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A snapshot from the City of Whyalla ordinary meeting on Monday, May 20, 2019.
PUBLIC QUESTION TIME: No questions received before the Monday, May 20, 2019, noon cut off.
YOUTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE: Zoe Ritchie gave an update of YAC activities.
EXECUTIVE
Elected Member’s Recognition Policy: A recommendation was made to adopt an Elected Members Recognition Policy that would formally recognise both current and past Councillors. This recommendation was carried unanimously.
CORPORATE
Procurement of energy: The Local Government Association has undertaken procurement of an energy plan on behalf of all South Australian Councils. It was revealed this plan, if adopted, may result in substantial savings for the City of Whyalla over three years. A recommendation that Council, in exercising its right to participate in this plan, delegate authority to Council CEO Chris Cowley to sign or reject this procurement of power plan for the period between January 1, 2020 to December 2025 was carried unanimously.
CITY GROWTH
Reconciliation Action Plan: A draft of Council’s ‘Reflect’ Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) was presented to elected members to endorse and further progress the plan. A recommendation that Council endorse the draft RAP, and forward it to Reconciliation Australia for review, was carried unanimously.
Community Amenity Project: Council received $183,000 in funding from the State Government to create an urban design project. After Norton Park in Whyalla Stuart was identified as the most suitable site for this project, extensive public consultation was conducted to ratify this decision and decide what the community would like to see in a redevelopment of this park. A report detailing the community’s wishes and a recommendation that Council approve Norton Park as the site for the Community Amenity Project was carried unanimously.
NOTICES OF MOTION
Process for sale of vacant land: Councillor David Knox moved a motion that a report be prepared for the July Council meeting that listed non-developed vacant land owned by Council or under its care. This report would detail the type of ownership of the land and what processes would be needed to put the land on the market. This was carried unanimously.
QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
SAPOL INTERACTION: Councillor Bill Simpson asked what interaction had occurred between Council and Police regarding action on crime in Whyalla. CEO Chris Cowley replied that there was regular interaction between Council and Police, using the example of the Community Safety Forum held last year, and while there was no formal agreement, there was ongoing interaction and exchanges. Mayor Clare McLaughlin added that an example of this interaction with Police was on show with the official opening of a Youth Central hub at Westland Shopping Centre last week.
STUDENT PARKING: In light of Edward John Eyre High School students using the nearby dog park parking for their vehicles, Councillor David Knox asked what considerations were being made by the State Government for student and parent car parking at the new $100m high school. Council CEO Chris Cowley replied that Council was urging the State Government to include student and parent car parking within the new high school precinct.
COMMUNITY GARDEN: In regard to unused Council land in the city, Councillor Soto Stuppos asked if any of this land could be put aside for a community garden. Council CEO Chris Cowley agreed this would be a good use of this land and it would be considered in consultation with interested community organisations that would be prepared to run and maintain such a garden.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Ageing and Disability Advisory Group: A recommendation was made that Council accept the minutes of the Ageing and Disability Advisory Group Meeting held in April and the recommendations from this meeting be adopted. These recommendations are contained in a report with the Council meeting agenda. This recommendation was carried unanimously.
AUDIT COMMITTEE
Audit Committee minutes: Several recommendations were made at the May 6 Audit Committee meeting. They included:
- That Council receive the minutes of the meeting and adopt the Audit Committee’s Terms of Reference. This was carried unanimously.
- That Council commence the sale of land for non-payment of rates in accordance with Section 184 of the Local Government Act 1999; and that notification be provided to ratepayers, who are in arrears of more than three years, of Council’s intent to commence the sale of land unless suitable arrangements are entered into. This was carried unanimously.
- That Council adopt the Budget Review for the period ended March 31, 2019 and that the 2018/19 Annual Business Plan and Budget and Long Term Financial Plan be amended to reflect variances. This was carried unanimously.
- That Council release the draft 2019/20 Annual Business Plan and Budget and draft 2019/20 Fees and Charges register for public consultation.This was carried unanimously.
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.