MORE than three months after fronting a Code of Conduct panel, ratepayers will this week find out what action City of Greater Bendigo councillor Elise Chapman must take over her genital mutilation tweet.
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A report into the hearing will be tabled at this Wednesday’s council meeting, where councillors could have the option of discussing the report aloud or simply tabling it as part of the minutes.
Cr Chapman appeared before the panel on May 4 after her referral following the tweet in February, which showed young girls with mutilated genitals in response to a statement from a supporter of the proposed Bendigo mosque.
The tweet was accompanied by the words, “Oh we could have this here too? Would you like your fanny sliced off?”
Even if the panel orders Cr Chapman to take action – in the form of an apology or enforced leave from council – the councillor could appeal the decision.
Cr Chapman planned to apologise for the tweet during a council meeting in March, but councillors voted against allowing her to make a statement and instead referred her to the conduct panel.
In a report to council, the Code of Conduct panel registrar stated “the panel has made a number of determinations”, and outlined the financial cost of the process.
The City of Greater Bendigo must pay $850 per day for the conduct panel chair, $750 per day for the governance member and $2500 for administration costs.
A petition for a sealed footpath behind a group of Flora Hill properties is unlikely to end in success for at least five years.
Twenty-five residents in Towers and Wirth streets signed the petition calling for a sealed footpath on Crown land behind the properties.
In a report to council, acting director presentation and assets Rachelle Quattrocchi said the project was likely to cost $140,000 and had not been listed as a high priority.
“Through the rating and prioritisation process, the $140,000 project has not been identified as a high priority and is unlikely to be under consideration for referral to the council budget in the next five years,” she said.
“It will however, continue to be re-assessed on an annual basis for funding consideration through future council budget processes.”
The letter attached to the petition outlines the lack of footpaths in the area, particularly along Wirth Street.
The council has rated the nearby Davies Court footpath project as a high priority. The proposed footpath runs through to the Robert Holmes Village student accommodation at Race Street.
The Davies Court footpath is likely to be considered in the 2017/18 budget.
The City of Greater Bendigo will review its provision of child care in 2018/19 after making the decision to close the Bendigo Early Learning Centre from the end of this year.
The council runs three of the city’s 16 early learning centres, including the Helen Jessen centre in Strathdale and Annie Galvin centre.
The decision to close the Bendigo ELC was made after an internal review in 2013.
In the report to council, manager community services Rod Flavell said the council still had a role to play in delivering childcare services.
“Whilst ultimately a matter for Council to determine, officers recommend that for the foreseeable future and until such time as there is market saturation, the City plays a role in the direct provision of child care,” he said.
“The community have been very vocal in the closure of BELC and it may be prudent therefore for Council to review its role in child care every three to five years, with annual progress updates to Council and with a further review to occur in 2018/19.”
Councillors will vote on whether to hold the periodic reviews at Wednesday’s meeting.
Councillors will be asked to nominate for a Multicultural Round Table Reference Group at Wednesday night’s meeting.
The City of Greater Bendigo is launching the group as part of its Cultural Diversity Inclusion Plan after finding there was a 26 per cent increase in the number of people born overseas living in Bendigo.
The report to council states the “cultural diversity of Bendigo is changing quite quickly”.
The plan aims to “increase positive attitudes towards multiculturalism and embrace inclusion” and increase opportunities for people from diverse backgrounds.
Another aim is to “reduce racial and religious discrimination”.