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Cr Alex Makin: Councilor for Montague Ward, City of Port Phillip

Accountability: A proven record of Making It Happen

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by

alex
in

It’s easy for candidates to make claims during elections. That’s the easy part, being able to turn those words into action is harder.

When I was one of Victoria’s youngest politically independent Mayors and Councilors from 2005 to 2012, I quickly learned how Councils work so I could effectively represent my community.

Honoring commitments doesn’t begin with a list, but with good governance.

Good Governance is what keeps Councils accountable

It all begins with good governance – this is how Councillors keep the CEO accountable over project costs and timeframes, as well as delivering on the vision established by Councillors.

The first task for any new Council, is the Council Plan – this establishes priorities over the next four years and sets key expectations, as well as performance indicators for the Council.

I will ensure community safety is prioritised through the Council Plan, as well as embedding the community’s voice in Council’s decisions. Furthermore, I will ensure council works with the community to deliver the community services, art spaces, sporting facilities, dog parks and open space we need for our community.

I believe both financial and environmental leadership are important. It is possible to be fiscally responsible, by achieving increased service efficiencies, while also strengthening environmental action. When I was Mayor of Maroondah Council, I embedded efficiency improvements while also reducing the Council’s energy and water usage.

It is the role of Councillors to keep Council accountable to the community. I will embed the community’s voice, so we are acting on behalf of our community and not party politics or other hidden interests.

I will strengthen Port Phillip’s performance management framework. I successfully introduced performance management in Maroondah, and it made a world of difference to Council’s quality of service delivery. Project delays, cost blowouts and months of missed rubbish collections in Port Phillip are inexcusable and must be rectified.

Without a rigorous performance management approach, we will continue to suffer from poor performance.

The fact that our community needs to mobilise every time it requires Council to listen shows a failure in governance. Only I know how to fix this and will be able to make it happen.

Comments

5 responses to “Accountability: A proven record of Making It Happen”

  1. Christopher Noone Avatar
    Christopher Noone

    Very sound points – all of us who come with our lists to you and other Councillors can only feel at least reasonably confident that Council’s decisions are thoughtfully considered, fair and equitable and in keeping with agreed priorities and budget, if we know there is a clear and robust governance model. One all in the community understands. And on that, you were the only candidate that spoke often of that. Systems, systems and systems….then we can get things done and make things happen. All the best Alex. Chris

    Reply
  2. Christopher Noone Avatar
    Christopher Noone

    Think I missed a filling in a line in my response. Ugh. In Council’s governance model, the communication needs, preferences and styles of a diverse City could be addressed.

    We just had to consider it in any gov comms, marketing or media etc.

    And in doing that I get back to your desire for good governance. It’s common sense.

    In Vic Gov there were so many systems, procurement guidelines, Gov approvals from my regular portfolio, department and then the centralised Gov Communications Review Group led by DPC and ultimately the Communications Sub Commitee of Cabinet before you could really move and make things happen.

    Really hope this election sees meaningful change and common sense, compromise without compromising values and some genuine vision reflective of community needs.

    I will be watching closely the development of the new Council’s Strategic Plan and agreed priorities chosen.
    Cheers

    Reply
    1. alex Avatar
      alex

      Thanks Chris,

      Governance is often one of the most overlooked aspects of Council, even though it is the most important.

      In terms of governance model, Councils, similar to a board, it is up to Councillors (chaired by the Mayor) to set the vision and ensure there is clarity in how the CEO executes that vision – through suitable indicators and performance reviews.

      It is up to Councillors to make sure they ask the right questions of the Executive, so they can keep the administration accountable, just as the administration and community should keep Councillors accountable.

      Governance falls apart with Councillors are either too lazy or lack the foresight to govern effectively – this is when complacency sets in and community outcomes diminish.

      Thanks,

      Alex

      Reply
      1. Christopher Noone Avatar
        Christopher Noone

        Thanks for reply Alex.

        It’s so sad hey that the days when you anyone on either side of the political spectrum and all those in between cannot discuss their differences of opinion and those around them actively listen and show a real understanding of issues to get another’s perspective. Not helpful with what’s been happening in the world in the last ten years and it just seems to have accelerated in the last five years with the foot on the throttle!! lol!

        Plato said, “the highest form of knowledge is empathy – for it requires us to suspend our egos and live in another’s world.”

        Empathy.

        And with that knowledge then the fun stuff starts – using our imagination!

        I do hope you romp it in.

        Regards
        Chris

        Reply
        1. alex Avatar
          alex

          Agree, it’s why respecting people’s lived experiences is really important – often a process or policy will be designed based on what works for an administration, rather than what is required. It’s also why feedback mechanisms are really important, unfortunately many places obfuscate the ability to complain or provide feedback, which then creates an echo chamber of false metrics.

          Been great to make contact over the campaign – counting starts Thursday so let’s see how it goes!

          Reply

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