Unbelievable: Melbourne City Council wants a 150k focus group to allow more time for junkets

The City of Melbourne is proposing to establish a Focus group to do what they themselves should be doing.

Our Melbourne City Councillors are looking to appoint a select sub council of 43 people to advice it where the city should be heading.  Is this not what our staff are meant to do?  

Instead of spending time and money on Overseas Junkets, free booze and Mayoral Limousines (One for the Lord Mayor and one for the deputy Lord Mayor) the Council should listen to ratepayers and do their job which is to oversee the administration and develop policy.

The councillors make decisions based on the knowledge of their local communities. It’s a part of a councillor’s job to stay abreast of their constituents’ views. And, yes, that involves work. - Herald Sun Editorial

The City Council has become a joke. It should abandon its all in "Talent quest" side show "Future Melbourne Committee" structure and revert back to having expert committees and appoint professionals to participate in the committees and put an end to the talent quest side show that currently exists

The City Council is referred to as "Design a job city" and "Clown Hall" already spends 10's of millions of dollars in staffing and still they can not manage Melbourne

Traffic engineering has lost all sense of reality and are embarking on an expensive exercise of engineering congestion as opposed to managing City Traffic.  Spending 10 times the costs in creating "Copenhagen bicycle lanes that do not improve pubic safety,

The State Government should dismiss the Council and restructure it with the view of establishing a Greater Melbourne City Council, One  that incorporates the City of Port Philip, Stonnington, Yarra and Melbourne that is represented by 21 Councillors in a 3 x 7 ward system.

$280k spent on Overseas Travel report

The Herald Sun has reported that the Melbourne City Council has spent in-excess of $280,000 on overseas junkets.


Melbourne City Council Lord Mayor, Robert Doyle, "No more Junkets, has been on more junkets in his current term of office then previous years.

The council going so far as to restructure the payment of reimbursement to avoid listing overseas expenses on the Councillors expense register. Staff overseas and interstate travel no longer lists the department and inbound travel is now anonymous with allegation that  the Council has picked up the tab of others visiting the city in a reciprocal exchange for sponsorship of councillors trips, You scratch my6 back and I will scratch your" thus avoiding disclosure. In some cases the reciprocal trips are sponsored by subsidiary third party organisations that are closely associated or funded by the Council shifting the costs of travel from one account to another.  All councillor expenses are supposed to be reported in the Councillor expense registry but this no longer lists overseas travel which is only reported in the Council's travel register. Creative accounting at best.

Whats worst is the Council is using the tax expense deductions as a means of setting and determining a "per deim allowance".  Many Councillors trips costing rate payers in excess of  $2,000 to $7,000 a day with the Lord Mayor and councillors travelling business class at a premium rate no expenses spared.

If it looks like a junket, sounds like a junket

It is a Junket

Lord Mayor Robert Doyle is off to London to give a 45 minute "Keynote Speech" at the inaugural  Policing Global Cities Conference on July 9. Robert Doyle is one of a number of City Mayors invited to mingle with Mayor of London, Boris Johnson who opens the conference on the day before

International conferences are big business and there are a number of organisations popping-up offering a variety of events at exotic international locations for every sector.

Robert Doyle, who had previously campaigned on a "No junket" platform, has abandoned his promise yet again and has sought rate payer funding to attend the two day event costing over $15,000.  The costs are partly funded by the City of London event organisers who are making a contribution to Robert Doyle's airfare travel ($4,700) and providing free accommodation. The City of Melbourne picking up the remaining costs.

Last night the City Council approved the allocation of an additional $6,000 towards the cost of Robert Doyle's airfare plus $1,720 for an additional two days accommodation  and a further $1,800 expenses and incidentals.

The proposed overseas travel was approved by all Councillors including the Lord Mayor and the Deputy Lord Mayor except Councillor Jackie Watts who rightly questioned the value of the trip to the City.

No doubt those Councillors who approved the junket are expecting they too will be given an all expenses overseas paid holiday to "represent the City" Greens Councillor Cathy Oak regularly travels to an ICLEI Conferences twice a year and managed to talk the City Council to fund the costs associated with ICLEI 3rd party executive costs. (Will Greens Cr Rohan Leppert apply to attend a Global Occupy protest event in New York or London in the not too distant future)

In accordance with the City of Melbourne "Staff and Councillors travel policy" the Lord Mayor CEO and Directors may travel Business Class

A quick look at the going price for an airfare from Melbourne to London  on July 5 shows the list price of travel to cost up to  $12,000 with China Southern Airways and Singapore Airways being the cheapest at $7462 and $8879 respectively.  The cost of economy travel is less than $2000.  Looks like the Melbourne City Council approved Travel agent is making a hefty profit on the deal.

The costs even cheaper had the City of Melbourne booked the flight earlier.  Robert Doyle has known about the planed trip as far back as February this year and had only just decided to seek Council approval at the least minute

The City of Melbourne "you scratch my back"  travel opportunities, with an international travel bill exceeding 1 milllion dollars a year, is the envy of all Victorian Local Governments

The City ratepayers also pick up the tab for inbound travel of those invitees invited to visit Melbourne. Reverse hospitality. Strangely, but not unexpected, the City of Melbourne keeps the names of inbound travel recipients a secret in its published travel register for fear of someone joing the dots.

The Greater City of London covers a much larger population and area of administration. It also has its own police force (affectionately referred to as Bobbies). Melbourne on the pother hand is much smaller a few square Kms,the size of a British borough, concentrated on the City Centre. Melbourne City Council has no policing powers other then small fleet of by-laws officers and fleet of security guards. Policing in Melbourne is the responsibility of the State Government not the City of Melbourne

Junkets Away: Most Travelled 2008-2012

The Melbourne City Council - High Cost Travellers
(Above $10,000)
Dec-2008 to December 2012

Total amount spent:

$      1,200,714.00

Interstate and Overseas Travel

Name	Cost
Kathy Alexander	$83,671.25
Jane Sharwood	S66,423.46
Robert Doyle	$55,254.80
Peter Clarke	$50,736.55
Alister Paterson	$39,768.80
Susan Riley	$27,084.08
Brian Shanahan	$25,010.37
Scott Chapman	$24,836.87
Amelia Bitsis	$23,271.23
Kevin Louey	$22,715.35
David Campbell	$21,683.73
Geoff Robinson	$21,167.06
Martin Cutter	$20,903.21
Fran Kerlin	$20,872.83
Barry McGuren	$19,730.73
Simon Spain	$18,031.48
Rob Adams	$16,229.47
Cathy Oke	$15,917.67
Janey Chu	$15,540.04
Geoff Lawler	$14,641.91
Krista Milne	$12,891.08
Ken Ong	$12,829.19
Rob Moore	$12,820.80
Ralf Pfleiderer	$12,113.28
Janina Harding	$11,685.78
Alex Fearnside	$10,963.06
Ian Winter	$10,800.52
Shane McIllory	$10,300.73
Michelle Isles	$10,153.39

Individual Trips costing over $10,000

Name	Cost	From	To
Kathy Alexander	$32,199.83	07-Jun-12	19-Jun-12
Scott Chapman	$24,181.87	20-Mar-09	04-Apr-09
Peter Clarke	$20,566.58	10-Oct-09	17-Oct-09
Peter Clarke	$18,159.67	28-Sep-10	07-Oct-10
Fran Kerlin	$17,994.00	19-Jul-12	03-Aug-12
Robert Doyle	$17,264.62	12-Dec-09	22-Dec-09
Amelia Bitsis	$16,076.79	12-Dec-09	22-Dec-09
Janey Chu	$15,540.04	13-Oct-10	23-Oct-10
Alister Paterson	$14,167.41	12-Dec-09	22-Dec-09
Barry McGuren	$14,127.15	23-Jul-12	29-Jul-12
Geoff Robinson	$13,097.13	15-Mar-10	25-Mar-10
Brian Shanahan	$12,676.53	12-Dec-10	18-Dec-10
Rob Moore	$12,496.50	04-Apr-11	10-Apr-11
Jane Sharwood	$12,254.89	11-Dec-10	18-Dec-10
Peter Clarke	$11,431.66	05-Apr-11	09-Apr-11
Kevin Louey	$11,313.63	17-Oct-10	27-Oct-10
Kathy Alexander	$11,225.83	17-Oct-10	26-Oct-10
Susan Riley	$11,157.38	17-Oct-10	26-Oct-10
Martin Cutter	$11,134.51	13-Aug-11	20-Aug-11
Robert Doyle	$10,782.34	08-Oct-11	14-Oct-11
Jane Sharwood	$10,642.64	17-Oct-10	23-Oct-10
Jane Sharwood	$10,519.00	19-Feb-12	27-Feb-12
Geoff Lawler	$10,425.00	14-Nov-09	22-Nov-09
Alex Fearnside	$10,092.49	12-Jun-09	26-Jun-09
Ralf Pfleiderer	$10,000.00	07-May-12	29-May-12

 * Note: The City of Melbourne titles or departments as such we can not produce a High Cost Travelled Departments.  The Council goes out of its way to avoid disclosure and accountability 

State MP's breach a warning to City Coucnillors

An Ombudsman investigation into rorts, misuse and abuse of MP travel allowances has found that Frankston MP Geoff Shaw used his parliamentary vehicle and fuel card for commercial use and allowed others to use the car for interstate business trips for his hardware store.

 The Ombudsman's findings should send a shiver through the spines of Melbourne City Councillors, Carl Jetter take not.

City Councillors have long been the focus of criticism for misuse and abuse of Councillor allowances.

Unfortunately City Councillors do not come under the same level of public scrutiny.

Lord Mayor Robert Doyle has done nothing to reign in the misuse and abuse. Free booze, unfetted allowance claims and growing costs to ratepayers continue unabated.

Costing Councillors

Source. Sydney Morning Herald

HOW much do the elected members of local councils spend on themselves out of ratepayers' money? In today's electronic world most now have a mobile phone and a computer or iPad at public expense to help them do their job, but what about other benefits such as mayoral cars, taxis, hospitality and trips to conferences?

This information is tucked away in councils' statutory annual reports which must show the cost of facilities provided to councillors and their expenses.

An analysis of these figures - which do not include mayoral and councillor allowances that typically cost a council another $200,000 to $400,000 a year - shows Camden has Sydney's most frugal councillors, spending just $6592.59 on facilities and expenses in 2010-11.

The biggest spender on councillors is Hurstville, which outlaid $390,604.50 on facilities and expenses last year - down from $446,308 in 2008-09. This included $93,144 on office equipment for the dedicated personal use of councillors, $46,511 on conferences and seminars and $48,259 on dinners before council meetings and other catering. The largest council - the City of Sydney - spent less than $4000 on office equipment.

The next biggest spenders were Fairfield ($234,053), Campbelltown ($222,139) and Holroyd ($212,829, after taking out the cost of citizenship ceremonies). Liverpool stands out among the bigger outer-suburban councils with a modest expenditure of $50,826.

Despite a statutory requirement to provide these figures they are not evident in the recent annual report of Botany Bay Council.

Hurstville Greens councillor Anne Wagstaff put forward a motion some time ago that the ''council is neither to make available, nor serve, any alcohol to councillors or staff prior to the conclusion of all council meetings on any given day''. She was the only one to vote for it.

''We need to support the provision of a phone, a computer or an iPad, and reasonable allowances for a carer, transport and sustenance to encourage and ensure people from all backgrounds, in particular women, consider being a councillor,'' Cr Wagstaff said.

''In setting what are 'reasonable' allowances, councils should be guided by the Australian Tax Office or other similar government standards.

''However, the provision of such items should not be abused, such as claiming the full sustenance allowance when at conferences where plenty of food and refreshments are provided.

''Hurstville's weekend workshops at distant resorts at Terrigal and the Hunter Valley and alcohol with dinner before council meetings are not necessary or appropriate.'' Hurstville council provides a sustenance allowance of $154.80 a day at conferences, even when meals are part of the package. Marrickville councillors follow Tax Office guidelines and are not paid if a meal is provided nor reimbursed for alcohol.

Councillors cut expense costs but not expenditure

Melbourne newly elected City Council has acted quick to cut expense costs associated with Councillor expenses according to the Councillor Expense Statements published last week.

In a very cynical move the City Council has decided the best way to cut expenses is to not publish them.

Missing from the new published Councillor expense statements are costs associated with Interstate and Overseas Travel, Conferences and other junket revenue expenditure removed from the statements.

Councillor Carl "Jet set" Jetter is still charging the City Council in excess of $2,000 a quarter for local travel with over $1,000 in communication costs. Kevin Louey has over $1,400 (4.5 times the cost of the Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor) in phone bills. Whilst Brian Shanahan has rung up close to $1,000 on Conferences and Training.

The Cost of the Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Limo expenses have been listed at $3,691 and $3,968 respectively. This does not include the full costs of the purchase, maintenance and chauffer which remain undisclosed. The City Council policy of non disclosure and deceit continues unabated.

Staff have not curbed their last for the Leather on Aeroplanes. They have rung up over 3 Months increases of $58,000 with Scott Chapman close to $24,000 for a 13 day world site seeing trip to Los Angeles, Denver, Seattle, with a stopover in Auckland between the 20th of March to the 4th of April this year. This expense is on top of his six figure salary of course.

12 members of staff had their expenses picked op by an undisclosed source begging the question how much does the City Council fork out in kind.

Melbourne City Council Consolidated Councillor Expense Statements 2 December 2004 to 30 September 2008

Note: The above Consolidated expense statement graph does not include an estimated $710,739.72 (John So, Lord Mayor) and $162,049.42 Garry Singer , Deputy Lord Mayor) associated with the cost of proving Limousines for their personal use. The Councillor expense statements also do not include the costs of internal catering, free booze and support staff, which would add a further estimated 400,000-800,000 dollars to the rate payers tab.

Missing (estimated) Local Travel Costs from December 2004 to July 2008(based on last quarter)
$66,694.88 (John So, Lord Mayor) and
$43,540.56 (Garry Singer, Deputy Lord Mayor) for the private use of Council funded Limousines.

Plus

Estimated additional costs (not included above) for the Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor's Local Travel expenses over four years

Item	John So	Gary Singer
	Lord Mayor	Deputy Lord Mayor
Driver	$500,000.00
Registration	$4,000.00	$4,000.00
Insurance	$6,000.00	$6,000.00
Depreciation/lease	$50,000.00	$50,000.00
Total additional est. costs	$710,739.72	$162,049.42

The 1999 Auditors report called on the City Council to make a budget allocation for Councillor expenses and to report on the YTD so as to facilitate budget monitoring of Councillor Expenses

A budget was set for one year but subsequently reporting of budget YTD comparison has been dropped. Reasons unknown. Councillor expenses have an unlimited budget that comes from the general administration budget.

The City Council, on the motion of Carl "Junket and local travel reporter' Jetter refused to provide back dated Council expense statements for the Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor's Local Travel - the value published in the last quarter expense statements does not include the costs listed above. Carl Jetter claims his full costs for the use of City Link against the City Council (Even costs associated with private travel by the looks of it. Gary Singer has 100% of his vehicle costs paid for by the City Council including free petrol, insurance,registration, service and depreciation costs. There are questions as to his entitlement to receive this benefit as the the limousine which is also used for personal travel.

The extent that the Council administration will go to to avoid detailed disclosure of Council expenses (You scratch my back and they will scratch yours) never ceases to amaze. This culture of cover-up demonstrates how corrupt and unreliable the Council expense statements are. It is an embarrassment to the Council Auditors who have to endured such unprofessional conduct.

Below a revised comparative graph which includes estimated costs associated with the Lord Mayors and Deputy Lord Mayor (Excluding costs associated with the Lord Mayor's chauffeur [$500,000.00] and Cr Sneddon's child care [$31,898.66])

For a detailed break down and copy of the data table - click here (pdf)

Adding Up the Expenses Council continues to avoid publication of full costs

The Age today has reported on the Melbourne City Councils published expense statements for the previous financial quarter.

It needs to be noted that the published expenses do not represent a true and correct account of Council expenses still missing are expenses related to the Lord Mayor and deputy Lord Mayor's limousines, the cost of internal catering and inbound and outbound missions.

The City Council, in a policy that has the Council auditors cringing with amazement that only Auditors of Enron can agree, the City Council only published costs that have been "acquitted", i.e. it is not a disclosed cost until all the documents have been received and acquitted.

In all fairness the auditors did not sign off on this policy statement advocated by Linda Weatherson, former Governance Officer. The fact remains it is a cost to the council, acquitted or not once a debit has been made. The question remains why are these costs not being reports and to what extent. We hope to tabulate the latest costs and present a cost to date for the current council including a summary report of the Council's Travel Register which always shows up some inconsistencies in the Council's published expense statements, what ever the excuse the Council administration try to offer.

Notation: the City of Melbourne has removed the publication of the January 2005 to June 2006 Travel Register data. Why we can only guess that the Council administration will go to any length to avoid disclosure and accountability. The ravel register is a public document and should remain published and accessible on the Council's web site for the duration of at least two-terms of the City Council. With the accessibility of then Internet there is no need for this information to be removed from public view or right of open scrutiny. We have requested that the City of Melbourne republish the missing data.

Note: Missing from the above consolidated expenses is the local travel costs associated with the Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor estimated at around $250,000 per year. The lord Mayor and deputy Lord Mayor have the unlimited use of a Council Car, free petrol, free maintenance and free car-parking. Full costs hidden from public view. In addition costs related to internal catering, free booze are also not shown, although the City Council maintains an account of these expenses they will not readily disclose the full costs. WHY?

More detailed statistics available here http://melbcity.topcities.com/mcc01.htm

Council adds up cost of travel
Clay Lucas, The Age July 28, 2007

EXPENSE figures released yesterday by the cash-strapped Melbourne City Council, which in May sacked 26 staff to cut costs, show it spent $280,000 on interstate and international travel in the last financial year.

The council is expected to sack more staff next month as part of further cost-cutting.

Yesterday's figures also showed the council paid $10,379 in the last financial year on petrol and eTag charges for the low-profile councillor Carl Jetter to drive from his home in Ashwood to the Town Hall, even though he works full-time in his private business from an office next door.

Cr Jetter, the council's marketing chairman and part of Lord Mayor John So's Living Melbourne team, is sales director for Australia-China Connections, the journal of the Australian China Business Council.

He works daily selling ads in the magazine from his Collins Street office next door to Town Hall.

Cr Jetter, who in 2005 visited Tianjin, China, on a council-funded trip, also parks his car in a council-provided car park in Little Collins Street.

Yesterday he defended spending public money to get to his private workplace, saying he was legally entitled to claim local travel expenses when visiting the Town Hall for council-related work.

"I am just spending what I am entitled to," he said.

Councillor travel expenses released yesterday also included $12,000 for Cr So to represent Melbourne on trips to Milan, Thessaloniki and New York.

In total, the nine Melbourne City councillors spent $49,348 on interstate and international travel in the last financial year.

State Government MUST act to restore good governance and accountability in the City Council

Herald-Sun Newspaper Article on John So's Expenses - Public Comment

The directly elected model has failed to deliver accountability or good corporate governance.

Only last week former Lord Mayor, City Councillor and chairman of the the Council's Finances Committee, Kevin Chamberlain, called on the sate government to sack the City Council following revelations of a blow out in the cost of governance.

Under the provisions of the Local Government Act every municipality is subject to a representation review every second term of office. (That is except the City of Melbourne)

Dick Wynne, Minister for Local Government and former Lord Mayor of Melbourne, MUST subject the City Council to an open and public review in line with the municipal reviews undertaken by every other City Council.

Any review of the City Council must include a review of the representative model including the directly elected Lord Mayor and should also consider changes to Melbourne's external boundaries.

Melbourne City Council is due for such a review its last review (Which was not made public) was over two terms ago. Why is it The City Council exempt from this process?

Fringe Benefits stripped Melbourne City Council rejects out of pocket expense payments for the hiring of prostitutes

Melbourne City Council CEO, David Pitchford, bowing to pressure form ratepayers outraged at recent revelations that the City Council was paying out-of-pocket-expenses for the hire of prostitutes occurred during fact finding missions.

The city Council will now seek to hand over the job to the State Government following revelations that the Council had funded staff paying for prostitutes services.

The report in the Age newspaper (Copy below) states "There are fears in the council that dropping the practice could lead to a proliferation of illegal brothels in the city centre".

Swanston Street, Melbourne's premier boulevard, home to the City Council itself has long been the location and establishment of Adult entertainment venues which the Council has failed to close down.

It is understood that the City Council staff are frequent visitors to various adult entertainment venues around town. One popular venue was the tavern at the corner of Russel Street and Little Collins Street (just up the road from Council House 1 and 2) where many Councillor Staff could be found during and after work hours.

The announcement by David Pitchford will now mean that Council Staff, and hopefully Councillors, will not be able to claim sex services as an out-of-pocket-expense and expect the ratepayers to pick up the tab. (It is unclear if the costs of additional services was included in a former City Councillor's hotel expenses on his visit in 2003 to Melbourne's sister City St. Petersburg. The cost of accommodation was $800.00 a night)

Ratepayers should not be expected to fund such extra-curricular activities.

The money already paid out should be refunded and the person in the Council administration that approved the payment of expenses related to the hiring of sex workers should be stripped of their authority and summarily dismissed.








Council drops brothel sex spies
Clay Lucas
February 6, 2007

MELBOURNE City Council will no longer pay for sex.

The council is set to dump its policy, revealed last month, of sending private investigators into illegal brothels to have sex with prostitutes.

At least six Melbourne councils last month confirmed they had paid private investigators to visit illegal brothels as a method of obtaining evidence.

The private investigators — who were claiming the sex as expenses, on top of their hourly billing fee — would swear affidavits for councils that they had received sexual services from a prostitute at the property.

The affidavit would then be used in court action by the council as proof the premises was breaching planning laws.

Last night, chief executive David Pitchford issued a short statement saying Melbourne City Council would stop the practice.

Council officers would "review existing practices in relation to the use of private investigators in actions against illegal brothels", he said.

It is believed Lord Mayor John So, overseas until next week and not available for comment, is behind the policy change.

Cr Peter Clarke, who discussed the issue with the Lord Mayor last month, confirmed Cr So had opposed employing investigators to gather evidence.

"John has agreed to ask the State Government to change the Prostitution Control Act so that Consumer Affairs Victoria are doing this enforcement, not us," Cr Clarke said.

There are fears in the council that dropping the practice could lead to a proliferation of illegal brothels in the city centre.

Legal advice to the council said using private investigators to gather evidence against illegal brothels was a "watertight" way to win court cases. In cases against illegal brothels where private investigators were employed to gather evidence that sexual services were being provided, the council consistently won. The council usually had costs awarded, meaning the illegal operator pays all expenses and ratepayers are not out of pocket.

The Australian Adult Entertainment Association, which works for the legal sex industry, has long claimed there is a proliferation of illegal brothels operating in Victoria.

Training Snedden Billy's daughter gets Council to fund party politics

The Age today has reported that Liberal Party Councillor Fiona Sneden coaching lessons. State MP Louise Asher's former chief of Staff, Brett Barton, was paid $5,600 to advise Cr Sneden. Councillor Sneden's expenses were made known following publication of the the City of Melbourne's Councillor expense.

Missing from the councillor expense statements are costs related to Councillor's allowances and additional expenses that the council has not disclosed. Creative accounting and hidden costs are an art form when it comes to the corrupt Council administration.

It appears that the Council administration, having been caught out, has gone back and modified past expense statements to include expenses that were not previously reported. Under Council guidelines all expenses should be finalised "acquitted" within one month of the expenses occurring. review of the published statements indicate that the summary results published by the City Council are false and incorrect. (It looks as though the Council Goverance/Finance department can not add up correctly).

Questions are still outstanding with the Council administration filing to respond to previous correspondence highlighting a number of issues identified in relation to the accuracy of Council's expense and travel statements.

Last year the City Council was subject to an Ombudsman investigation that showed up similar problems in relational to the City Councils accounting and administration. A number of Council staff reigned and or were allocated alternative employment following the Ombudsman inquiry. Former City Council's Legal Officer Alison Lyon resigned and Linda Weatherson as been removed from her role as Council governance director. Ms Weatherson was implicated in the "Acquittal" scandal related to a previous cover-up of undisclosed Councillor expense in 2003.

Despite promises made by the City Councillors, Melbourne's City Council's "Car Fee City policy", costs related to John So and Gary Singers Council funded Limousines still do not appear in the Councillor expense statements.

It is estimated that the associated missing costs adds around $2,500,00 per year to the costs of servicing our City fathers and daughters. Including in this estimate is the costs of Internal catering and the Council's free open booze bar, the later which the Age reported as possibly contributing to Cr Sneden's $1,000 in fines and a loss of her driving licence for 4 years.

Responsible Governance - No Way.

The above graph shows consolidated reported Councillor's expenses for the mid term of the current Council Dec 2004 to Dec 2006 (Including the adjustments made to the 'dodgy' July to October 2006 statements)

City council paid Liberal staffer $5600 to mentor Cr Sneden
February 2, 2007
Source: The Age

MELBOURNE City Council has paid $5600 for Liberal Party blue-blood Fiona Sneden to receive mentoring from a Liberal Party strategist.

The payments, of around $220 a week over the past six months, were paid to Brett Barton, former chief of staff to Liberal MP Louise Asher.

Cr Sneden last night defended the use of ratepayers' money to pay for professional mentoring, saying it was about getting better results for the council, not personal improvement.

"Professional mentoring is all about me being better prepared to deal with issues that face my constituents," Cr Sneden said.

Cr Sneden said Mr Barton provided her with "leadership coaching", not counselling.

"The coaching means understanding and how to deal with aspects of council. It means basically anything that I need mentoring for.

"I have a part-time secretary but I felt that there was not the support or the mentoring that was required," said Cr Sneden, who argued that councillors at the City of Melbourne were not adequately supported.

"It is considered part-time employment and Town Hall does not provide any expert advice."

Her adviser Mr Barton has worked for several high-profile Liberals, most recently Liberal major projects spokesman David Davis, in the lead-up to last year's state election.

Mr Barton could not be reached for comment last night. But Louise Asher said Mr Barton was an experienced adviser with "a good political nose".

A list of councillor expenses released by Melbourne City Council this week also revealed that, in 2006, Cr Sneden claimed $35,072 in expenses — $20,000 more than any of eight other Melbourne councillors over the same period.

Former lord mayor Kevin Chamberlin said it was a disgrace that the city council was paying for its elected representatives to be trained to be more effective councillors.

"This is a direct result of the election system put in place by the Bracks Government that was deliberately designed to get elected poor quality councillors," Mr Chamberlin said. "The constituents have well and truly been paying for it for a long time, and not just in money."

Cr Sneden, 50, is the daughter of former federal Liberal leader Sir Billy Sneden.

Last year she pleaded guilty in the Melbourne Magistrates Court to drink driving.

She was fined $1000 and lost her licence for four years.

Out of pocket expenses Melbourne City Council pays hookers claiming in the name of market research

Melbourne City Council paying prostitutes for services in the name of research.

the City of Melbourne has forked out an unknown amount of money for research into prostituting. What's next a world tour of the worlds "hot spots" to facility the marketing of Melbourne's adult entertainment services. Melbourne's Premier Street "Swanston Street", in spite the City Council's promises to clean up the City Center, continues to be one of the City's main locations for sex shows and adult entertainment.

Questions have been asked by senior law enforcement officials as to the merits and legality of the City Council's actions. (What advise did Alison Lyons, disgraced former City of Melbourne's Legal advisor now working for the MAV, provide Dick Gross)

Many question are remain unanswered as to the occupational and safety aspects of the contract and quality research undertaken. Was there any bias in the quality research and sampling?

When Melbourne's Chief executive, David Pitchford, said that these investigators which had paid for sexual services had acted "voluntarily". Did the City Council get satisfaction for the money spent and paid for by ratepayers. Was it a tender contract with discrimination based on the service providers marital or sexual preferences? What qualifications were required and what basis of justification was made for this disgraceful public conduct? What details of reporting has been made to the City Council and will the reports be made public and or subject to FOI? or is is a "R" rated report?

Does this mean that our City Councillors can now claim out of pocket expenses for money paid to sex workers?

Maybe this explains why the City Council paid $800 a night in accomodation/service costs in St Petersburg


Councils pay private detectives to have illicit sex
Clay Lucas January 25, 2007
Source: The Age

MELBOURNE councils are paying private detectives to have sex with prostitutes, to gather evidence against illegal brothels.

Melbourne City Council and Yarra Council yesterday confirmed they had paid private investigators to approach prostitutes, and in at least 17 cases, investigators had sex with them.

Other councils across the city confirmed they had also paid private investigators to visit illegal brothels, but stopped short of confirming sexual services had been provided.

Victoria Police questioned the method of obtaining evidence, saying it was a highly unusual way of proving a brothel was operating illegally. "It has never been Victoria Police's practice to use that method of operation," Inspector Craig Walsh said last night. "I have been around for 22-odd years and I have never heard of it."

Police effectively stopped policing brothels when Victoria Police's vice squad was closed in 1999. Since then, complaints about brothels to police have been referred to local governments. Police said yesterday that enforcing illegal brothels was a planning issue.

Yarra Council confirmed yesterday it had hired investigators from a specialist firm six times in the past two years to gather evidence to be used against illegal brothels. On four occasions, this had involved investigators receiving a sexual service, a council spokeswoman said, enabling council to successfully prosecute and close the premises down.

"Council has an obligation to respond to community concerns and pursue any (brothel) that does not comply with the local planning scheme," Yarra mayor Jenny Farrar said.

"Without concrete evidence, Yarra is powerless to shut down these illegal operations." Cr Farrar said the courts had deemed that to be successful in a prosecution, a sexual service had to be provided. "This leaves us with little choice but to get the evidence needed to close these places down," she said.

The council would not reveal how much private investigators had paid to illegal brothels.

Melbourne City Council also confirmed that private investigators working for the council had paid for "sexual acts" performed by illegal prostitutes.

Chief executive David Pitchford said that these investigators had acted "voluntarily".

"Council has no alternative but to provide direct evidence to achieve a successful prosecution," Mr Pitchford said.

"Clients of illegal brothels cannot be forced to incriminate themselves."

William Albon, spokesman for the Australian Adult Entertainment Association that represents legal brothels and escort agencies, has long claimed there are more than 400 illegal brothels operating in Victoria. He said local councils were doing "excellent work" pursuing illegal brothels. "But it is regrettable that councils have had this enforcement task dumped on them," he said. Mr Albon said that, under the Prostitution Control Act, Consumer Affairs Victoria should be enforcing illegal prostitution.

"But they are hopelessly derelict in their duty," Mr Albon said. "The public records shows that not once in 13 years (has) CAV … brought a prosecution of an illegal brothel before a court or tribunal."

The Municipal Association of Victoria called for more collaboration across various tiers of government so that councils did not have to resort to such desperate measures to shut down illegal brothels.

President Dick Gross said it should be easier for councils to close illegal brothels. "It needs to be defined how private investigators can (get evidence) in an illegal environment," he said.

He called for the Prostitution Control Act to be changed, along with the Planning and Environment Act, so that illegal brothels were easier to shut down.

"The real issues are residential amenity and immigration issues: women are far less protected in a deregulated environment," he said.

The State Government last year committed to reviewing the 1994 Prostitution Control Act. There is "a proliferation of illegal brothels in Melbourne" according to Monash councillor Geoff Lake, a former Municipal Association of Victoria president.

Big Spenders Consolidated City Councillors expenses

Melbourne City Councillors Quarterly Expense Statements have finally be published.

The consolidated graph below shows that the City Council is on track to exceed the previous City Council has the City's big spenders with Overseas Travel continuing to be the biggest expenditure item. Councillor Jetter's Local travel costs of $13,706.14 not far behind.


Missing from the councilors expenses is the costs associated with the Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor council funded limousines. Why these costs are not included we can only speculate that the City Council wants to keep the published costs down. What better way to reduce costs then to leave them out. We estimated the costs of the Lord Mayor and deputy Lord Mayors' ratepayer funded vehicles at around $150,000 per year.

Also missing is the cost of internal catering, free booze and free car-parking. No expenses spared for Our City leaders.

Previously the City of Melbourne was caught out in a review with 10's of thousands of costs that were not reported or included in the Councillor expense statements. When questioned as to the reason why this information was missing Linda Weatherson, Head of the Council's Governance Department, and the City Council Auditors claimed that the costs (although paid out by the City Council) had not been acquitted.

In our book a cost is a cost when the Council pays out but not according to the City auditors and Governance department. Creative accountants are alive and well in Clown Hall.

Jetset private local travel Cost of local travel ($140/week car allowance) makes Cr Jetter the highest spending Councillor in our Car free City

While we eagerly await the publication of the City Council's travel expenses. The Melbourne Weekly reports on Cr Carl Jetter and his top of the list local travel expenses. Cr Jetter we understand is overseas visiting China. It turns out he has an outsourced business association in China which raises the question how many of his council funded overseas trips to China are private as opposed to being Council related?

The weekly reports that Cr Jetter has been charging the City of Melbourne $140.00 per week travel expenses to drive into the city from his home in Ashburton. Cr Jetter's expenses are twice that of any other Councillor. (Excluding John So and Garry Singer who have use of a Council funded and supplied limousine, the costs of which are not included in the Councillor expense statements). Cr Carl Jetter was elected as a member of John So's China/Australian friendship association team. Our City Councillors have travelled to China more then any other country.

Council efficency in avoidance City Council delays publication of report

The time is 2:00PM on Friday October 27, 2006

The City of Melbourne is supposed to have publish the latest financial statements on Councillor expenses and Staff Overseas and Interstate travel by now but hasn't. And why you might ask? Could it have something to do with media deadlines.. or is that being too cynical...

As part of the City of Melbourne’s general policies on accountability and transparency the City of Melbourne will publish Councillor Expenses, The Travel Register and the Non-City of Melbourne Passengers register no later than 1pm on the last Friday of the month after the end of each quarter of the financial year.

According to David Pitchford, Melbourne's CEO, this information should be available no later then 1PM today... but no sign of it at present. Efficiency is not the Council's high point when it comes to publishing Council expense data. Information is withheld, reports denied and in some cases doctored and items go missing.



Update 4:00PM



The Council Governance Office, following a letter of complaint sent to the City Council, has just published an updated link...

but... The link refers to the March Quater data and not the September Quater as claimed.

Councillor expenses not yet available eve though they have had one month to finalise the information.

Update 5:00PM

The publication of Councillor expense statements are till outstanding. The City Council's Governance department is responsible for the publication of this infomation. Ms Linda Weatherston Manger of Council's Governance continues to bring the City Council into disrepute. City Councillors have expressed dissatisfaction at the ongoing problems associated with the governance department and the publication of Councillor expense statements. Councillor expenses are fast becoming an issue of concern related to the State Election with the State Government ultimately responsible for Local Government expenditure. The task of publishing this information is not difficult but the Council administration seem to have a problem every quater with the same issues... If the Council Gvernance department can not manage to get this issue right then it is time for the CEO to undertake a staff review to address the issue

Update: 6:30PM

After hours of delay and publication of outdated information the City of Melbourne has managed to publish the Travel register. The register which is akin to an electronic whiteboard still is missing a unique sequential record ID which leaves it subject and open to abuse with information readily removed or edited without any trace or record making virtually impossible, if not difficult, to audit. the good news is that the media are aware of the deceit having independently verified the above concerns.

Councillor expense statement has also just been published... over 5 hours late

Where is the report. What does Cock do for his bucks?

Where is the report. What does Cock do for his bucks.

An anonymous writer wrote to us this week highlighting a report in the Age dating back to May 2006.

We are interested in knowing was such a report ever present and if so will it be tabled and made public.

It's time to put an end to the secret Council business and restore open and transparent governance to Melbourne and put an end to the corruption and constant cover-ups.

We still have not received any news or information about the cost of Councils in house catering and free booze. Council is due to report on the costs of Council's overseas junkets and Councillor expenses for the previous quarter. We will be there to summarise the facts and highlight the omissions.

Keep sending in your tidbits. There is a lot we hope to follow up on but as you understand we need to verify all claims. Thanks to the Tipster from the Governance Department for the information on the parking fine issue... It was very interesting.



Comment sent to us.


Diary has been waiting by the phone since May 10 for Melbourne City Council spin doctor Hayden Cock to explain why he sacked two media chiefs but we're not the only ones wondering what he does to earn his $230,000-plus package. Watchdog warrior Councillor Catherine Ng asked the finance committee for a "detailed report" of the Corporate Affairs Directorate, which Mr Cocky heads, because his appointment had contributed to a blow-out in staff costs. "Do we need to have more people talking about what we've done or more people to do the job?" Cr Ng told Diary. Oh, Catherine, if only Mr Cocky would talk!

http://www.theage.com.au/news/carbone--money/tolarno-finds-a-new-guy/2006/05/28/1148754869425.html?page=2

Cash grab City Council milks the community for more cash to fund benefits

Melbourne city Council is looking at increasing its revenue base above and beyond inflation. Property values have increased above the cost of inflation and as such Melbourne City Council gains a windfall from the property boom. Melbourne City Council's rates are tied to property valuations (NAV) increased values means more cash.

John So and his term continue to demonstrate that they are not in control of the Council's finances with the administration being handed a blank check no questions asked.

Missing still is the breakdown of the details costs of Council administration. the true costs of international travel, internal catering, the Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayors limousines. The administration refusing to disclose or provide a breakdown of these costs.

It has been nearly six months since we requested this information and still no response from Linda Weatherspoon or the Lord Mayor.

The Herald-sun continues to expose the issues, reviews and analysis of the City Councils budget and expenditure - today's article is no exception as the gloss of John So's Commonwealth Games glory begins to fade.


Traders vent meter anger
Jen Kelly, city editor
26may06

CHILD care, meals on wheels and baby capsule hire are among hundreds of services to jump in cost from July 1 in a Melbourne City Council cash grab.

The new revenue-raising plans revealed in yesterday's budget are on top of new parking meters to be installed along Lygon St, Carlton.
Furious Lygon St traders vented their anger at a council budget meeting yesterday.

One distressed Carlton resident disrupted the meeting with a noisy outburst.

Traders stormed out after a move to delay installation of meters pending further community consultation was voted down by the council.

Fees and charges are expected to earn an extra $5.9 million next year. In the most extreme fee jump, meeting room hire at North Melbourne Town Hall will soar by a whopping 223 per cent from $170 to $550 a day.

Meals on wheels will jump 12.5 per cent to $4.50 a meal, occasional child care will rise 5.6 per cent to $9.50 an hour, and baby capsule hire will increase 5.6 per cent to $38.

Immunisations, pet registration, building red tape, food safety training, pool memberships and kerbside cafes will all cost more.

A controversial proposal to install parking meters at the Melbourne Zoo car park to help fund an upgrade of the parking area is on the backburner after it was voted down yesterday.

The council predicts an operating surplus for 2006-7 of $13.5 million -- but to achieve that will gouge $24.9 million out of its $112 million investment reserve.

Former lord mayor and former chairman of the finance committee Kevin Chamberlin last night said the budget contained huge cuts to services.

"It now appears the chickens are coming home to roost for John So," he said.

"The budget includes massive cuts, substantial fee increases and an unprecedented drawing from the council's cash reserves.

"The rates increase of 3.8 per cent is twice the average of previous years and indicates that rates will increase significantly over the next three years."

The $24.9 million drawn from the council's reserves will help pay to finish building Council House 2, or CH2, and other capital projects.

Lord Mayor John So said the 3.8 per cent rate rise was moderate, and services for ratepayers, residents, workers, students and visitors had been increased.

"We are spending more on community services, more on roads and infrastructure and more on parks and gardens," he said.

A bid by Cr Peter Clarke to reduce funding for the FINA World Swimming Championships at Rod Laver Arena next year from $1 million to about $250,000 failed.

Total budget revenue is expected to be $263.7 million, up from $243 million this financial year, including $138 million in rates.

The latest budget predictions show the council expects to reap a record $32.1 million in parking fees and $31.8 million in parking fines -- a $64 million total.

City Junkets without Budget Council publishes next years budget but failed to provide details of expenses

Melbourne City Council will today published ts 2006-2007 budget papers. Whilst we have not had time to review the published documents (They were not available on the Council's web site when we looked this morning)

The Herald Sun, who it seams has been given an advance copy, has reported that the City of Melbourne is seeking to install parking meters as a means revenue raising to help pay for the Junkets. Lurks and Perks of the City Council.

Unfortunately the City Council does not provide budget details for overseas trips, internal catering (free lunches and free booze) and the costs of the Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayors Limousines. Councillor expenses are all met form the consolidated revenue.

Previous Auditors reports which continue to be ignore4d have recommended that Council set a budget for Councillor expenses and that a regular normal budget comparison be made each month. The City Council administration continues to refuse to provide this information or act responsibly.

If we find time we will resubmit our requests for financial details of Councilors travel expenses and cost of internal catering etc. Hopefully they will respond... but do not hold your breath the City Administration and the elected Council do not want to be held accountable let alone inform the public of were their money is going... Sad but true.


Drivers to help fund council's trips
Jen Kelly
25may06

PARKING meters will be installed in Lygon St and more are proposed for Melbourne Zoo's car park in a hip-pocket blow to families and shoppers.







The bid to suck an extra $800,000 a year out of drivers is revealed in the Melbourne City Council budget papers, to be released today.
It comes as the council -- already under fire for its exotic junkets -- lifts the annual budget for overseas programs and trips by about $400,000.

Traders are furious at the new parking fees, saying they will scare shoppers out of Lygon St and make zoo visits impossible for families.

The council expects to reap a record $54.2 million in parking fines and fees next financial year, budget papers show.

The documents show:

RATES will rise by 3.8 per cent on average.

RATEPAYERS will pay up to $1 million for the FINA world swimming championships at Rod Laver Arena next year.

AN extra $300,000 is expected to be spent on removing graffiti.

STAFF costs have soared 42 per cent to $74 million in just four years.

Councillors have agreed on meters in Lygon St, but those proposed for the zoo's northern car park, next to Royal Park station, are still up for debate.

The zoo's meters are predicted to raise $400,000 a year, with the revenue to subsidise the high cost of fixing the car park, which is in disrepair.

Lygon St meters are expected to generate another $400,000 a year.

Carlton Traders Association president Connie Paglianite said parking meters in Lygon St would be a disaster.

"It's going to kill Carlton," she said.

"The coffee's not going to cost $3. It's going to cost $5 or $6."

Finance spokesman Cr Brian Shanahan it was surprising meters had not already been installed.

"You've got parking meters in Errol St (in North Melbourne). Why not in Lygon St?" he said.

Ms Paglianite, also a member of voluntary support group Friends of the Zoo, said parking meters at the zoo would make it hard on families.

"It's hard enough trying to find car parking, let alone paying for it on top of that," she said.

Cr Peter Clarke criticised parts of the budget and said funding to the swimming championships should be cut from $1 million to $700,000.

"We need to be funding local projects that are important to the ratepayers and residents," he said.

Cr Clarke said the additional $400,000 for overseas travel and international links, especially with Milan, Delhi and China, should be dumped.

"I think sometimes local government can get too excited about its capacity to generate international trade."

Cr Clarke said a lot more money should be spent on child care and other local priorities.

Parking fines in 2006-07 are expected to reap almost $28 million while parking fees are hoped to earn $26 million.

Total revenue is expected to be $245 million, with $127.7 million in rates.

The budget papers are expected to be approved at a council meeting today.

Chooks have raided the grain store again Melbourne City Council administration and Lord Mayor, John So, on credit spending frenzy

The Herald-Sun has published an expose by Jen Kelly on the front page of today's newspaper. The report summarises Council expenditure on various junkets and other expenses all paid for by Council funded credit cards.

Whilst we have not yet made a comparison of the information published with other council expense statements - Which are due out at the end of this month. What is clear is that the use of Council funded credit cards are widely open to abuse.

In the previous 12 months the City of Melbourne has spent over $130,000 on credit with the Lord Mayor, john So and senior officers using Council funded credit cards as a means of ready available personal cash. Whilst some of this money is refunded to the Council the Council still has to foots the bill for interest payments.

Still missing from the Councils expense account is the detail expenditure of the Lord Mayor and deputy Lord Mayor's Limousine costs. The costs of Internal Catering including free booze made available for senior staff and Councillors.

The City Council has yet to respond to our request for the publication of these expenses. Linda Weatherstone, City Council Governance Officers continues to go out of her way to avoid disclosure and open and transparent governance.

The City Council continue to mis-use and abuse its responsibility to readily provide public information on the expenses of the City Council. Previous information has shown the Council continue to doctor reports and alter information at will to avoid accountability. (Missing was over $10,000 of undisclosed expenses directly attributed to Council's overseas and interstate travel.)

Whilst the Melbourne CEO continues to claim that all expenses are subject to an audit by Ernst and Young the fact remains that the system and published expenses are difficult if not outright impossible to effectively audit./ many recommendations by the auditors and others go undressed. The Council's Travel register is effectively maintained on an electronic white board and is widely open to abuse.

Recommendations to include a secure sequential id number, cross checks and balances have been ignored by the City Council . The Council's audit committee meets in secret (contrary to the provisions of the Local Government Act and regulations). Lets not forget last months revelations where the Council was found to have misappropriate millions of dollars in illegal fines.

Clearly there is a need to more open and transparent reporting of detailed auditors
reports

The Council has an obligation to the community and Melbourne ratepayers to account for this information. The refusal of the City Council to readily provide information outside the freedom of information act is an abuse of process and one that the elected City Council has failed to address.

If we do not hear from the Council by the end of this month the City of Melbourne can expect a complaint to the State Ombudsman and Attorney Generals department.







Crazy credit spree
Jen Kelly, city editor
26apr06

EXTRAVAGANT credit-card spending by Melbourne City Council chiefs has left ratepayers with bills for tenpin bowling, fancy dress costumes and exotic junkets.

Lord Mayor John So, his executives and staff splurged $130,000 with credit cards in a year, including on movie tickets, bike hire and trips to Healesville Sanctuary.
Lavish five-star hotel accommodation in London, New York, San Francisco, Boston and China added tens of thousands of dollars.

A Herald Sun investigation of council credit cards found a bill for $1200 to Richmond's Exotic Car Rentals for two open-top BMWs in the F1 Grand Prix parade.

Ratepayers paid for fashion festival tickets for staff and an $85 Bicycle Victoria membership for a council officer.

Cr So and staff reimbursed ratepayers for items including groceries and gifts after wrongly using cards.

Statements obtained under Freedom of Information laws show ratepayers paid $802 for staff to go to Kingpin Bowling Lounge for a "team building event".

The Crown casino venue boasts a bar, DJ music, disco lighting, pool tables and waiter service.

Acting sustainable policy manager Andrew McCulloch paid $188 to hire a tandem bike and a three-seater bike to promote Ride to Work Day.

Another $180 was spent on Melbourne Football Club memorabilia for Chinese leaders after they were made honorary members.

Meeting rooms were hired at top hotels including the Westin and Stamford Plaza, despite free rooms at Melbourne Town Hall. Last year deputy Lord Mayor Gary Singer demanded one meeting room be converted into an office for him.

The total bill for the council's 58 credit cards was $132,056.64 for the 12 months to November 2005.

Anthony van der Craats, who runs a website that seeks to hold the council to account, said Town Hall spending on bureaucratic expenses was out of control.

"The time has come to provide good governance and to put an end to the misuse and abuse of council funds," he said.

Southbank Residents Group president Joe Bagnara said $130,000 was exorbitant.

"It seems they have no conscience when it comes to spending ratepayers' money on spurious things," he said.

"If I were the CEO I wouldn't allow people to go out tenpin bowling. If they want to do that, they can do it in their own time and pay for it."

CEO David Pitchford's eight interstate and overseas trips last year included a $13,700 stay in Britain, separate documents show.

He used his credit card to buy a $57 book from London's Freud Museum, formerly the home of Sigmund Freud.

A trip to China in September, including a three-night $1300 stay at the five-star Grand Hotel Beijing, a former palace overlooking the Forbidden City, cost another $12,400.

Ratepayers also spent $760 to send council staff to a lecture on English, especially punctuation and grammar, in 2004.

Staff paid $231 last year to hire a rooster costume from Madgear in Balwyn to promote Chinese New Year and the Year of the Rooster.

A manager paid almost $100 for Village movie tickets as excellence awards for staff. And $319 of Hoyts tickets were given as prizes to schoolchildren in a road safety competition.

Ratepayers spent almost $400,000 in 12 months, partly on credit cards, on trips.

In 2004, a staff member bought $290 in gifts for the Lord Mayor of St Louis in Mauritius at the Kirra Gallery.

Staff spent $352 on admission fees to Healesville Sanctuary for VIPs from overseas on two days in late 2004.

Executives passed on even small expenses.

Business Melbourne manager Peter Chaffey swiped his card for a $7 parking fee.

Sustainable policy manager Mark Woodland reimbursed the council after he wrongly used a credit card last year to pay for $51 of groceries at Apollo Bay IGA and $79 for personal items in Port Campbell.

Cr So reimbursed $9.43 three months after charging a refreshment to his credit card at the Hong Kong Hotel. Other councillors do not have credit cards.

Mr Pitchford said auditors Ernst and Young found the use of the cards was best-practice.

"Use of purchase cards at the City of Melbourne is subject to rigorous control," he said.

"All overseas travel by staff is approved by the chief executive . . . Travel is only to be undertaken where it delivers direct benefit to the city."