Agenda of Special Governance Committee Meeting

Item No. 3.1

Agenda (Open Portion)

Special Governance Committee Meeting

Page 6

24/10/2016

REPORT TITLE: University Cities Conference - Budapest

REPORT PROVIDED BY: Group Manager Executive & Economic Development

1. Report Purpose and Community Benefit

1.1. The purpose of this report is to provide further information regarding the proposed Univercities Conference in Budapest from 20 – 22 November 2016, and the subsequent study tour of selected university cities in Europe led by the University of Tasmania (UTAS).

2. Report Summary

2.1. The Vice Chancellor of the University of Tasmania has invited the Lord Mayor and Aldermen to participate in a university cities conference in Budapest this November and a subsequent short study tour to two well-known University cities – Freiburg in Germany and the Cambridge in the UK.

2.2. On balance, this report suggests the invitation is worthy of consideration given that UTAS has a clear desire to move into the inner city.

2.3. This move overtime will have impacts on the inner city in a range of areas and it is critical that the Council take positive steps to understand what the effect of these impacts may be.

2.4. Examining how other cities have dealt with these issues is an important source of information for the Council.

2.5. The anticipated cost of attendance at the conference and study tour is approximately $14,000 per person.

3. Recommendation

That:

1. The Council consider the City of Hobart’s participation in the Univercities Conference in Budapest from 20 - 22 November 2016, and a subsequent study tour to Freiburg and Cambridge.

2. Aldermanic nominations be called for participation.

3. The Council also approve the participation the General Manager and / or his nominee.

4. The estimated cost of $14,000 per Alderman be attributed across both the Economic Development - Sister Cities and City Government budget functions within 2016/2017 Annual Plan.

4. Background

4.1. Attachment A to this report is the previous memorandum provided to the Council on this matter.

4.2. The letter of invitation from the Vice Chancellor has been circulated to Aldermen.

4.3. To recap:

4.3.1. The Vice Chancellor presented to the Aldermen an update on the Infrastructure Australia bid including the STEM relocation project in late September. As part of this presentation the Vice Chancellor mentioned the Conference, UniverCities – Higher education institutions and their habitat, Budapest, 20 – 22 November 2016.

4.3.2. The website for the conference (http://www.aca-secretariat.be/index.php?id=881#c4019) notes:

‘The event will explore the relationship between universities and colleges and the cities, towns and regions where they are located. The conference is expected to draw an audience of some 300 participants, including central actors and decision-makers from universities and colleges as well as policy-makers and practitioners from government departments, international organisations, non-governmental organisations, municipalities, enterprises and think tanks. As always, we are striving to offer high-quality information, analysis and discussion.’

4.4. The conference was suggested by the Vice Chancellor because of UTAS’s clear intent to move more of its campus into the inner city.

4.5. The Vice Chancellor is clearly wishing to engage the Council in a discussion about what it means to have UTAS based in the inner city and how Hobart can best position itself to take the full benefit of being a University City.

4.6. Aldermen will recall that the Vice Chancellor confirmed that if Aldermen did participate in the conference that he would like to lead a short study tour while in Europe to look at leading cities that have formed successful relationships with their universities.

4.7. As a result two key cities have been proposed by UTAS for consideration by the Council.

4.8. Freiburg

4.8.1. The city of Freiburg, at the edge of Germany’s Black Forest, is a bucolic place with cobbled streets, the warmest climate in Germany, and students. This town of 230,000 is home to Albert-Ludwigs-University, which attracts about 25,000 students each year.

4.8.2. UTAS are suggesting Freiburg due to the integration of the University into the City and the relationship between City and University.

4.8.3. Interestingly, and perhaps fortuitously, Freiburg had also been identified by Council staff as a city of interest for the new Vision project. Freiburg is considered one of the global leaders in development of a vision that has engaged its community. Its similar scale to Hobart potentially makes it a particularly interesting case study for Hobart in the development of the City’s next vision.

4.9. Cambridge

4.9.1. The City of Cambridge is a college city and the province town of Cambridgeshire, England. It is situated in East Anglia, on the River Cam, around 80 km towards north of London. As indicated by the United Kingdom Census 2011, its population was 123,867 and that includes 24,488 students.

4.9.2. As can be noted in the Vice Chancellor’s invitation, Cambridge is of interest, not so much because of its City – university connection but more so because of the way that connection has been leveraged in the UK’s City Deals program. The Australian Government is modelling its City Deals program on that of the UK’s and so the opportunity to learn how Cambridge has leveraged of this relationship could be of significance to Hobart.

4.10. In looking at these two cities, it would be easy to say that the relevance to Hobart is not strong. They are both University Cities of long standing dating back many centuries. It could be said that the status as University City is therefore obvious and rooted in history and not partnership or planning.

4.11. In their suggestion, UTAS is asking the Council to look past this and to consider the two cities more deeply. UTAS have researched these cities in some detail and have concluded that there is relevance to Hobart in better understanding what a true University City is, how it has evolved and how its future is planned and managed.

4.12. The suggestion to travel to Europe is not taken lightly by UTAS and no differently to the Council, it must be accountable for the expenditure of its funds.

4.13. In considering whether to participate in the conference and the study tour the Council must ask itself the relevance of both activities.

4.14. It is clear that UTAS is on a definite pathway to relocate into the inner city. It is equally clear that this will have impacts on the City both positive and negative.

4.15. It is important for the Council to understand what these may be and how to plan for and ultimately manage them. To this end gathering information from leading cities around the world is a sensible approach to help inform the Council.

4.16. There is no doubt that other cities in the world and in the Oceania region have looked at this challenge and are dealing with it. Dunedin, in New Zealand, for example is one that could be considered.

4.17. However, the differentiating factor at this time is that UTAS itself has identified these cities as being of relevance to Hobart and to UTAS’s own desire to relocate into the inner city. Combined with a conference on the topic of University Cities, the study tour should be viewed as a sensible use of Council resources in planning for a significant change in the city that will occur in the near future.

4.18. Accordingly, the proposed itinerary for the visit is as follows:

· Friday 18 November – Depart Hobart

· Saturday 19 November – arrive Budapest

· Sunday 20 – Budapest familiarisation and conference commencement

· Monday 21 – Conference all day

· Tuesday 22 – Conference until early afternoon and then transfer to Zurich or Basel and then onto Freiburg

· Wednesday 23 –Freiburg for meetings with University and City Officials

· Thursday 24 – part day in Freiburg then transfer to Frankfurt and onto London

· Friday 25 – London to Cambridge for meetings with University and City officials

· Saturday 26 - study tour ends

5. Proposal and Implementation

5.1. It is proposed that the Council accept the invitation of the Vice Chancellor and participate in both the conference and the study tour.

5.2. It is proposed that Aldermanic nomination be sought.

5.3. The anticipated costs based on the above itinerary are:

5.3.1. Business class airfares $10,384.40 per person.

5.3.2. Premium economy / economy $5,842.90 (long haul flights are premium economy and European internal flights are economy).

5.3.3. Associated train tickets are estimated at $400 per person.

5.3.4. Accommodation will likely be on average $300-$400 per night for the eight nights.

5.3.5. Therefore, for example the cost per Alderman is travelling business class will be in the order of $14,000 plus incidental costs.

5.4. Should the Council approve participation, it is further proposed that the Council authorise the Lord Mayor to write to the Mayors of Freiburg and Cambridge in preparation for the visit.

6. Strategic Planning and Policy Considerations

6.1. Goal 1 of the 2015-2025 Strategic Plan, Economic Development, Vibrancy and Culture, states at Objective 1.1.2, Support the University of Tasmania’s continued growth within the City.

7. Financial Implications

7.1. Funding Source and Impact on Current Year Operating Result

7.1.1. This potential visit has not been budgeted for. However if Aldermen chose to participate it is proposed that funding for the matter could be taken from a combination of the Sister Cities and Aldermanic Conference budgets.

7.1.2. As noted above the anticipated costs including business class airfares will be approximately $14,000 per person.

7.2. Impact on Future Years’ Financial Result

7.2.1. Nil

7.3. Asset Related Implications

7.3.1. Nil

8. Legal, Risk and Legislative Considerations

8.1. None arise from this report.

9. Environmental Considerations

9.1. Air travel does bring with it considerations of pollution.

9.2. These can be offset to some degree by purchasing carbon offsets as part of the ticket.

10. Social and Customer Considerations

10.1. The continued growth of the University within the inner city clearly brings with it a range of social and community considerations.

10.2. The purpose of this conference and study tour is to explore some of these and see how other cities deal with these issues.

10.3. While it may on balance be seen as a positive that UTAS wishes to expand within the inner city, there will be many matters of detail that may not be apparent until opportunities like the subject of this report are taken up and explored.

11. Marketing and Media

11.1. Any international travel undertaken by the Council is usually the subject of interest from the media.

11.2. It is incumbent upon the Council to demonstrate the value of such visits to the community.

11.3. It is anticipated that this report will be picked up by the media rendering a media release somewhat pointless. Accordingly it is proposed that the Lord Mayor be authorised to comment on the matter as required and to also suggest that the media seek comment from UTAS as to why it also views the conference as being relevant for the Council.

12. Community and Stakeholder Engagement

12.1. Other than the obvious engagement with UTAS none arise from this report.

13. Delegation

13.1. The matter is delegated to the Council.

As signatory to this report, I certify that, pursuant to Section 55(1) of the Local Government Act 1993, I hold no interest, as referred to in Section 49 of the Local Government Act 1993, in matters contained in this report.

Tim Short

Group Manager Executive & Economic Development

Date: 21 October 2016

File Reference: F16/121092

Attachment a: Governance Committee Memorandum of 4 October 2016 ⇩

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