Kate Hely - North Ward Councillor for Stonnington



3)
Transparency builds trust



Where we build trust in each other by behaving in an ethical way, being open to new ideas and bringing a 'value for money' focus to Council so we can maximise resident and ratepayer benefit.



What this involves:



Increasing 'value for money' from Council and maximising resident and ratepayer benefit



No party politics in local Council



Openness in how decisions are made



Encouraging and facilitating debate to ignite local innovation



A focus on improving the future needs of the whole community, not just the current needs a few.



Recent Thoughts



ON BUILDING Honesty and Transparency



The institute of company directors course





I recently completed the AICD Company Directors course in order to enhance my ability to serve my community as a councillor.


I believe that councillors should be like community-appointed board members rather than an oppositional 'mini-parliment' and the course really reinforced that perspective with me. As while it is important to have differing opinions and perspectives brought to the table with diverse life experiences, the united aim should be about enhancing the performance of council to achieve our agreed outcomes rather than individualistic headline grabs.


I would never have predicted that I would say this in my life, but I particularly enjoyed learning more about governance and the unique mindset that a director must have - which is quite different to that of a executive.


I thoroughly recommend the course to all councillors, and committee members or directors.


Find out more here: https://www.aicd.com.au/



IS THIS ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOUR IN OUR COMMUNITY IN 2022?



July 2022



At our council meeting on 26 July, a finding was tabled from a Conduct Panel which concluded that another Councillor’s behaviour towards me did not constitute serious misconduct.


The same report describes the behaviour towards me as ‘hostile’, ‘disrespectful’, ‘unreasonable’, ‘attacking the person not the issue’, ‘inappropriate’, ‘appalling’, ‘unwarranted attack’, ‘character assassination’ and ‘aggressive’.


The grounds the panel used to assess what is considered ‘unreasonable’ conduct within a local government context relied upon a 18-year-old judgement which essentially says that while one might wish for better behaviour in politics, that is not the reality of Australian State and Federal politics and by implication, that the behaviours of this councillor are not ‘unreasonable’ within a council and therefore do not constitute bullying.... And if you don’t like it, “find another homeland”.


I am deeply concerned that this finding sets a dangerous precedent which undermines the State Government’s ambition to get more women into local government and improve the culture of and trust in the sector. While the Victorian government has set a target for 50% women councillors and mayors in local government by 2025 and has introduced programs such as ‘Women Leading Locally’, is this the standard of culture and treatment that women can expect and must endure once they arrive?


Coral Ross AM CF FAICD's research through the Churchill Fellowship found that low female participation and high churn of women in local government globally stems from sector cultures that support competitive, adversarial and hostile behaviours. And yet this behaviour is now enshrined as ‘reasonable’ through this finding.


In any other workplace, it would be clear that these behaviours would create an unsafe workplace and a risk to psychological safety and would not be tolerated.


The 2021 'Set the Standard' report into Federal Culture stated “Public confidence can erode when constituents do not see the standards and expectations in their own workplaces mirrored in their democratic institutions.” And yet this is now what we are being encouraged to tolerate and survive through.


I cannot imagine a more disappointing and disheartening portrait of the future of Local Government culture if this is now precedence.


‘We should set the standard for workplace culture, not the floor of what culture should be’.*


#thisismyhomeland and I do not think this is acceptable behaviour in a workplace and for a community leader.


- *Quote from 2021 Set the Standard report into Federal Government Culture. Link to video of speeches on 25 July meeting: https://webcast.stonnington.vic.gov.au/archive/video22-0725.php#placeholder Link to finding: https://www.localgovernment.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0033/187737/Hely-Lew-CCP-2021-3-Councillor-Conduct-Panel-Determination-and-Statement-of-Reasons-for-Decision-15-July-2022.pdf



How can we make sure we are getting value for money from council?



September



While I was Mayor last year I got to make hundreds of people Australian (my favourite part of the role!) It was extra special - as for my first citizenship ceremony as Mayor I had only become Australian myself a few months earlier!


So this is my first time voting in a federal election - and I can't help reflecting on those other Australians for whom this is their first time too. For those who have recently turned 18 - your voice now counts as much as any adult. For those new Australians, this is the first time that they will truely feel like they are participating as Australians and making heard what they care about. Its all quite emotional actually!


So no matter who you vote for, I'm super proud and excited for you to have a voice in the future of this country that is yours.


#voting #votingday #yourvoicematters #yourvoicecounts



How can we make sure we are getting value for money from council?



September 2020



It is important that Council tangibly demonstrates to its residents and ratepayers that they are providing the most cost-effective and efficient delivery of their services and projects. That they are getting maximum value for every ratepayer’s dollar. And yet many residents and ratepayers are concerned that Stonnington is not spending efficiently or transparently.


I believe that introducing a ‘Value for Money Program’ would help to address this. The program would investigate and analyse each council operation to determine if savings could be achieved or if more effective expenditure could be made to maximise ratepayer benefit.


A ‘value for money program’ is compulsory for all local authorities in New Zealand and is already used in many Australian Councils. It is more than just procurement – its about making sure we are doing things in the right way to get maximum results for our neighbourhoods.


I want to increase the transparency of Council – so that residents and ratepayers feel like they can trust in Council.


Auckland City Council Example



Ethics drive trust





2020 Edelman Trust Management Tracking Study.





I am committed to helping our neighbourhoods flourish:



1) Vibrant local communities





Where enhance our ability to live, work, shop and play within our local communities.



We need to enable and support people to learn, play, work and shop closer to home. Through this, we can build a stronger sense of community, have safer streets, become more healthy and more environmentally sustainable. It will create a strong and proud village culture where businesses want to set up, homes are sort after and people are connected and respected.



2) Engaged voices




Where all voices are heard and encouraged- not only the loud and passionate, but also those who might be wise, insightful or quiet.



Without diverse participation, it is not possible to adequately serve the current or future needs of our community. ​



3) Transparency and honesty




Where we build trust in each other by behaving in an ethical way, being open to new ideas and bringing a 'value for money' focus to Council so we can maximise resident and ratepayer benefit.



Local government is the level of government that is closest to its people.

We need more openness in how decisions are made and we need to encourage and facilitate debate to ignite local innovation.



Kate Hely - for North Ward Stonnington



I acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung and Bunurong peoples of the East Kulin Nations as the traditional owners of the land I live on. I recognise and respect the knowledge, culture and custodianship that began over 60,000 years ago and continues today.

This website is written, spoken and authorised by Kate Hely of Toorak.