Council Meeting Wrap 27-1-2022

Published on 28 January 2022

REPORTS

Change to meeting practices

Council voted to put an amended Code of Meeting Practice Policy on public display. Under the new Code, Councillors would no longer have to identify a funding source for expenditure or identify legal or strategic implications when putting forward a Notice of Motion. 15-minute public forums at the start and end of the meeting proper have also been introduced, and attending meetings via video link will no longer be allowed after June 30. The changes can be found from page 35 of this month's business papers, and submissions from the public can be made here.

Change of scope for library

Councillors and staff will hold a workshop to gain a better understanding of proposed new plans for the library project. Council will also write to relevant ministers to inform them that Council has withdrawn its own funds ($6 million) from the project, and to seek to redirect government funding already received (Federal $8.9 million, State $2.9 million) to a library/archives project with a smaller scope. Council will also write to Federal Member Marc Coulton and ask that he lobbies for the revised plan.

Council rejects refugee motion

Council voted against a suggestion that it should table a motion at the upcoming LGNSW Annual Conference to lobby for regional councils to implement strategies to resettle refugees. A motion will instead be tabled requesting that Local Government NSW lobbies the Minister for Transport and Transport NSW to re-introduce reduced speed zones around all NSW childcare centres and long day-care centres to ensure the safety of families and young children attending the centres.

EP O'Neill tour

Councillors will undertake a tour of EP O'Neill Park to gain a better understanding of the upcoming refurbishment of the sporting complex. A workshop will also be held with the project's design firm, Barnsdon Pty Ltd, in future.

Report on staffing

Council received a report on staffing levels, showing that Council was projected to save $389,601 in the 2021-22 financial due to difficulty in securing staff in a number of roles. However, the saving will be somewhat offset by negative impacts to Council service delivery due to a lack of staff to complete required work.

CWA mural decision explained

Councillors received a report outlining why a mural proposed by CWA was rejected by a panel under Council's Public Art Policy. Although the panel noted the chosen artist's excellence in contemporary art, it was unable to recommend the mural as there no was visual mock up draft of the proposed artwork submitted, and no information on the mural's proposed colours or lifespan was submitted.

CONFIDENTIAL

Green light for new airline

Councillors voted in favour of entering negotiations with a new airline to offer flights out of Broken Hill. Details of the new partnership remain commercial in confidence until an agreement is finalised, however Council hopes to announce details in the coming weeks. Any commercial incentive offered to the new airline to help them get established in Broken Hill will be also negotiated with the city's current air transport provider in the interest of fairness and equity.