Question 7. What role would you like to see Council play in shaping the city’s future?

The answers to this question fell into two general categories: how The Council works, and Council operations and activities delivery. The first category (how The Council works), includes answers that people gave in relation to its leadership; its management, governance and policies; and The Council’s relationship with other councils or state government. The second category (Council operations and activities), includes answers people gave on community engagement; rules, planning and enforcement; environmental and sustainability actions; social and community actions; education and communication; transportation; and on increasing efficiency (reducing ‘red tape’). Each of these topics is discussed below.

Overview

Most answers discussing how The Council works referred to the importance of Council leadership in shaping the city’s future, with the bulk of these comments wanting strong leadership that prioritises the wants and needs of Melburnians who live and work in the city. People stated that the way The Council is managed — and how it interacts with the broader political system — was an important part of its role.

With regards to Council operations and activities delivery, most answers related to community engagement and/or consultation. People saw this as a major Council role. Statements relating to Council rules and planning were also well represented in the answers. Community, environmental, education and transport activities were frequently discussed topics.

HOW COUNCIL WORKS

This section refers to the way that The Council works internally in order to deliver outcomes.

Council leadership across the community

When asked what role The Council might play in shaping the city’s future, people wanted The Council to take leadership roles in many areas. Nearly a third of answers about Council leadership were in relation to The Council supporting or facilitating achievement in certain areas. Many of these were art related and of these several were direct appeals for more funding in creative projects, which was stated by one person as, “less bureaucratic opportunities”. People wanted to see The Council take an active role supporting art and artists (local and international) in the city.

Several answers were about supporting communities or community groups, with some of these wanting to see funding for initiatives that will increase community connectivity or wellbeing. There were many comments on The Council having a role in bringing people, groups, or interests together, including from one person wanting The Council to act to facilitate partnerships as a catalyst for public-private partnerships. Most of these answers, however, related to getting members of the public together to build or strengthen communities. For example, The Council acting with citizens to enhance civic pride. A couple of answers showed a desire for The Council to take a leadership role in promoting small to medium-sized businesses.

Several answers stated the importance of bold, innovative, proactive, or risk-taking in council activities. Taking a bold leadership stance on progress for ‘all’ (progress that is accessible to ‘most’ rather than just ‘some’) came through in several answers. For these people the emphasis was for The Council to take action.

Several answers related directly to the Council being bold on the issue of climate change. Making Melbourne climate resilient was seen to be achievable through climate-resilient businesses, mitigating carbon, meeting the goals set out in the Paris climate conference agreement, and by a couple of people wanting to see Melbourne become a leader on climate change issues. Some people were concerned about the relationship developers have with The Council, for example stating that “no more giving our future over to developers”. They wanted to see strong Council leadership in limiting high-rise development. A couple of people answered that risk-taking is important although sometimes unpopular.

A large number of people felt that The Council should show leadership by advocating for many groups. Proposed in the answers was The Council being an advocate for the City of Melbourne as a whole, with the general goal of improvement of future life in Melbourne. This included taking into account the needs of all Melburnians, those living in the suburbs, those in need of protection, and the rights of renters and protesters. Also, The Council advocating for heritage buildings, building standards, and improved services. Some answers related to The Council being an advocate for renewable energy to address climate change.

Many people wanted The Council to take action on delivering its goals. For example:

As representatives of the people the council must act and ensure the ideas and changes to Melbourne are implemented and realised.

Several answers were focused on caring for Melbourne’s buildings and character, including heritage. Some answers related to the realisation of art goals, and some wanted greater pedestrian access in the city. A few answers wanted The Council to act on goals that foster community connectedness.

Many answers encouraged The Council to be innovative and forward-thinking. Some people answered that they were pleased with Council innovation, and would like to see them continue with innovative projects and processes. A couple of people suggested the encouragement of private-public partnerships as an innovative step, and that The Council should consider the use of technology in its processes. Individual people suggested ways of being innovative, such as taking risks; looking to international examples; learning from mistakes; being innovative as an example; being nimble, active and involved; and, focussing on action.

A large number of people saw The Council’s leadership role as being very important in shaping the city’s future. A feature of many answers was that people saw The Council’s role as taking the lead in creating change for a “positive” or “better” future. Several people wanted The Council to lead with the interests of the Melbourne constituents; with the community at the forefront. And some see The Council “leading by example” as part of their role.

Council management, governance and politics

A large number of people saw the role of The Council in shaping the city’s future as one relating to its own management, governance and administration. Some people answered that they wanted to see The Council’s culture change to become more transparent. Some suggested a more “bottom-up” or community-driven approach to decision-making. Increasing employment standards at The Council was seen by some as a way to improve its ability to operate. For example: decisions need to be made by “…professionals in the field, not by the politicians”, and “stop employing/recruiting those in it only for themselves”. A couple of people suggested the hiring of high-calibre people as a strategy for The Council.

Some people answered that The Council should be more removed from political processes and be “forward-thinking”; planning and implementing initiatives that are beyond the next election cycle. A similar number of people thought that The Council should be more impartial to the interests of developers, with one person stating that The Council should:

…address the well-being of the community - everything should be tested against this.

Relationship with other councils and state government

Many people thought that The Council’s role in shaping the city’s future involved its relationship with other councils or state government. For several people this meant promoting the City of Melbourne’s interests to state and/or federal government (lobbying) to ensure that the views of city residents and users are represented. For example, on new train lines, on ways to reduce population growth, for more resources, and on reducing the numbers of skyscrapers. Some said that more collaboration was needed with state government, and a similar amount that working better with all other councils was needed. A couple of people wanted The Council to extend its boundary and have more authority, and the same amount of people answered that it is the state and federal governments that should be making decisions related to improving Melbourne.

COUNCIL OPERATIONS AND ACTIVITIES DELIVERY

This section refers to Council operations and activities delivery across a range of areas.

Community engagement

With regards to Council operations and activities — a high proportion of the answers to the question on what role people would like to see The Council playing in shaping the city’s future were regarding community engagement. Feedback was centred on The Council enabling the people of Melbourne to have a say in Council proceedings. There was emphasis on The Council hearing people, genuinely listening to ideas and then acting on what people have said. It was highlighted by some that the engagement experience be genuine. They asked The Council to engage with communities using words like ‘honestly’, ‘respectfully’, and ‘actively’ or ‘actually’ listening. It was important to many people that Melbourne’s diverse population be represented in processes. For example, not just business interests or the “well-off”, but the inclusion of views of those from different generations; low socio-economic backgrounds; people outside of the city centre; start-ups, innovators; community groups and clubs; Aboriginal people; and, those who may be under-represented at this level.

Some admire the community engagement that The Council is already doing, while a similar amount of people liked the opportunity to be heard through this survey but want the results acted on. Individual people suggested different ways that a more open dialogue with communities could be achieved. For example, more open days at Council; holding more social or community events; peoples’ panels/juries; and, business forums.

Council rules, planning, policy, and enforcement

A large number of people saw the role of The Council in shaping the city’s future relating to its rules, planning and policy. Many of these people answered that planning for more sustainable building practices was a big part of this. The types of sustainable building mentioned in these comments included the use of “biophilic principles”, “10 star buildings”, “greener buildings”, and “realistic apartment sizes”. Some of these saw “resisting big developers” as one way to enable sustainable building.

Several people saw policy and planning that addresses population growth as The Council’s role. Planning for more flexible approaches to building-use (allowing vacant buildings to be used for pop-up art shows, for example) and mixed use of open spaces (some high-density, some park space, for example) were seen by a few as ways to address dense urban living. Some wanted The Council to plan for more open and also greener spaces in the city. Included in this group of answers were a couple of people who wanted more planning for families in the city, with grassy areas, and areas with less commercialisation.

…give people public space that doesnt [sic] have an icecream vendor or coffee van every 5 meters- but drinking fountains, free wifi, and pleasant seats and grass to loll about on.

A couple of answers stated that more planning power to communities was desirable, whereas one person stated that more planning power should go to The Council. A reduction in rules and regulation was requested by a few people, and more rules on young people and partying was important to another. One person said that VCAT decisions should be able to be overruled when development is destructive, and another that the good work on planning and policy should continue.

Council environmental and sustainability actions

A large number of survey answers stated that people want to see The Council acting on environmental and sustainability issues in the city. It was reported by many that they want to see The Council encouraging environmental sustainability, including through regulation. This was in the form of investing in public transport, garden space on buildings, heading toward zero emissions, investing in renewable energy, encouraging climate resilience in communities and business and educating community and businesses on climate change. Some people wanted to see the Council implement initiatives to help Melbourne meet specific climate goals set out in the Paris COP21 Agreement. The feedback from people who identified environmental and sustainability actions as important Council functions was that Melbourne needs to be forward-thinking to ‘future-proof’ the city. One specific idea on how to do this was this:

The Council should develop a State of the Future Index......please see this website for information about how to do this...www.millennium-project.org/millennium/SOFI.html

Council social and community actions and outcomes

A large number of people said that The Council’s role in shaping the city’s future related to social and community actions and outcomes. Many of these saw The Council as having a responsibility to look after people. This included the homeless, the poor, families, international students, the unwell, and “those who don’t have a voice”. Funding, or a “hands-on” approach towards minority groups was mentioned by a couple of people, in one case suggesting:

…giving funding preferences to organisations who are wholly sustainable.

Other answers that individual people gave in relation to The Council’s role in shaping the future of the city were: to reduce drug violence; to choose local business partners; to increase community programmes; and, to continue putting on well-run events. A couple of people answered that it was important to maintain the city’s diversity.

Council education and communication

Many people see that The Council’s role in shaping the future of the city is in educating the public. These people see that providing authoritative knowledge and information to the public is important. Several people stated in their answers the importance of communication with citizens, and hearing what they have to say:

…helping create programs and awareness of problems and solutions as well as finding the peoples voice

Educating the public (including the broader community) on: ways to engage with The Council, showcasing examples of where effective change has occurred, promoting The Council’s own goals, the impacts and opportunities arising from climate change, and pitching new ideas to the public are examples of what individual people have said they want from The Council. This was one short statement about communication.

It never hurts to over communicate.

The Council’s transport operations

Many people answered that reducing or restricting the amount of cars in the city is a role that they see The Council playing in shaping the city’s future. Improving public transport (trams and trains), and cycling infrastructure were the ways that several people suggested The Council should operate. One person stated that they would like to stop people trying to ban cars from the city, they saw that the city would suffer as a result of less cars. Another stated that the one-hour parking limit was not enough for people to conduct their business in the city.

Increase Council efficiency and reducing red tape

Several people answered that they wanted The Council to have increased operating efficiency and less bureaucratic “red-tape”. People hoped that this would better enable residents to create value; increase entrepreneurial activity; increase creativity; and, make for better customer service from Council staff.

OTHER

Several people answered that The Council’s role in shaping the city’s future is simply to maintain the good work that they are already doing. A few people answered that they were uncertain as to the role that The Council plays, and a couple thought that The Council needs to play a greater role.