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The Community Alliance of Port Phillip (CAPP) was formed in 1998 and is a Port Phillip wide network of hundreds of residents campaigning for a strong, democratic and progressive local government and community.
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Ombudsman's report on City of Port Phillip August 2009
The Victorian Ombudsman, Mr George Brouwer, on 12 August tabled a report in parliament on his investigations into the City of Port Phillip in the years 2003 to 2008. The Ombudsman reported poor tender and contract management practices; failure to act on conflict of interest matters; non-compliance with purchasing guidelines; poor record-keeping; and several cases that raised questions about compliance with provisions of the Local Government Act 1989.
Port Phillip Mayor, Cr Frank O’Connor, says that the report is almost exclusively about previous internal management practices, some of which were occurring more than two years ago. “The local elections in late 2008 resulted in a very different council,” he said. “We have a very clear election mandate for council to be more transparent and accountable in its decision making, and to do this we believed there needed to be significant organisational change.” The new council has already overseen substantial organisational changes. “Since the election, the former Chief Executive Officer, has resigned and all of the former Executive Directors have left the organisation. The Mayor is adamant that the City of Port Phillip is now well placed, not only to implement all the recommendations from the Ombudsman’s Report, but to make real progress in all areas of good governance.
More information:
Ombudsman's findings - City of Port Phillip
Port Phillip media release on the Ombudsman's findings
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Judith Klepner's International Women's Day speech March 2009
... While Port Phillip has since 1996 had five women mayors, and the current and council still has a majority of women councillors, you will know that this remains unusual at the most senior levels of public insitutions, at every tier of government in Australia and at the corporate, statutory and not for profit board table. Feminism has made some inroads, but women are still far from having equal status, from being equally regarded or equally paid.
More information: the full text of Judith's speech Home
2008 Port Phillip Election Results December 2008
The following Provisional Results have been declared by the Victorian Electoral Commission:
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Albert Park - Judith Klepner (CAPP)
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Carlisle - Rachel Powning (CAPP)
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Catani - Serge Thomann (Unchain Port Phillip)
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Emerald Hill - Frank O'Connor (CAPP)
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Junction - John Middleton (Greens)
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Point Ormond - Jane Touzeau (Unchain Port Phillip)
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Sandridge - Janet Bolitho.
Thank you to everyone who helped with the campaign. Our fundraising, leafleting, work at polling booths and conversations with voters resulted in the election of three CAPP councillors in the City of Port Phillip.
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2008 Port Phillip Election Campaign November 2008
This is the most important election since formation of Port Phillip. It is time for renewal, reform and results that revolutionise our governance and democracy, take major and transforming steps on our environment, build housing affordability into the core of the Council, act on community safety and deliver on services for the young and old and everyone in between.
Renewal. Reform. Results. is our 2008 Election Policy, formed over many months by members, candidates, and policy specialists from Port Phillip and beyond. It has been a long process and we thank all members who have been involved.
The Election Policy has been endorsed by the CAPP executive in accordance with the process agreed to at this year's AGM.
It represents a blueprint for a new, invigorated Council. The Election Policy sets out clear goals, reforms, actions, benchmarks and achievements that are expected over the next four years from the Port Phillip local government. It is the working policy that we hope and expect will inform and guide all CAPP members running for election in 2008.
Please do read and analyse the document carefully. Early in 2009 the Executive will convene a membership meeting to review and refine the details and strategies underlying the document.
CAPP members are standing for a new Council that is more accountable, transparent and responsive to the community. This Election Policy provides the backbone and structure to deliver. They deserve your support.
Ian Linnett
PS. Congratulations to Judith Klepner, our passionate and principled CAPP councillor, the only person to be re elected unopposed.
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Port Phillip Councillors must sack the CEO May 2008
A joint statement from leading Port Phillip Community Groups – unChain St Kilda, Esplanade Alliance and Community Alliance of Port Phillip (CAPP).
Leading community groups in the City of Port Phillip have issued a united call for the city’s council to sack its chief executive, Mr David Spokes.
The unprecedented action follows disclosure by The Age (19 May) of a $600K consultancy commissioned by Mr Spokes to review staff and organisational structures at the council. A further $200K is estimated to have been spent in legal expenses over the affair.
It's reported that Mr Spokes offered change management consultant, Caroline Shahbaz, a self-styled “white witch”, the consultancy assignment without public tender after they met on a boat cruise. Senior management and staff have raised concerns about the qualification of the consultant for the type of work undertaken, the process of the review and its outcomes, including the legality of Ms Shahbaz's contract with the CEO.
Community Alliance of Port Phillip, unChain St Kilda and Esplanade Alliance claim the resultant ridicule and disrepute have damaged the credibility of the municipality, and drastic action needs to be taken immediately to protect ratepayers and halt the disintegration of a once well-respected Council.
unChain St Kilda President, Serge Thomann, said the actions of the CEO represent an appalling lack of judgement, and a possible serious breach of fiduciary duty.
“Whilst an inquiry needs to be conducted on whether the consultancy appointment was legal, it certainly was ill-judged, badly managed and damaging to the operations of the city and the welfare of its staff,” he said.
“The end result is that the community has no confidence in the ability of Mr Spokes to manage the city and its operations. Confidence in the ability of councillors to, in turn, manage their city’s CEO is also seriously eroded.
“Councillors have no choice but to remove Mr Spokes. We cannot look to the future confidently until the mistakes of the past are addressed,” he said.
Spokesperson for Esplanade Alliance, Helen Halliday, said members of the community groups are in despair about the future of their popular city.
“Given these circumstances, Mr Spokes's credibility is now under question, raising serious doubts about his capacity to manage important and contentious issues currently before the council, for example the $300 million development of the Triangle crown land, the Skate Park and building of a new child-care centre,” she said.
“We also question the strength of the Councillors in dealing with these strategic issues.”
The Community Alliance of Port Phillip (CAPP) spokesperson, Ian Linnett, said the responsibility for governance, including oversighting process to commission advice and all major expenditure decisions, is that of the Council and the CEO jointly.
“The Mayor and Councillors must act to restore the reputation and integrity of Port Phillip,” he said.
“This is a crucial test of their judgement, and their understanding of the principles of good governance. Failure to act will seriously affect the community’s confidence in their Councillors.”
Many in the community are concerned that any delay or indecision in removing Mr Spokes will further weaken morale amongst staff and community confidence.“We are at a low point in the governance of our marvellous city” said Mr Thomann.
“It’s time for change and renewed accountability to the Port Phillip community. The process must start now, with the sacking of Mr Spokes. The November elections will provide an opportunity to make further changes.”
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Support the affordable housing in Port Melbourne May 2008
I write on behalf of the Community Alliance of Port Phillip (CAPP) to support the affordable housing project proposed for Kyme Place Port Melbourne.
The provision of affordable housing for residents of the municipality is a central issue in the policy platform of CAPP. It is essential that local people are not forced out of the municipality because of rising rents and the impossibility of ever being able to purchase a property in the area. Many of these residents have long associations with the area including family, friends, work and community activities and should be facilitated to remain in the area.
The Port Phillip Housing Association has a very proud record of developing and managing similar housing projects around the municipality and will no doubt manage this project equally as well. The other PPHA projects are attractive and creative buildings which contribute to the amenity of the areas they are located in. I am not aware of problems between residents of these housing projects and other residents.
I am aware that some Port Melbourne residents have expressed concerns about the Kyme Place project and Council should ensure a full and proper consultation to address the issues raised. It may be helpful to some of those persons if they were invited to look at some of the excellent housing already operating in the municipality.
A full and frank presentation of all the facts is an important step in overcoming resident concerns.
Issues to do with the bulk and height of the building and any overshadowing of nearby housing should be able to be addressed during the design phase.
This project is an important and valuable addition to the municipality
Brenda Forbath
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St Kilda Triangle January 2008
In November last year CAPP lodged an objection to the planning application by CITTA, who was selected by Port Phillip Council as the preferred developer for the Triangle site.
CAPP raised concerns about the size and scale of the development, the amount of commercial content on the site (180 retail outlets), the number of night clubs and alcohol venues (6000 patrons), loss of views from the Upper Esplanade, the overshadowing of the Palais and the impact on traffic movement and parking in the area.
CAPP spoke to its objection at Council’s statutory planning committee meeting on the 13 December 2007. This meeting was attended by approx. 600 residents all of whom were very angry about the development. Detailed objections were also lodged by “Esplanade Alliance” and a new group called “Unchain St Kilda”. Many thousands of objections were lodged against the proposed development. Council finally agreed to defer their decision on the planning application until late January 2008 and to negotiate with objectors in the interim.
Both “Esplanade Alliance” and “Unchain St Kilda” have spent long hours meeting with the Council and with the Developer in an attempt to have the plans scaled back.The meeting on the 21st January, organised by “Unchain St Kilda”, will provide a detailed report on the negotiations so far and provide an opportunity for discussion and consideration of what should happen next given that it appears unlikely that Council and the Developer will make the concessions sought by the community.
CAPP policies in 2002 and 2004 make it very clear that this site should provide for no further commercial alienation of public open space than what was present in 2004. The proposal now being considered does not accord with CAPP policies.
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St Kilda Triangle November 2007
Objection To St Kilda Triangle Development Plan October 2007
The Community Alliance of Port Phillip (CAPP) wishes to lodge an objection to the Development Plan for the St Kilda Triangle site. The objection is based on the failure of the proposed plan to adhere to the Council’s Urban Design Framework for this area in relation to:
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Loss of vistas and views of the foreshore and iconic buildings such as the Palais and Luna Park particularly from the Upper Esplanade.
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The overshadowing of the Palais, the key building on the site which has been dwarfed by the size and scale of the buildings around it.
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The emphasis on the commercial elements of the site which is public land and the consequent minimising of public open space.
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The number of commercial outlets (180) which essentially transforms the site into a massive shopping centre.
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The number and concentration of entertainment venues on the site in particular the late night dance and music venues which can potentially result in an excess of 6000 people being on or around the site from midnight to the early hours of the morning.
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The scale of the development and its impact on traffic movement and parking in the area.
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The height of buildings and their impact on views.
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