Our organisation
Mayor and CEO overview
Councillors
Councillor attendance at Council Meetings
Election of Mayor and Deputy Mayor
Councillors’ Code of Conduct
Councillors’ remuneration and support
Councillor expenses
Councillor membership of committees
The Executive
Organisational structure
Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunity Program
Mayor and CEO Overview
Welcome to Council’s online Annual Report 2017–2018 in which we account for our performance, our achievements and setbacks. We also report on how we have addressed emerging challenges and provided stewardship over how public monies and resources have been utilised in the community’s interests.
ACHIEVEMENT AGAINST OUR COMMUNITY PLAN
In 2017–18 Council achieved 23 out of the 36 commitments in the 2017–18 Action Plan of the Glen Eira Council and Community Plan 2017–2021 and a further 13 commitments are underway.
We consulted with the community on 153 projects which included advisory groups and committees; community surveys; questionnaires; focus groups; feedback, submissions; public forums; and individual consultations. Community consultation is a vital part of our planning and decision-making processes. It helps us to understand community priorities and issues and ensures community involvement. We are committed to engaging with our community through best practice consultation methods to achieve the best outcomes.
Providing greater online options for our community continues to be a priority for Council. We digitised 14 of our top transactions, including online enquiries, building permit applications and illegally parked vehicle notifications. In addition to this, we moved 60 paper-based forms and processes online. Some of the key benefits realised from this work include: a reduction in wait time to speak to a customer service officer; an ability to complete transactions at your convenience 24/7; a reduction in the time taken to resolve an issue. The improvements also mean that we can close the loop when a request is completed, and the community can give immediate feedback on our performance. We will continue to engage and work with the Glen Eira community to ensure our service delivery is timely, convenient and meets future expectations.
Development and managing growth
Well located, better designed development across Glen Eira is now more certain since the adoption of our Quality Design Guidelines. These Guidelines, which were adopted at a Council Meeting on Tuesday 27 February 2018, are now in place for all new commercial and residential development across our City. They outline appropriate building types for each location and set architectural design standards to protect what is unique about our suburbs. We continued a comprehensive engagement process with the community to set the long-term vision for our activity centres, as well as detailed Structure Plans for Bentleigh, Carnegie and Elsternwick. These Structure Plans were adopted at a Council Meeting on Tuesday 27 February 2018. We also commenced work on Structure Plans for East Village and the area around Caulfield train station. We adopted an Integrated Transport Strategy which identifies ways to increase walking, cycling and public transport trips and strives for a 50:50 mode share of car and non-car trips by 2031.
Mayor and CEO Video
Councillors
The City of Glen Eira is made up of three wards with three Councillors elected to represent each ward. The following Councillors were elected for a four-year term on Saturday 22 October 2016 and took their Oath of Office at a Special Council Meeting held on Tuesday 8 November 2016.
The Councillors elect a Mayor and Deputy Mayor annually. The elected Councillors are listed below.
Camden Ward
CR MARY DELAHUNTY
Cr Delahunty was first elected to Glen Eira City Council in 2012. She is serving her second term as a Councillor and was Mayor of Glen Eira for 2017.
Cr Delahunty lives with her young family in Elsternwick and is an active member of many local sporting and community groups. She likes to keep fit at the gym and plays and umpires netball. Cr Delahunty is the Head of Impact of an industry super fund, an authority member of the Emergency Services Telecommunication Authority and Chair of the Ministerial Council on Women’s Equality.
CR JOEL SILVER
Cr Silver lives at Alma Village in Caulfield North, having been a lifelong resident of Glen Eira. For most of that time, his family have been traders on Glen Eira Road. Cr Silver was called to the Victorian Bar in May 2014 and practices predominately in commercial law (focusing on building and construction disputes). He has used these skills in several community organisations including Peninsula Community Legal Centre in Bentleigh where he worked as a volunteer lawyer, and the Law Institute of Victoria where he served as Young Lawyers President.
CR DAN SZTRAJT
Cr Sztrajt and his young family live in Caulfield where he has been a resident for more than 30 years.
Since the age of 16, Cr Sztrajt has been volunteering in Glen Eira across a wide range of roles. These include five years with a locally-based youth movement, seven years with the Jewish Community Council of Victoria and continuous involvement with countless charities and educational initiatives.
Rosstown Ward
CR MARGARET ESAKOFF
Cr Esakoff is a long-time resident of Glen Eira. She was educated in Rosstown Ward and has lived there almost all of her adult life. She is married with two children and three grandchildren.
Cr Esakoff has experience in business administration — having run a small business with her husband — as well as working in the publishing, advertising and radio/television industries.
She is serving her fifth term on Council, and served as Mayor in 2005, 2007 and 2011, and Deputy Mayor in 2008 and 2010. She now devotes her time to Council, apart from voluntary work in the community including membership on the Ethics Committee for Calvary Health Care Bethlehem.
CR CLARE DAVEY
A desire to play a larger role in her local community was one of the reasons Glen Huntly resident Clare Davey decided to run for Council.
One of five new faces on the elected Council, Cr Davey has worked in Local Government as a traffic and transport engineer for more than five years.
Cr Davey grew up just across the border in Bayside and has spent seven of the past nine years living in the City of Glen Eira.
CR TONY ATHANASOPOULOS
Cr Tony Athanasopoulos joined Glen Eira City Council in 2016 and is Mayor of Glen Eira in 2018. Cr Athanasopoulos was born of two migrant parents from Greece and Italy. They both worked hard to give their three boys the life they envied, and always taught the importance of service. Cr Athanasopoulos resides and runs a family business in Carnegie with the drive instilled by his parents. The family business is operated together with his fiancé Katherine and they both share a position on the Chrisalis Foundation board, a not-for-profit foundation supporting young people with disabilities.
Tucker Ward
Cr Jamie Hyams
A long-time resident of Glen Eira with a keen interest in sport and recreation, Cr Hyams is serving his fourth term on Council and was Mayor in 2012 and 2013 and Deputy Mayor in 2011 and 2018. Formerly a solicitor and executive director of a community sporting body, he is now a senior policy analyst at a not-for-profit public affairs organisation.
Until 2011, Cr Hyams was President of the City of Moorabbin Historical Society, having served an eight-year term.
CR JIM MAGEE
Cr Magee emigrated from Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1970. He is married with two sons and has lived in Bentleigh East since 1988. Cr Magee’s weekdays involve work and Council commitments and on weekends he is a keen bowler with the Coatesville Bowls Club. Cr Magee served as Mayor in 2015 and Deputy Mayor in 2017. Over the next two years on Council, Cr Magee will be focusing on better public transportation in Bentleigh East (trams and buses) along with establishing a Men’s Shed in Bentleigh East.
CR NINA TAYLOR
Cr Taylor is trilingual, a lawyer and works for a not-for-profit organisation as part of a long-term commitment to meaningful community engagement.
Cr Taylor’s charitable activities have included providing phone-line legal advice at the Women’s Legal Service to members of the community experiencing domestic violence.
She also has extensive private industry experience involving the promotion of treatment options for chronic disease (diabetes) to medical and allied healthcare professionals working in rural and urban hospitals/clinics and community healthcare centres.
Occasionally, Special Council Meetings are called to consider specific matters. Ordinary and Special Meetings of Council are live streamed on the internet to provide the community with greater access to Council debate and the decision-making process. Visit watch a meeting online.
Meetings are conducted in accordance with the Meetings Procedure provisions of Council’s Local Law 2009. Reports on the meeting agenda for consideration are prepared independently by staff and include recommended actions.
Councillors are required to disclose any direct or indirect conflict of interest in any item to be discussed at Council Meetings and are precluded from being present for the discussion of or voting on an item if a conflict of interest exists. Time is made available during ordinary meetings for the public to address Council under clause 230 of the Local Law Public Participation or for the public to submit questions under clause 232 Public Question to Council.
Councillor attendance at council meetings JULY 2017 to JUNE 2018
| Councillor | Ordinary meetings | Special Meetings | Term of Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cr Tony Athanasopoulos | 14 (16) | 5 (5) | 22 October 2016–30 June 2018 |
| Cr Clare Davey | 13 (16) | 3 (5) | 22 October 2016–30 June 2018 |
| Cr Mary Delahunty | 15 (16) | 4 (5) | 22 October 2016–30 June 2018 |
| Cr Margaret Esakoff | 15 (16) | 3 (5) | 22 October 2016–30 June 2018 |
| Cr Jamie Hyams | 15 (16) | 5 (5) | 22 October 2016–30 June 2018 |
| Cr Joel Silver | 14 (16) | 4 (5) | 22 October 2016–30 June 2018 |
| Cr Dan Sztrajt | 15 (16) | 3 (5) | 22 October 2016–30 June 2018 |
| Cr Jim Magee | 16 (16) | 5 (5) | 22 October 2016–30 June 2018 |
| Cr Nina Taylor | 16 (16) | 2 (5) | 22 October 2016–30 June 2018 |
Election of mayor and deputy mayor
Glen Eira’s Mayor and Deputy Mayor are elected for a one year term. Councillor Tony Athanasopoulos was elected Mayor, and Councillor Jamie Hyams was elected Deputy Mayor on 17 November 2017.
Although the Mayor has no more authority than other Councillors, the position is a significant one as a community leader and Council spokesperson. The Mayor also performs an important leadership, social and ceremonial function and is Chair of all Council Meetings.
COUNCILLORS’ CODE OF CONDUCT
On 14 February 2017, Council adopted a revised Code of Conduct.
The purpose of the Code is to assist Councillors in meeting their responsibilities by setting standards of conduct to ensure the conduct of Councillors is legal, ethical and appropriate at all times.
The Code specifies that as the performance of Council and the wellbeing of the Glen Eira community are directly affected by the conduct of the City’s elected representatives, the community is entitled to expect:
-
- The business of the Council is conducted with efficiency, impartiality and integrity.
- Councillors obey the spirit and letter of the law, in particular the provisions of relevant statutes, regulations, local laws and instruments.
- Responsibility to the community is always to be given absolute priority over the private interests of Councillors.
All Councillors sign a written agreement to abide by the Code of Conduct when they take the Oath of Office at the start of their term and each time a review of the Code of Conduct is undertaken.
COUNCILLORS’ RENUMERATION AND SUPPORT
Councils may set annual allowances for their Mayor and Councillors according to their predetermined category, based on criteria such as each council’s individual size and revenue base.
Following a review by the Minister, Glen Eira became a ‘Category 3’ council in November 2008. Councillor allowances have been reviewed in accordance with the Act and the current allowances are $30,223 plus 9.5 per cent superannuation contribution for Councillors and $96,534 plus 9.5 per cent superannuation contribution for the Mayor. Allowances are fully taxable.
The Mayor and Councillors are supported by a secretariat, which processes requests and correspondence from members of the community, co-ordinates Council Meetings and supports Mayoral and other civic functions.
All Councillors are provided with a printer, tablet and/or iPad and a mobile phone. They can also make use of the Councillors’ office facilities at Glen Eira Town Hall, which contains office equipment and a basic library holding a range of Council and related publications. The Mayor also receives use of an office, computer and telephone at Town Hall. Use of facilities is governed by Council’s Civic Support and Expenses Policy.
COUNCILLOR EXPENSES
In accordance with Section 75 of the Local Government Act 1989, Council is required to reimburse a Councillor for expenses incurred while performing their duties as a Councillor. Council is also required to adopt and maintain a policy in relation to the reimbursement of expenses for Councillors. The policy is to provide guidance for the types of reasonable expenses that must be reimbursed, in addition to the provision of resources and support available to the Mayor and Councillors to enable them to fulfil their duties.
Council also publishes the details of the expenses in its Annual Report, including reimbursement of expenses for each Councillor and member of a Council committee, paid by the Council.
Schedule of Councillor allowances and expenses,
1 July 2017–30 June 2018
The details of the expenses, including reimbursement of expenses for each Councillor and member of
a Council committee, paid by the Council for the 2017–18 year are set out in the following table:
| Councillor | Councillor Allowances | Conferences, Functions and Training | Travel* | Communication | Child Care and Carer Expenses | Total Expenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category Total | $367,425 | $10,633 | $124 | $7,869 | $3,152 | $389,203 |
| Cr Tony Athanaspoulos | $77,750 | $6,449 | - | $766 | - | $84,965 |
| Cr Clare Davey | $32,823 | - | - | $464 | - | $33,287 |
| Cr Mayor Delahunty | $59,914 | $418 | - | $993 | $3,152 | $64,477 |
| Cr Margaret Esakoff | $32,823 | $80 | $124 | $727 | - | $33,754 |
| Cr Jamie Hyams | $32,823 | - | - | $1,111 | - | $33,934 |
| Cr Joel Silver | $32,823 | - | - | $497 | - | $33,320 |
| Cr Dan Sztrajt | $32,823 | - | - | $431 | - | $33,254 |
| Cr Jim Magee | $32,823 | $1,745 | - | $1,446 | - | $36,014 |
| Cr Nina Taylor | $32,823 | $1,941 | - | $1,434 | - | $36,198 |
*No claims for car mileage were received.
Councillor membership of committees
COUNCIL COMMITTEES
Council operates several committees that either make decisions under delegation from Council (Special Committees) or provide advice and make recommendations to Council on specific issues (Advisory Committees). Council is also represented on numerous external bodies that serve the Glen Eira community. Councillor membership on committees is reviewed regularly. Currently, Council has no Special Committees and the following Advisory Committees and representations are in place.
ADVISORY COMMITTEES
(new membership as of 1 November 2017)
Role: to provide recommendations to Council for Arts and Culture programs.
Current composition: Cr Margaret Esakoff, Cr Mary Delahunty and Cr Jamie Hyams
Number of meetings held during 2017–18: 4
(new membership as of 1 November 2017)
Role: to report to Council and provide appropriate advice and recommendations on matters relevant to its Charter in order to facilitate decision-making by Council in relation to the discharge of its responsibilities.
Current composition: Cr Jim Magee and Cr Tony Athanasopoulos
Independent representatives: Lisa Woolmer (Chair), Dr Craig Nisbet and Craig Geddes.
Number of meetings held during 2017–18: 4.
Other committees with Councillor representatives
Delegate: Cr Nina Taylor
Substitute: Cr Margaret Esakoff
METROPOLITAN TRANSPORT FORUM
Representative: Cr Tony Athanasopoulos
Delegate: Cr Nina Taylor
REBECCA MCKENZIE
Commenced position in February 2016
Rebecca is an accomplished leader with a successful career at executive level across three countries and three sectors. Before joining Glen Eira City Council, Rebecca’s roles included CEO at Mitchell Shire Council in Melbourne’s north and Director of Corporate Services for Yarra Ranges Council. During an eight-year stint abroad, Rebecca held director level roles in human resource management at Swindon Borough Council in the United Kingdom (UK) and at the National University of Ireland in Dublin. Her early career was spent in various roles with the Queensland State Government. Rebecca is also President of Local Government Professionals Victoria.
Rebecca has a Bachelor of Arts (Griffith University), Graduate Certificate in Business Administration (Griffith University), Master of Science (Sheffield Hallam University UK), Graduate (Australian Institute of Company Directors)
Peter Jones
Commenced position in 2003
Peter joined Council in July 2001 as Human Resources Manager. His career has spanned human resources, education and community services. He has extensive experience in community services, in both the not-for-profit and public sector, and has held a range of human services management roles in the areas of children’s services, youth services and community development.
Peter has a Bachelor of Social Work (Hons), Master of Business Administration (Monash University)
Peter Swabey
Commenced position in July 2016
Peter has more than 20 years’ experience in senior finance and company secretarial roles across a range of industries including Local Government, banking and finance and legal services. Peter has extensive experience in financial management, treasury, payroll, accounting system implementations and external financial reporting requirements. Peter was Chief Financial Officer from 2004–2016.
Peter has a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) (Monash University), CPA
Environment and Leisure
Samantha Krull
Commenced position in May 2016
Samantha commenced working in the Local Government sector in 2007 and has worked in both metropolitan and growth councils. She also has 15 years’ experience in the private sector as a professional consulting structural engineer and project manager, in Australia, South Africa and Hong Kong.
Samantha has experience in leading multi-disciplinary teams to sustainably plan and deliver community infrastructure projects and programs in Local Government.
Samantha has a Bachelor of Science (Engineering) (Hons) and a Graduate Diploma in Engineering
Ron Torres
Commenced position in 2015
Ron joined Council in 1996. He has more than 20 years’ experience in town planning in both inner-city and middle-ring municipalities.
He has held a range of management roles and has extensive experience in statutory and strategic urban planning, VCAT and planning panels. He has also successfully delivered a range of strategic transport, sustainable development, animal management, activity centre and structure plan programs, each with a goal of safeguarding and developing community amenity and wellbeing.
Ron has a Bachelor of Planning and Design (The University of Melbourne)
*Organisational structure as at 30 June 2018.
| Casual Female | Permanent Part-Time Female | Permanent Full-Time Female | Casual Male | Permanent Part-Time Male | Permanent Full-Time Male | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 382 | 67.52 | 384 | 218.61 | 198 | 198.00 | 201 | 42.65 | 77 | 34.80 | 217 | 217.00 | 1459 | 778.58 |
| Division | Count | E.F.T. | Count | E.F.T. | Count | E.F.T. | Count | E.F.T. | Count | E.F.T. | Count | E.F.T. | Count | E.F.T. |
| Community Wellbeing | 130 | 21.05 | 328 | 189.41 | 94 | 94.00 | 24 | 4.93 | 49 | 25.58 | 16 | 16.00 | 641 | 350.97 |
| Corporate Services | 13 | 7.20 | 9 | 5.70 | 29 | 29.00 | 9 | 6.12 | 2 | 1.60 | 27 | 27.00 | 89 | 76.62 |
| Executive | - | - | - | - | 2 | 2.00 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2 | 2.00 |
| Infrastructure, Environment and Leisure | 216 | 36.47 | 14 | 8.85 | 40 | 40.00 | 135 | 28.12 | 3 | 2.41 | 131 | 131.00 | 539 | 246.85 |
| Innovation and Continuous Improvement | - | - | - | - | 6 | 6.00 | - | - | - | - | 3 | 3.00 | 9 | 9.00 |
| People and Culture | 1 | .28 | 5 | 2.97 | 3 | 3.00 | - | - | 1 | 0.80 | 2 | 2.00 | 12 | 9.05 |
| Planning and Place | 22 | 2.52 | 28 | 11.68 | 24 | 24.00 | 33 | 3.48 | 22 | 4.41 | 38 | 38.00 | 167 | 84.09 |
| Permanent Full-Time | Permanent Part-Time | Casual | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 198 | 217 | 385 | 77 | 381 | 201 | 1459 |
| Age | Female | Male | Female | Male | Female | Male | |
| < 30 | 29 | 26 | 18 | 3 | 176 | 105 | 357 |
| 30–50 | 87 | 93 | 158 | 23 | 125 | 49 | 535 |
| > 50 | 82 | 98 | 209 | 51 | 80 | 47 | 567 |
*Data on temporary staff unavailable.
Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunity Program
Council values diversity and therefore does not tolerate any form of discrimination
in the workplace. There are a number of equal opportunity policies and procedures in place,
including anti-discrimination, which are widely communicated to all employees.
Council has a well-established Equal Employment Opportunity Program, which includes online and face-to-face training and a contact network. As part of the Program, Council delivers extensive training and resources with the aim that existing and prospective staff are not subjected to discrimination in the workplace. The Program ensures Council decisions and policies promote equal employment opportunities in the workplace and that Council complies with federal and state legislation in relation to equal opportunity employment, in particular the:
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- Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic);
- Racial and Religious Tolerance Act 2001 (Vic); and
- Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006.
We further ensure that employees receive information and either online or face-to-face training relating to equal opportunity expectations at induction and throughout their employment with Council. Specifically, these relate to harassment, discrimination, vilification, bullying, and occupational violence.
As part of our commitment to equal opportunity, Council appoints and trains designated equal employment opportunity officers to provide confidential assistance and support to staff members who believe they may be affected by discrimination or harassment in the workplace. In the event a complaint arises, we ensure that such matters are dealt with promptly and confidentially through internal investigation processes.
In 2017–18, no discrimination matters were raised by Council staff with any external bodies.
WORKPLACE DIVERSITY STRATEGY
In September 2017, Council launched a Workplace Diversity Strategy to promote awareness of diversity issues, address employment gaps and create a safe and inclusive work environment for staff members. The Strategy aims to ensure that in working to achieve our organisational goals the diverse abilities, skills, languages, cultures and backgrounds of our employees are recognised, encouraged and valued. By taking a proactive approach to increasing, supporting and celebrating our diversity, Council is working to make Glen Eira stand out as a leading employer and create an environment that is motivating and aligned with our five organisational values: Collaboration; Respect; Service Excellence; Integrity; and Innovation.
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