FRANKSTON Council has ended its alignment with the advocacy group Committee for Greater Frankston.
Council joined the lobby group in May 2018, agreeing to pay $10,000 a year for membership (“Lobby group spreads influence”, The Times, 21/5/18). In March it told the committee that it had decided to withdraw its membership.
The mayor Kris Bolam said the group had “tunnel vision”, and had become too preoccupied with the Green Wedge, Baxter electrification, and car parking.
“Council is of the view that there are some philosophical differences with the Committee regarding both policy and advocacy matters,” he said. “It is standard practice for a new council – such as the current Frankston City Council, which was elected late last year – to review relationships with and memberships of various organisations. Following a review, it was of the view that it was already undertaking significant advocacy and as such, membership of the Committee for Greater Frankston was no longer warranted.
“Council believes the decision to end our membership of the Committee will ensure it is able to independently advocate to all three levels of government.”
Committee for Greater Frankston CEO Ginevra Hosking said “under the network’s charter, local businesses, not-for-profits, community leaders, local councils and other government entities can become full voting members at their own discretion.”
“Since our committee’s formation in early 2017, we have worked constructively and collaboratively with Frankston Council on shared objectives and will continue to do so in the future,” she said.