Highlights of the September 22 Ordinary Council Meeting

View the September 22 Ordinary Council Meeting agenda and attachments

Mayoral Minutes

General Manager's Performance Review

Council endorsed the Review Panel’s assessment of the General Manager’s performance as ‘Excellent’ with an overall rating of 8.64 out of 10, noting that the majority of KPI’s were assessed as areas of strength.

Local heroes recognised

That Council convey congratulations to Gretel Kempster, Michael Kean and Community Radio 2ARM on their 2021 New England/Northern Inland Volunteer of the Year Awards and their valuable contributions to community as volunteers.

ARC Support for change program

That Council convey its support of the current initiative to establish a First Nations Men’s Behavioural Change Program and the Mayor of the day be Council’s delegate to the Taskforce.

Future contributions at risk

That Council make urgent representations to the NSW Government conveying Council’s opposition to the proposed legislative changes to developer infrastructure contributions and requesting that the Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Infrastructure Contributions) Bill as it stands be withdrawn.

This proposed change could reduce the type of community infrastructure that could be funded by developer contributions; no guarantee that money would be directed back into projects into local areas where the levies had been collected; dictate to Councils on what and how they spend their contributions.

 

Performance Improvement Order extended

Correspondence was received from the Minister for Local Government advising the intention to vary the Performance Improvement Order (PIO) following the postponement of the election. This included: Extending the term of the financial controller to 3 December 2021; Extending the role of the temporary advisor to 3 December 2021; Seeking a further update on adherence to the PIO by 4 December 2021. This was noted and carried by Council.

Community to set the vision

Council endorsed the project overview and engagement program for the review and rebuild of the Council’s Integrated Planning and Reporting suit of strategic documents. This includes the upcoming consultation on the Review of the Community Strategic Plan, a requirement following the election of a new Council.

Phase 1 of the community engagement program will be conducted from October through to November 2021. Further phases will be conducted in the New Year after the new Council is elected.

Council also added that the community strategic plan should be based on recognition of climate change as an overarching risk across all elements of the quadruple bottom line and appropriate mitigation and adaptation responses be outlined in the plan and embedded in the process.

And requested the ARMIDALE PLAN 2040 (Masterplan Final Report), forum discussions and public submissions (omitting any that requested confidentiality) be made available on Council's website.

Draft REZ policy supports local control

Council endorses the draft Renewable Energy Zone Policy for public exhibition for comment for a period of 28 days from Friday 24 September.

Council requested that a Renewable Energy Zone Policy be drafted and brought back to Council for consideration. Constructive Energy are a renewable energy strategy and management firm and were engaged to work in tandem with the Project Control Group (PCG) to develop the Renewable Energy Zone Policy. Feedback and input on the draft Renewable Energy Zone Policy was provided during a workshop with a sub-committee of Councillors. The Renewable Energy Zone Policy represents the first part of a policy framework that is needed to clearly articulate Councils role and objectives in relation to the New England Renewable Energy Zone.

Local community projects supported

Council endorsed the following applications to be submitted for this funding.

Lower Creek Community Hall and Evacuation Centre$940,000 Ebor Trout Fishing Competition – 2022 & 2023$60,000 The Big Chill Festival 2022 & 2023$400,000 Portable Stage & Exhibition$200,000 Guyra Preschool & Long Day Care Centre$3,818,239 New England Rail Trail$10,000,000 Applies for $465,000 for a 2-year pilot 'Healthy Winter Air' project and employ a specialist Education Officer Road closure proposed

Council resolved to place the proposed closure of the unformed Council road – Wheat Street, Ben Lomond, on public exhibition for a minimum of 28 days.

We want your thoughts… To see what’s currently on public exhibition and to have your say on the important issues affecting the region, visit  Your say Armidale

Published on 22 Sep 2021