{"id":34364,"date":"2020-09-03T00:57:46","date_gmt":"2020-09-02T14:57:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/bellarinetimes\/?p=34364"},"modified":"2020-09-02T15:05:37","modified_gmt":"2020-09-02T05:05:37","slug":"mayors-column-stephanie-asher-september-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/bellarinetimes\/news\/mayors-column-stephanie-asher-september-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Mayor’s Column: Cr Stephanie Asher from the City of Greater Geelong, September 3"},"content":{"rendered":"

Clarification for better communication<\/strong><\/p>\n

AS A RELATIVELY small person, being average female height and on the runty side of body size, I don\u2019t have a strong defence game.<\/p>\n

In my five years playing hockey I played left inner, my occasional netball games saw me as centre or wing attack and even my role in baseball as first base or catcher was more about directing traffic than defending against attack.<\/p>\n

My husband has traditionally been the reverse given he has significantly broader shoulders than me and is nearly twice my body weight.\u00a0 His long history in water polo was largely playing centre back and occasional goalkeeper.<\/p>\n

As a result, working simultaneously (note I didn\u2019t say together) in our galley kitchen is something of a dance, characterised by me flitting fitfully to find gaps between my husband and anywhere I need to be.<\/p>\n

Patient to a fault, my key defender is tested by what he calls my “darting” around somewhat dangerously as I slide between sink, stove and beloved life partner to get things done.<\/p>\n

The alternative perspective (mine) is that everywhere I need to be there is a large body obstructing my path. I step forward and so does he. I turn to put the vegetables in the pot as he turns to drop the pasta in the boiling water.<\/p>\n

We have learned to give way and move in harmony, but our tendencies remain.<\/p>\n

I still find defence an unnatural position. As it is with responding to comments on the perceived activities of the City and the councillor group.<\/p>\n

Although some accusations are baseless and facts often twisted to suit an agenda, I\u2019m rarely inclined to retort as I\u2019m conscious that it would simply sound defensive.<\/p>\n

I firmly believe everyone is entitled to their opinion and I don\u2019t much worry about armchair critics, sensationalised \u2018gotcha moments\u2019 or politicised commentary.<\/p>\n

More importantly, I credit the vast majority of people in our beautiful region with the good sense to sift wheat from chaff with the information they gather.<\/p>\n

However, there was a publicly promoted submission to our draft Transparency Policy that I felt deserved a response. The submission criticised the Policy, which was considered at Tuesday night\u2019s council meeting.<\/p>\n

The points were well articulated and I do want to acknowledge that the Policy represents solid, quality work from our governance team.<\/p>\n

And, further to the work by City officers, the current Council has driven a number of key policies and initiatives to improve transparency and fairness, including:<\/p>\n