April 2024 Council Meeting wrap

April 2024 Council Meeting wrap

Last updated on 26 April 2024

The following matters were considered and endorsed at the April 2024 Council Meeting:

Recurring grant programs – Updates to Council’s Community Grants Policy were endorsed, in addition to guidelines for the next iteration of several recurring Council grant programs for 2024-25 including Events & Festivals, Community Funding Scheme and Small Project Grants.

In the 2023-24 financial year, close to $300,000 was provided across 49 successful applications through these three key grant programs alone, supporting community groups to organise grassroots events, deliver infrastructure upgrades and provide resources to achieve their goals.

In 2024-25, these grant programs will continue alongside annual Australia Day Grants, Environment Support Group Grants and the Neighbourhood House Funding Program, with the latter consistent with the updated Neighbourhood House Policy endorsed at the March 2024 Council Meeting.

More information on each grant stream and criteria for 2024-25 will be provided on the respective grant pages on Council’s website.

Romsey Electronic Gaming Machine Application ─ In considering an independent Social and Economic Impact Assessment (SEIA) and community feedback, Council endorsed a submission to the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) opposing the application for 50 electronic gaming machines at 90-94 Main Street in Romsey (Romsey Hotel).

In considering the submission, Council noted that:

the SEIA outlining that the proposal would have a net detriment of 0.66 on the wellbeing of the community under the ‘no net detriment test’ (a result below 1 (<1) indicates a negative impact, a result above 1 (>1) indicates no detriment has been concluded) a community survey commissioned by Council – conducted by an independent company – received 1493 responses, with 60.36 per cent of respondents believing 50 electronic gaming machines in the Romsey township would have a negative impact on the broader community and 59.93 per cent of respondents not supporting the application.

The VGCCC will consider the application – including Council’s submission – at a hearing commencing 21 May 2024.

2023-24 Capital Works Carry Forwards – Council endorsed that 38 projects be carried forward to the 2024-25 Budget for progression, ensuring funding surety for the delivery of a range of essential projects or for ongoing planning work.

Projects are carried forward for a variety of reasons including to correspond with external grant applications, to adapt to changes in market conditions, or to manage the projects spanning across multiple years to better line up with other work being completed by Council or externally.

Special Charge Scheme – Council adopted an updated Special Charge Scheme (SCS) for Infrastructure Works Policy to better guide future infrastructure projects such as resident-funded upgrading of roads and drainage, following a period of community consultation in February this year.

The Policy outlines the decision-making process and criteria for SCS projects where providing these services or infrastructure items is deemed to provide a special benefit to property owners or certain community members. The policy has also been streamlined to speed up the decision process and eliminate repetitive resident surveying.

Council received one submission on the draft Policy during community consultation, which was responded to and outlined in the Agenda report. No changes were made to the Policy as a result.

----

Video recordings of past Council meetings are available at webcast.mrsc.vic.gov.au (generally available within two business days of a meeting).