Agenda, decisions and minutes

Council would like to show its respect and acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the Land, of Elders past and present on which this meeting takes place.

Council showed its respect and acknowledged the Traditional Custodians of the Land, of all Elders, on which this meeting took place.

RESOLVED (Cadwallader/Gordon) that Cr Sarah Ndiaye, Cr Michael Lyon and Cr Rod Bruem attend the Councill meeting by audio-visual link due to being unable to attend in person.

Meeting held 21 February 2024

RESOLVED [08/24]  (Cadwallader/Gordon) that the Minutes of the meeting held 21 February 2024 be approved as presented.

RESOLVED [08/24]  (Cadwallader/Gordon) that the Minutes of the meeting held 21 February 2024 be approved as presented.

Nil.

Nil.

Nil.

Nil.

Nil.

RESOLVED [09/24] (Rob/Humphrys) that Council note the proposed business rules in relation to the preparation and reporting of the Quarterly Budget Review Statements and authorise the General Manager to implement them as required.

RESOLVED [09/24] (Rob/Humphrys) that Council note the proposed business rules in relation to the preparation and reporting of the Quarterly Budget Review Statements and authorise the General Manager to implement them as required.

RESOLVED [10/24] (Gordon/Cadwallader) that Council note the results presented in the Quarterly Budget Review Statement as at 31 March 2024 and authorise the variations to the amounts from those previously estimated.

RESOLVED [10/24] (Gordon/Cadwallader) that Council note the results presented in the Quarterly Budget Review Statement as at 31 March 2024 and authorise the variations to the amounts from those previously estimated.

RESOLVED [11/24] (Rob/Humphrys) that

1.     Council endorses the draft Operational Plan (incorporating the 2024/25 Budget and ‘Revenue’ policy) attached to this report, for public exhibition.

2.     Council note that adjustments approved at this meeting as part of the March 2024 Quarterly Budget Review Statement report will be included in the exhibited Operational Plan as appropriate.

3.     If public submissions are made during the public exhibition period, a report be furnished to Council’s June 2024 meeting, including staff comment on how the submissions have been considered, for Council to determine a position on endorsement of the Operational Plan (incorporating the 2024/25 Budget and ‘Revenue’ policy).

4.     If no public submissions are made during the public exhibition period, the version of the draft Operational Plan (incorporating the 2024/25 Budget and ‘Revenue’ policy) placed on public exhibition, is deemed to be adopted by Council.

5.     Subject to any variations arising as a result of ‘3’ above, Council approve external borrowings of $30M for capital works projects for 2024/25 and authorise the General Manager to negotiate with financial institutions to accept the preferred loan offer including the term and type of borrowing.

6.     Council authorise associated loan documentation to be signed by the General Manager (or under seal if required).

RESOLVED [11/24] (Rob/Humphrys) that

1.     Council endorses the draft Operational Plan (incorporating the 2024/25 Budget and ‘Revenue’ policy) attached to this report, for public exhibition.

2.     Council note that adjustments approved at this meeting as part of the March 2024 Quarterly Budget Review Statement report will be included in the exhibited Operational Plan as appropriate.

3.     If public submissions are made during the public exhibition period, a report be furnished to Council’s June 2024 meeting, including staff comment on how the submissions have been considered, for Council to determine a position on endorsement of the Operational Plan (incorporating the 2024/25 Budget and ‘Revenue’ policy).

4.     If no public submissions are made during the public exhibition period, the version of the draft Operational Plan (incorporating the 2024/25 Budget and ‘Revenue’ policy) placed on public exhibition, is deemed to be adopted by Council.

5.     Subject to any variations arising as a result of ‘3’ above, Council approve external borrowings of $30M for capital works projects for 2024/25 and authorise the General Manager to negotiate with financial institutions to accept the preferred loan offer including the term and type of borrowing.

6.     Council authorise associated loan documentation to be signed by the General Manager (or under seal if required).

Cr. Michael Lyon joined the meeting 10.13am

RESOLVED [12/24] (Gordon/Humphrys) that Council -

1.     Revoke the ‘Financial Reserves’ policy dated 19 June 2019 and any other policy revived as a result of this revocation, and

2.     Approve the revised ‘Financial Reserves’ policy attached to this report.

RESOLVED [12/24] (Gordon/Humphrys) that Council -

1.     Revoke the ‘Financial Reserves’ policy dated 19 June 2019 and any other policy revived as a result of this revocation, and

2.     Approve the revised ‘Financial Reserves’ policy attached to this report.

RESOLVED [13/24] (Rob/Cadwallader) that Council –

1.     Revoke the Risk Management Policy dated 17 February 2021 (Attachment 1) and any other policies revived as a result of the revocation; and

2.     Approve the revised policy of the same name outlined in and attached to this report.

RESOLVED [13/24] (Rob/Cadwallader) that Council –

1.     Revoke the Risk Management Policy dated 17 February 2021 (Attachment 1) and any other policies revived as a result of the revocation; and

2.     Approve the revised policy of the same name outlined in and attached to this report.

RESOLVED [14/24] (Humphrys/Cadwallader) that Council –

1.     Revoke the Media Interaction Policy dated 22 August 2007 (Attachment 1) and any policy revived as a result of the revocation.

2.     Adopt the Media and Social Media Policy attached to this report (Attachment 2).

RESOLVED [14/24] (Humphrys/Cadwallader) that Council –

1.     Revoke the Media Interaction Policy dated 22 August 2007 (Attachment 1) and any policy revived as a result of the revocation.

2.     Adopt the Media and Social Media Policy attached to this report (Attachment 2).

Cr Michael Lyon left the meeting 10:17 and rejoined at 10:18 due to technical issues.

MOTION (Rob/Humphrys)  that the Item 11.4 Audit, Risk and Implementation Committee meeting – 2 April 2024 be dealt with separately.

CARRIED

RESOLVED [15/24) (Humphrys/Gordon) that the following information reports 1, 2, 5 and 6 be received and noted.

1.         Investments – March 2024

2.         Tenders awarded by General Manager under delegation

3.         Water, production and consumption – March 2024  (excluded)

4.         Audit, Risk and Implementation Committee meeting – 2 April 2024

5.         International Women’s Day

6.         Reports/Actions pending.

RESOLVED [16/24] (Rob/Cadwallader) That Council:

1.     receive and note the attached minutes from the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee meeting of 5 April 2024;

2.     make a submission to the Office of Local Government seeking to permit county councils to include capital revenue in the assessment of financial performance; and

3.     Prepare a submission for the 2024 LGNSW Annual Conference seeking to permit county councils to include capital revenue in the assessment of financial performance, to be further considered by council at the June council meeting.

RESOLVED [16/24] (Rob/Cadwallader) That Council:

1.     receive and note the attached minutes from the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee meeting of 5 April 2024;

2.     make a submission to the Office of Local Government seeking to permit county councils to include capital revenue in the assessment of financial performance; and

3.     Prepare a submission for the 2024 LGNSW Annual Conference seeking to permit county councils to include capital revenue in the assessment of financial performance, to be further considered by council at the June council meeting.

Cr Rod Bruem joined the meeting 10:27am and stated he had been trying to join via link without success until near the closure of the meeting.

APOLOGIES

RESOLVED (Humphrys/Cadwallader) due to audio-virtual link technical issues, apologies were received from Cr Sarah Ndiaye and Cr Bruem  and recorded.

Noted:  Cr Bruem attempted to attend the meeting online several times, however could not join until the last minutes of the meeting.

There being no further business the meeting closed at