Community Development and Services Advisory

Monday, 13 February 2017

Present

Mr David Tuxford (Director Community and Culture)

Mr Nicolas Best (Coordinator Community Development)

Mr Scott Andrew (Chairperson, Manager Community and Cultural Development)

Senior Constable Ray Kerridge (St George Local Area Command)

Ms Antoinette Chow (Advance Diversity Services)

Ms Cathy Nisbet (Kogarah Community Services)

Ms Anne Farrah-Hill (Kingsgrove Community Aid Centre)

Ms Rosemary Bishop (3 Bridges Community)

Mr Nick Aroney

Ms Annie Tang

Ms Jacinta Petroni

Ms Christina Wu

Mr Sam Stratikopoulos

Mr Colin Drane

Ms Melissa Dunn (minutes)

Apologies

Mr Lance Rickards

Disclosure of Interest

There were no disclosures of interest made.

COM001-17 Aged & Disability Activities and Programs

(Report by Community Development Officer – Ageing and Disability, Maria Athanasopoulos)

Committee Recommendation

(a) That the Committee received and noted the range of Aged and Disability activities and programs being undertaken by Council.

COM002-17 Youth Development Report on Activities

(Report by Youth Services Officer, Angus Megarrity)

Committee Recommendation

(a) That the Committee received and noted the Youth events being organised and facilitated by Council.

COM003-17 Community Grants

(Report by Coordinator Community Development, Nicolas Best)

Committee Recommendation

(a) That the Committee received and noted the report on Council’s grants programs; and

(b) That the Committee reviewed and confirmed the local priorities for the 2017 Club GRANTS round, and were given the opportunity to inform Scott Andrew of any additional areas for consideration via email by COB Wednesday 15 February.

COM004-17 Multicultural Services – Community Development Initiatives

(Report by Multicultural and Indigenous Development Officer, Jamal Bassam)

Committee Recommendation

(a) That the Committee received and noted the report on Multicultural Services – Community Development initiatives.

COM005-17 Community Safety

(Report by Community Development Officer – General, Daniela Oliveiro)

Committee Recommendation

(a) That the Committee received and noted the Community Safety report.

COM006-17 Cultural Development

(Report by Community Development Officer – Cultural Services, Arabella Lee)

Committee Recommendation

(a) That the Committee received and noted the report on Cultural Development.

COM007-17 Creation of new community reference groups

(Report by Coordinator Community Development, Nicolas Best)

Committee Recommendation

(a) That the Committee received and noted the report on the creation of new community reference groups

(b) That the Committee supports the creation of an Access Reference Group, and a Multicultural Reference Group

(c) That the Committee acknowledges that any recommendations made by reference groups must be brought to the Community Development and Services Advisory Committee for ratification

(d) That the Committee will be regularly updated on the progress of creating the reference groups

COM008-17 Georges River Council Positive Ageing Festival 2017

(Report by Aged and Disability Development Officer, Brenda Eggleton)

Committee Recommendation:

(a) That the Committee received and noted the report on Georges River Council Positive Ageing Festival.

COM009-17 Draft Venue Hire Grant Program

(Report by Manager Community and Cultural Development, Scott Andrew)

Committee Recommendation

(a) That the Committee received and noted the report on the Draft Venue Hire Grant Program

(b) That the Committee provided feedback in relation to potential issues with the Draft Venue Hire policy and raised the following suggestions for consideration:

1. That the terminology regarding “acquittals” may be confusing and misleading if no money is being exchanged, and should be amended to “progress report” or “project update”.

2. That allowances be made for smaller community groups who have budgeted for the next few years and as such, have not allocated funds for the cost of venue hire

3. That Committee members raised concerns that venue hire application may be off-putting

to community members seeking venue hire due to the complexity of the form and level

of detailed information requested

4. That Committee members were given the opportunity to further review the draft policy and provide any feedback to the Chair by COB Friday 17 February.

General Business

Plans for the future of the Community Development and Services Advisory Committee

- Members discussed the role of the Committee and how members can actively engage in advising Council on matters related to Community Development issues.

- It was suggested that the Committee may look at ways of measuring impact and evidencing outcomes of work carried out in relation to Community Development and Services.

- Members discussed setting key priorities for the year that the Committee would focus on.

- The Chair acknowledged setting priorities as a good suggestion for the future and viability of the committee, and invited members to provide him with their top 3 key priorities via email, for inclusion at the next Community Development and Services Advisory Committee meeting.

Community Development Strategic Plan

- The Committee requested information on the Community Development Strategic Plan: David Tuxford agreed to action this request by updating the Committee regarding timeframes associated with the development of the Strategic Plan as they are formulated.

- Nicholas Best informed the Committee that Council will be developing a Community Engagement Policy. This was well received by the Committee and they identified that they wish to be involved in the development of this policy.

Conclusion

The Meeting was closed at 6.32pm.

Minutes confirmed Monday, 6 March 2017.

Chairperson