The Voices of Central Coast (VOCC) will hold a Public Forum on Wednesday, March 6, with expert speakers in the lead-up to the Council elections in September.
Questions such as how local government really works and how we rebuild effective local democracy on the Central Coast will be addressed.
VOCC President Barbara Wills says this will be an important year for local democracy as elected representatives are returned to Central Coast Council.
“There has been a high level of community dissatisfaction with Council under Administration for almost five of the past eight years,” she said.
“There is also deep concern about the current Administrator’s efforts to influence the upcoming Council elections and promote the view that Council is a de facto Board of Directors – rather than representing the interests of residents, ratepayers and the community.”
Expert speakers will suggest some fresh thinking about the varied roles of councillors and the underlying purpose and nature of local government in our region.
Speakers will include Managing Director of The Inglis Group, former Council CEO and former councillor Glenn Inglis; and Adjunct Professor, UTS Institute of Public Policy and Governance, Graham Sansom.
The event will have an independent facilitator in Coast Community News Managing Editor David Abrahams.
“This event will give community organisations and residents the background information that they need in the run-up to September Council elections as they consider what kind of candidates they want to support,” Wills said.
“It will also be useful for anybody considering standing as a candidate.”
VOCC is a non-partisan community group that wants to improve our democracy.
The Public Forum will be held on Wednesday, March 6, from 6.30-8.30pm at Ourimbah Lisarow RSL Club.
Numbers are limited and bookings are essential at: www.voicesofcentralcoast.org/events