Deputy John Dowson should stand for mayor of Fremantle

The following questions were asked of Fremantle council at last months meeting. The questions were not really addressed at the time and the stallholders were left feeling no wiser. Funnily enough and quite by accident I found some attempt at answers on this months agenda. (no one was advised that thier response would be delivered via a synopsis on the councils website) . I'm not too sure what most of it means as it's written in that strange language that only politicians seem to understand.

I think I have a reasonable understanding of English but it seems that "Bamboozle English" is becoming a regular and acceptable means of communication and no one is standing up and saying that they expect language to clearly convey a meaning which is easily comprehended by everyone.

It's obvious to me that Bamboozle English is meant to intimidate, confuse and mislead. Look at insurance policies, warranties, legal documents and terms of condition...

Let's all stop pretending we are stupid and insist that communication, especially legal and political, be clear to the audience it is meant to inform!

And while I'm on about the Fremantle council again, let me just state to those few politically motivated people, now appearing to be interested in cleaning up the market mess, your agenda is quite transparent. You were not there in the beginning, you have played under the radar and now step up in your hero tights and think no one remembers you by your past deeds and actions or lack there of.

There is a huge difference between a soft glove massage and true grit.

The upcoming election for a new mayor will be decided by the people, not spin doctored and definitely not Tagliaferri's Johnny-come-lately proteges.

Deputy John Dowson owns that seat. He has the intelligence, experience, class, ethics and dare I say it, THE BALLS to do the job. Most of all he has the respect of his colleagues and the people of Freo. Seems to me though, that those who would best serve in politics are those who have too much heart for politics. Maybe, just maybe, we can encourage him to step up!



RESPONSE TO PREVIOUS PUBLIC QUESTIONS TAKEN ON NOTICE

Mr Richard Murphy asked a question in relation to a clause in the Fremantle Markets Head Lease in relation to the protection of the stallholders and asked where that clause came from?

Response: That part of the lease comes from the document provided by the City’s solicitors when putting the document together.

Mr Colin Wright, Secretary of the Fremantle Stallholders Association at the Fremantle Markets, asked the following questions:

1. Does the City have the power to enforce the Markets not to increase rent until the alleged breach has been resolved?

Response: Part of the resolution of the current process requires that no further EOI’s are requested from stallholders and there is no requirement for stallholders to respond to them while the review is taking place. FMPL have sought to increase rents under the old licence agreements and Council has agreed to these where rents have not increased for the last two years.

2. Why has the Working Group ignored the quarterly meetings set up by the Stallholder Association to discuss various issues?

Response: The City has requested that copies of minutes of these meetings be provided to the Group.

3. Mr Wright has been told by the Murdoch's have now identified another 20-30 stalls that are incompatible with the new direction of the markets, what will happen to these stallholders?

Response: The Operating Strategy requires a Plan for the turnover of stalls. The Working Group will address any issues relating to to any changes, if approved in this Plan, through that process.

4. Why have all of these breaches, other than the rent increases, not been addressed as a matter of urgency?

Response: As advised last month to Council, the rent issue is being progressed first and the other matters have been put aside whilst this occurs.

5. Who developed the Terms of Reference? Did the City engage Hochkin Hanly? Why didn't the City prepare the brief?

Response: The Terms of Reference for the independent consultant for the rent review was determined by the Working Group in consultation with our solicitors.

6. Can he get a copy of the Terms of Reference?

Response: A copy of the Terms was emailed to Mr Wright on Thursday 25th June, 2009 – the day following the June Council Meeting.

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