While they may be few and far between, it appears there’s one issue to unite well-known and outspoken local’s Carolyn Joseph and Darcey Browning.
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It’s the council’s Volunteer Policy currently on public exhibition that’s got the polar-opposites in lock-step and shaking their heads about the bureaucratic red-tape of local government.
“This policy will be the death of volunteers in the community,” Darcey said.
“It stops you from using your own screwdriver. There’s so much heavy handedness and hoops-to-jump that ordinary people in the shire, many who have been doing this for years, will not bother – it’ll kill local organisations.”
Carolyn Joseph agrees, and flagged council’s Section 355 Guidelines manual, a document outlining the procedural obligations and role of volunteer council committees, as onerous and burdensome.
“Many of the people who are involved in charities, community groups and the like are not going to have the time, and in some case the skill, to put into meeting the requirements council is asking,” Carolyn said.
“Already local volunteers are stretched for time and the obligations placed on them are large … this just creates another layer, another worry and will discourage anyone who just wants to help.”
The draft Volunteer Policy aims to provide a framework for the support and management of volunteers throughout council: “It will provide staff and volunteers with clear information about their roles and responsibilities when engaged in council’s volunteer programs.”
Some key features of the policy are: it aims to provide guidance and assistance to all managers and supervisors who are involved in administering and managing volunteer arrangements; it outlines the issues to consider in connection with volunteering and may also be useful for volunteers in understanding the parameters of their engagement by council.
It’s also noted that volunteer members of committees established under council’s Section 355 have additional separate specific guidelines and procedures for the operation of their committees.
While both Darcey and Carolyn agree that council may have good intentions, they are frustrated an era of local folk contributing to the community in simple, positive and immeasurable ways, may be gone forever.
“If documents like this come to pass, I wonder how long volunteers and the myriad of committees and committee members will last. They’ve been the backbone of the Bellingen Shire and they bring a rich and diverse wealth to the local area - we can’t afford to lose them.”
The Draft Volunteer Policy can be viewed at council’s website: www.bellingen.nsw.gov.au. Community members are invited to lodge submissions by 4pm Monday, November 17 by email to council@bellingen.nsw.gov.au, or alternatively written submissions relating to the policy should be addressed to The General Manager, Bellingen Shire Council, PO Box 117, Bellingen NSW 2454.
Section 355 Committee Guidelines was up for adoption at last week’s council meeting but is now subject to further consideration.