Minutes of Extraordinary Council Meeting - Wednesday, 18 October 2023

Extraordinary Council Meeting Minutes

18 October 2023

MINUTES OF Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council
Extraordinary Council Meeting
HELD AT THE Alby Schultz meeting Centre, Cootamundra
ON Wednesday, 18 October 2023 AT 6.00pm

PRESENT: Cr Charlie Sheahan (Mayor), Cr Gil Kelly (Deputy Mayor), Cr Leigh Bowden, Cr Les Boyd, Cr Logan Collins, Cr Trevor Glover, Cr David Graham, Cr Abb McAlister, Cr Penny Nicholson

IN ATTENDANCE: Steve McGrath (Interim General Manager), Paul Woods (Interim Deputy General Manager - CCD), Matt Stubbs (Deputy General Manager - Operations), Linda Wiles (Manager Business)

1 Acknowledgement of Country

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.

Adjourn Meeting For Open Forum

Resolution 253/2023

Moved: Cr Leigh Bowden

Seconded: Cr Trevor Glover

Council adjourn for Open Forum.

Carried

2 Open Forum

List of Speakers

1. Gordon Linley – Gundagai in Exile – spoke in favour of demerge.

Resume Open Meeting

Resolution 254/2023

Moved: Cr Gil Kelly

Seconded: Cr Leigh Bowden

Council resume the Open Meeting.

Carried

3 Apologies

3.1 Apologies

Nil

3.2 Leave of Absence

Nil

4 Disclosures of Interest

Nil

The Mayor thanked Cr Bowden for her support during her time as Deputy Mayor, and welcomed Cr Kelly to the Deputy Mayor role.

5 General Manager’s Report

5.1 General Manager Office

Motion

Resolution 255/2023

Moved: Cr Leigh Bowden

Seconded: Cr Trevor Glover

That Council resolve into Committee of the Whole for the purpose of discussion in regard to general manager report 5.1.1 Demerger Status – CGRC.

Carried

Motion

Resolution 256/2023

Moved: Cr Abb McAlister

Seconded: Cr David Graham

That Council resolve to leave Committee of the Whole and resume open council.

Carried

5.1.1 Demerger Status – CGRC

Resolution 257/2023

Moved: Cr Penny Nicholson

Seconded: Cr Leigh Bowden

1. Council seek further legal advice through its Solicitors, including the engagement of senior counsel, to provide advice to Council to progress the demerger of Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council;

2. Council engage Counsel House to undertake a campaign of advocacy and lobbying on behalf of Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council in pursuit of the demerger of Council to form two new Councils, Cootamundra and Gundagai;

3. Council resolve to prepare a detailed implementation plan which creates two sustainable councils in preparation for lodgement with the Minister for Local Government and the Local Government Boundaries Commission to pursue the demerger of Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council; and

4. Council allocate the sum of $230,000 in its 2023/24 budget for demerger planning, noting that such funding will have a negative impact on Councils operating result for the 2023/24 budget year.

Carried

6 Motion of which Notice has been Given

6.1 Notice of Motion - Arrange meeting with the Hon Wendy Tuckerman and the Hon Steph Cooke relating to demerge

Resolution 258/2023

Moved: Cr Logan Collins

Seconded: Cr Gil Kelly

That CGRC immediately contact the Shadow Minister for Local Government (The Hon. Wendy Tuckerman - Member for Goulburn) and State Member (The Hon. Steph Cooke - Member for Cootamundra) to arrange to meet with council, senior staff and Human Resources to discuss the implications of the NSW Government’s new method for a demerger as a matter of urgency.

Carried

The Meeting closed at 6:49pm.

The minutes of this meeting were confirmed at the Extraordinary Council Meeting held on 28 November 2023.


CHAIRPERSON	GENERAL MANAGER