TWiSK #353
Jack Howard’s epic last blast gig @ Memo
Win Tix to Glamourous Sunday Soirée
The Grapes play amongst their art @ Brightspace
Council cost review targets arts funding
“A joke” – “An embarrassment” – “Extremely disappointing”
That’s how councillors described their own review
Jack Howard’s Epic Brass – “One Last Blast” @ Memo
Saturday 25 February, 7.30 pm
Jack Howard’s Epic Brass will be having One Last Blast before calling it a day.
Great horn arrangements for classic rock ‘anthems’ with guests including. Ash Davies, Steve Hadley and John Archer, Jason Kain, Nicky Del Rey, Travis Woods, Chris Vizard and Paul Williamson. $45/$29
Tix
Sunset Cinema @ St Kilda Botanical Gardens
Until 4 March, gates open 6.30 pm , film at sunset
Tuesday: The Menu
Wednesday: The Banshees Of Inisherin
Thursday: What’s Love Got To Do With It
Saturday: Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre
Tickets available only on line $15/$10
Best entry is via Blessington Street
Cigarette litter investigation @ EcoCentre
Wednesday 22 February, 10 am – 11.30 am
Join others to survey and study the volume of cigarette litter around the Port Phillip Eco Centre.
The data collected will be used to inform litter reduction strategies. Fun and free
More info
Meet at the EcoCentre, 38 Blessington St
Bring hat, sunscreen, water bottle
Samantha Fish (USA) @ Memo
Thursday 23 February, 7 pm (Friday show sold out already)
Singer/songwriter/guitarist Samantha Fish is a bold blues guitarist from Kansas City.
She’ll blow the roof off the Memo Hall. $85/$75
Tix
The Grapes ~ Spiral Groove ~ Live Music/Art Event @ Brightspace
Thursday 23 February – Sunday 26 February
Opening: Thursday 23 February, 6.30 pm – 8.30 pm
Music and art combine with the installation of 60 prints designed and printed by The Grapes’ Ashley Naylor & Sherry Rich, in collaboration with Geoffrey Ricardo.
The Grapes will perform on Sunday from 3 pm. $25
Gig tix
8 Martin Street
Wed – Fri (11-5), Sat (12-4)
Dog Trumpet @ George Lane
Friday 24 February, 7 PM – 11.30 PM
Dog Trumpet is spearheaded by brothers Peter O’Doherty and Reg Mombassa, original members Mental As Anything. Fun times.
Tix
Second Hand News – A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac @ Prince Bandroom
Friday 24 February, 8 pm
A massive tribute to Fleetwood Mac with detailed instrumentation, loving harmonies and a great appreciation for the band’s catalogue. $30
Tix
Met Opera 2022-23: Fedora @ Astor
Saturday afternoon at the Met on the big screen with Sonya Yoncheva, Piotr Beczala, Rosa Feola, Lucas Meachem. 145 min
Tix
Peter Farnan – Album Launch @ George Lane Matinee Sessions
Saturday 25 February, 3 pm – 6 pm
Peter spent dark, sweaty evenings at the Crystal Ballroom with his post-punk band Serious Young Insects. As the 80s unfolded he moved into the pop mainstream with Boom Crash Opera before establishing a career as a theatre composer and sound designer.
Tix
Mardi Gras Parade Viewing Party @ Pride
Saturday 25 February, 5:00 PM – 10:00
A Victorian Pride Centre & JOY Media Fundraising event.
Enjoy a live streaming on a giant screen at the Victorian Pride Centre, with Bobby Macumber and the Size Queens providing pre-Parade entertainment, and JOY presenters narrating the broadcast. $10
Tickets 
Lucie Thorne + Matt Walker & Ben Franz @ George Lane
Saturday 25 February, 7.30 PM – 11.30 PM
Idea venue for Lucie Thorne.
Tix
Native Plant Potting Workshop @ EcoCentre
Sunday 26 February, 10.30a m – 12.30 pm
Learn about plants and their interactions with wildfire. Kacey, the EcoCentre’s Multicultural Bay Ambassador and a future ecologist, will barbecue plants to demonstrate how the seed pods release seeds with heat.
You can also create your own plant pots with native species and bring them home. Free
Book
38 Blessington Street
Wheelchair access, outdated bathroom
Jenny Hocking: Royal secrecy censoring history @ Liardet Community Centre
Sunday 26 February, 2 pm
A free event for history and politics buffs/tragics.
Melbourne Friends of the National Film and Sound Archive present Dr Jenny Hocking talking on royal secrecy and the royal family’s control of it’s archives. Free
Try Booking
154 Liardet Street, Port Melbourne
Military Tour @ St Kilda Cemetery
Sunday 26 February, 2 pm
Led by Claire Barton, this tour looks at the soldiers and nurses who found their final rest in St Kilda. Great stories of duty, daring deeds and ultimate sacrifice including James Bennett, pioneer aviation mechanic on many great early flights across the globe. $15 includes afternoon tea
Bookings required 0451 831 102 or email info@foskc.org
Meet at the Dandenong Road Gates at 1.45pm
Delightful and moving song cycles @ All Saints’ East St Kilda
Sunday 26 February, 3 pm
Hear tenor Christopher Watson (pictured in his day job attire at Trinity College) accompanied on the piano by John O’Donnell, performing Beethoven, An die ferne Geliebte, and Schumann, Dichterliebe. $25 / $20 / students free
Tickets at the door (no EFTPOS) or Trybooking
See full 2023 program
Cnr Dandenong Road and Chapel Street
GlamourPussy’s Sizzling Sunday Soirée @ Alex Theatre Fitzroy Street
Sunday 26 February, 3 pm
GlamourPussy & her most excellent Hip Replacements are back for another miraculous monthly. Cabaret style seating, Sunday arvo laughs, Great location. $39/$35
Bookings
1/135 Fitzroy St
Wheelchair access, accessible toilet
Email to win a double pass
Readers can join the draw for a free double pass to this show.
Email with header “Sunday tix please”
Entries close Tuesday 21 February, winner contacted Wednesday 22 February
King Kong @ Astor
Sunday 26 February, 4 pm (single feature)
Fay Wray in the 1933 classic on the King Kong size screen.
Tix
Corner Chapel Street & Dandenong Road
Wheelchair access to lower-level seating, accessible toilet
Next week
Open Week @ Melbourne Actors Guild
Monday 27 February – Sunday 5 March
Melbourne Actors Guild in Acland Street are opening their doors to the public to explore the studio and give their timetabled sessions a try for free!
Meet the guild community by creating your own timetable online, including acting, voice, fitness and dance classes, masterclasses, movie night and more!
Bookings essential
www.melbourneactorsguild.com
137a Acland Street
Dates for your diary
Not Finished With You Yet @ Alex Theatre on Fitzroy Street
Friday 10 March to Sunday 2 April
Part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival
A new musical with a powerhouse cast including real-life partners Christie Whelan Browne and Rohan Browne.
Tickets from $66 (previews) $71 TWiSK has two double passes to give away
Email now with subject line “Not Finished With You Yet” to go in the draw to win a double pass
Entries close Monday 27 February
The winners will be drawn and contacted on Tuesday 28 February
St Kilda Blues Festival @ St Kilda venues
Friday 3 March – Sunday 5 March
Now in its 4th year, this festival brings free music to an amazing list of local venues and spaces.
Don’t miss the New Orleans style street parade.
See their website for latest
Mussel and Jazz Festival @ South Melbourne Market
Saturday 11 March and Sunday 12 March
Low key free food and music festival at the South Melbourne Market.
Worth the pilgrimage from St Kilda
Details
Australian Grand Prix F1 @ Albert Park
Thursday 30 March – Sunday 2 April
Details
Love it or hate it, you can’t escape it.
Cultural Fund the only proposed cut after a 7-month search for savings
An $87,000 cut to the Cultural Development grants was the only cut sent to community consultation after an ‘extensive and exhaustive’ process costing many hundreds of hours and $70,000 in agency staff.
During last week’s Council meeting, the cost review process was variously described as a joke, an embarrassment and extremely disappointing by councillors from all sides of the political spectrum.
But the review was not without supporters
Labor aligned councillors, while not supporting the proposed cuts, said the thorough process had ‘put to bed’ arguments that Council was wasting money. Cr Peter Martin said the process was enlightening and gave him confidence that Council was operating in a competent way.
Greens Cr Baxter said the process was embarrassing because it presumed it would be possible to find enough savings to enable a rate freeze. “As it turned out, no group of councillors, even those elected to make tough decisions, found any significant cuts. In the end, the arts cuts are to safe face,” he said.
RoPP frustrated
Cr Clark described the process as both exhaustive and exhausting. “I an extremely disappointed that we saved so little from a $245,000,000 annual budget. We were unable to find meaningful savings to protect people from ever increasing rates,” she said.
Cr Bond said the process showed how hard it was to get five councillors to agree citing his support for the St Kilda Festival – a position not shared by his allies on Council. Former Mayor, Cr Pearl spoke passionately about the Council’s fiscal responsibility ‘especially in comparison of other levels of government.’ He said the process showed that Council was both rigorous and responsible.
Late reprieve for Open House Melbourne
Originally on the chopping block, a $10,000 sponsorship for Open House Melbourne was saved after Mayor Cunsolo swung her support during the meeting to keeping the funding.
Background
What was the review and why was it done?
The cost review was commissioned by Councillors in June 2022 to identify ongoing cost reductions that would enable Council to adopt a rate increase below the State Governments rates cap and possibly no rates increase in 2023/24.
It involved a detailed investigation by councillors into 28 council service areas.
Beyond the hours committed by councillors and staff, the review also required $70,000 in agency staff.
The review identified only two cost reductions, namely $87,000 from the cultural development fund and $10,000 from sponsorship of Open House Melbourne.
In the end $70,000+ was spent to save $87,000 from a budget of around $245M.
Background
What is the Cultural Development Fund?
The fund supports local artists, groups or arts and related organisations to develop creative projects that engage the community.
In 2022 Council awarded $187,000 for 18 successful projects for less that $12,000 each. The proposed cuts would reduce this fund to $100,000, effectively halving it.
Here is a list of the 2022 grants
Analysis
The product of a divided council
The council election of 2020 – the pandemic poll – delivered the local government equivalent of a hung parliament.
While there is often agreement, on contentious issues the votes are usually 4-4 with Cr Cunsolo thrust into the deciding vote role in the 9 seat council..
Maybe this is a good thing, because it’s the contest of ideas in a democracy.
But maybe it’s a situation that biases to towards the status quo, giving a stronger hand to council bureaucrats protecting their patch.
Remember, the costs being reviewed totalled about $245,000.000.
The savings totalled exactly $87,000.
And agency staff were hired to help the process at a cost of $70,000.
And for the next trick …..
Council surplus boosted by parking and interest rates bonanza
Council have received a mid-year financial update that reported an enlarged surplus driven by higher parking revenue and higher investment income.
The predicted cash surplus 22/23 has been lifted from $1.55M to $5.57M.
The update also notes a higher rate of staff vacancies but also higher costs to come due to a new ‘industry leading’ EBA adding about $1M to annual costs.
TWiSK invited all councillors to submit
short comments on the Cost Review
We also invited RoPP (Residents of Port Phillip) as we had comments from PPP (Progressive Port Phillip) last week.
Here are the comments received by deadline, unedited.
More than disappointed: Cr Sirakoff
Lake Ward Cr Christina Sirakoff told TWiSK she was more than disappointed that the cost review hadn’t found more savings for ratepayers.
‘Year on year our rates are rising, and people are telling me they need relief from the ongoing increasing rates especially during these hard times with the pressures of the rising cost of living,’ she said.
‘After months of workshops, we could not get a majority of Councillors to agree on where savings could be found. It is ridiculous that the only cost savings that could be agreed to added up to less than $100,000. The affordability of rising rates is only going to get worse for the average person in this municipality. Retirees and pensioners on limited income will be worse off.”
‘I will continue to work positively with councillors and staff to identify more savings that can be passed on to ratepayers,’ she said.
RoPP appalled: Campbell Spence
ROPP is appalled that consultants were used to conduct the cost review and the identified cost savings were absurd. The cost review was disingenuous and this whole process is symptomatic of Council processes designed to keep the status quo – a bloated bureaucracy where consultants are routinely hired to do the jobs of the well-paid bureaucrats.
Last year Council only needed to find 1% efficiency or $2.5m to deliver a rate freeze instead council increased spending by $25 million. We are being stonewalled yet again in 2023.
We need strong councillors to stand up to this bureaucratic overreach.
Port Phillip spends considerably more than its neighbouring Councils – Stonnington, Bayside and Glenn Eira when it provides similar services.
We ask why Port Phillip Council employs more people and spends more on consultants than the other LGAs?
And for balance … a repeat of last week PPP comment
Cost Review Cuts Culture
Bill Garner, Progressive Port Phillip
Driven by a push for zero rate increases, Council has taken a red pen to its cultural community programs.
The Cultural Development Fund is set to lose 46% of its funding (down from $187,000 to $100,000).
The irony is that it cost Council $70,000 to save $77,000.
The review recommends, also, that Council looks to slashing funds for Middle Park Library, Melbourne Fringe funding, Re-imagine Grants Program, and Eco Centre Funding, as agreements expire.
Spokesperson for community group Progressive Port Phillip Dr Bill Garner said “The cuts proposed by the City of Port Phillip reveal a disturbing bias against the arts, community engagement, and cultural activities. These are commonly misrepresented by some councillors as the “pet projects” of more progressive councillors.”
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Greg Day
Happy to chat anytime 0418 345 829
Content suggestions and community questions are always welcome.
gday@archives.gdaystkilda.com.au
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