Thursday 8 July 2021
FLAGGING BOVINE DUST IN LAUNCESTON
Monday 5 July 2021
Goodness gracious me they are in a bloody mess
Thursday 17 June 2021
worldSILLYweek is here AGAIN
Sunday 13 June 2021
THIS IS HOW ONE GROWS THE BUREAUCRATIC PIE AND MORE STILL
LINK |
Saturday 12 June 2021
A RN GLEANING #2
When trying to understand how cities work – how they develop over time and how their social lives have come into existence – urbanists often look at infrastructure. Looking closely at the roads, railways, sewers, electricity lines and rivers that run through a place can often uncover some essential truths. For example, how can we think about Los Angeles without thinking about the design, construction and ongoing use of its highways? It seems obvious, but only when you actively look. Most of the time, infrastructure is invisible.
We can think of mockups in graphic design in a similar way. The mockup is a fundamental part of the graphic designer’s toolkit. Producing samples and prototypes for clients is an essential part of the working process, and has been for as long as graphic design has been a thing. They are so ubiquitous they seem to hardly warrant any further thought, which is precisely why we should look closer..... CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
Thursday 10 June 2021
TOWN HALL NOT LEADING THE WAY ACTUALLY
PLEASE CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO ENLARGE |
TASMANIAN RATEPAYERS' SUBMISSION CoL MAY 2021
Typically such committees are set up to:
• Primarily, to provide 'council and councillors' with advice; and
• Secondarily, to provide 'council management' with auxiliary 'information provided by an expert/s' in order that a GM can satisfy SECTION 65 of the Local Govt Act 1993 .
The base 'assumption' being that neither 'councillors nor management' have automatic access to appropriate advice in their decision making.
This being the case it seems that with the establishment of 'this committee' it is timely to address the administrative processes that currently impact negatively upon:
• The relevance of such committees' contribution to 'better governance'; and
• The delivery of better outcomes for ratepayers.
It has been stated in the press that the council is seeking to
" attract practising artists or industry professionals who have a thorough understanding of the issues and challenges experienced by community-based arts and cultural groups and organisations".
The underlying implication here is that these people – cultural experts, cultural producers, heritage experts, et al – are being called upon to provide 'professional advice'. If not, why call upon them to offer council the benefit of their professional experience and expertise.
Despite being typically the least able members community to 'freely' volunteer their time, experience and expertise these people are apparently being called upon to yet again to 'volunteer' their time, and their expertise, and their hard won experience 'without a reward of any kind'.
If that is not what is on offer here, then what is? Is this committee to be populated with dilettantes able to give freely of their time for that euphemistic "warm and fuzzy feeling"? If it is why bother?
Interestingly, those with established networks in the community are being called upon yet again to volunteer their experience and expertise on the assumption that they and/or their employers and communities, are well enough endowed to be able to give freely of their time and hard won experience. And, all that at the expense of income opportunities quite often.
Interestingly, council is unlikely to set up a committee of engineers, trades people, whatever, without offering some kind of 'reward'. In reality, it would be contentious if they did, given that few would take up the 'flattering offer' without some kind of remuneration – sometimes euphemistically called a 'backhand kick back' or 'first bite of the cherry' arrangement.
Typically the people who offer their free advice are those who have no use for that advice themselves anyway. As the proverbs say "free advice is worth exactly what you have just paid for it". None of us are likely to accept free specialist medical advice from a enthusiastic health dilettante and trust it implicitly. So why should we – council or ratepayers – expect to trust free advice on cultural matters – if it actually matters at all.
Against this background, now might well be the time to 'seriously reconsider' the circumstance under which 'expert council committees' are established.
Ratepayers are all too aware of the fees paid to 'independent experts' for advice to satisfy SECTION 65 of the Act. If these 'committees' are offering 'expert advice' their membership needs to be treated with the kind of respect other experts are given and deserve.
On the other hand, if council is 'not seeking independent advice' – frank and free advice – why go through the pointless charade of inconsequential 'window dressing' while using up the resources of people with 'cultural expertise'?
Why not reward the delivery of free and frank advice, if it is in fact 'expert advice'? Why expose professionals to the distain of non-experts making adverse decisions and determinations about their expertise?
If the answer is 'let's flatter them' and do what we want to whatever, that would be totally cynical exercise not worthy of a representative and accountable 'council'.
Against this background it is recommended that:
1. In setting up any committee of the kind indicated in the press, ratepayers and other interested people be invited to nominate candidates setting out their relevant expertise and experience. Also, it is recommended that candidates from locations beyond the Municipality of Launceston be sought in order that the most appropriate candidates be available for eventual appointment.
2. In setting up any committee of the kind indicated, it is recommended that nominations be sought for an independent person to take up the position of Chairperson; and
- That she/he be provided with an unambiguous Charter for the committee that;
- Clearly sets out the committee's purpose; and
- Clearly articulates the committee's objectives; and
- Clearly within the objectives provide an item that addresses Aboriginal, natural and built heritage; and
- Clearly informs the committee members of Council's rationale for establishing the committee; and that
- Sets out the scope of the Chairperson's authority and tenure; and
- Provides for an appropriate Chairpersons' Allowance.
3. Any committee of the kind indicated, all councillors and council staff serve on the committee ex-officio without the benefit of any additional payment. Moreover, a council officer be assigned to provide appropriate secretarial services in support of the Chairperson.
4. Any committee of the kind indicated, all non-councillors serving on the committee will be 'directly accountable' to council's elected representatives and remunerated for their services via:
- An appropriate sitting fee;
- An appropriate Chairpersons allowance;
- Approved travel expenses when and where required; and
- All other approved out-of-pocket expenses. ... See this link
5. Any committee of the kind indicated, the Chairperson will be the committee's 'designated spokesperson' and all communications from the committee will be channeled directly through the Chairperson to Council and other bodies when and where appropriate. Moreover, all councillors may attend meeting as 'observers' in order that they may gain better understandings' of the committee's advice and work.
6. Any committee of the kind indicated, will report openly, and on the record, to council at its regular meetings, following its own meetings, and in regard to advice it is offering to council – and by extension council staff, ratepayers and the wider community.
Wednesday 9 June 2021
A RN GLEANING #1
Every now and then you stumble upon a pearl of wisdom. When I saw this I was reminded of so, so dissertations where none of these things were being discussed and the speaker/writer was demanding that you pay attention to them.
Most were politicians and the most extreme were those speaking from very tiny platforms. One could go on, but that'd be joining them in their irrelevance.