Council Members
Councillor Vince Badalati (Chair), Councillor Stephen Agius (arrived at
6.06pm), Councillor Sam Elmir, Councillor Sandy Grekas, Councillor Con Hindi
(arrived at 6.10pm), Councillor Rita Kastanias, Councillor Lou Konjarski,
Councillor Nancy Liu, Councillor Colleen Symington and Councillor Warren Tegg.
Council Staff
Director Business and Corporate
Services - Mr David Tuxford, Director, Director Legal Services and
General Council – Jenny Ware, Executive Manager, People and Culture
– Fiona Campbell, Chief Financial Officer – Ms Danielle
Parker, Manager, Head of Strategic Property - Bernard Morabito, Office of
the General Manager - Ms Roxanne Thornton, Executive Assistant to Director
Business and Corporate Services – Ms Nickie Paras.
Opening
Councillor Badalati,
opened the meeting at 6:05pm
Acknowledgement of Country
Councillor Badalati
acknowledged the traditional custodians of the land, the Biddegal people of
the Eora Nation.
Apologies/Leave of Absence
There
were no apologies or requests for leave of absence.
Notice of
Webcasting
The Chairperson, Councillor Badalati advised staff
and the public that the meeting is being recorded for minute-taking purposes
and is also webcast live on Council’s website, in accordance with Section
4 of Council’s Code of Meeting Practice. This recording will be
made available on Council’s website.
Disclosures
of Interest
Councillor
Badalati disclosed a Non-Significant Non-Pecuniary Interest in relation to Item
FIN051-19 - Advice on Costs and Status of
Council's Court Proceedings - June 2019 (22 – 26 Montgomery Street, Kogarah), for the reason
that he knows the Director of the Company. Councillor Badalati will
leave the meeting during discussion and voting on this Item.
Councillor Elmir
disclosed a Non-Significant Non-Pecuniary Interest in relation to Item FIN051-19
- Advice on Costs and Status of Council's
Court Proceedings - June 2019 (22 – 26 Montgomery Street, Kogarah and 111 Gungah Bay
Road, Oatley), for the reason that he has known the Director of Icon
Construction Group Pty Limited and W K Strong Pty Ltd for a number of years. He
does not have any personal or professional dealings with them. Councillor
Elmir will leave the meeting during discussion and voting on this Item.
Councillor Elmir disclosed a Non-Significant
Non-Pecuniary Interest in relation to Item FIN054-19 - Property Matter - Classification of Public Land - Lot 1 in
DP1242704 - Part 12-22 Woniora Road Hurstville, for the reason that he has known the Director for a number of years.
He does not have any personal or professional dealings with him. Councillor
Elmir will leave the meeting during discussion and voting on this Item.
Councillor Hindi
disclosed a Non-Significant Non-Pecuniary Interest in relation to Item FIN054-19
- Property Matter - Classification of Public Land -
Lot 1 in DP1242704 - Part 12-22 Woniora Road Hurstville, for the reason that he has met the Director of Icon
Construction Group Pty Limited on a few occasions over the past few years. Councillor
Hindi will leave the meeting during discussion and voting on this Item.
Councillor
Konjarski disclosed a Non-Significant Non-Pecuniary Interest in relation to
Item FIN051-19 - Advice on Costs and Status
of Council's Court Proceedings - June 2019
(22 – 26 Montgomery Street, Kogarah),
for the reason that he knows the Director of Icon Construction Group Pty Ltd. Councillor
Konjarski will leave the meeting during discussion and voting on this Item.
Public Forum
There were no speakers registered.
Confirmation of Minutes of previous meetings
Finance and Governance Committee - 08 July 2019
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Recommendation: Councillor
Elmir and Councillor Grekas
That the Minutes of the
Finance and Governance Committee held on 08 July 2019, be confirmed.
Record of Voting
For the Motion: Unanimous
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Note: Councillor
Con Hindi arrived at the meeting at 6.10pm and therefore was not present for
consideration and voting on the Confirmation of Minutes of previous meeting.
Committee
Reports
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FIN051-19 Advice
on Costs and Status of Council's Court Proceedings - June 2019
(Report by
Director Legal Services and General Counsel)
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Recommendation: Councillor Grekas and
Councillor Tegg
(a)
That the report “Advice on Costs and Status of Council’s
Court Proceedings – June 2019”, with the exception of the matter
relating to a new Class 1 matter (22 – 26 Montgomery
Street, Kogarah, Applicant: Icon Construction Group Pty Limited, Proceedings
No: 2019/204549), be received and noted.
(b)
That company extracts be provided to all Councillors for all matters
included in all Advice on Costs and Status of Council’s Court
Proceedings reports to the Finance and Governance Standing Committee in the
future.
Record of Voting
For the Motion: Unanimous
Note: Councillor
Hindi left the meeting at 6.31pm.
Note: The
Chair, Councillor Badalati, appointed Councillor Agius as Acting Chair for
the period in which he would not be present in the meeting, having disclosed
a Non-Significant Non-Pecuniary Interest in relation to Item FIN051-19 - Advice on Costs and Status of Council's Court Proceedings
- June 2019 (22 – 26 Montgomery Street, Kogarah. Councillor
Badalati left the meeting, and Councillor Agius assumed the position of Chair,
at 6.31pm.
Note: Councillor
Elmir disclosed a Non-Significant Non-Pecuniary Interest in relation to Item FIN051-19
- Advice on Costs and Status of Council's
Court Proceedings - June 2019 (22 – 26 Montgomery Street, Kogarah).
Councillor Elmir left the meeting at 6.31pm and did not participate in
consideration or voting on Class 1 matter ’22-26 Montgomery
Street Kogarah, Proceedings No. 2019/204549.
Note: Councillor
Konjarski disclosed a Non-Significant Non-Pecuniary Interest in relation to Item
FIN051-19 - Advice on Costs and Status of
Council's Court Proceedings - June 2019
(22 – 26 Montgomery Street,
Kogarah). Councillor Konjarski left the meeting at 6.31pm and did not
participate in consideration or voting on Class 1 matter ’22-26
Montgomery Street Kogarah, Proceedings No. 2019/204549.
Note:
Councillor Hindi returned to the meeting at 6:31pm and participated in voting
on item FIN051-19 - Advice on Costs and
Status of Council's Court Proceedings - June 2019 (22 – 26
Montgomery Street, Kogarah).
Recommendation: Councillor Hindi and Councillor
Symington
That the Class 1 matter ‘22 – 26 Montgomery
Street, Kogarah, Applicant: Icon Construction Group Pty Limited, Proceedings
No: 2019/204549’, contained within the report “Advice on
Costs and Status of Council’s Court Proceedings – June
2019”, be received and noted.
Record of Voting
For the Motion: Unanimous
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Note: Councillor
Badalati returned to the meeting and resumed the position of Chair at 6.33pm.
Note: Councillor
Konjarski returned to the meeting at 6.33pm.
Note: Councillor
Elmir returned to the meeting at 6.35pm.
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FIN052-19 Investment
Report as at 30 June 2019
(Report by
Senior Financial Accountant - Reporting)
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Recommendation: Councillor Grekas
and Councillor Kastanias
That Council receives and notes the contents of the Investment Report as
at 30 June 2019.
Record of Voting
For the Motion: Unanimous
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FIN053-19 Quarterly
Commercial Property Portfolio Report
(Report by
Strategic Property Specialist)
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Recommendation: Councillor
Hindi and Councillor Symington
That Council receives and notes the Quarterly Commercial Property
Portfolio Report for the quarter ending 30 June 2019.
Record of Voting
For the Motion: Unanimous
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FIN054-19 Property
Matter - Classification of Public Land - Lot 1 in DP1242704 - Part 12-22
Woniora Road Hurstville
(Report by
Head of Strategic Property)
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Note: Councillor
Elmir disclosed a Non-Significant Non-Pecuniary interest in item FIN054-19
Property Matter – Classification of Public Land – Lot 1 in
DP1242704 – Part 12-22 Woniora Road Hurstville. Councillor
Elmir left the meeting at 6.38pm and did not participate in consideration or
voting on this matter.
Note: Councillor
Hindi disclosed a Non-Significant Non-Pecuniary interest in item FIN054-19
Property Matter – Classification of Public Land – Lot 1 in
DP1242704 – Part 12-22 Woniora Road Hurstville. Councillor
Hindi left the meeting at 6.38pm and did not participate in consideration or
voting on this matter.
Recommendation: Councillor Tegg and Councillor
Symington
That Council receives and notes the contents of this report and as no
public submissions were received during the public exhibition period in
relation to the classification of the public land at lot 1 in DP1242704 Part
12-22 Woniora Road Hurstville, the land is now classified as operational land
as per Council resolution of 25 June 2019 (FIN046-19).
Record of Voting
For the Motion: Unanimous
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Note: Councillor
Elmir returned to the meeting at 6.38pm.
Note: Councillor
Hindi returned to the meeting at 6.38pm.
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FIN055-19 2019/2020
Festive Period Annual Close-Down
(Report by
Executive Manager, People and Culture)
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Recommendation: Councillor Grekas
and Councillor Hindi
(a) That
consistent with Council’s adopted 2019/2020 Budget, Council implements
the annual close-down period from Monday 23 December 2019 to Friday 3 January
2020 with Council’s non-essential services and operations not being
staffed during this close-down period.
(b) That
the General Manager provide sufficient staff for essential services in the
areas of cleansing, street sweeping, regulatory services, call centre and
information management technology to ensure management of urgent matters and
the delivery of essential services to the community occurs.
(c) That
Council provide 3 additional annual leave days (grant days) to eligible staff
in the festive period.
Record of Voting
For the Motion: Unanimous
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FIN056-19 Proposed
Council Meeting Schedule - 2019/2020 and 2020/2021
(Report by
Manager, Office of the General Manager)
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Recommendation: Councillor Hindi
and Councillor Kastanias
That Council endorse the Proposed Council Meeting
Schedule for 2019/2020 and (part of) 2020/2021, as attached to this report.
Record of Voting
For the Motion: Unanimous
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FIN057-19 Rate
Restructure Proposed Program
(Report by
Chief Financial Officer)
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Note: Councillor
Elmir called for a Division of voting on this item. Councillor Symington seconded
this call for a Division.
The Chair, Councillor Badalati
called for a show of hands to indicate voting for each Councillor.
Recommendation: Councillor
Elmir and Councillor Tegg
(a) That
Council endorse the 2020/2021 Rate Restructure Program, which includes the
Community Engagement Framework and the proposed timeframe.
(b) That
the General Manager formally notify the Independent Pricing and Remuneration
Tribunal (IPART) of Council’s intention to cease using the former
Hurstville City Council’s and former Kogarah City Council’s
rating structures and special rate variations at the end of financial year
2019/2020, subject to IPART approval of Council’s application on a
harmonised minimum rate and a special rate variation.
(c) That
the General Manager formally notify IPART that following consideration of
community engagement, Council’s intention is to apply for a special
rate variation (SRV) of 8.1% (plus the 2020/2021 rate peg) on Council’s
2019/2020 general rate income base, in order to replace cessation of the
former Hurstville City Council’s SRV and to ensure Council’s long
term financial sustainability.
(d) That
the General Manager formally notify IPART that following consideration of
community engagement, Council’s intention is to apply for one of the
following proposals:
a. Harmonised minimum
rate of $942.24 (plus the 2020/2021 rate peg amount) commencing in the
2020/2021 rating year, or
b. Harmonised minimum
rate structure, as per the following categories/sub-categories:
i. Residential
harmonised minimum rate of $942.24 (plus the 2020/2021 rate peg amount)
commencing in the 2020/2021 rating year
ii. Business harmonised
minimum rate of $942.24 (plus the 2020/2021 rate peg amount) commencing in
the 2020/2021 rating year
iii. Commercial/Strategic Centre
sub-category harmonised minimum rate of $1,100 commencing in the 2020/21 rating
year.
(e) That
Council notify the Minister for Local Government that at this time it is not
intending to participate in a rate path freeze extension, however, Council
will formally reserve its right to opt into the rate path freeze extension
should the outcome of the community consultation not enable Council to
proceed with model 3 of the Georges River Council 2019/2020 to 2028/2029 Long
Term Financial Plan and a harmonised minimum rate commencing in the 2020/2021
rating year.
(f) That
the General Manager provide a submission to the Office of Local Government on
IPART’s Review of the Local Government Rating System, 2016.
For the Motion: Councillors
Agius, Badalati, Elmir, Grekas, Konjarski, Liu, Symington and Tegg
Against the Motion: Councillors Hindi (abstained) and
Kastanias
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Conclusion
The Meeting was closed at 6:44pm
