Glenn Spear | Public figure
Glenn Spear
Phone: +61 427 091 415
Reviews
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22.01.2022 I am shocked an saddened to see that Mitcham Council have voted to cancel the Carols By the Creek event after 25 years. The Council have voted to request yet another report on how to redistribute the funds to other more "inclusive" events like movie nights or fringe events. I believe this is another political decision from a Council that has become overrun with the personal political objectives of the elected members. This wonderful community event has been patronised and de...emed "not inclusive enough". Rubbish! More than 6000 people of all ages, all religions (or no religion) and all cultural backgrounds attended and enjoyed this event, it was a wonderful way to bring the community together at Christmas. Mitcham enjoys a wonderfully diverse community, we celebrate this with a variety of events including the Multicultural Fair. If the Council is consistent it should cancel all events, including the Blackwood Christmas Pageant, that carry a religious undertone. This motion was moved by Cr Bange, seconded by Cr Todd with Cr Kruse and Cr Hockley speaking strongly in favour of cancelling the event. This is a much loved community event that has been sacrificed at the alter of political correctness. https://www.adelaidenow.com.au//ca99a352208e9c4c07f0eafe96
21.01.2022 This morning, Tracey & I stood in our driveway for a very different ANZAC Day. It was lovely to see some of our neighbours in their driveways as well. Lest we forget
21.01.2022 Last night more than 150 turned up to see the decision to cancel the Carols event overturned. The largest crowd that I have ever seen in the chamber made their opinions and views well known. I applaud the Mitcham community for coming out so strongly against this decision, we stood up for ourselves and ultimately won the battle. Some of our Councillors were big enough to admit a mistake and apologise for it, I commend them for this. A number instead chose to deny that the even...t was ever cancelled, and then blame the media for the chaos that has ensued. The media presented the decision and the spirit of the debate accurately. "The Council does not host its own carols event in 2019" it does not get much clearer than that. It is worrying that many on the Council still seem confused as to why the backlash from the community was so strong. The Mitcham community are intelligent. We were not confused. The community saw this move as the political decision that it was. The message that accompanied this decision was clear, and I worry that we will be seeing more of this in the future. I understand that I will receive criticism for continuing to comment on the decisions of the Council. The easy option would be for me to walk away, but I am passionate about Mitcham, and I will continue to fight for the residents who have been let down. As a resident and ratepayer of more that 35 years I will continue to speak out. https://www.adelaidenow.com.au//e51c43dba904e24356ac307fe8
20.01.2022 I was dismayed to read that Mitcham Council have decided to model their 20/21 budget around a concept plan for a $20,000,000+ Blackwood Library. It is beyond comprehension that a decision on such a large project would be made before plans have been drafted and costs have been submitted. This debt will create a structural ongoing deficit in the Council budget that will result in many years of inflated rate increases. The Council have acted against the advice of the CEO and D...irectors who raised concerns about the sustainability of an ongoing deficit and such a large debt. With so many businesses and households suffering financially from COVID-19, I am gobsmacked that this Council thinks it appropriate to saddle residents with inflated rates and unserviceable debt. The Council have voted against a rates freeze and will impose an increase that will hit the most vulnerable members of our community. More money in the pockets of residents would mean more money spent at our local businesses in our local economy. Irresponsible and reckless it will ultimately be the residents who pay.
16.01.2022 Share the pain! An independent MP is calling on highly paid Council executives to share some of the financial pain caused by COVID-19 by taking a pay cut this year. This has been swiftly rejected by the sector. Where are our elected officials? They should be backing this call for executive pay cuts and showing leadership by forgoing some or all of their own allowances. ... Mitcham Council has enormous administrative resources, many staff would now find themselves without much to do. Re-deploy these people to serve the community. Councils know who their vulnerable residents are, they are well placed to assist these people through these extremely difficult times. Many people who did not previously require help, now do. What is happening to the money from projects and services that will now be unable to go ahead in 2020? Why is it being left to supermarkets and private businesses to pitch in to deliver essentials boxes to the elderly? The Council has opportunities to engage small businesses to adapt their services to provide these types of services to those who need them most. A benefit for all. Adelaide Hills and Mount Barker Councils are investigating the suspension of rates and late fees for those severely impacted by COVID-19. By comparison, Mitcham are still steam rolling ahead with another large rate increase. There has not been a peep about a desire to ease some of the financial burden on households. Everyone else is adapting quickly, pitching in and doing their part to share the pain. Elected Members forget who they serve the people, not the executives. https://www.adelaidenow.com.au//8e75fec406c2469a708f837c3d
15.01.2022 Last night the Mayor used her casting vote to push through the highest possible rate option of 3.67%, the largest increase in metro SA. With CPI and inflation so much lower than recent years, this decision is very worrying. More staff are being employed without challenge, hundreds of thousands of dollars are being spent on tax for cars and perks for Council staff, and thousands on interstate travel. Elected members recently directed senior staff to prepare a report on the len...gth of reports. Cr Todd is seeking another report so that recording meetings can be discussed for a fourth time. This is where your rates go when large increases are voted through, not back into community projects as is often claimed. Cr Kruse launched an extraordinary attack on Mitcham residents referring to those who are concerned about the cost of rates as chicken littles. As there was no censure on these comments, can we now assume that this is the position of Mitcham Council? I gave a deputation at last night’s meeting to stand up for those who have been labelled chicken littles, those who cannot afford rates to continually increase at triple the rate of inflation.
13.01.2022 I am beyond disappointed after attending the Boorman Ward Forum. Cr Tilley attempted to block questions about the management of the Council, citing that rates were not a local issue. We cannot ask the Mayor whether she knew about the astronomical executive pay increases, we cannot ask why there are so many new staff, we cannot ask why the Council spent $56,000 of our money on external consultants in one week. We can't ask why this Council shows no compassion for those struggl...ing with the cost of living. I asked about the waste management levy and why the Council used it to justify imposing the highest rate increase in the State. Mayor Holmes-Ross claimed again last night that there was simply no choice. Their memories must be short. In 2016 the State Government unexpectedly announced that the waste levy would increase from $64 to $103 after Councils had already prepared their budgets. Not only did Mitcham absorb this cost in 2016, but we delivered one of the lowest rate increases that Mitcham had seen in recent history. It seems offensive to me that this Council should stand in front of us telling us that they had no choice but to impose the highest rates, and then increase interstate travel for themselves and sit by as executives are awarded $30,000 wage increases within a matter of months. This from the people who told us from on high that our community Christmas Carols are immoral and offensive. I have to shake my head.
13.01.2022 Mitcham have voted to proceed with their plans for a new $22,000,000 library. The library will be funded with a significant increase in debt, the sale of public assets without consultation and the suspension of other infrastructure spending, like footpaths. We are in the midst of an economic disaster. Small businesses have been decimated. People have lost employment or lost work hours. Our local sporting clubs are struggling to stay afloat. Self-funded retirees have suffered... a decline in their income. Support from all levels of Government will be required as we try to recover. Mitcham are choosing to proceed with a wish-list project at a time of immense hardship. All budget flexibility will be eroded. It will take more than 10 years to bring the debt back down to sustainable levels. This debt will inflate rates for years, next year is predicated to be 5.1%. This puts Mitcham in a worse financial position than Playford Council. I am deeply concerned for the financial stability of the Council going forward.
07.01.2022 Are you concerned about the direction Mitcham Council is taking our community? Are you concerned about having the highest rate increase in the State? Do you want to know where your free solar panels are? Are you concerned that other community traditions will be wiped out? On Tuesday night there will be a special Council meeting to discuss the decision to axe the much loved community event; Carols by the Creek. ... Please join us at the Council chambers at 6.30pm on Tuesday the 30th of July for a peaceful demonstration. There media will be in attendance and there may be some local MP's in attendance as well. There is no opposition in Local Government, only the residents can hold this Council to account. Make sure your voice is heard and come along!
07.01.2022 I have always said that higher rates do not necessarily result in more services or more spending on infrastructure for the community. Rather, the money is spent on more executive and management staff, more reports and more policy. After hammering residents with a rate increase of 3.67%, we read that an executive staff member has received a $21,000 pay increase and that staff numbers have also increased. There is no opposition in local government, we rely on our journalists a...nd elected members to highlight bad decisions. This is a sector wide issue, we have highly paid CEO’s and executives who have very little accountability. In my view, it is the role of the Mayor to bring these sorts of decisions to the view of the elected member body and the public for scrutiny and discussion. Why has it been left to members of the public to uncover and challenge this? All of this as Cr Kruse tells us that struggling pensioners can just access loans from the government, Cr Hockley tells us that home owners can use their Christmas gift interest rate cuts to pay higher rates, Cr Bange doesn’t buy that people are struggling with the cost of living and the Mayor sends emails telling Councillors to "be brave" to support higher rates. One of the executives at $185,852 p.a is currently working on a report on the length of reports courtesy of a motion from Cr Hockley. Yes Minister! https://www.adelaidenow.com.au//d89a55ed9a65dbf023efd2a6a7
04.01.2022 Should Mitcham Council declare a climate emergency? This week Cr Jange Bange will ask Mitcham to declare a climate emergency. This motion is not about acknowledging climate change, or acknowledging a climate emergency. It is a specific call to drastic action.... Climate lobby groups are demanding that Council divert all discretionary funds away from other community services and instead put the funds towards employing more climate specialist staff, setting up climate committees and funding lobbying projects for State and Federal Government. There are bullying tactics at play. Elected members who have voted against similar motions have been labelled climate deniers and subsequently had their reputations smeared across social media. The majority of Australians accept that climate change is an issue, and they support Local Government taking common sense steps to integrate this matter into their policy making. Storm water management, tree canopy, waste minimising strategies, LED lighting, solar power and other common sense policies are already in action. It is not the role of Local Government to fill perceived gaps in State and Federal policy. Councils who have gone down this path have seen exponential increases in staff costs whilst achieving very little tangible benefit for the community. Spending on valued services like pensioner programs, libraries, playgrounds, roads and footpaths has been culled without community consultation. Lobby groups were aware of Cr Bange’s motion well before the agenda was released. It is clear that Local Government is being used as a tool to push through Greens policy that would not get through State or Federal parliament and this concerns me.
04.01.2022 I am appalled by Mitcham Council's treatment of some our local small business owners. I know how much Karkoo Nursery means to the local community. Creating more uncertainty and putting local jobs at risk is the last thing we need.
04.01.2022 "Council rates have risen at twice the rate of inflation for a decade" says the Productivity Commission. In Mitcham our increase was triple the rate of inflation, and this seems to be something that our elected members are proud of. Large rate increases do not result in more capital spending or increased community service. Instead more money goes on consultants, 1.7 million dollars per year in Mitcham. Huge executive wages, with 10-22% increases awarded to people earning mor...e than $200,000. Hundreds of thousands of dollars in Fringe Benefits Tax. Interstate travel: Mitcham now sends 3 delegates to Canberra instead of 1. The Local Government sector has always been fiercely opposed to rate capping and other spending controls. In 2018 the LGA Board voted to increase their own sitting fees by some 800%. Elderly residents, people requiring care, single parents, families crippled under mortgage stress are those who suffer the most under large rate increases that compound year on year. I fully support any measure that will force Councils to disclose exactly where their money is going there was strong resistance against such measures within Mitcham when I served as Mayor. Many of your sitting Councillors voted against the simple measure of publishing the cost of reports and consultants. It appears that we cannot rely on elected officials to represent our interests before those of the administration: a disgrace! https://www.adelaidenow.com.au//81c0a83077bcb987e0cf806526
02.01.2022 I say YES to Local Government reform, rate capping and greater CEO accountability. There is no opposition in Local Government, bad decisions can be made unchecked with no safety net for the community. There is little accountability and true transparency is lacking. 2020/2021... Onkaparinga: 0% Marion: 0% Unley: 0% Mitcham: 1.91% and an operating deficit!! Mitcham Council are currently building a budget around a $22 million dollar library that has not been formally costed and is unfunded the absolutely integral State funding has been rejected. Next year residents will be hit with an astronomical increase, the Mayor may get her dream of 4.7%. People have lost their jobs, had their small businesses decimated and seen their household income fall. A record number of households are under mortgage stress. This out of touch incompetence is why ratepayers need protection. This Bill includes measures to improve behavioural conduct for elected members, highly necessary in Mitcham with constant infighting so ruthless that one Councillor has been driven to the brink of resigning their position unheard of! These overdue reforms can’t come soon enough. https://www.adelaidenow.com.au//c02c9962fb859043b8bb829e59
