Freo councils unintended consequences

Whenever I speak about Fremantle Council I feel I should add a disclaimer. Some members of the council have given us so much support that I want to exclude them from the generic term of council. For the purpose of this blog I say Fremantle Council as a body or as a process, rather than as a collective mix of members.

I think it is important that the people of Freo know who has or will have the integrity to fight for them; after all, isn’t that why people vote for their members?

Kudos to: John Dowson, Georgie Adeane, Donna Haney, Sam Wainwright, Bill Massie, Andrew Sullivan and I will also still include Les Lauder for his enormous contribution.

The genuine depth of compassion, the tireless work and attention to detail, the stress and opposition they have endured and the ongoing tenacity is awe inspiring.

Reading through this month’s council minutes I feel we are all trapped in ‘groundhog day’. The issues or the arguments appear to change but basically it comes down to this:
Half the council know they screwed up but want to put it to bed and move on.
The other half tried to prevent it before it happened and have spent all this time trying to fix it.

John Dowson has spent months trying to create an alternate trading environment for the victims of the new market lease debacle. His vision not only offers great prospects for the stallholders but will potentially bring more visitors into the area and actually compliment the other market.

But, as is the way with bureaucracy, it all appears to be nit picked to death; the customary reports, meetings, financials, legal implications, proposals, terms and conditions, strategies and blowing smoke rings in the air. It will end up where it always ends up – just shredded paper for the next ticker tape parade – probably the next mayoral election.

It has already taken months to get it to ‘consideration’ stage. It will take at least a year before it could possibly become an actuality. If and or when it ever gets an affirmative we will find that all the king’s horses and all the king’s men couldn’t put humpty together again.

Glen Dougall will probably write something along the lines of: due to the severe lack of public interest, the decline of the Fremantle Markets and the disinterest of ‘dislodged’ stallholders we have deferred making further considerations - but will continue to monitor the situation.

For the latest post:
http://sonyagreen.blogspot.com

Fremantle Market rally pictures

Hundreds of Fremantle locals came to the Jan 31st rally to protest and show support for the Fremantle Markets. This is only a small glimpse but a poignant one, as once again, the same councillors who fought in the beginning are the same ones who showed up to let us know they are still listening. Donna Haney, John Dowson, Georgie Adeane, Bill Massie and the always present Les Lauder's energy.
Adele Carles; a politician who gets things done with intelligence, honesty and heart. (Watch this space for greater things to come)
Colin Wright's speech had me in tears and the people cheering and ringing bells.
Georgie Adeane: A councillor who still remembers why she joined council. When the soul of the city is respected and valued by it's leaders - it shows.
Ed's shop - closing down. Ed organised the rally and the sadness of this eviction was heartfelt throughout the port city.
sonyagreen.blogspot.com

Robert Fittock - outrageous!

ROBERT FITTOCK'S letter about the Fremantle Markets
(Market man, Herald letters, August2 9,2009)
is one of the most outrageous I have read for years.

He criticises a decision of his own council to investigate massive rent increases at Fremantle Markets and alleged mistreatment of stallholders by the head lessee.

He says the review was initiated by a"few"councillors "who appear to hold an unhealthy and vindictive grudge against [FremantleMarkets Pty Ltdl".

In March a special meeting of council was called. One hundred aggrieved stallholders and others turned up to vent their anger, hurt, and distress at the treatment they alleged they were getting.

Question time went on for two hours as speaker after speaker in the packed council chamber told their stories.

The mayor, along with Crs Brad Pettitt, Doug Thompson, Jon Strachan, John Alberti and Robert Fittock - all of whom had voted to give the markets to FMPL for 18 years - were absent.

Cr Fittock did turn up late but voted against investigating the alleged abuses.

Cr Fittock may like to explain who is going to paythe $4.5 million needed to fix the markets, since the lease he voted for does not require the Murdoch's to pay for it.

John Dowson
Deputy Mayor
Fremantle
Editor's note: This letter has been substantially edited for length.

John Dowson not interested in being new Fremantle mayor

Media Statement

Why I am not running for Mayor of the City of Fremantle

I am not nominating as a mayoral candidate. For the past 4 years as Deputy Mayor I have worked very hard to represent the community interest in the face of mediocrity and vested interests.

The community, while tired of internal bickering, has not fully appreciated the necessity for the battles waged to get better decisions and a better future for Fremantle.

I believe that a fresh and mature face such as Michael Martin will unite the council. A vote for Brad Pettitt, who is backed by Peter Tagliaferri, and the very people who, for example, have given us the Fremantle Markets and SMRC Waste Management fiascos, would be a vote for a continuation of big business and factional interest over community interest.

It is obvious that political parties such as Labor and the Greens want to have a major influence in these council elections. For the mayoralty and in the wards, Fremantle needs to elect community candidates, not party ones.

Good luck to all candidates.
John Dowson
Deputy Mayor
City of Fremantle

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.

http://sonyagreen.blogspot.com/

Les Lauder - Brave Heart of Fremantle

Donna Haney’s Special Meeting of Council was one of the most impressive and awe inspiring experiences I have ever witnessed. This woman epitomized the term ‘Quiet Achiever’. She doesn’t appear to have much to say but, she listens with her heart and brilliant mind. When she took the floor last Tuesday night, she articulated extraordinary insight, compassion and common sense solutions.

The councillors who showed up at the meeting had one thing in common; they would not be intimidated and they were there to fix a wrong. The fact that Mayor Tagliaferri did not attend the meeting spoke volumes and leaves us all wondering about his motives and long list of platitudes. Ironically, the meeting proved to run more professionally under the leadership of Deputy Mayor John Dowson.

It was clear that Georgie Adeane, Bill Massie, Shirley Mackay, and Alice King had done their homework and had the interest of the people and a strong determination for a fair and ethical outcome; regardless of political opposition. This was also evident of the others who attended; all who came voluntarily, at short nice and some sacrificing other obligations.

Cr Fittock was the only councillor who appeared indifferent and distracted and whose summary didn’t seem to make much sense.

If ever there was a ‘Brave Heart,’ none would measure up to Cr Les Lauder. After years of sarcastic remarks, condescending looks and seemingly covert opposition, he stood proud and passionate to the very end. His fight for fair-play and honestly has been long but his tenacity and fierce determination to get things right for Fremantle and its people is phenomenal.

Respect for politics, politicians and public servants is generally low. The people of Fremantle are fortunate to have a group of councillors who really care and are willing to do the hard yards.

Perhaps it is a good thing that the jaded Mayor is ready to move on; time leave Freo in the hands of the people who still have fire in their bellies and real reasons for being there.