Emily Chapman Laing
South-Eastern Metropolitan Region MP David Limbrick has called for the Minister of Local Government to review Casey council’s meeting time.
“Constituents in Casey council have made it clear they are not happy with the monthly council meeting time of 4 pm,” Mr Limbrick told State Parliament on Thursday 4 May.
“Constituents say that working people are being excluded from meetings.
“Other councils hold their meetings at times when people can attend.”
Mr Limbrick stressed the inefficacy of council meetings being scheduled at a time when many Casey residents are “still at work or caring for their kids after school”.
The issue has reportedly been raised often to administrators at council meetings, with locals growing more frustrated as the problem remains unaddressed.
“As the council is still under administration, there are no councillors to take this matter to,” Mr Limbrick said.
The City of Casey administrators have said they will not be reviewing the scheduled meeting time until December.
“My question is, will the minister investigate why the meetings are being held at 4 pm, whether the community has had a voice on this and why they will not review this prior to December,” Mr Limbrick said.
The government has responded, but concrete answers are yet to be given.
“We are aware that this concern has been raised and Local Government Victoria has contacted the City of Casey to follow up,” a government spokesperson said.
City of Casey Head of Governance, Integrity and Legal Support, Michelle Tipton says the council’s governance rules prevent the administrators from changing the meeting time until 2024.
“In accordance with Council’s Governance Rules, Council must fix by resolution, at or before the last Council Meeting each calendar year, the date, time and place of all Council Meetings for the following calendar year,” she said.
“Late last year, Council adopted its meeting schedule for 2023, with most Council Meetings to be held on the third Tuesday of each month at 4 pm at Bunjil Place.
“As Council has committed to the meeting time and dates as publicly advertised and as per the Council resolution, Council must continue to hold the meetings at 4 pm for the remainder of the calendar year.”
