We’d like to set the record straight – HRCC responds

Published on 01 July 2019

Chief Executive Officer Sunil Bhalla has moved to address claims made by Councillor John Robinson released to the media on Monday. 

The story quoted Cr Robinson’s intention to stand aside from his position as Councillor due to an alleged issue with Horsham Rural City Council’s governance standards.

Mr Bhalla said it was disappointing that Cr Robinson would not attend Wednesday’s Special Council Meeting where his rescission motion regarding the community consultation of Horsham’s Draft City to River Masterplan would be discussed.

He also responded to the following statements made in the news article:

Cr Robinson alleged the Special Council Meeting was called without consulting him or other Councillors regarding their availability.

The Mayor requested that a Special Meeting be arranged as soon as possible. All Councillors were given seven days’ notice of the Special Meeting on Wednesday 3 July which conforms with the requirements of the Local Government Act 1989.

Cr Robinson states that Councillors had just 30 minutes to review the Draft City to River Masterplan before a Councillor briefing meeting on Tuesday 11 June.

All Councillors have been given the opportunity to be involved in the development of the Draft Masterplan, starting with the first Councillor briefing in August 2018. There were follow-up City to River briefing sessions and a dedicated workshop held specifically for Councillors on 26 March 2019, which Cr Robinson attended.

The Draft Masterplan was available to all Councillors on Friday 7 June ahead of the most recent Councillor briefing session on 11 June and the Council Meeting on 24 June.

User groups involved in the City to River Vision have already been told by Council officers that they will be removed - before Council has made any decisions.

HRCC has met with representatives of all user groups in person. 

It was communicated that the draft plan developed by consultancy firm Urban Enterprise proposed a 20-year vision that involved transformation for several user groups.

It was stated that the proposed plan was a draft and it would need to be resolved by Council to make it available for public exhibition which would provide an opportunity for feedback on the proposal by the user groups.