By Laura Michell
Ten Whittlesea councillors have requested to attend tonight’s council meeting virtually, prompting council to move the meeting online.
The decision means Whittlesea residents will be unable to attend the meeting in-person.
In a statement posted to its website and social media pages on Monday, council said that the meeting would be held online.
“Members of the public are invited to join the meeting via livestream on our website,“ the statement read.
The meeting will proceed with the full agenda, including updates on community grants and the tender evaluation for the main works at the regional sports precinct in Mernda. We will also address pre-submitted public questions and petitions.“
In response to questions from Star Weekly on Tuesday morning, council said 10 councillors had requested to attend the meeting virtually, meaning it would be now be held online in accordance with governance rules.
The move to an online meeting follows council chief executive Craig Lloyd’s decision to bar mayor Aidan McLindon from the council chamber until March 24.
As reported by Star Weekly, Mr Lloyd wrote to Cr McLindon on February 24 to put in place a range of measures to “protect the safety of councillors, officers and the community”.
Among the measures outlined by Mr Lloyd was that Cr McLindon would be unable to attend council meetings, briefings, induction or training sessions, or committee meetings in-person, and would be restricted to contacting councillors and council staff by email.
In letters to Cr McLindon, seen by Star Weekly, Mr Lloyd said the measures were in response to alleged “aggressive“ and “intimidating“ behaviour by the mayor.
In response, Cr McLindon vowed to attend tonight’s council meeting with his lawyer to make a “significant public statement“.
Speaking to Star Weekly on Tuesday, Cr McLindon said the decision to move the meeting online “defies expectations from residents“.
He said he would still attend the council’s civic precinct tonight to host the “first outdoor public gallery“.
“This is meant to be an open, transparent and accountable council that seeks to have good governance at every meeting,“ he said.
“This isn’t what democracy is.“
Several community members have posted on social media about their intention to attend the meeting to support Cr McLindon, as has United Australia Party Senator Ralph Babet.
In a post to X (formerly Twitter), Mr Babet labelled the decision to bar Cr McLindon from the chamber as an “attack on democracy“.
“Join me tonight and show your support for the mayor of Whittlesea,“ the post read.
“We are in a battle for democracy against bureaucracy.“
To watch tonight’s council meeting, visit: youtu.be/oDZxLH626N8
