Minutes Ordinary Council Meeting
Council Chambers, Gundagai
6:00pm, Tuesday 28th May, 2019
Administration Centres: 1300 459 689 |
Ordinary Council Meeting Minutes |
28 May 2019 |
MINUTES OF Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council
Ordinary Council
Meeting
HELD AT THE Council
Chambers, Gundagai
ON Tuesday, 28 May
2019 AT 6:00pm
PRESENT: Cr Abb McAlister (Mayor), Cr Dennis Palmer (Deputy Mayor), Cr Leigh Bowden, Cr David Graham, Cr Gil Kelly, Cr Penny Nicholson, Cr Doug Phillips, Cr Craig Stewart, Cr Charlie Sheahan
IN ATTENDANCE: Phil McMurray (Deputy General Manager), Ganesh Ganeshamoorthy (Manager Assets), Susan Gheller (Manager Business), Mark Ellis (Manager Civil Works), Miriam Crane (Manager Community and Culture), Sharon Langman (Manager Development, Building and Compliance), Andrew Brock (Manager Facilities), Tim Swan (Manager Finance and Customer Service), Glen McAtear (Manager Regulatory Services), Matt Stubbs (Manager Technical Services), Wayne Bennett (Manager Waste, Parks and Recreations)
The Chairperson acknowledged the Wiradjuri people who are the Traditional Custodians of the Land at which the meeting was held and paid his respects to Elders, both past and present, of the Wiradjuri Nation and extended that respect to other Aboriginal people who were present.
CLOSE MEETING
Resolution 143/2019 Moved: Cr Leigh Bowden Seconded: Cr Gil Kelly The Open Council meeting close for Open Forum. |
List of Speakers
1. Judith Newman – Spoke on the removal of pedestrian ‘zebra’ crossings in Sheridan Street, Gundagai.
2. Pip McAlister – Commented that street lighting in the town is very poor and that the condition of the Cemetery grounds is disappointing and requires ground maintenance work, in particular weed removal.
3. Nancy Lawton – Spoke on Cemeteries and provided some negative feedback on recent cemetery activity in Gundagai.
OPEN MEETING
Resolution 144/2019 Moved: Cr Dennis Palmer Seconded: Cr Gil Kelly The Open Council meeting resume. |
Nil
A significant non-pecuniary interest was received from Cr Leigh Bowden in relation to item 8.1.5 Cootamundra Tourism Action Group S.355 Committee Meeting Minutes for the reason that she is a member of the committee.
5.1 Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Council held on Tuesday 30 April 2019 |
Resolution 145/2019 Moved: Cr Dennis Palmer Seconded: Cr Charlie Sheahan The Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Council held on Tuesday, 30th April, 2019 be confirmed as a true and correct record of the meeting. |
Moved: Cr Penny Nicholson Seconded: Cr David Graham 1. The information in the Mayoral Minute be received and noted. 2. Council offer its congratulations to Glen McAtear, Manager Regulatory Services on his election as President of the United Services Union.
|
Resolution 146/2019 Moved: Cr Dennis Palmer Seconded: Cr Gil Kelly It is resolved that Council: A. Notes: a. That last December, the NSW Government enacted laws to provide better workers compensation coverage for firefighters who are diagnosed with one of twelve specific work-related cancers b. That in many areas of NSW, fire services are made up of elected and staff members of local government, and that local governments strongly support this expanded workers compensation scheme c. That as a result of these changes, the State Government has decided to implement the new scheme by charging local governments an increased Emergency Services Levy, without consultation d. That the expected increase in costs to local governments will be $19m in the first year alone, and that there is little or no time to enshrine this charge in Council’s 2019/2020 budgets e. That Local Government NSW has long advocated for the Emergency Services Levy to be significantly modified to ensure it is transparent, equitable and accountable. B. That this Council supports Local Government NSW’s calls for: a. the NSW Government to cover the initial additional $19m increase to local governments for the first year and b. the NSW Government to work with NSW local governments to redesign the funding mechanism for the scheme to ensure fairness into the future. C. Requests that the General Manager liaise with Local Government NSW to provide information on: a. The impact on council budgets and b. Council advocacy actions undertaken. D. Requests that the Lord Mayor/Mayor a. write to the NSW Premier and NSW Interim Opposition Leader, NSW Minister for Customer Services, NSW Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Local Government and Shadow Minister for Local Government, and local state member/s to: i. call upon the NSW Government to fund the 12 months of this extra cost rather than requiring councils to find the funds at short notice when budgets have already been allocated ii. explain how this sudden increase will impact council services / the local community. iii. highlight that councils were not warned of the increased cost until May 2019, despite the new laws being passed in November 2018 iv. explain that the poor planning and implementation of the increase is inconsistent with the Government’s commitment to work in partnership with the sector vi. ask the Government to work with local governments to redesign the implementation of the scheme to ensure it is fairer for councils and communities into the future. b. Copy the above letter to Local Government NSW. |
Resolution 147/2019 Moved: Cr Penny Nicholson Seconded: Cr David Graham The information in the Mayoral Minute be received and noted. |
Nil
Resolution 148/2019 Moved: Cr Dennis Palmer Seconded: Cr Gil Kelly 1. Council endorse the resolution for the Draft Operational Plan, inclusive of the Draft Revenue Policy and Draft 2019/20 Fees and Charges, the Draft Budget and Draft Long Term Financial Plan to be placed on public exhibition for 28 days as resolved at the Councillor Workshop held Monday, 13th May, 2019. 2. Council form an Internal Finance Committee comprising of Councillor Representatives and Council Staff to forensically investigate expenditure and revenue and prepare a report to be submitted for the consideration of Council at the Ordinary Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, 26th November, 2019. |
Resolution 149/2019 Moved: Cr David Graham Seconded: Cr Leigh Bowden The correspondence sent to State and Federal Ministers on the redistribution of the Financial Assistance Grants attached to the report for the information of Council be noted. |
Resolution 150/2019 Moved: Cr Charlie Sheahan Seconded: Cr Craig Stewart Cr McAlister (Mayor) write to the Member for Riverina, the Hon. Michael McCormack MP, Deputy Prime Minister requesting consideration be given to Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council Local Government Area being drought declared. |
Resolution 151/2019 Moved: Cr Dennis Palmer Seconded: Cr Craig Stewart The information provided in the attachments of the Information Bulletin be noted. |
8.1.5 Cootamundra Tourism Action Group s.355 Committee Meeting Minutes |
Note: Having disclosed a significant non pecuniary interest in this item, Cr Bowden left the meeting during discussion. Resolution 152/2019 Moved: Cr Charlie Sheahan Seconded: Cr Penny Nicholson 1. The Minutes of the Cootamundra Tourism Action Group s.355 Committee meetings held on 2 May, 2019, attached to the report, be received and noted. 2. Council consider the Committee recommendation included in the report. |
8.1.6 Muttama Hall Management s.355 Committee Meeting Minutes |
Resolution 153/2019 Moved: Cr Charlie Sheahan Seconded: Cr Leigh Bowden The Minutes of the Muttama Hall Management s.355 Committee Ordinary meeting held on 27 February and 27 March, 2019, attached to the report, be received and noted. |
8.1.7 Stockinbingal Ellwood's Hall s.355 Committee Meeting Minutes, Membership and Hire Fees |
Resolution 154/2019 Moved: Cr Craig Stewart Seconded: Cr Penny Nicholson 1. The Minutes of the Stockinbingal Ellwood’s Hall s.355 Committee Ordinary Meeting and Annual General Meeting held on 2 May 2019, attached to the report, be received and noted. 2. Membership of the Ellwood’s Hall s.355 Committee as detailed in the report, be endorsed. 3. The schedule of hall hire charges for the Stockinbingal Ellwood Hall attached to the report, be endorsed. |
8.1.8 Muttama Creek Regeneration Group s.355 Committee Meeting Minutes |
Resolution 155/2019 Moved: Cr Charlie Sheahan Seconded: Cr Doug Phillips The Minutes of the Muttama Creek Regeneration Group s.355 Committee meeting held on 1 April, 2019, attached to the report, be received and noted. |
8.1.9 Cootamundra Development Corporation - Request for Sponsorship for Cootamundra Wattle Time Fair |
Resolution 156/2019 Moved: Cr Doug Phillips Seconded: Cr Penny Nicholson Council consider sponsorship of the annual Cootamundra Wattle Time Fair by way of the provision of traffic control in lieu of the $350 sponsorship request subsequent to approval by the Local Area Traffic Committee at its June, 2019 meeting. |
Resolution 157/2019 Moved: Cr Charlie Sheahan Seconded: Cr Leigh Bowden The updated Council Meeting Action Report, attached to the report, be received and noted. |
Resolution 158/2019 Moved: Cr Doug Phillips Seconded: Cr Dennis Palmer 1. The progress report on project status be received and noted. 2. The recommended changes to the project budgets as listed be adopted. |
Resolution 159/2019 Moved: Cr Doug Phillips Seconded: Cr Leigh Bowden 1. The March, 2019 Quarterly Budget Review Statement be accepted. 2. The budget variations listed in the attached report be adopted. |
Resolution 160/2019 Moved: Cr Doug Phillips Seconded: Cr Leigh Bowden The attached Monthly Finance Report for April, 2019 be received and noted. |
Resolution 161/2019 Moved: Cr Gil Kelly Seconded: Cr Penny Nicholson The attached Investment Report as at 30 April, 2019 be received and noted. |
8.3.1 Cootamundra Development Corporation Memorandum of Understanding |
Resolution 162/2019 Moved: Cr Doug Phillips Seconded: Cr Leigh Bowden Council negotiate a Memorandum of Understanding with the Cootamundra Development Corporation covering the 2019/2020 period. The Memorandum of Understanding is to include: · Agreed activities/outcomes, · A program for monitoring performance, · Communication requirements, and · Representation requirements at relevant Council committee meetings. |
8.4 Development, Building and Compliance
Resolution 163/2019 Moved: Cr Gil Kelly Seconded: Cr Craig Stewart The information on Development Applications Approved in April, 2019 be noted. |
Nil
Resolution 164/2019 Moved: Cr Dennis Palmer Seconded: Cr David Graham The Draft Gundagai Water Restrictions Policy and Draft Gundagai Water Restrictions Procedures attached to the report be adopted. |
Resolution 165/2019 Moved: Cr Penny Nicholson Seconded: Cr David Graham The Operations Update Report and the attached Works Program for the month of May, 2019 be received. |
Resolution 166/2019 Moved: Cr Dennis Palmer Seconded: Cr Doug Phillips The Council Hiace mini bus be retained for a period of six months and a report on the bus’s usage income and costs against the bus be prepared and submitted to the November, 2019 Ordinary Meeting.
|
8.7.3 Cootamundra Rugby Union Club - Request financial Assistance to Complete the Union Club Facilities Project |
Resolution 167/2019 Moved: Cr Charlie Sheahan Seconded: Cr David Graham Council approve the Acting General Manager, subsequent to advice provided from Council’s Financial Auditors Crowe Howarth, to facilitate a loan of $100,000, to be repaid over a 5 year period, to the Cootamundra Rugby Union for the Facilities Project in accordance with legislation under the Local Government Act, 1993. |
Resolution 168/2019 Moved: Cr David Graham Seconded: Cr Penny Nicholson 1. Council approve the amount of $123,100 (ex GST) for the Bongolong Creek Bridge construction to be brought forward and funded through the 2018/19 roads budget. 2. Council approve Murray Valley Piling Ltd to undertake the construction of the new Bongolong Creek Bridge. |
Resolution 169/2019 Moved: Cr Penny Nicholson Seconded: Cr Craig Stewart The updated information on the Stan Crowe Oval Canteen project be received and noted. |
8.10 Waste, Parks and Recreation
8.10.1 Maintenance of Public Open Spaces at Stockinbingal and Wallendbeen |
Resolution 170/2019 Moved: Cr Penny Nicholson Seconded: Cr Leigh Bowden The report on the Maintenance of Public Open Spaces at of Stockinbingal and Wallendbeen be noted and methodologies contained with the report be endorsed. |
Resolution 171/2019 Moved: Cr Leigh Bowden Seconded: Cr Penny Nicholson 1. The Draft Street Tree Management Policy be placed out on public exhibition for a period of 28 days seeking community comment. 2. Council advertise and communicate through its usual media channels advising the community on how they may gain access to the Draft Street Tree Management Policy and how to contribute to the policies development. 3. That all costs associated with the Draft Street Tree Management Policy’s development be funded from the Street Tree Audit budget. |
9 Motion of which Notice has been Given
9.1 Notice of Motion - Extension of Cootamundra Indoor Pool Weekend Hours |
Resolution 172/2019 Moved: Cr Abb McAlister Seconded: Cr Gil Kelly Council investigate the feasibility of extending the Cootamundra indoor pool weekend operating hours. Further, Council undertake a review of the facility’s processes and expenditure and incorporate options regarding the use of staff or contractors in the management of both the pool and stadium facilities. |
Resolution 173/2019 Moved: Cr Gil Kelly Seconded: Cr Dennis Palmer The Questions with Notice from Councillors and related responses from Council officers be noted. |
Nil
The Meeting closed at 8:38 PM.
The minutes of this meeting were confirmed at the Ordinary Council Meeting held on 25 June 2019.
................................................... ...................................................
CHAIRPERSON GENERAL MANAGER