A little story about the Cove issue
My view
CURRENT SITUATION
Council advised Cove Football Club on 25 September 2019, that it would not be renewing the Cove Football Clubs tenancy at the Cove Sports and Community club.
At the time the council release stated:
• Inappropriate behaviour, disrespectful language and intimidating conduct by numerous CCFC members and associates has resulted in other sporting clubs not using the facility because they feel unwelcome or unsafe.
• Insulting sexist language directed at a female staff member and sexual harassment of female netball players.
• The CCFC has a sense of entitlement and ‘ownership’ of the facility, with other clubs experiencing territorial or unwelcome acts when they attempt to use it.
• The behaviour is widespread and part of a club culture that is condoned and, in some cases, practised by some senior members of the CCFC.
No mention is made in the council release “appears to be a strong drinking culture that exacerbates poor behaviour as well as sexist behaviour.” A similar comment was also made by Ms Harvey on 5 AA radio. These comments allude to intoxicated misbehaviour by persons at the Cove Sports and Community Club. If this is in fact the case what responsibility does the council, or its staff take as the liquor licence holder for the facility?
It is an offence to sell or supply liquor to intoxicated persons, both the licensee and the responsible person are responsible for this action a first offence carries a fine of $20,000.
It is concerning if in fact intoxicated persons were being sold or supplied liquor it continued to happen even though council and staff believed excessive drinking was leading to the unsubstantiated/untested allegations against senior players and members of the of the Cove Football Club. (If in fact the alleged behaviour has occurred this comment is offensive and possibly defamatory to the many senior players and senior members who have done nothing wrong but are now tainted. It is a comment with no evidence to substantiate any allegation.)
What if any action will the council take regarding the sale or supply of alcohol to people who in likelihood were intoxicated? Is the Liquor Licensing Commissioner or SAPOL going to be involved?
At the Special General Council Meetings of 11 June 2019 and 2 September 2019 council invoked Section 90(2) and (3)(f) of the Local Government Act 1999 citing the information relating to the Cove Sports and Community investigation was confidential as it related to information the disclosure of which could reasonably be expected to prejudice the maintenance of law, including by affecting (or potentially affecting) the prevention, detection or investigation of a criminal offence, or the right to a fair trial.
By invoking Section 90(2) and (3)(f) of the Local Government Act 1999 infers that an investigation is being undertaken by SAPOL or some other law enforcement body relating to the allegations. The last behavioural matter prior to 25 September reported to SAPOL was 2.5 years prior and in fact does not clarify which club was involved.
Of concern is at the General Council Meeting of 11 June 2019 is a Councillor participating in the confidential meeting and in fact moving a motion that the documents related to the meeting be kept confidential. Surely the Councillor should have declared a conflict of interest both within the council and with his employer SAPOL.
What of Council members social links to the committee of management at the Soccer club? Wonder if the council will address these links and conflict?
At General Council Meeting of 24 September 2019 council invoked Section 90(2) and (3)(a) of the Local Government Act 1999 citing the investigation related to confidential information relating to personal information. Section 90 (3) (a) states “information the disclosure of which would involve the unreasonable disclosure of information concerning the personal affairs of any person (living or dead)”
There is nothing stopping the Council redacting personal information and producing the alleged statements/complaints.
It may appear for the average person reading the minutes that the council is hedging its bets as to reasons to keep the information out of the public arena and not disclose if in fact there have been any substantiated allegations.
Any information which may refer to the council is not confidential as the council is a body corporate.
It certainly smells when the Council appear to hide behind different sections of legislation and when the occasion suits move the goal posts related to that legislation.
The Council also appears to have used a company who is not licenced to carry out the type investigation they did. They (the company) are not recorded on the Office for Consumer and Business Affairs licence data base as enquiry agents (Private Investigator). I understand this has been reported to the OCBA for the breach.
It certainly looks a debacle, and other things are in play. No doubt if a dodgy deal was done with the Soccer club it will come out, now the back flip has occurred.
The venue has a history of mismanagement by the Marion Council.
COUNCIL NOTICE OF INTENTION TO LEASE FACILLITIES TO CHURCH
In 2004/2005 the Cove Sports and Community Club was under the control of a Council appointed board of community representatives. Around this time the Council advised the affiliated clubs of an intention to lease the Cove Sports and Community Club to a Pentecostal church, effectively ceasing the affiliated clubs right to use the facility unless the church agreed to lease use at times not conflicting with the use by the church.
A subcommittee of the Cove Football Club was formed to prevent this happening. Club was involved in meetings with council staff where we were told footballs clubs usually only have a life span of 6 years. Given the football club had been operational since 1983, this type of comment was bemusing to say the least, but it appears to reflect what we see now again in 2019, a complete disregard for the local community and lack of understanding of community clubs and that it takes members from all walks of the community to make up a club.
Subsequently the council backed away from the church takeover of the Cove Sports and Community Club and it continued to run as before.
In late 2000’s the council run Cove Sports and Community Club was found to be around $220,000 in debt with $80,000 of this being a debt to the Australian Tax Office. At this time there was a strong likelihood of the Cove Sports and Community Club ceasing operations.
When the council sent out expressions of interest for people to step and operate the Cove Sports and Community Club, the only interest came from the Cove Football Club as it did not want to lose our home. A group of Cove Football Club Members stepped up to the take positions as Cove Sports and Community Club committee of management. No other affiliated club did so at the time.
The committee worked very diligently for several years to erase the debt caused by the council run committee of management, this included negotiating with the Australian Tax Office to halve the amount of unpaid taxes to $40,000.
At the point in time the Cove Sports and Community Club was again self-sufficient committees of management again returned to being members of affiliated clubs or members of the broader community. I have no hesitation in saying that if the Cove Football Club had not stepped up to the plate there would not currently be a Cove Sports and Community Club.
It is interesting to note that the council appointed (community) committee of management was again disbanded in early 2019, with the council taking over full management and responsibility for the Cove Sports and Community Club. After which problems again rear their head.
In the past Cove Football Club and the affiliated clubs work generally in harmony, especially the football and soccer clubs in order to use the facility around fixturing of teams, both clubs regularly assisted the other in resolving issues and accommodating special needs.
It would appear the current soccer committee of management do not hold the same values as their predecessors.
Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2019 11:12 am