MINUTES
Ordinary Council Meeting
16/02/2023
PRESENT
Members:
Mayor Peta Pinson (Mayor)
Councillor Adam Roberts
Councillor Lauren Edwards
Councillor Sharon Griffiths
Councillor Lisa Intemann
Councillor Nik Lipovac
Councillor Danielle Maltman
Councillor Rachel Sheppard
Councillor Josh Slade
Other Attendees:
Chief Executive Officer (Dr Clare Allen)
Director Business and Performance (Keith Hentschke)
Director Community, Planning and Environment (Melissa Watkins)
Director Community Infrastructure (Robert Fish)
Director Community Utilities (Jeffery Sharp)
Group Manager Governance (Michael Ferguson)
Governance Officer (Tania Ellis)
The meeting opened at 3:01pm. |
The Mayor opened the Meeting with an Acknowledgement of Country and welcomed all in attendance in the Chamber and viewing on line. |
Pastor David Pym, from the Port Macquarie Baptist Church delivered the Local Government Prayer. |
04 APOLOGIES |
05 CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES |
That the Minutes of the Ordinary Council Meeting held on 8 December 2022 be confirmed.
carried: 9/0 For: Edwards, Griffiths, Intemann, Lipovac, Maltman, Pinson, Roberts, Sheppard and Slade Against: Nil |
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Councillor Sheppard declared a Non-Pecuniary, Less than Significant interest in Item 11.04 Port Macquarie Aquatic Facility. The reason being a 2021 Local Government Election Campaign running mate, is a convener of the Port Macquarie-Hastings Aquatic Facility Committee. Councillor Sheppard does not maintain a personal friendship and the campaign took place over twelve (12) months ago. Councillor Sheppard intends to remain in the meeting, participate and vote in the matter as this perceived conflict will not influence her decision making in the matter. Councillor Maltman declared a Non-Pecuniary, Less than Significant interest in Item 13.07 Lake Cathie Natural Resource Management Monthly Update. The reason being that Councillor Maltman is a non-financial life member and former President of the community organisation Revive Lake Cathie Incorporated. Councillor Maltman intends to remain in the meeting, participate and vote in the matter as this perceived conflict will not influence her decision making in the matter. |
09 ITEMS TO BE DEALT WITH BY EXCEPTION
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That Items 10.02, 10.03, 10.05, 10.06, 10.07, 10.09, 10.10, 10.12, 10.13, 10.16, 11.03, 11.05, 11.06, 11.07, 13.02, 13.03, 13.05, 13.06, 13.08, and 13.09 be considered as a block resolution.
carried: 9/0 For: Edwards, Griffiths, Intemann, Lipovac, Maltman, Pinson, Roberts, Sheppard and Slade Against: Ni
Resolved: Griffiths/Roberts
That all recommendations listed in the block resolution be adopted by Council.
carried: 9/0 For: Edwards, Griffiths, Intemann, Lipovac, Maltman, Pinson, Roberts, Sheppard and Slade Against: Nil |
Block Resolved: Griffiths/Roberts
That Council note the information contained in the Status of Reports from Council Resolutions report. |
Block Resolved: Griffiths/Roberts
That Council note the information in the Legal Fees report. |
Block Resolved: Griffiths/Roberts
That Council note the Quarterly Budget Review Statement for the December 2022 Quarter. |
block Resolved: Griffiths/Roberts
That Council note the Investment Report for the month of December 2022. |
Block Resolved: Griffiths/Roberts
That Council note the Investment Report for the month of January 2023. |
Block Resolved: Griffiths/Roberts
That Council note the Grant Applications Biannual Report, providing an update on grants that Council has applied for or obtained, for the 2022-2023 financial year.
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10.13 Contracts Awarded under Delegation by the Chief Executive Officer |
Block Resolved: Griffiths/Roberts
That Council note the information provided in the Contracts Register. |
block Resolved: Griffiths/Roberts
That Council note the information contained within this report. |
blcok Resolved: Griffiths/Roberts
That Council note the information in the report regarding the future of Council depots and the progress on the project to renew this important infrastructure. |
The Chief Executive Officer, acting as Returning Officer, called for nominations for the Office of Deputy Mayor.
The Returning Officer, advised that a nomination for the Office of Deputy Mayor had been received for Councillor Adam Roberts, nominated by Mayor Peta Pinson, Councillors Danielle Maltman and Josh Slade and accepted by Councillor Roberts.
The Returning Officer, advised that a nomination for the Office of Deputy Mayor had been received for Councillor Rachel Sheppard, nominated by Councillors Nik Lipovac and Lauren Edwards and accepted by Councillor Sheppard.
The Returning Officer then called for a show of hands in favour of Councillor Roberts for Deputy Mayor.
The Returning Officer then called for a show of hands in favour of Councillor Sheppard for Deputy Mayor.
The Returning Officer declared Councillor Rachel Sheppard elected to the Office of Deputy Mayor for the ensuing 12 months.
The Chief Executive Officer congratulated Councillor Sheppard on her election to the Office of Deputy Mayor.
Item 10.02 Mayoral Discretionary Fund Allocations - 24 November 2022 to 1 February 2023, has been addressed previously within the meeting.
Item 10.03 Status of Reports From Council Resolutions, has been addressed previously within the meeting.
That Council resolve that: 1. Pursuant to sections 296(2) and 296(3) of the Local Government Act 1993 (NSW) (“the Act”) an election arrangement be entered into by contract for the Electoral Commissioner to administer all elections of the Council. 2. Pursuant to sections 296(2) and 296(3) of the Act that a council poll arrangement be entered into by contract for the Electoral Commissioner to administer all council polls of the Council where required. 3. Pursuant to sections 296(2) and 296(3) of the Act that a constitutional referendum arrangement be entered into by contract for the Electoral Commissioner to administer all constitutional referenda of the Council where required.
carried: 9/0 For: Edwards, Griffiths, Intemann, Lipovac, Maltman, Pinson, Roberts, Sheppard and Slade Against: Nil |
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Item 10.05 Legal Fees, has been addressed previously within the meeting.
Item 10.06 Quarterly Budget Review Statement - December 2022, has been addressed previously within the meeting.
Item 10.07 Monthly Budget Review - January 2023, has been addressed previously within the meeting.
That Council: 1. Waive Council tipping fees (including State Government levies) for Local Government area residents and businesses affected by the storm event on 3 February 2023, until 28 February 2023. 2. Provide a free one-off bulky kerbside collection of storm-affected green waste for Local Government area residents and businesses affected by the storm event on 3 February 2023. 3. Note the scope of the tipping fee waiver and bulky kerbside green waste collection apply only to properties within the “affected area map” as detailed in this report. 4. Note that an application has been made to the NSW EPA for a Waste Levy Exemption for storm-affected waste disposal. 5. Note a report will be tabled at the April 2023 Ordinary Council Meeting detailing the full extent of costs waived for this storm event. 6. Congratulate the Chief Executive Officer, Dr Clare Allen, for her leadership in the fee waiver of storm waste disposal and also thank our staff for their efforts in the clean-up of the storm affected areas of Port Macquarie.
carried: 9/0 For: Edwards, Griffiths, Intemann, Lipovac, Maltman, Pinson, Roberts, Sheppard and Slade Against: Nil |
Item 10.09 Investments - December 2022, has been addressed previously within the meeting.
Item 10.10 Investments - January 2023, has been addressed previously within the meeting.
Item 10.12 Grant Applications Biannual Report, has been addressed previously within the meeting.
Item 10.13 Contracts Awarded under Delegation by the Chief Executive Officer, has been addressed previously within the meeting.
Item 10.16 Development Activity And Assessment System Performance, has been addressed previously within the meeting.
That Council: 1. Note the information on ferry patronage and ‘left on bank’ data provided within the report, including statistics following the implementation of the extended operating hours from mid-2021 of the Hibbard Ferry, which increased by 1.25 hours per day Monday to Friday (6.00am-6.30am and 2.00pm-2.45pm). 2. Continue to monitor ferry patronage. 3. Note that ferry operations cost the Port Macquarie-Hastings community $824,000 over the 2021/2022 financial year and that key resident concessional fares for ferry services have remained unchanged since 2015/2016. 4. Review fees and charges annually seeking to progressively reduce the operating loss of the ferry operations, commencing from the 2023/2024 financial year via the 2023/2024 fees and charges to be drafted as a part of the Integrated Planning and Reporting suite of documents. 5. Maintain the Hibbard Ferry operating hours that were introduced in 2021 and fund the additional $30,000 ferry operating expense via an increase in fees and charges from 2023/2024. 6. Increase the period of two-person operation of the Settlement Point Ferry to include the hours of 10.00am-3.00pm Monday to Friday to improve navigation safety and enhance operating efficiency. 7. Trial for a period of two months a one-person operation on Settlement Point Ferry between the hours of 7.00am-7.45am and 5.15pm-6.00pm Monday to Friday as these hours are expected to be manageable with a one-person operation. 8. Note that implementation of parts 6 and 7 of the recommendation will result in a two-person operation of the Settlement Point Ferry between the hours of 7.45am-5.15pm Monday to Friday. 9. Receive a report at the conclusion of the trial period for the purposes of determining whether the amended two-person operating hours should be made permanent. 10. Advocate to Transport for NSW with regard to transfer of ferry management to NSW or a financial contribution from the NSW Government for ferry operations, to reduce the financial burden of the service on the General Fund of Council as most ferry operations across NSW are fully funded and managed by the NSW Government.
carried: 9/0 For: Edwards, Griffiths, Intemann, Lipovac, Maltman, Pinson, Roberts, Sheppard and Slade Against: Nil |
That Council: 1. Note the information contained in this report. 2. Adopt a Tree Management Budget increase of $620,000 as described in the report for inclusion in the draft 2023/2024 Operational Plan 3. Confirm a $920,000 per annum budget allocation for Tree Management for inclusion in future budgets as described in the report for inclusion in the draft 2024/2025 Operational Plan and outer years.
carried: 9/0 For: Edwards, Griffiths, Intemann, Lipovac, Maltman, Pinson, Roberts, Sheppard and Slade Against: Nil |
Item 11.03 Management of Public Spaces Policy, has been addressed previously within the meeting.
Item 11.05 COVID-19 Recovery and Stimulus Projects Update, has been addressed previously within the meeting.
Item 11.06 Recreation Action Plan - Post Exhibition, has been addressed previously within the meeting.
Item 11.07 Draft Charter Port Macquarie Hastings Sporting Fund Sub Committee, has been addressed previously within the meeting.
That Council: 1. Note the progress report, October to December 2022 for the Community Inclusion Plan 2022 - 2025. 2. Endorse a change of reporting frequency on the Community Inclusion Plan from quarterly to six (6) monthly, with the next report August 2023.
carried: 9/0 For: Edwards, Griffiths, Intemann, Lipovac, Maltman, Pinson, Roberts, Sheppard and Slade Against: Nil |
Item 13.02 Update on Site Specific Planning Proposal Requests - Biannual Report, has been addressed previously within the meeting.
Item 13.03 Waiver of water supply development charges for Guulabaa Tourism Precinct, has been addressed previously within the meeting.
Item 13.05 Classification of Land to be Acquired by Council - Kendall Road, Kendall, has been addressed previously within the meeting.
Item 13.06 Works Depot Renewal Project, has been addressed previously within the meeting.
Item 13.08 Policy Review - Amended Liquid Trade Waste Policy with Department Planning & Environment Changes - Post Public Exhibition, has been addressed previously within the meeting.
Item 13.09 Draft Parking Policy and Management Plan 2023 for Public Exhibition, has been addressed previously within the meeting.
1. That pursuant to section 10A subsections 2 & 3 and 10B of the Local Government Act 1993 (as amended), the press and public be excluded from the proceedings of the Confidential Session of Council on the basis that items to be considered are of a confidential nature. 2. That Council move into Closed Session to receive and consider the following items Item 14.01 Supply of Electricity Contracts This item is considered confidential under Section 10A(2)(d(i)) of the Local Government Act 1993, as it contains commercial information of a confidential nature that would, if disclosed, prejudice the commercial position of the person who supplied it. 3. That the resolutions made by Council in Confidential Session be made public as soon as practicable after the conclusion of the Confidential Session and such resolutions be recorded in the Minutes of the Council Meeting.
carried: 9/0 For: Edwards, Griffiths, Intemann, Lipovac, Maltman, Pinson, Roberts, Sheppard and Slade Against: Nil
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That Council note the report and maintain the confidentiality of the considerations in respect to the supply of electricity contracts.
carried: 9/0 For: Edwards, Griffiths, Intemann, Lipovac, Maltman, Pinson, Roberts, Sheppard and Slade Against: Nil |
RESOLVED: Sheppard/Edwards
That the Council Meeting be re-opened to the public
carried: 9/0
For: Edwards, Griffiths, Intemann, Lipovac, Maltman, Pinson, Roberts, Sheppard and Slade
Against: Nil
The outcomes of the Confidential Session of the Ordinary were read to the meeting by the Group Manager Governance.
The meeting closed at 4:40pm |
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Peta Pinson
Mayor