Summary of Extraordinary Council Meeting

Published on 24 June 2022

An Extraordinary Council Meeting of Snowy Monaro Regional Council was held Thursday 23 June 2022 in Cooma.

Council has approved the integrated planning and reporting program for the next four years of council. 

The council will now progress to the second stage of consultation for a Special Rate Variation (SRV). Financial sustainability and improving funding the maintenance of the community assets, especially roads and facilities, is a priority of this council. 

Discussed at Meeting:

5.1.1     Post-Exhibition Report - Long-Term Financial Plan

That the long term financial plan be adopted:

1. Noting the financial planning and sustainability policy and principles addresses the concerns of many of the submissions in regards to the Council continually seeking opportunities to become more efficient and effective.
2. Note that this is the first stage on an ongoing process of consultation leading to a solution to the resourcing of the services and infrastructure desired by the community, not a final decision.
3. Commence the process of developing information to support community engagement on the SRV required to sustainably resource the existing infrastructure.
4. Including an item in the operational plan to review the oncosting methodology to ensure that current costs are accurately reflected in the services and projects reliant on specific purpose revenue.
5. Changing the reference in the first principle point from the community strategic plan to the delivery plan to more accurately reflect the connection between the documents.

Cr Castellari highlighted that the motion contains nothing binding in terms of a Special Rate Variation that the process followed to get to this point was sound and that Council wants to get the region and finances on track. The document before Council demonstrates we are managing effectively, meeting expectations and have the required tolerances for expenditure.

Cr Stewart expressed his concerns with the financial plan, highlighting his belief that Council should take an explicit position on which rate increase we as an organisation prefer, rather than presenting options and letting the public decide.

Cr Hopkins suggested an amendment added so Councillors would receive a monthly report on budget savings and that these savings are used to address budget deficit.

Cr Stewart spoke against amendment, as he believed the monthly financial report was sufficient. Didn’t see the need for additional process, staff wage costs, and additional strain on valuable staff time. Stressed the Councillors focus on improving organisation efficiency.

CFO suggested it would be more appropriate to deal with it in the budget, not LTFP.

Cr Summers commended staff’s work, saying it can’t be understated how important this is for Council.

Motion passed with Councillors Frolich and Stewart against. Cr Last absent.

5.1.2    Post-Exhibition Report - Delivery Program 2022-2026, Operational Plan 2022-2023, Revenue Policy 2022-2023, Fees and Charges 2022-2023

That Council:

A.Adopt the 2022-26 Delivery Program, with the following amendments to the Draft:

1.    Amend Page 39 of Draft DP doc: 1st sentence: add “& divestment” to the end of the sentence.

2.    Amend Page 40 of Draft DP doc: Timeframe table: Both Row 1 & Row 2 should have ticks in all four of the year boxes. (Indicating progressive, ongoing carriage).

3.   Amend Page 41 remove measure “60% Council buildings maintained to an asset condition level <= 4”.

4.   Amend Page 42 Delete the measure text “< ten complaints of illegal activity against compliance with POMs”; -

5.    Include investigate funding opportunities to develop a Climate Resilience Strategy. This action to be included in year one of the Delivery Program and 2022-2023 Operational Plan as an action.

6.   Include scope a parking gaps analysis for Cooma as part of the 2022-2026 Delivery Program, to be funded within existing budgets.

7.    Include project scope a Cooma and Cooma Back Creek beautification project as part of year one Delivery Program, to be funded within existing budgets.

B.   Adopt the 2022-2023 Operational Plan, including the annual budget, with the following amendments to the Draft:

1.     Include action in the 2022-2023 Operational Plan to seek costings for digitisation of records.

2.    Included project scope a Cooma and Cooma Back Creek beautification project as part of the 2022-2023 Operational Plan, to be funded within existing budgets.

3.    Include investigate funding opportunities to develop a climate resilience strategy. This action to be included in 2022-2023 Operational Plan as an action, and funded from existing budgets.

4.   Amend Page 26 of Draft doc: 1st sentence: Please add “& divestment” to the end of the sentence.

5.   Remove $000’s from operating expenditure column title on page 15.

6.   REMOVED: Remove duplication - Actions table - 7th row:

7.   Amend actions table 4th row: Measure text should read: “Project plan is completed and key stakeholders identified.”

8.   Remove duplication - Actions table 2nd row on page 26

9.   Referring to the end results of a project which is yet to be completed, the PoMs; The measure “<10 complaints received of illegal activity” on page 26

10.  Remove measure “60% Council buildings maintained to an asset condition level <= 4” from actions table 1st row: 

11.   Amend 2nd bullet point after delivery program principal activities, should read: “Prepare a project plan for the streamlining of access to key public and operational sites.”

C.   Adopt the 2022-23 Revenue Policy as placed on public exhibition.

D.   Adopt the 2022-2023 Schedule of Fees and Charges, in accordance with section 608 of the Local Government Act 1993, as placed on exhibition, with the following amendments to the Draft:

1.     Amend the Delegate Sportsground annual fees and charges to the following:

2.        Amend the Michelago Hall hire fees to the following:

(i)        A flat fee per hour: $12.00

(ii)       Refundable deposit bond: $160.00                          

(iii)      (no longer distinguishing between community or commercial)

(iv)      Private evening / Party function: $215.00

(v)       Refundable deposit bond: $250.00

(vi)      Requests for hire of equipment such as tables, chairs, kitchen, etc. to be  arranged on a case-by-case basis with the committee.

3.        Amend the Bombala Showground fees to the following:

(i)         Delete, use of stove and hire of wooden trestles.

(ii)       Chairs, tables, crockery be noted as (outside hire).

(iii)      Amend to round off fees to the nearest 5 cents.

E.    Making of the Levy of Ordinary Rates for Snowy Monaro Regional Council

1. For the year 2022/2023, in accordance with Section 518 of the Local Government Act 1993, Council make an Ordinary Rate of 0.00343401 rate in the dollar on the land value. In accordance with Section 499 of the Local Government Act 1993, Council make a base amount of $485.90 per assessment being 45.3% of the total amount payable on all rateable land categorised as Business. This rate is to be named Business.
2. For the year 2022/23, in accordance with Section 518 of the Local Government Act 1993, Council make an Ordinary Rate of 0.00858502 rate in the dollar on the land value. In accordance with Section 548 of the Local Government Act 1993, Council make a minimum amount of $1,214.80 per assessment being 2.8% of the total amount payable on all rateable land categorised as Business Electricity Generation. This rate is to be named Business Electricity Generation.
3. For the year 2022/23, in accordance with Section 515 of the Local Government Act 1993, Council make an Ordinary Rate of 0.00343401rate in the dollar on the land value. In accordance with Section 499 of the Local Government Act 1993, Council make a base amount of $485.90 per assessment being 23.9% of the total amount payable on all rateable land categorised as Farmland. This rate is to be named Farmland.
4. For the year 2022/23, in accordance with Section 517 of the Local Government Act 1993, Council make an Ordinary Rate of 0.00858502rate in the dollar on the land value. In accordance with Section 499 of the Local Government Act 1993, Council make a base amount of $1,214.80 per assessment being 0% of the total amount payable on all rateable land categorised as Mining. This rate is to be named Mining.
5. For the year 2022/23, in accordance with Section 516 of the Local Government Act 1993, Council make an Ordinary Rate of 0.00343401rate in the dollar on the land value. In accordance with Section 499 of the Local Government Act 1993, Council make a base amount of $485.90 per assessment being 49.6% of the total amount payable on all rateable land categorised as Residential. This rate is to be named Residential.

F.    Levy of Rates

1. That the rates as made be levied for the 2022/2023 year by service of a Rates and Charges Notice pursuant to section 546 of the Local Government Act 1993.

G.   Interest

1. In accordance with section 566(3) of the Local Government Act, it has been determined that   the maximum rate of interest payable on overdue rates and charges for the period 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023 (inclusive) will be 6.0% per annum.

H.   Works to reducing the approved deficit budget to a balanced budget if possible.

Motion amended to add E to H re Making of the Levy of Ordinary Rates

Motion passed with Councillors Frolich and Stewart against.

5.1.3     Resourcing Strategy

That Council:

A.    Endorse the Snowy Monaro Workforce Management Strategy as a component of the Resourcing Strategy

B.    Adopt the Snowy Monaro Asset Management Policy as a component of the Resourcing Strategy

C.    Adopt the Snowy Monaro Asset Management Strategy as a component of the Resourcing Strategy

D.   Adopt the Snowy Monaro Asset Management Plans for each class of assets as components of the Resourcing Strategy.

Cr Castellari: commended staff on their work and speed of work

Motion passed with Cr Frolich against.