Council Decides: May Ordinary Meeting

Published on 10 May 2023

The following is a list of decisions made by Councillors at their Ordinary May meeting held on Tuesday, 9 May 2023.

The business papers and attachments for the meeting can be found at https://lismore.nsw.gov.au/business-papers-and-agendas-for-committees-and-advisory-groups

PUBLIC ACCESS

No one spoke during Public Access

MAYORAL MINUTE

Councillors resolved to write to the Treasurer, the Minister for Emergency Services, the Minister for Local Government and Member for Lismore expressing Council’s strong opposition to the NSW Government’s last-minute decision to impose an enormous Emergency Services Levy (ESL) cost increase on councils for 2023/24 by scrapping the ESL subsidy and at a time after Council has prepared its draft Operational Plan and annual budget to the community, noting that the increase may lead to a reduction in important local services.

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES

Councillors resolved to:

• Receive and note the minutes of the Audit Risk & Improvements Committee minutes on 7 December 2022 and 28 February 2023 and note that the acceptance of the minutes of 7 December does not imply Council’s acceptance of the new terms of reference for ARIC.
• Receive the 23 February 2023 minutes of the Nimbin Advisory Group.
• Receive the 8 March 2023 minutes of the Sister City Advisory Group and that recommendation 1 be adopted.
• Receive the 15 March 2023 minutes of the Aboriginal Advisory Group and that recommendation 1 be adopted.
• Receive the 22 March 2023 minutes of the Access and Inclusion Advisory Group and that recommendation 1 be adopted.
• Receive the 12 April 2023 minutes of the Local Traffic Committee and adopted the recommendations contained in the minutes.
• Receive the minutes of the Capacity Capability Recovery Roadmap Project Control Committee.
• Adopt the Affordable and Diverse Housing Incentives Policy.
• Defer submitting an application to NSW Department of Industry requesting part of the Crown road adjoining 219 Valley View Drive, Lismore Heights be transferred to Lismore City Council until further information is provided.
• Execute a Grazing Agreement with Tregeagle Landcare Group over part of Crown Reserve at 820 Tregeagle Road, Tregeagle for a 12-month term with a 12-month option for the purpose of cattle grazing.
• Approve the appointment of the following individuals to the Aboriginal Advisory Group (in alphabetical order), Caroline Atkinson, Cindy Roberts, Edna King, Leearna Williams, Thelma James and Veronica Harris.
• The two voting delegates to the 2023 Floodplain Management Australia National Conference are Cr Vanessa Ekins and Cr Big Rob, that if constitutional matters arise the voting delegate is Cr Big Rob, and that the following notice of motion be endorsed for submission to the Annual General Meeting: “That audio visual link remote access be provided to members unable to physically attend Floodplain Management Australia meetings and workshops.”
• Receive and note the Investments - April 2023.
• Adopt the March 2023 Quarterly Budget Review Statement and approve the recommended variations.
• Receive and note the attached Professional Development Plan relating to Councillor Big Rob.
• To write a letter of support for Women Up North Housing Incorporated provided stating that Council is aware of the high needs in the Lismore local government area for support for women, children and young people impacted by domestic and family violence, supports Women Up North Housing Incorporated in its efforts to seek out community housing funding to establish permanent community housing, as well as crisis accommodation, in the Lismore local government area.

CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS

Councillors resolved to exclude the press and public to consider confidential matters. After the session, Councillors returned to announce they resolved to:

• Accept tender T202319 Figtree Drive Sewer Pipeline Replacement Project.
• Accept tender T23/292 - Pineapple Road Sewerage Scheme Design and Construction.
• Endorse an Organisation Structure.
• Not support the investigators recommendation to censure Councillor Big Rob as Councillors do not consider the Code of Conduct was breached and that Council does not have confidence in the Procedures for the Administration of the Model Code of Conduct for Local Councils in New South Wales.
• Not support the investigators recommendation to censure Councillor Steve Krieg as Councillors do not consider the Code of Conduct was breached and that Council does not have confidence in the Procedures for the Administration of the Model Code of Conduct for Local Councils in New South Wales.