Minutes (Open Portion)

Governance Committee Meeting

Page 2

28/3/2017

Minutes (Open Portion)

Governance Committee Meeting

Page 3

28/03/2017

COCKER

That the minutes of the Open Portion of the Governance Committee meeting held on Tuesday, 28 February 2017, the Special Governance Committee meeting held on Monday, 6 March 2017 and the Special Governance Committee meeting held on Tuesday, 14 March 2017, be confirmed as an accurate record.  

                        MOTION CARRIED

                        VOTING RECORD

6.1      Greater Hobart: Local Government Reform Final Feasibility Study

THOMAS

That:    1.   Clauses 1 and 2 of the recommendation contained in the report of the Acting General Manager of 23 March 2017, be adopted.

2.  Advice be provided to the Committee after the meeting planned with Commissioner Sue Smith of the Glenorchy City Council, currently scheduled for 4 April 2017, has occurred.

3.  The Council then conduct a workshop to facilitate questions and discussion around the Greater Hobart:  Local Government Reform Final Feasibility Study, prior to formal consideration of its position in respect to the Report, going forward.

                        MOTION CARRIED

                        VOTING RECORD

COMMITTEE RESOLUTION:

That:  1.     The Council receive and note the SGS Economics and Planning Greater Hobart: Local Government Reform Final Feasibility Study.

2.    The Council note the actions which have occurred in respect to the Greater Hobart: Local Government Reform Final Feasibility Study as a result of the 6 March 2017 Council meeting.

3.    Advice be provided to the Committee after the meeting planned with Commissioner Sue Smith of the Glenorchy City Council, currently scheduled for 4 April 2017, has occurred.

4.    The Council then conduct a workshop to facilitate questions and discussion around the Greater Hobart:  Local Government Reform Final Feasibility Study, prior to formal consideration of its position in respect to the Report, going forward.

6.2      Australian Local Government Association - National General Assembly - Motions

DEPUTY LORD MAYOR

That consideration of motions for the Australian Local Government Association National General Assembly be deferred pending further advice on the motions being proposed by the Council of Capital Cities Lord Mayors.

                        MOTION CARRIED

                        VOTING RECORD

COMMITTEE RESOLUTION:

That consideration of motions for the Australian Local Government Association National General Assembly be deferred pending further advice on the motions being proposed by the Council of Capital Cities Lord Mayors.

6.3      Local Government Association of Tasmania - General Meeting Motions

That the recommendation contained in the report of the Acting General Manager of 23 March 2017, be adopted.

REYNOLDS

That:   1.    The Council submit the following motion to the LGAT General Meeting to be held in July 2017:

                   That the State Government be urged to increase its per capita spending on the provision of public transport services within metropolitan and regional Tasmania.

2.    Further motions be invited at the Council meeting.

                        MOTION CARRIED

                        VOTING RECORD

COMMITTEE RESOLUTION:

That:   1.    The Council submit the following motion to the LGAT General Meeting to be held in July 2017:

                   That the State Government be urged to increase its per capita spending on the provision of public transport services within metropolitan and regional Tasmania.

2.    Further motions be invited at the Council meeting.                            

6.4      New City of Hobart Mission Statement

REYNOLDS

That:   1.    The upcoming consultation project which will inform the creation of the future vision and strategic framework for the City also include consideration of a revised mission statement.

2.    The mission statement prepared through consultation amongst City of Hobart employees be applied and utilised in an appropriate manner as an internal statement of purpose to guide their roles and functions within the organisation.

                        MOTION CARRIED

                        VOTING RECORD

COMMITTEE RESOLUTION:

That:   1.    The upcoming consultation project which will inform the creation of the future vision and strategic framework for the City also include consideration of a revised mission statement.

            2.    The mission statement prepared through consultation amongst City of Hobart employees be applied and utilised in an appropriate manner as an internal statement of purpose to guide their roles and functions within the organisation.

7.1      kunanyi/Mount Wellington - State Government's Proposed Land Acquisition

REYNOLDS

That the motion outlined at item 7.1 of the Open Governance Committee agenda of 28 March 2017, be adopted, as amended by the replacement of the existing clauses (i) and (ii) and substitution with the following clauses:

1.            Consider a draft letter to the Premier and Minister Groom in respect to the following matters:

1.1.       Clarification of the facts regarding the Council’s dealings with the cable car proponent in respect to any request for landowner consent and the lodgement of a development application for the proposal.

1.2.       The Government’s failure to consult with the City of Hobart as landowner of the site, prior to announcing its plans in the media.

1.3.       The legal basis upon which the government is proposing its action to forcibly acquire City of Hobart land.

2.            Request a report from the Acting General Manager prior to the proposed meeting with the Minister on the legal basis for and potential precedent created by the state government's forcible acquisition of Council land. The report also provide advice about issues that a forcible acquisition may raise for Hobart City's assets, day-to-day management and for the current Council projects on kunanyi/Mt Wellington, and all other related matters.

                        MOTION CARRIED

                        VOTING RECORD

COMMITTEE RESOLUTION:

Motion:

“That Council notes that:

·    The Hobart City Council is an active and important caretaker of kunanyi/Mt Wellington, spending significant resources every year on management of the park;

·    Hobart City Council is working proactively to improve and enhance the visitor experience on kunanyi/Mt Wellington and has recently approved the development of three exciting new visitor experiences set out in the One Mountain prospectus;

·    Hobart City Council has approved and is currently developing a major upgrade of the Organ Pipes track and will be spending over $1 million in the next two years to create a world class visitor experience on par with the Wineglass Bay walking track;

And resolves to:

1     Consider a draft letter to the Premier and Minister Groom in respect to the following matters:

1.1      Clarification of the facts regarding the Council’s dealings with the cable car proponent in respect to any request for landowner consent and the lodgement of a development application for the proposal.

1.2      The Government’s failure to consult with the City of Hobart as landowner of the site, prior to announcing its plans in the media.

1.3      The legal basis upon which the government is proposing its action to forcibly acquire City of Hobart land.

2     Request a report from the Acting General Manager prior to the proposed meeting with the Minister on the legal basis for and potential precedent created by the state government's forcible acquisition of Council land. The report also provide advice about issues that a forcible acquisition may raise for Hobart City's assets, day-to-day management and for the current Council projects on kunanyi/Mt Wellington, and all other related matters.

Rationale:

“The State Government announced to the media on 25 February that it has decided to take public land on kunanyi/Mt Wellington from Council ownership. They made this announcement to the media but did not inform the Council, except via a phone call to the Mayor within minutes of informing the media.

The City of Hobart invests significant time and money looking after and providing infrastructure for the mountain park. It is a significant asset to the City of Hobart and the proposal to forcibly acquire council land to facilitate one particular development needs the consideration of and discussion by the Council.”

The Acting General Manager reports:

“In line with the Council’s policy in relation to Notices of Motion, I advise that

the motion is considered to be within the jurisdiction of the Hobart City Council as it relates to the use of Council owned land.”

8.1      Committee Actions - Status Report

THOMAS

That the information be received and noted.

                        MOTION CARRIED

                        VOTING RECORD

THOMAS

That the information be received and noted.

                        MOTION CARRIED

                        VOTING RECORD

10.1    Alderman Reynolds - Elizabeth Mall – Speakers’ Corner  Activities

Question:  What are the conditions of usage for Speakers’ Corner in the      Elizabeth Mall and can they be reviewed to ensure the    arrangements are implemented effectively.

Answer:    The Acting General Manager took the question on notice.

10.2    Alderman Cocker – TasWater

Question: What process is required for the Council to resolve and    communicate the reasons behind its decision on the    governments’ proposal for TasWater.

Answer:    The Acting General Manager took the question on notice.

10.3    The Lord Mayor – TasWater’s Input to the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM)  Report

Question:  Can the officers determine why TasWater did not provide    information in relation to breakages, sewer problems and    complaints received as part of the information collected for    the BOM Report.

Answer:    The Acting General Manager took the question on notice.

10.4    Alderman Cocker - Use Of Public/Crown Land – Boat Harbour – Precedent For City Of Hobart

Question: Can the Council ascertain whether the Crown is undertaking any discussions with private parties in relation to Crown Land in the Hobart municipal area?

Answer:    The Acting General Manager took the question on notice.

The following items were discussed: -

Item No. 1          Minutes of the last meeting of the Closed Portion of the Council Meeting

Item No. 2          Consideration of supplementary items to the agenda

Item No. 3          Indications of pecuniary and conflicts of interest

Item No. 4          Committee Action Status Report

Item No. 4.1       Committee Actions - Status Report

LG(MP)R 15(2)(a) and  (i)

Item No. 5          Questions Without Notice  

THOMAS                                                                              That the items be noted.

                        MOTION CARRIED

                        VOTING RECORD

12       Going Global 2017 Conference, London - 22-24 May 2017

DEPUTY LORD MAYOR

That:  1.     The City of Hobart participate in the ‘Going Global Conference’ in London from 22–24 May 2017, and a study tour to visit exemplar university cities in the United Kingdom and Europe prior to attending the conference.

2.    Nominations to attend received from the Lord Mayor (subject to her availability), Aldermen Ruzicka, Cocker and Thomas be noted and further Aldermanic nominations be invited at the Council meeting.

3.    The Council approve the participation the General Manager and / or his nominee(s).

4.    The estimated cost of $13,733 per Alderman be attributed to the general Aldermanic conferences allocation in the City Government Function and the Economic Development Function of the 2016/2017 Annual Plan.

                        MOTION CARRIED

                        VOTING RECORD

COMMITTEE RESOLUTION:

That:  1.     The City of Hobart participate in the ‘Going Global Conference’ in London from 22–24 May 2017, and a study tour to visit exemplar university cities in the United Kingdom and Europe prior to attending the conference.

2.    Nominations to attend received from the Lord Mayor (subject to her availability), Aldermen Ruzicka, Cocker and Thomas be noted and further Aldermanic nominations be invited at the Council meeting.

3.    The Council approve the participation the General Manager and / or his nominee(s).

4.    The estimated cost of $13,733 per Alderman be attributed to the general Aldermanic conferences allocation in the City Government Function and the Economic Development Function of the 2016/2017 Annual Plan.