Ordinary Council Meeting Summary: Thursday 16 February 2023
Published on 17 February 2023
All councillors attended the meeting in person in Bombala.
There were two speakers in the public forum. Mick Newman on 9.1.1 - Combatting Anti-social behaviour and Activating spaces - Graffiti management grant acceptance of funding, and Michael Freeman on motions from the Snowy Monaro Residents and Ratepayers Association.
Matters dealt with by exception (approved unanimously in the pre-meeting briefing)
7.1 [Adoption of Minutes from the] Ordinary Council Meeting held on 15 December 2022
7.2 [Adoption of Minutes from the] Closed Session of the Ordinary Council Meeting held on 15 December 2022
7.3 [Adoption of Minutes from the] Extraordinary Council Meeting held on 30 January 2023
9.2.1 Monthly Funds Management Report - December 2022
That Council
- Receive the report indicating Council’s cash and investments position as at 31 December 2022; and
- Receive the certificate of the Responsible Accounting Officer.
9.2.2 Monthly Funds Management Report – January 2023
That Council
- Receive the report indicating Council’s cash and investments position as at 31 January 2023; and
- B. Receive the certificate of the Responsible Accounting Officer.
9.3.3 Decision on the Administration of the 2024 Council Election
That Council
- Pursuant to s. 296(2) and (3) of the Local Government Act 1993 (NSW) (“the Act”) that an election arrangement be entered into by contract for the Electoral Commissioner to administer all elections of the Council.
- Pursuant to s. 296(2) and (3) of the Act, as applied and modified by s. 18, that a council poll arrangement be entered into by contract for the Electoral Commissioner to administer all council polls of the Council.
- Pursuant to s. 296(2) and (3) of the Act, as applied and modified by s. 18, that a constitutional referendum arrangement be entered into by contract for the Electoral Commissioner to administer all constitutional referenda of the Council.
9.5.2 Answers to Questions with Notice
That Council receive the answers to questions with notice for the period ending January 2023.
10.1 Minutes from Management and Advisory Committees
That Council receive the minutes of the Bombala Exhibition Ground Management Committee.
10.2 Draft Minutes - Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee 12 December 2022
That Council receive and note the Draft Minutes of the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee meeting held on 12 December 2022.
10.3 Minutes of the 17 November 2022 Snowy Monaro Region Biosecurity (Weeds) Advisory Committee
That Council receive the minutes from the Snowy Monaro Region Biosecurity (Weeds) Advisory Committee meeting held on 17 November 2022.
14.1 Legal Actions and Potential Claims Against SMRC as at 31 January 2023
That Council receive and note the information in the Legal Actions and Potential Claims Against SMRC as at 31 January 2023 report.
Matters discussed at Snowy Monaro Regional Council Meeting – 16 February 2023
9.1 Operations
9.1.1 Combatting Anti-Social Behaviour and Activating Spaces - Graffiti Management Grant Acceptance of Funding
That Council
A. Accept the funding amount of $100,000 under the NSW Government Graffiti Management grant program;
B. Allocate $65,000 to the 2022/23 budget and the remaining $35,000 to the 2023/2024 budget; and
C. Add the delivery of the combatting anti-social behaviour and activating spaces – graffiti management as an activity to Council’s 2022-2026 Delivery Program and 2022-2023 Operational Plan.
Moved: Cr Frolich Seconded: Cr Johnson
Motion passed with Cr Williamson voting against.
9.1.2 Regional and Local Road Repair Program Acceptance of Funding
That Council
A. Accept the funding amount of $4,844,320 under the NSW Government Regional and Local Road Repair Program; and
B. Allocate all the funding to the 23/24 budget.
Moved: Cr Hanna Seconded: Cr Mitchell
After significant debate and clarification from executive staff, the original recommendation, as detailed above, was put as an amendment, which was adopted.
That Council
A. Accept the funding amount of $4,844,320 under the NSW Government Regional and Local Road Repair Program; and
B. Allocate $200,000 to the 2022/23 budget and the remaining $2,844,320 to the 23/24 budget.
Moved: Cr Stewart Seconded: Cr Summers
Motion passed with Crs Hopkins, Hanna and Williamson voting against.
9.2 Finance
9.2.3 Quarterly Budget Review Statement (QBRS) to 31 December 2022
That Council:
- receive the Quarterly Budget Review Statement for the quarter ended 31 December 2022 and approve the variations noted therein.
- receive a report on the establishment on a financial review committee.
Moved: Cr Summers Seconded: Cr Higgins
There were questions about what the figures reported in this statement meant about Council’s financial position, and about the accuracy of figures and variations contained in the statement.
In her right of reply, Cr Summers expressed the view that these concerns had been sufficiently addressed by the Chief Financial Officer in the pre-meeting briefing session.
Motion passed with Crs Frolich and Williamson voting against.
9.2.4 Restricted Assets (Cash and Investments) Policy
That Council adopt the updated Restricted Assets (Cash & Investments) Policy.
Moved: Cr Summers Seconded: Cr Hopkins
Motion passed with Cr Hanna absent.
9.3 Strategy
9.3.1 Organisational Performance Report - February 2023
That Council:
- Note the progress outlined in the report.
- Amend the 2022-2023 Operational Plan to remove the Cooma Water Treatment Plant weir and fishway upgrades and defer the commencement of the project to the 2023-2024 Operational Plan, and completion of the project to the 2024-2025 Operational Plan.
- Amend the 2022-2023 Operational Plan to remove the 22-23 resealing program with existing funds to be utilised for heavy patching in readiness for the 2023-2024 resealing program.
Moved: Cr Beer Seconded: Cr Mitchell
Motion passed with Crs Hopkins and Hanna voting against.
9.3.2 Donations and Sponsorship - Michelago Hall Committee Request to Redirect Funds
That Council approve the request from the Michelago Hall and Tennis Courts Management Committee to redirect Donation and Sponsorship funding to resealing of the hall floors.
Moved: Cr Higgins Seconded: Cr Johnson
Motion passed with Cr Hopkins voting against.
9.3.4 Create a bank of Council approved road names for productivity gains within Strategy portfolio
That Council endorse the commencement of the community consultation and engagement from 2023/24.
Moved: Cr Beer Seconded: Cr Frolich
Cr Hopkins suggested an amendment that the consultation be delayed until July 2023, and this initiative be included in the 2023/24 Operational Plan.
Motion passed unanimously.
9.3.5 Road Naming Proposal for Three Rivers Estate subdivision
That Council endorse the proposed road names Matruk Close, Warragang Close and Bungadhung Way to:
A. be publicly advertised for a period of 28 days in the Monaro Post.
B. go to the Geographical Names Board for pre-approval.
Moved: Cr Frolich Seconded: Cr Mitchell
Motion passed with Crs Williamson, Stewart and Higgins voting against.
9.3.6 Managing Conflicts of Interest for Council-Related Development Policy
That Council adopt the Managing Conflicts of Interest for Council-Related Development Policy.
Moved: Cr Hanna Seconded: Cr Summers
Motion passed with Crs Williamson and Frolich voting against.
9.3.7 Proposed re-establishment of Alcohol Free Zones and Alcohol Prohibited Areas in Cooma and Jindabyne
That Council re-establish Alcohol Free Zones and Alcohol Prohibited Areas in Cooma and Jindabyne for a period of four years.
Moved: Cr Beer Seconded: Cr Mitchell
Motion passed with Cr Williamson voting against.
9.4 Communications
9.4.1 Applications for Event Funding Support
That Council
1. Approve the event funding applications outlined below and within the report in accordance with the adopted Funding Support for Events Policy:
a) Snowy Classic - $5000
b) Michelago Gymkhana – $250 in retrospect for their event held 28 – 29 January 2023
c) Numeralla Folk festival - $2000 in retrospect for the event held 27 – 29 January 2023
2. A complete application for the Lake Light Sculpture be requested for assessment.
Moved: Cr Hopkins Seconded: Cr Hanna
Cr Hopkins moved an amended version of the motion listed in the business paper, removing part two that would have awarded Lake Light Sculpture $7000.
Following discussion, the motion was further amended to request a completed funding application from Lake Light Sculpture, before deciding whether to approve any funding for the event.
Motion passed with Cr Williamson voting against.
9.5 Executive Office
9.5.1 Resolution Action Sheet Update
That Council receive the resolution updates for the period ending January 2023.
Moved: Cr Hopkins Seconded: Cr Summers
Motion passed with Cr Frolich voting against and Cr Beer absent.
9.5.3 Australian Local Government Association - Notice of Motions for National General Assembly 2023
That Council
A. Determine whether it wishes to submit Notice of Motions for the National General Assembly 2023; and
B. Authorise the Mayor and CEO to attend the NGA – 13 to 15 June 2023 in Canberra.
Moved: Cr Higgins Seconded: Cr Mitchell
Motion passed with Crs Frolich and Williamson voting against.
11 Notice of motion
11.1 Notice of Motion to Rescind Resolution 7/23 Item 6.1.2 Application to Lodge a Special Rates Variation
We hereby give notice of the following motion of rescission:
That Council resolution number 7/23, item 6.1.2 Application to Lodge a Special Rates Variation passed at the Council meeting held on 30 January 2023, be and is hereby rescinded.
Moved: Cr Stewart Seconded: Cr Frolich
Motion passed with Crs Higgins, Summers, Davis, Beer and Mitchell voting against.
The foreshadowed motion was then moved by Cr Hanna.
Cr Hanna made an amendment to the motion in the business paper, removing the stipulation ‘for the financial years FY 2023/24 and FY 2024/25 only.’
That Council lodge an application with the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal for a Special Variation inclusive of a permanent percentage increase to ordinary rates, including any rate peg allowance, as documented in Scenario Two of council's Long Term Financial Plan.
Moved: Cr Hanna Seconded: Cr Hopkins
Motion passed with Cr Williamson voting against.
13 Questions with notice
13.1 Question with Notice - Asset Accounting
That the response to the questions:
A. When did Asset Accounting for local Councils begin; and
B. Since the beginning, what is the accrued operating results for this regional Council and the three former Shire Councils?
be noted.
Moved: Cr Mitchell Seconded: Cr Hopkins
Motion passed unanimously with Cr Hanna absent.