Maribyrnong council has bowed to community pressure and will reinstate a not-for-profit clause in a Western Bulldogs lease on a Footscray childcare centre.
Following lobbying from the Bulldogs, in June Maribyrnong council adopted a notice of motion to remove the clause stipulating that the Bulldogs Childcare Centre could only be operated by a not-for-profit.
The Western Bulldogs pushed for the change after expressing dissatisfaction with the centre’s current not-for-profit operator, Early Childhood Management Services (ECMS).
The initial decision caused community backlash with many parents raising concerns.
As reported by Star Weekly, Maribyrnong mayor Pradeep Tiwari last week announced that the council would move to reinstate a not-for-profit clause on the centre which is located on council-owned land next to the club’s Whitten Oval headquarters
On Tuesday night, the council chambers were filled by those calling for the inital decision to be overturned.
Several questions were raised during question time by residents, while a petition of 2573 signatures calling for the decision to be overturned was tabled.
All councillors, with the exception of Cr Mohamed Semra who wasn’t in the room due to a conflict of interest, voted to terminate the current community engagement process and the proposed lease will not proceed in its current form.
A further report will be presented to the council later this year addressing the council’s options for the proposed lease, inclusive of the retention of the not-for-profit condition on sub-leasing and the removal of the first right of refusal in the new lease.
Cr Cum Lam said council had listened to the community and what it wanted.
She said she believed ending the current community engagement will help prevent ongoing confusion and distress.
“For this proposal we wanted everyone to have the opportunity to share their views before any decision has been made,” she said.
“Since the engagement has begun, many residents and parents and community members have expressed concern particularly about potential change.”
Cr Bernadette Thomas said the public outcry could have been avoided had the council accepted an alternative notice of motion in June.
That alternative motion didn’t remove the not-for-profit clause and removed of the right of refusal clause that was being proposed.
“If all councillors had anticipated the community response and voted for the motion that I moved… We wouldn’t be here again talking about the issue and the community would have avoided a month of stress and uncertainty and anguish,” she said.
“The council is in the business of care and not profit.”
Cr Tiwari, who had the deciding vote at the June council meeting, said not all the information was available at that meeting and it would not have been responsible for such a significant decision to be made without fully understanding the impacts and listening to the community.
“I think this outcome reflects the voices of the people we serve and believe it is the right decision.”
