Council Meeting Snapshot - 12 August 2020

Council Meeting Snapshot - 12 August 2020

Published on 14 August 2020

To keep our community up to date with key Council decisions, outcomes and plans; here is a snapshot summary from Council’s Wednesday 12 August 2020 ordinary meeting.

Vibrant Communities Bellbird Park Landscape Plan

Council noted the feedback received on the Draft Bellbird Park Landscape Plan and thanked the community for their input. Council adopted the Bellbird Park Landscape Plan and the location of the proposed new multi-use pavilion and carpark.

Council also resolved to commence the detailed design of the new carpark in consultation with the Project Reference Group and neighbouring residents. The design will be referred to future budget processes.

Thriving Economy Glen Cromie Caravan Park Lease

Council awarded a 21-year lease for the Council Freehold titles Volume 9562 Folio 868 and Volume 8134 Folio 628 known as Glen Cromie Caravan Park to Mary and Mark Shattock, with a current commencement date of 25 August 2020.

Council authorised the Chief Executive Officer to execute the lease and relevant documents for the new lease to commence and notify each submitter of Council's decision. 

Safe and Sustainable Environments Panel Report for Planning Scheme Amendment C131 : Longwarry, Neerim South and Trafalgar Design and Development Overlays (Implementation of Urban Design Frameworks)

Council adopted Planning Scheme Amendment C131 generally as per the Panel Report; with changes to the additional mapping that forms part of Schedule 11 to the Design and Development Overlay for the reasons outlined below: 

a. Delete the Bennett St Park, Longwarry key pedestrian connection.

Strategic justification:  There is no prescriptive reference to any key pedestrian connection, as there are no connections or access points, and the location is a very low pedestrian use area.

b. Include a new key pedestrian connection from the Longwarry Train Station to the west side of Princess Avenue.

Strategic justification: i. This connection is between the Train Station and the northern residential area. ii. It highlights a safety concern with pedestrians crossing at a complex busy intersection. iii. It is in a high pedestrian use area, especially at peak traffic times.  iv. It aligns with Submission 7 from the Department of Transport outlining planned Gippsland V/Line upgrades that include construction of a second platform at Longwarry Train Station north side and some amenity works.

c. Include a key pedestrian connection from the Longwarry Train Station to the west side of Kennedy St.

Strategic justification:  i. This connection is between the Train Station and public transport interchange with the Kennedy St retail precinct, the southern residential area and sporting recreational area. ii. It highlights a safety concern with pedestrians crossing at a complex and busy intersection. iii. It is in a high pedestrian use area, especially at peak traffic times. iv. It aligns with Submission 7 from the Department of Transport, outlining planned Gippsland V/Line upgrades that include construction of a second platform at Longwarry Train Station north side and some amenity works.

Organisational Excellence Hardship Policy COVID-19 Addendum

Council endorsed the Hardship Policy COVID-19 Addendum as part of its stage 2 response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A copy of the policy and an application form can be found here.

Community Asset Committees

Council rescinded the Instruments of Delegation and Special Committees, which were established under Section 86 of the Local Government Act 1989 and resolved to establish Community Asset Committees under Section 65 of the Local Government Act 2020.

Council appointed the existing committee members to the newly established Community Asset Committees and delegated the power to approve future committee member appointments to the Chief Executive Officer. Council also endorsed , the updated Instrument of Delegation template for Council Community Asset Committees, to be executed by the Chief Executive Officer as per the Local Government Act 2020.

Audit Committee Charter and Membership

Council rescinded the existing Audit Committee established under Section 139 of the Local Government Act 1989 and established an Audit and Risk Committee in accordance with Section 53(1) of the Local Government Act 2020. 

Council also adopted the attached Audit and Risk Committee Charter and appointed the existing members Ms Theresa Glab and Mr David Ashmore to the Audit and Risk Committee in line with their existing terms and appointed Mr Jonathan Kyvelidis to the Audit and Risk Committee for a period of three years with a further three year option.

Council acknowledged the contributions from Mr Tony Duff and Dr A.J Purcell for their tenure on the previous audit committee and resolved to write a letter of thanks to both members acknowledging their contribution to the Committee.

Governance Rules

Council rescinded the Baw Baw Shire Council Meeting Procedure Local Law, Community Participation Time Policy and Election Period Policy.

Council adopted the Governance Rules, which were created in accordance with the Local Government Act 2020, with an amendment to section 63.3 as follows: 'Every petition to Council must be in writing (other than pencil), typed, printed, or provided via the means of an online form on the Baw Baw Shire website. The petition must contain the request of the petitioners or signatories and be signed by more than 12 people', and supersede the prior policies.’

Public Transparency Policy

Council adopted the Public Transparency Policy, which has been created in accordance with Section 57 and 58 of the Local Government Act 2020.

Council Expense Policy

Council rescinded the Councillor and Audit Committee Expenses and Entitlements Policy 2020 and Election Period Policy adopted by Council at its meeting on 11 March 2020 and adopted the Council Expense Policy, which is created in accordance with the Local Government Act 2020.

Delegated Committee Policy

Council adopted the Delegated Committee Policy, which was created in accordance with the Local Government Act 2020.

What's next?

The next Council meeting will be from 5.30pm on Wednesday 26 August at the West Gippsland Arts Centre. At this meeting the final Annual Budget and key documents will be presented to Council for adoption. 

As of 11.59pm on Wednesday 5 August 2020, Council meetings are no longer open to members of the public for a period of 6 weeks due to COVID-19 and Stage 3 Stay at Home restrictions in regional Victoria. Meetings will remain available to the public via live stream, and community submissions can be made in writing.

The agenda for the next meeting will be available online the Friday prior to the meeting.