GovCheck Prototype · Civic Alignment Audit · v1.0

Bayside City Council
Strategic Alignment Report

18 March 2025 – 17 February 2026  ·  13 meetings  ·  172 motions  ·  scored against Council Plan 2021–2025 and successor plan 2025–29

Overview
172
Total motions scored
22
Strong alignment
65
Partial alignment
72
Administrative
11
No alignment
2
Conflicts with plan
24
Notices of Motion
14
Contested votes
Data Coverage — Documents Analysed
What was analysed: Every publicly available Bayside City Council meeting document for the 12-month period March 2025 – February 2026 was downloaded directly from bayside.vic.gov.au. This covers 13 PDFs (12 regular Council meetings + 1 Special meeting), totalling approximately 14.5MB of agenda/minutes material. Additionally, 9 Council strategy documents were downloaded as context — the Council Plan 2021–2025 was the primary alignment baseline, as it is the legally mandated strategic document under the Local Government Act 2020. A new Council Plan 2025–29 was adopted on 17 June 2025 (contested 5–2 vote — see Critical Findings). Planning & Amenity Delegated Committee minutes (routine planning permits only) were excluded. Every motion with substantive text was scored by AI (GPT-4o-mini, temperature=0) against the Plan's 4 Goals and 12 Strategic Objectives. No meetings in the 12-month window are missing from this analysis.
Council Meeting Minutes 13 documents
18 March 2025 — Council MeetingMar 20251.0 MB
29 April 2025 — Council MeetingApr 20251.0 MB
20 May 2025 — Council MeetingMay 20251.0 MB
10 June 2025 — Special Council MeetingJun 20250.8 MB
17 June 2025 — Council MeetingJun 20251.1 MB
29 July 2025 — Council MeetingJul 20251.0 MB
19 August 2025 — Council MeetingAug 20251.1 MB
16 September 2025 — Council MeetingSep 20251.1 MB
14 October 2025 — Council MeetingOct 20251.0 MB
5 November 2025 — Annual Meeting of CouncilNov 20251.8 MB
18 November 2025 — Council MeetingNov 20251.0 MB
16 December 2025 — Council MeetingDec 20251.1 MB
17 February 2026 — Council MeetingFeb 20261.1 MB
Strategy & Plan Documents 9 documents
★ Council Plan 2021–2025 (primary scoring baseline)20211.9 MB
Annual Action Plan 2023–242023413 KB
Economic Development, Tourism & Placemaking Strategy 2024–2029202410.4 MB
Integrated Transport Strategy 2018–202820183.3 MB
Open Space Strategy 2025–2035202584 MB
Coastal & Marine Management Plan 2025202527 MB
Parking Strategy 2023–2033202314.3 MB
Road Safety Strategy 2019–202420191.1 MB
Bicycle Action Plan 2019–202620191.3 MB
Strategic Goal Activity
Motions by Council Plan Goal
Strong + Partial alignment only (87 motions)
Goal 3: Our Place
37
Goal 2: Our People
27
Goal 1: Our Planet
12
Goal 4: Our Promise
9
The Climate Gap
Goal 1 is the plan's most prominent goal — but least actioned

The Council Plan opens with Goal 1: Our Planet — climate emergency, biodiversity, circular economy — using the strongest language in the document ("we will lead, act and advocate"). Yet over 12 months it generated only 12 aligned motions (14% of substantive activity), the lowest of any goal.

By contrast, Goal 3: Our Place (infrastructure, open space, assets) accounts for 43% of aligned motions — typical of a council driven by operational maintenance rather than proactive strategic delivery. This gap between climate rhetoric and climate action is measurable and significant.

Critical Findings — Conflicts, Flags & Anomalies
Conflicts with Plan 4–3 Contested
29 Apr 2025 · Agenda 10.6 · Officer Report Motion · Cr Leigh moved, Cr El Mouallem seconded
Submission Opposing the Suburban Rail Loop — CARRIED 4-3
Motion text
"That Council: opposes the Suburban Rail Loop project in its entirety and writes to the Premier of Victoria, Minister for Suburban Rail Loop and local Members of Parliament expressing its opposition… and notes the concerns with the draft SRL Precinct Structure Plan including traffic impacts, open space impacts, heritage impacts, heritage impacts, and amenity impacts…"
Plan objectives
contradicted
3.2.3 3.3.3
Obj 3.2.3 — "Deliver an accessible, safe, connected and sustainable transport network." The SRL is a major piece of regional public transport infrastructure directly relevant to sustainable connectivity.

Obj 3.3.3 — "Work collaboratively with State Government on infrastructure and planning controls." Opposing the project in its entirety is the opposite of collaboration.
Why it matters
This is one of only two motions in 12 months that directly contradicts the Council's stated strategy. Three councillors — Murray, Hockley, and McIntosh (abstained) — recognised this tension and voted against or abstained. The motion passed 4–0 on a formal count (McIntosh's abstention was recorded separately), meaning the majority drove a position explicitly at odds with their own published plan on infrastructure and state collaboration.
Vote breakdown
FOR (4): Leigh, El Mouallem, Taylor-Haynes, Irlicht AGAINST (3): Murray, Hockley ABSTAINED: McIntosh CARRIED
Conflicts with Plan
14 Oct 2025 · Agenda 12.1 · Officer Report Motion · Cr Hockley moved, Cr Leigh seconded
Planning Permit — Vegetation Removal & Demolition at Elsternwick Park
Motion text
"That Council resolves to issue a Notice of Decision to Grant a Permit… for the land known and described as Elsternwick Park - 485 New Street, Brighton… Clause 42.02-2 – Vegetation Protection Overlay – Schedule 1: Remove, destroy or lop any vegetation… Clause 43.01-1 – Heritage Overlay – Schedule 515: Demolish or remove a building… Clause 52.17-1 – Native Vegetation: Remove, destroy or lop native vegetation."
Plan objectives
contradicted
1.2.1 1.2.2 3.3.1
Obj 1.2.1 — "Protect and enhance the biodiversity and health of our natural space and foreshore." Approving removal of native vegetation runs directly counter to this.

Obj 1.2.2 — "Enhance vegetation cover, urban forest, canopy and green spaces." This motion reduces vegetation cover.

The Major Initiative conflict: The Council Plan names "Elsternwick Park Nature Reserve (Stage 1: Chain of Ponds; Stage 3: Wetlands)" as a named Major Initiative under Goal 1 Our Planet. The Council is simultaneously committed to enhancing this reserve and approving vegetation removal within it. This is the most direct internal contradiction in the 12-month dataset.
Why it matters
No division was called — suggesting this passed without contestation despite the clear conflict. The left hand (environmental strategy) and the right hand (planning permit decisions) appear to operate independently. This is exactly the type of institutional blind spot this tool is designed to surface.
Notable Anomaly 5–2 Contested
17 Jun 2025 · Agenda 10.1 · Officer Report Motion · Cr Leigh moved, Cr Hockley seconded
Two Councillors Voted Against Adopting the Council Plan 2025–29 — CARRIED 5-2
Motion text
"That Council: 1. adopts the Council Plan 2025–29 in accordance with the requirements of the Local Government Act 2020 2. notes the final design of the Council Plan 2025–29 will be published on the Council website in July 2025 3. adopts the Annual Action Plan 2025–26, noting that progress reporting will be presented to Council for consideration quarterly and through the Annual Report…"
What happened
The adoption of the Council's own four-year strategic plan — the legally mandated governance document — passed only 5–2. Cr McIntosh and Cr Murray voted against the Council Plan itself. This raises a significant question: these two councillors are now bound by and accountable to a strategic plan they formally voted against. Their dissent on record creates an interesting interpretive lens for evaluating their subsequent Notices of Motion and voting patterns.
Vote breakdown
FOR (5): Leigh, El Mouallem, Taylor-Haynes, Irlicht, Hockley AGAINST (2): McIntosh, Murray CARRIED
Alignment score
Strong — Goal 4: Our Promise  Directly implements Obj 4.1.1, 4.1.2, 4.2.1 (transparent governance, community engagement, financial sustainability)
LOST 3–4 Misalignment with own strategy
18 Mar 2025 · Agenda 10.1 · Officer Report Motion · Cr McIntosh moved, Cr Murray seconded
Heritage Action Plan Review 2024 — LOST 3-4 (Majority voted against their own heritage strategy)
Motion text
"That Council: 1. notes the Heritage Action Plan Background Report 2025 2. adopts the revised Heritage Action Plan 2025, which sets out a holistic approach to assessing and managing heritage, including: a. undertaking a review of the existing Bayside Thematic Environmental History 1999 within a 12-month period, as the highest priority action… b. undertaking a comprehensive heritage gap study within the Bayside municipality…"
Relevant objective
3.3.1
Obj 3.3.1 — "Protect and enhance Bayside's unique character, amenity and heritage." The revised Heritage Action Plan is the primary delivery mechanism for this objective. Four councillors voted to block adopting it.
Why it matters
The council's heritage objective cannot be advanced without the Action Plan that operationalises it. By voting down the plan, the majority (Leigh, El Mouallem, Taylor-Haynes, Irlicht) blocked a key delivery mechanism of their own stated strategy. Note also: NOM-375 (Heritage Gap Study, Feb 2026) was subsequently moved by McIntosh — also LOST on the same 3-4 split — suggesting a consistent pattern of one faction attempting to advance heritage strategy and another blocking it.
Vote breakdown
FOR (3): McIntosh, Murray, Hockley AGAINST (4): Leigh, El Mouallem, Taylor-Haynes, Irlicht LOST
LOST 3–4 NOM-375 Repeated pattern
17 Feb 2026 · NOM-375 · Notice of Motion · Cr McIntosh moved, Cr Murray seconded
Heritage Gap Study for Sandringham & Hampton — LOST 3-4 (identical split as March 2025)
Motion text
"That Council refers the funding of the preparation of a Heritage Gap Study for Sandringham, Highett, Hampton, and Hampton East to the 2026–27 Budget process for consideration."
Relevant objective
3.3.1
This motion is even more conservative than the March 2025 Heritage Action Plan — it only asks to refer funding to budget consideration, not even to commission the study outright. Yet it received the exact same 3–4 defeat, same factions, almost exactly 11 months later.
The pattern
Over the 12-month period, every heritage-related motion moved by McIntosh/Murray was defeated by the same four-councillor bloc (Leigh, El Mouallem, Taylor-Haynes, Irlicht). This is not noise — it is a consistent, measurable voting bloc pattern that systematically prevents heritage strategy delivery despite heritage protection (Obj 3.3.1) being an explicit Council Plan commitment.
Vote breakdown
FOR (3): McIntosh, Murray, Hockley AGAINST (4): Leigh, El Mouallem, Taylor-Haynes, Irlicht LOST
LOST 2–4 Heritage pattern
18 Nov 2025 · Agenda 12.4 · Officer Report Motion · Cr McIntosh moved, Cr Murray seconded
Planning Scheme Amendment C196BAYS — Mid-Century Heritage — LOST 2-4
Motion text
"That Council: 1. adopts Amendment C196bays with the following changes: a. amend the Statement of Significance for 29 Scott Street, Beaumaris… b. deletion of the: i. Beaumaris Playhouse and Jack and Jill Kindergarten - 24 and 26 Grandview Avenue… [heritage overlays for mid-century modern buildings in Beaumaris]"
Why it matters
This planning scheme amendment would have formally protected mid-century modern heritage buildings in Beaumaris — a substantive action under Obj 3.3.1. It was blocked on a 2–4 vote with the same factional split. The AI scored this as "Administrative" because the motion text is technical/procedural (planning scheme clause references), but its strategic significance is the heritage protection it would have delivered. This illustrates a limitation of automated scoring: planning permit motions often carry greater strategic weight than their dry procedural language suggests.
Vote breakdown
FOR (2): McIntosh, Murray AGAINST (4): Leigh, Taylor-Haynes, Irlicht, Hockley LOST
No Strategic Grounding off-strategy
18 Nov 2025 · Agenda 12.3 · Officer Report Motion · Cr Murray moved, Cr McIntosh seconded
Submission on Activity Centres Height Limits — Reactive, Not Strategy-Led
Motion text
"That Council endorses the Council officers' submissions in response to the Phase 2 Engagement for the Activity Centres Program… Within the North Brighton Activity Centre, show a maximum height of up to 8 storeys at 380-386 Bay Street. Within the Middle Brighton Activity Centre, show a maximum height of up to 8 storeys for 26 Church Street (Dendy Brighton complex) and 100 Church Street (Woolworths and carpark), a maximum height of up to 6 storeys…"
Assessment
While housing diversity and density is addressed in the Council Plan (Obj 3.3.2), this motion sets specific height limits in response to state government policy — it is reactive advocacy rather than proactive strategic delivery. The Council Plan's housing objective calls for facilitating "appropriate housing diversity and density that respects neighbourhood character," but the motion doesn't reference this framing. It reads as a reactive negotiating position, not as a motion grounded in Bayside's own housing strategy.
All Contested Votes — Full Breakdown
14 non-unanimous votes with councillor-by-councillor breakdown
Date Motion FOR AGAINST / ABSTAINED Result Alignment
Mar 2025 Heritage Action Plan Review 2024Agenda 10.1 — Adoption of revised Heritage Action Plan McIntosh, Murray, Hockley Leigh, El Mouallem, Taylor-Haynes, Irlicht* LOST Partial
Apr 2025 SRL Opposition SubmissionAgenda 10.6 — Oppose entire SRL project in writing to Premier Leigh, El Mouallem, Taylor-Haynes, Irlicht Murray, Hockley (McIntosh abstained) CARRIED Conflicts
Apr 2025 Wangara Road Masterplan — SuspensionNOM-343 — Suspend Masterplan; proceed with EPA remediation only Leigh, El Mouallem, Taylor-Haynes, Irlicht, Hockley McIntosh (Murray abstained) CARRIED Partial
Apr 2025 Contract — Yalukit Willam Wetlands ConstructionAgenda 10.12 — $3.79M contract award for constructed wetlands McIntosh, Leigh, Murray, Taylor-Haynes, Irlicht, Hockley El Mouallem CARRIED Strong — Goal 1
Jun 2025 Adoption of Council Plan 2025–29Agenda 10.1 — The Council's own four-year strategic plan Leigh, El Mouallem, Taylor-Haynes, Irlicht, Hockley McIntosh, Murray CARRIED Strong — Goal 4
Sep 2025 Ironbark Tree Removal — Charles StreetNOM-351 — (Division actually on Mayor's apology for departure) Irlicht McIntosh, Leigh, Murray, Taylor-Haynes, Hockley CARRIED Procedural
Oct 2025 Carpark Design — Wangara Road ReserveAgenda 12.15 — 85 new parking spaces for sports centre users McIntosh, Leigh, Taylor-Haynes, Hockley El Mouallem (abstained as Mayor) CARRIED Partial
Nov 2025 Planning Scheme Amendment C196BAYS — Mid-Century HeritageAgenda 12.4 — Formal heritage protection for mid-century modern buildings in Beaumaris McIntosh, Murray Leigh, Taylor-Haynes, Irlicht, Hockley LOST Admin (heritage)
Dec 2025 Bayside Open Space Strategy 2025–35Agenda 12.2 — Adoption of 10-year open space strategy McIntosh, Leigh, Murray, Taylor-Haynes, Hockley El Mouallem (abstained) CARRIED Partial — Goal 3
Dec 2025 Sandringham Youth Club — Pickleball CourtsNOM-369 — Temporary use of netball courts at Thomas Street McIntosh, Leigh, Murray, Taylor-Haynes, Hockley El Mouallem (abstained) CARRIED Partial — Goal 2
Dec 2025 Digital Parking Permit ReviewAgenda 12.8 — Remove physical parking permits by Oct 2026 McIntosh, Leigh, Murray, Taylor-Haynes, Hockley El Mouallem (abstained) CARRIED Partial — Goal 4
Feb 2026 Heritage Gap Study — Sandringham & HamptonNOM-375 — Refer funding for heritage gap study to 2026–27 budget McIntosh, Murray, Hockley Leigh, El Mouallem, Taylor-Haynes, Irlicht LOST Partial — Goal 3
Feb 2026 Grants Policy 2026Agenda 12.7 — Including phased defunding of Brighton Recreational Centre McIntosh, Murray, Taylor-Haynes, Hockley Leigh, El Mouallem, Irlicht CARRIED Partial — Goal 2
Feb 2026 Contract CON/25/34 — Yalukit Willam Gateway BuildingAgenda 12.14 — $7.44M construction contract for nature reserve gateway McIntosh, El Mouallem, Murray, Taylor-Haynes, Hockley Irlicht, Leigh CARRIED Partial — Goal 1
Strong Alignment — What the Council Did Well
22 Strongly-Aligned Motions — Where Actions Directly Delivered on Strategy
DateMotionMoverObjectivesRationale
May 2025Update on Recycling & Waste Management StrategyAgenda 10.5 — Request update on circular economy transitionCr Hockley
1.3.2
Directly advances circular economy/zero-waste objective.
May 2025Contract — Wangara Road Landfill Remediation ($990K)Agenda 10.11 — Remediate former landfill siteCr Leigh
1.1.11.2.13.2.1
Environmental remediation directly delivers biodiversity and asset management objectives.
Apr 2025Community Engagement Policy 2025 (draft)Agenda 10.4 — Endorse for community consultationCr Hockley
4.1.14.1.2
Transparent community consultation is the centrepiece of Goal 4 delivery.
Apr 2025Update on Bayside Open Space Strategy ReviewAgenda 10.9 — Commission final draft for Oct 2025 adoptionCr McIntosh
3.1.13.1.23.2.1
Advances open space management objectives.
Apr 2025Contract — Yalukit Willam Wetlands Construction ($3.79M)Agenda 10.12 — Award construction contract for wetlandsCr Hockley
1.2.11.2.23.1.1
A flagship biodiversity project directly delivering Obj 1.2.1 and 1.2.2.
Jun 2025Adoption of Council Plan 2025–29Agenda 10.1 — Four-year strategic mandate (contested 5-2)Cr Leigh
4.1.14.1.24.2.1
The plan itself. Highest possible alignment score — this is governance accountability in action.
Jun 2025Financial Plan 2025–26 to 2034–35Agenda 10.4 — 10-year financial sustainability planCr Hockley
4.2.14.1.1
Long-term financial sustainability is Goal 4's core delivery mechanism.
Jun 2025Asset Plan 2025–26 to 2034–35Agenda 10.6 — 10-year asset stewardship planCr Leigh
3.2.13.2.2
Asset stewardship plan directly delivers Obj 3.2.1 and 3.2.2.
Jun 2025Municipal Wide Tree ProtectionAgenda 10.7 — ESO overlay on Significant Tree Register; pause competing amendmentCr Murray
1.2.11.2.23.1.1
Formal planning protection for significant trees is direct delivery on urban forest and biodiversity objectives.
Jun 2025Urban Forest Strategy Annual Report 2023–24Agenda 10.9 — Note annual Urban Forest progressCr McIntosh
1.2.21.3.1
The Urban Forest Strategy is a named Major Initiative in the Council Plan.
Jun 2025Conversion of 6A Willis Street to Public Open SpaceAgenda 10.10 — Commission detailed designCr Murray
3.1.13.1.2
Increasing open space in activity centres — specifically named as a focus in Obj 3.1.2.
Jun 2025Coastal and Marine Management Plan 2025 — AdoptionAgenda 10.11 — Submit CMMP to Minister for EnvironmentCr McIntosh
1.2.11.2.33.1.1
Coastal protection directly delivers Obj 1.2.3 (climate adaptation, foreshore protection).
Jul 2025Community Engagement Policy 2025 — Final AdoptionAgenda 12.5 — Adopt after community consultationCr Hockley
4.1.14.1.2
Formal adoption completes the delivery of transparent community engagement governance.
Aug 2025Advocacy Policy and Advocacy Plan 2025–27Agenda 12.5 — Adopt policy and 2-year advocacy prioritiesCr Hockley
2.2.14.1.14.2.1
Structured advocacy to other tiers of government directly delivers Obj 4.2.1.
Sep 2025Submission to Draft Local Heritage GuidelinesAgenda 12.5 — Endorse submission to StateCr McIntosh
3.3.1
Advocacy for stronger heritage criteria at state level directly advances heritage protection objective.
Sep 2025Health and Inclusion Plan 2025–29 — AdoptionAgenda 12.9 — Submit to Dept of Health; Year 1 Action PlanCr McIntosh
2.1.12.1.22.1.3
The Health and Inclusion Plan is a named Major Initiative under Goal 2.
Oct 2025Bayside Open Space Strategy 2025–35 (progress)Agenda 12.3 — Note engagement findings; commission final strategyCr McIntosh
3.1.13.1.23.2.1
Delivery of the 10-year open space strategy directly advances Goal 3 objectives.
Oct 2025Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Action Plan — ProgressAgenda 12.4 — Note Year 4 progress reportCr Hockley
2.1.12.1.22.1.3
MPHWP is a named Major Initiative under Goal 2.
Oct 2025Yalukit Willam — Wetlands Construction ProgressAgenda 12.9 — Accept $1.077M Melbourne Water contribution; delegate CEO variationsCr McIntosh
1.2.11.2.23.1.1
Continued delivery of the flagship biodiversity/wetlands project.
Oct 2025Road Discontinuance — Adjoining Yalukit Willam ReserveAgenda 12.10 — Discontinue road to expand nature reserveCr Hockley
1.2.13.1.1
Road closure to expand the nature reserve is a direct delivery action on biodiversity objectives.
Nov 2025NOM-366 — Corporate Reporting TransparencyPublish capital spend by Ward, quarterly financial data, rates history on websiteCr Leigh
4.1.14.1.2
Proactive disclosure of financial data directly delivers transparent and accountable governance.
Dec 2025Appointment to Reconciliation Advisory CommitteeAgenda 12.15 — Appoint 3 members for 2-year termCr Hockley
2.1.3
The Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan is a named Major Initiative. Committee appointments are direct delivery.
All 24 Notices of Motion
Complete list — councillor-initiated motions only
DateIDTitleMoverResultVotesScore
Mar 2025NOM-342State Government Planning ReformsPublish SRL drawings & Activity Centre maps on Council websiteCr LeighCARRIED7–0None
Apr 2025NOM-343Wangara Road Masterplan — SuspensionProceed with EPA remediation; suspend public open space masterplanCr LeighCARRIED5–2Partial
May 2025NOM-344Wangara Reserve Car ParkingReport on carpark at former mini golf siteCr LeighCARRIED6–0Partial
Jun 2025NOM-345Warm Water Pool ProjectReport on progress of warm water poolCr McIntoshCARRIED7–0Partial
Jun 2025NOM-346Audit and Risk Committee CharterReport on Charter update———Admin
Jul 2025NOM-347State Government Planning ReformsFurther information on Activity Centres impact———Partial
Jul 2025NOM-348Unauthorised Excavation at Hurlingham ParkMeasures to address illegal excavation———Partial
Sep 2025NOM-349Recognising & Addressing Antisemitism in BaysideCouncil statement and awareness action—CARRIED6–0Partial — Goal 2
Sep 2025NOM-350Truck Access — Kingston Street HamptonWrite to state to install 'no trucks' signsCr MurrayCARRIED6–0None
Sep 2025NOM-351Ironbark Tree — Charles Street Brighton East(Division on Mayor's procedural apology)—CARRIED1–5Procedural
Sep 2025NOM-352Compliance Officers ReviewReview sufficiency of compliance officer workforceCr LeighCARRIED6–0None
Sep 2025NOM-353Sandringham Historic SocietyCouncil support for local historical society—CARRIED6–0Admin
Oct 2025NOM-354Flood MitigationReport on flood mitigation measures for Bayside—CARRIED6–0Partial — Goal 1
Oct 2025NOM-355Ricketts PointReport on management of Ricketts Point foreshore—CARRIED6–0Partial — Goal 3
Nov 2025NOM-366Corporate Reporting TransparencyPublish capital spend by Ward, quarterly financials, rates historyCr LeighCARRIED6–0Strong — Goal 4
Dec 2025NOM-367Spring Road Park — Dog Off-LeashConcept design for dedicated off-leash park, Hampton EastCr HockleyCARRIED6–0Partial — Goal 3
Dec 2025NOM-368Wangara Road Former Driving Range SiteCommunity consultation on future use—CARRIED6–0Partial — Goal 3
Dec 2025NOM-369Sandringham Youth Club — Pickleball CourtsPermission to use 2 netball courts for 8 pickleball courts—CARRIED5–1Partial — Goal 2
Dec 2025NOM-370Holloway Road Vegetation ImprovementRevegetation along Holloway Road corridor—CARRIED6–0Partial — Goal 1
Dec 2025NOM-371SRL — Integrated Water Management StrategyAdvocate for water management outcomes from SRL construction—CARRIED6–0Partial — Goal 1
Feb 2026NOM-372Review of Bayside SportsgroundsReport on sportsground capacity vs population growth from SRL/Activity CentresCr LeighCARRIED7–0Partial — Goal 3
Feb 2026NOM-373Review of Black Rock BNAC Framework PlanReview planning controls for housing and economic growth in activity centreCr LeighCARRIED7–0Partial — Goal 3
Feb 2026NOM-374Tendering Process — Capital WorksReport on best-practice tendering for capital works programCr IrlichtCARRIED7–0Admin
Feb 2026NOM-375Heritage Gap Study — Sandringham & HamptonRefer funding to 2026–27 Budget process for considerationCr McIntoshLOST3–4Partial — Goal 3
Methodology, Scoring Guide & Limitations

Source documents: All PDFs were downloaded from bayside.vic.gov.au using direct URL scraping. Text was extracted using PyMuPDF. No OCR was required — all documents were text-based PDFs. Planning & Amenity Delegated Committee minutes were excluded as they consist almost entirely of routine planning permits with no strategic decision-making.

Motion extraction: A rule-based Python parser identified motions using structural patterns in the minutes (section numbering, "Moved:/Seconded:" patterns, DIVISION vote blocks). 172 motions were extracted: 24 Notices of Motion and 148 Officer Report Motions. The parser also captured mover, seconder, vote counts, and named councillors from division records.

Alignment scoring: Each motion was scored by GPT-4o-mini against a structured summary of the Council Plan 2021–2025 Goals and 12 Strategic Objectives. Settings: temperature=0 (deterministic), JSON response format, max 400 tokens. The full motion text (truncated at 800 chars) was submitted with the scoring prompt.

Score definitions: Strong = directly implements or advances a named strategic objective or Major Initiative. Partial = broadly consistent with a goal's spirit but not a specific named objective. None = no relationship to any Council Plan objective. Conflicts = the motion contradicts or would undermine a stated objective. Administrative = purely procedural (contract signing, noting reports, personnel appointments) with no strategic dimension.

Known limitations: (1) The Council Plan 2021–2025 was the primary scoring baseline. A new Council Plan 2025–29 was adopted in June 2025 (5–2 vote) but the final published document was not available for download at time of analysis — scoring against the new plan would likely improve alignment scores for motions from July 2025 onwards. (2) Planning permit decisions carry significant strategic weight (Elsternwick Park is the clearest example) but their procedural language causes automated scoring to underrate their significance. Human review of all "Administrative" scored planning decisions is recommended. (3) Motion text was capped at 800 characters — for complex multi-point motions, the full intent may not be captured. (4) Abstentions are recorded in division records but their classification varies (some appear as "against" in raw text); interpretation of abstentions requires care.