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A snapshot from the City of Whyalla ordinary meeting on Monday, March 18, 2019. All councillors present.
PUBLIC QUESTION TIME: Questions were received from the Whyalla Residents and Ratepayers Association. These were answered.
YOUTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE: Zoe Ritchie gave an update of YAC activities.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S ACTION REPORT
Whyalla walking trails proposal: Councillor David Knox requested the proposed walking trails project, and other projects within the City Transformation Plan, be put back into the Chief Executive’s Action Report.
CEO’s response: CEO Chris Cowley confirmed this would happen.
CORPORATE
Budget update: A recommendation that Council receive the Budget Update report and note the impact of the proposed budget amendment on the 2019/19 Budget subject to Council decision on the Agenda items was carried unanimously.
Live-streaming meetings consideration: A report from a lawyer firm was presented on the risks and benefits associated with the implementation of audio and live-streaming of Council meetings. Advice was also obtained from Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) training attended by elected members. A recommendation that Council uphold previous Council resolution C3253-2017 “That Council cease recording of Council meetings and alter the appropriate policy to reflect this change” was carried unanimously.
Unannounced Monitoring Visit – Whyalla Child Care Centre: An unannounced audit of the Council-run Whyalla Child Care Centre was conducted under the Education and Care Regulations under Education and Care Services National Law. There were no areas of non-compliance identified from the consequent report. A general consensus from elected members was that the staff of the Child Care Centre were to be commended. A recommendation that Council receive and note the Unannounced Monitoring Visit – Whyalla Child Care Centre report and that the staff be commended on their efforts was carried unanimously.
Upper Spencer Gulf Joint Planning Board: A recommendation that Council commit to entering into an agreement with Port Pirie Regional Council and Port Augusta City Council to establish a Joint Planning Board; and allocate $28,000 to the 2019-20 budget was carried unanimously.
CORPORATE
Review of Membership and Commitments of Government Bodies: A recommendation that Council retain its membership to all of the groups identified within a report, recognising the value each has to Whyalla’s growth and prosperity for the term of the current agreements was carried unanimously.
QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
Second free dump day review: Councillor Joanne Marshall raised the issue of the line-up issues with the free dump day and the fact that one business person was unable to unload waste due to the line-up which hindered the job he was performing on the day. Cr Irene Adair raised the issue of those people that don’t drive and were therefore unable to make use of the free dump days. She suggested community skips for the day placed around the city. CEO Chris Cowley conceded there were logistic issues with both free dump days but the overall sentiment from the community was positive and more than 60 tonnes of waste was collected. He said Council officers would work with the community and take on board the feedback, on the day and via social media, to present a number of options to elected members for any future such exercises. This included the possibility of a voucher system. Mayor Clare McLaughlin welcomed this commitment to report back to elected members and thanked all staff that worked on the day.
This a brief summary of the business conducted at the meeting. The exact minutes of the meeting will be available in the near future on the council website.