fantastic year and um Rebecca you know
you're our CEO but you make up part of
this team in a really big way and we
appreciate that and you're part of that
women
majority um Jim I want to thank you for
your time as Mayor everyone's talked
about fun and dancing and all that um I
want to talk about the time that you
really put in your dedication your
inclusiveness your friendship to me and
to all thecouncilors It's really been
appreciated you've made our two years a
lot more enjoyable our first year was a
bit tough but uh now it's really set on
the right Road excuse
me well we'll put it on to co but there
was more to it than all that so so um we
have to acknowledge Margaret because she
really did an amazing job and set this
team up for the four years so Jim I'm
looking forward to sitting next to you
now after tonight uh in the chamber for
the next year I'm looking
for depends which way you looking from
yeah uh an Marie what can we say I've
only known you since I joined Council
but you've been a fantastic person
honest hardworking uh I think Margaret
used the word bringing
councilor and you care about people and
uh we care about you I'm going to be
here for you just as I was for the
previous two Mayes Margaret and Jim and
if you need anything I'm always there
for you to help us achieve all the
things we'd like to achieve San smoth
councilor smooth um we always have a bit
of a laugh about that when we're serious
on the phone or talking um you'll be a
great Deputy Mayor and uh you'll
continue doing lots of good things
together and I'll still be honored to
drive you to meetings and to Council
meetings if you need me so uh thank you
again uh we really have a lot to achieve
just because it's our last year I don't
think we need to just sit on our Laurels
we've achieved a lot so far but we want
to achieve a lot more and go out with a
bang so thank you all and best wishes
again congratulations councel and or May
and R Kade and councilor SM thank you
and I should say also it's been a
pleasure also working with all the
councilors and all the officers uh
really helps make our time much more
enjoyable and we do try to achieve a lot
thank
you thank you Council
parol councilor
FY uh thank you Mayor um
Sor thank you Mayor and may I
congratulate you on your elevation and
the same to councilor's mood as
elevation to Deputy Mayor um of course
um I can claim to be The Accidental
cause of us turning into a council of um
five uh five women so a majority of
women and with our CEO as well and with
our some our officers as well uh women
um
so that was an accident of history but
it's a good one and we now have um the
you know the
um first time of having a Mayor and
Deputy Mayor that are women and um that
that's fantastic and can I say true that
I've only been here 18 months so since
the 3rd of May last year there was a
similar um experience as the Mayor was
outlining of um getting the call that oh
you are now elected to the council so
it's only 18 months but it's it sort of
feels like a short time and it feels
like a long time but I feel um that I've
been very welcomed and I've really got
to know um the councilors some of whom I
already knew of course um councilor
esakov councilor thanopoulos and
councilor McGee uh I had quite known for
quite a while as well as um Rebecca the
CEO um but I got to know councilor J
councilor smoo and councilor Kate o and
Council parisol over the um uh last 18
months and I feel like um you know we
we've got a great relationship on the
council working well together doesn't
mean we don't have our robust
discussions and we don't always agree
but generally I feel we have a great
atmosphere and we work really well
together and that's a great asset and I
I think we've actually worked on that
we've actually made a concerted effort
and a deliberate effort to work well as
a team and I think that's really really
valuable and we we have been doing it
and I think I think that's obvious
probably to the people who are listening
to us now and the things we've said
about dancing and singing and and all of
that it doesn't mean that we don't have
the hard discussions we do but we we do
we don't um take them personally we we
we we talk about the issues and then
after that we're all we're getting along
and there's so many issues that we've
worked on together anyway I'm very
pleased that councilor Kate is the Mayor
and councilor SM is the Deputy Mayor I'm
very looking very much looking forward
to working with them over the next year
until we get to the the end of his term
um having come in quite late into the
term it feels like it's racing towards
us um also um a couple of words about
the outgoing there um uho what everybody
else has said um councilor McGee you
work really hard and um I know that
whenever I've wanted to call you about
an issue you pick up the phone straight
away and um I think that's very that's
emblematic of of your um commitment to
the to the role so thank you for for
your two years um and just just
conscious of time so I'll leave it there
congratulations thank you councilor
Shen thank you uh Madame Mayor uh I
think all I wanted to say have already
been said by my fellowcouncilors so um
just a briefly
um thank
you councilor uh M Jim you have done so
much and you have set a very great
example for uh for the whole team uh
especially when we faced um tough
challenges and also you um you really
led us to very great uh Direction so I
really uh I already learned learned a
lot from you and uh um yeah just
sincerely thank you um and
congratulations to our um new Mayor and
deputy Mayor uh I
really look forward to the final year of
the term and together with all the other
councilors and
offices yeah that's it thank
you thank
you councilor
atopis thank you Mayor Kade and it's not
lost on me that uh I'm really what's
standing in between everyone having a
celebration and some food and um uh so I
will take my time
actually I'm just joking I will go into
defense of everyone here because so far
we've heard that our previous Mayor was
a dancer and new Deputy Mayor is a
chatter box and whilst the Mayor's in
the in the miror robes I don't think
quite anything's been thrown her away
just yet but I will just say that it is
it has been a pleasure over the last two
years to have M mgee it's uh one is all
the hard work that somebody puts in but
it's the collective nature in which he
worked in that was critical to us
achieving everything that we've achieved
over those years and and made him look
great at the end of the day just joking
um he's done an amazing job and I really
appreciate the work and effort that
you've done over the last uh two years
um to our current Deputy uh I'll go in
defense o of of Miss mood uh that uh
ultimately this is a person that can
spend time comfortably both in the weeds
but also a top of a perch and that's why
um councilor's mood will always bring
really great insights into Council
meetings be it a briefing or an actual
open council meeting because her ability
to sit in both of those areas quite
comfortably so I really appreciate that
you bring that and I will have no doubt
that that will continue as your in your
role as deputy Mayor uh and finally to
our current Mayor uh who I reserve right
the right to to spend the most amount of
time on
congratulations um I want to talk a
little bit about diversity because we
we've spoken a little bit about um uh
women and men within the chamber uh but
if we look at the whole four years we've
also had Cel Jang who um uh represents a
portion of our community now councilor
cers Mayor who who represents another
portion of our community of course we
have people around the room that are
representing all different parts of our
community and it's great that all these
different parts of the glena community
get to actually witness someone that
looks feels speaks or Associates with
them and we now have uh councilor Cade
who will be the leader of that group and
everyone that can associate with your
background and your his and your story
and your journey will now be able to be
uh inspired to potentially take that
role as an individual though you've
always I would uh have a guess that
everyone would agree with this spend
time with people being courteous to
other people possibly because of the
work line of work that you do you you
bring that uh into uh conflict
situations within our meeting and you're
always when you are going to contribute
to something it always seems to be not
for the sake of contributing but
actually to actually achieve an outcome
or a resolution especially when there's
an impass so I look forward to you
bringing those skills even furthermore
in your role as Mayor thank you very
much and good luck if you ever need
anything please both of you feel free to
reach
out thank
you we will now move on to item 4.4 of
the agenda this evening which is the
appointment of councilors to advisory
committees external committees and other
committees the recommendation is that
Council appoints councilors to the
council advisory committees external
committees and other committees as shown
in the table listed under the issues and
discussion section of this report report
for the 2023 24 Council year do I have a
mover councilor Smo do I have a second
councilor
parasol would you like to say a few
words um I just acknowledge that uh
every year uh we put our hands up to
participate in advisory committees which
are really important uh way for us to he
on different topics from our community
uh and it's it's an extra amount of
commitment of time um but also I think a
real pleasure for councilors to be
involved with that and so I won't go
into the whole long list of of
committees and what people have
nominated for um but I thank everyone in
advance for their
commitment uh I have nothing further to
add thank
you any other speakers on this
motion any councilors wishing to speak
against this
motion
if that is all councilor Schmo would you
like to sum up nothing further to add I
will now put this to the
vote all those in
favour that's unanimous thank
you this brings us to item five of the
meeting which is closure of this
evening's special council meeting I
declare this meeting closed at 7
p.m. thank you all for your attendance
this