Minutes (Open Portion)

Council Meeting

Page 2

4/6/2018

Minutes (Open Portion)

Council Meeting

Page 3

4/06/2018

The Chairman reports that he has perused the minutes of the meeting of the Open Portion of the Council meeting held on Monday, 21 May 2018, finds them to be a true record and recommends that they be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

Sexton

Ruzicka                                                   That the recommendation be adopted.

MOTION CARRIED

VOTING RECORD

The minutes were signed.

3.1    Civic Gift Received for Presentation to Council

The Lord Mayor presented a certificate of appreciation which he received from the Institute of Project Management for the Council’s support of the Institutes six week residential scholar program for Papua New Guinean mature-age students undertaking their Certificate IV in Project Management Practice.

3.2     Lord Mayor’s Receipt of Tasmanian Aboriginal Corporation Plaque

The Lord Mayor reported that he, along with Aldermen Ruzicka, Burnet and Harvey, the General Manager, and eight Council officers attended a ‘Sharing Ceremony’ at the Tasmanian Aboriginal Corporation on Wednesday 30 May 2018 to acknowledge Reconciliation Week.

The Lord Mayor presented to the Chamber a plaque that was presented to him by Heather Sculthorpe the CEO of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Corporation representing an Aboriginal name for Hobart being nipaluna.

Mr Ben Lohberger put the following question and was provided with the corresponding response by the Lord Mayor on behalf of the Council.

Does the HCC have any information to suggest the proposed Hobart City Deal will not include funding for the University's plan to relocate its STEM campuses? If so, can the HCC please share this information with ratepayers.

The terms of the City Deal for Hobart have not been established and until such time as they have been agreed to then the Hobart City Council does not have any information as to what if any funding is proposed for the University to relocate its STEM campuses.

9.         City of Hobart Support for the Establishment of a Cooperative Research Centre – Waste and Plastic Pollution

Ref:    Open CIC 7.1, 30/05/2018

Alderman Harvey

Motion:

“That:  1.    A report be prepared detailing how Council can support the establishment of a Waste and Plastic Pollution, Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) in Hobart under the auspices of the University of Tasmania, IMAS or CSIRO;

2.    The Council engage with the Vice Chancellor urging his support to fund a bid for a CRC focusing on solutions to the waste and plastic pollution crisis effecting local governments, industry, communities and marine environment.”

Rationale:

“There is now a considerable body of evidence and understanding of the impacts of waste and plastic pollution. A comprehensive summary of the issue is available at the following link to a Senate Enquiry into marine plastics:

https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Environment_and_Communications/Marine_plastics/Report/c02

Waste management, litter and recycling are core responsibilities of LG and it is clear that there is increasing pressure on councils across the country and community expectations to tackle waste issues.

On the mainland, recycling services are under stress in some local government areas, while the cost of collection is rising. The cost of recycling is expected to increase in Tasmania also and domestic solutions to deal with recyclate need to be explored and developed. This evolving situation is due to changes in China’s policy to no longer accept the worlds contaminated and unsorted waste.

It is with growing urgency that innovative national and state based solutions are investigated through a collaborative model which would be created through the establishment of a CRC. The objective of a CRC is to bring together industry, local government, the community and an established research institution.

Hobart is perfectly placed to host a CRC focused on waste and plastic pollution.  IMAS, CSIRO and UTas already have established researchers working in this field. The City of Hobart is now well recognised as a leader in waste management. There is strong community support for action on plastic pollution and industry is also looking for solutions and assistance with research and development.

A successful bid would benefit the city economically with multiple millions of dollars directed into research and commercialisation investment. Local government nationally needs to take a research and development approach working with industry to find solutions to the national waste and plastic pollution crisis.

This motion is not seeking funding from Council, but is seeking Council’s support for the establishment a CRC and to encourage UTas to support the preparation of a CRC bid. The level of local government involvement and potential financial commitment should also be explored.

Overview of a CRC

Establishing a CRC is a competitive process and requires considerable effort to establish a bid for funding. The cost of creating a bid is in the order of $150K. A successful bid would guarantee a Commonwealth financial commitment of $5m per year for ten years and would require matching funds in cash or in-kind from industry and other partners.

The following information is from:

https://www.business.gov.au/Assistance/Cooperative-Research-Centres-Programme/Cooperative-Research-Centres-CRCs-Grants

The Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Program supports industry-led collaborations between industry, researchers and the community. It’s a proven model for linking researchers with industry to focus on research and development towards use and commercialisation.

It aims to:

·      Improve the competitiveness, productivity and sustainability of Australian industries, especially where Australia has a competitive strength and in line with government priorities.

·      Foster high quality research to solve industry-identified problems through industry-led and outcome-focused collaborative research partnerships between industry entities and research organisations.

·      Encourage and facilitate small and medium enterprise (SME) participation in collaborative research.

The overarching CRC Program offers support to industry, research and the community through two elements:

·      Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) grants – to support medium to long term industry-led collaborative research, up to 10 years.

·      Cooperative Research Centres Projects (CRC-P) grants – to support short term, industry-led collaborative research, up to 3 years.

Innovation and Science Australia and its CRC Advisory Committee, provide strategic oversight of the Program. They also provide advice to the Minister on matters including application assessments and recommendations in relation to selection processes.

Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) grants support medium to long term industry-led collaborations to solve industry problems and deliver tangible outcomes.

To support the overall aims of the CRC Program, CRCs undertake the following essential activities:

·      Medium to long term industry-led high quality collaborative research to solve industry-identified problems and deliver outcomes consistent with Government Priorities, improving the competitiveness, productivity and sustainability of Australian industries.

·      An industry-focused education and training program. This must include, but is not limited to, a PhD program that complements the research program and that increases engagement, technology development, skilled employees and R&D capacity within industry entities.

·      Implementation of strategies that build the R&D capacity within SMEs.

·      Deployment of research outputs and encouragement of take-up by industry.

CRC grants provide CRCs with up to 50% of the resources with no specified limit to funding available for each CRC. The CRC collaboration must at least match the amount of grant funding sought through cash and/or in-kind contributions. In-kind contributions are non-cash resources provided by participants in the CRC to conduct the activities of the CRC. They may be staff or non-staff resources.

You can use the funding to support the costs of:

·      Research;

·      Salaries;

·      Student placements;

·      Commercialisation;

·      Capital items, such as equipment.

You cannot use CRC Program Funding for the same activities or project previously or currently financed through any other funding scheme.

CRCs will receive funding for a single, specified term to undertake the Activities in the Funding Agreement.

Eligibility criteria

Applications are open to all industry sectors and research disciplines. To be eligible for a CRC grant, applications must:

·      Be submitted by a group of applicants who have agreed to collaborate;

·      The collaboration must, at a minimum, include one Australian industry organisation and one Australian research organisation;

·      Demonstrate the ability to at least match the grant funding sought;

·      Demonstrate the ability to undertake essential activities of a CRC as outlined in the CRC Program Guidelines.

For more information on eligibility please refer to the Program Guidelines.

Merit criteria

The CRC Advisory Committee assesses CRC applications separately through a competitive, merit based process.

The selection criteria and weightings are:

1.   The expected industry outcomes (30%).

2.   The proposed research activities (30%).

3.   Demonstrated governance and management capability (10%).

4.   The proposed education and/or training program (10%).

5.   Value for money (10%).

6.   Expected national benefits (10%).

For more information on merit criteria please refer to the Program Guidelines.

https://www.governmentnews.com.au/2018/04/crisis-at-the-kerbside-groups-seek-federal-action-on-waste-recycling/.”

The General Manager reports:

“In line with the Council’s policy in relation to Notices of Motion, I advise that the matter is considered to be within the jurisdiction of the Hobart City Council as it relates to The City of Hobart Waste Management Strategy 2015-2030.”

Harvey

burnet                                                                              

That the motion be adopted with the following included as clause 3;

3.      The Council write to the three Tasmanian regional local government bodies        and the State Government to ascertain interest in participating in a        Cooperative Research Centre.

MOTION CARRIED

VOTING RECORD

COUNCIL RESOLUTION:

That:   1.    A report be prepared detailing how Council can support the establishment of a Waste and Plastic Pollution, Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) in Hobart under the auspices of the University of Tasmania, IMAS or CSIRO;

2.    The Council engage with the Vice Chancellor urging his support to fund a bid for a CRC focusing on solutions to the waste and plastic pollution crisis effecting local governments, industry, communities and marine environment.

3.    The Council write to the three Tasmania regional Local Government            bodies and the State Government to ascertain interest in participating       in Cooperative Research Centre.

Rationale:

“There is now a considerable body of evidence and understanding of the impacts of waste and plastic pollution. A comprehensive summary of the issue is available at the following link to a Senate Enquiry into marine plastics:

https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Environment_and_Communications/Marine_plastics/Report/c02

Waste management, litter and recycling are core responsibilities of LG and it is clear that there is increasing pressure on councils across the country and community expectations to tackle waste issues.

On the mainland, recycling services are under stress in some local government areas, while the cost of collection is rising. The cost of recycling is expected to increase in Tasmania also and domestic solutions to deal with recyclate need to be explored and developed. This evolving situation is due to changes in China’s policy to no longer accept the worlds contaminated and unsorted waste.

It is with growing urgency that innovative national and state based solutions are investigated through a collaborative model which would be created through the establishment of a CRC. The objective of a CRC is to bring together industry, local government, the community and an established research institution.

Hobart is perfectly placed to host a CRC focused on waste and plastic pollution.  IMAS, CSIRO and UTas already have established researchers working in this field. The City of Hobart is now well recognised as a leader in waste management. There is strong community support for action on plastic pollution and industry is also looking for solutions and assistance with research and development.

A successful bid would benefit the city economically with multiple millions of dollars directed into research and commercialisation investment. Local government nationally needs to take a research and development approach working with industry to find solutions to the national waste and plastic pollution crisis.

This motion is not seeking funding from Council, but is seeking Council’s support for the establishment a CRC and to encourage UTas to support the preparation of a CRC bid. The level of local government involvement and potential financial commitment should also be explored.

Overview of a CRC

Establishing a CRC is a competitive process and requires considerable effort to establish a bid for funding. The cost of creating a bid is in the order of $150K. A successful bid would guarantee a Commonwealth financial commitment of $5m per year for ten years and would require matching funds in cash or in-kind from industry and other partners.

The following information is from:

https://www.business.gov.au/Assistance/Cooperative-Research-Centres-Programme/Cooperative-Research-Centres-CRCs-Grants

The Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Program supports industry-led collaborations between industry, researchers and the community. It’s a proven model for linking researchers with industry to focus on research and development towards use and commercialisation.

It aims to:

·      Improve the competitiveness, productivity and sustainability of Australian industries, especially where Australia has a competitive strength and in line with government priorities.

·      Foster high quality research to solve industry-identified problems through industry-led and outcome-focused collaborative research partnerships between industry entities and research organisations.

·      Encourage and facilitate small and medium enterprise (SME) participation in collaborative research.

The overarching CRC Program offers support to industry, research and the community through two elements:

·      Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) grants – to support medium to long term industry-led collaborative research, up to 10 years.

·      Cooperative Research Centres Projects (CRC-P) grants – to support short term, industry-led collaborative research, up to 3 years.

Innovation and Science Australia and its CRC Advisory Committee, provide strategic oversight of the Program. They also provide advice to the Minister on matters including application assessments and recommendations in relation to selection processes.

Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) grants support medium to long term industry-led collaborations to solve industry problems and deliver tangible outcomes.

To support the overall aims of the CRC Program, CRCs undertake the following essential activities:

·      Medium to long term industry-led high quality collaborative research to solve industry-identified problems and deliver outcomes consistent with Government Priorities, improving the competitiveness, productivity and sustainability of Australian industries.

·      An industry-focused education and training program. This must include, but is not limited to, a PhD program that complements the research program and that increases engagement, technology development, skilled employees and R&D capacity within industry entities.

·      Implementation of strategies that build the R&D capacity within SMEs.

·      Deployment of research outputs and encouragement of take-up by industry.

CRC grants provide CRCs with up to 50% of the resources with no specified limit to funding available for each CRC. The CRC collaboration must at least match the amount of grant funding sought through cash and/or in-kind contributions. In-kind contributions are non-cash resources provided by participants in the CRC to conduct the activities of the CRC. They may be staff or non-staff resources.

You can use the funding to support the costs of:

·      Research;

·      Salaries;

·      Student placements;

·      Commercialisation;

·      Capital items, such as equipment.

You cannot use CRC Program Funding for the same activities or project previously or currently financed through any other funding scheme.

CRCs will receive funding for a single, specified term to undertake the Activities in the Funding Agreement.

Eligibility criteria

Applications are open to all industry sectors and research disciplines. To be eligible for a CRC grant, applications must:

·      Be submitted by a group of applicants who have agreed to collaborate;

·      The collaboration must, at a minimum, include one Australian industry organisation and one Australian research organisation;

·      Demonstrate the ability to at least match the grant funding sought;

·      Demonstrate the ability to undertake essential activities of a CRC as outlined in the CRC Program Guidelines.

For more information on eligibility please refer to the Program Guidelines.

Merit criteria

The CRC Advisory Committee assesses CRC applications separately through a competitive, merit based process.

The selection criteria and weightings are:

1.   The expected industry outcomes (30%).

2.   The proposed research activities (30%).

3.   Demonstrated governance and management capability (10%).

4.   The proposed education and/or training program (10%).

5.   Value for money (10%).

6.   Expected national benefits (10%).

For more information on merit criteria please refer to the Program Guidelines.

https://www.governmentnews.com.au/2018/04/crisis-at-the-kerbside-groups-seek-federal-action-on-waste-recycling/.”

The General Manager reports:

“In line with the Council’s policy in relation to Notices of Motion, I advise that the matter is considered to be within the jurisdiction of the Hobart City Council as it relates to The City of Hobart Waste Management Strategy 2015-2030.”

10.      Land Above McRobies Gully Landfill Site, South Hobart - Approval to Lodge a 'Proposal for a Conservation Covenant'

Ref:    Open CIC 6.1, 30/05/2018

That:  1.     Approval be provided for the lodgement of a ‘Proposal for a Conservation Covenant’ in accordance with the Nature Conservation Act 2002, for City-owned land above the McRobies Gully Landfill site, South Hobart.

2.    The Blue Gum Offset Planting Program to be undertaken by the City be noted.

(i)    A further report be provided to the Council, on a bi-annual basis (in approximately September of each reporting year) providing the Council with an update of the progress of the planting program.

Burnet

tHOMAS                                                            That the recommendation be adopted.

MOTION CARRIED

VOTING RECORD

11.      New Town Retail Precinct - Proposed Streetscape Concept

Ref:    Open CIC 6.2, 30/05/2018

That:   1.    The Council receive and note the draft streetscape plan for the New Town retail precinct, attached to item 6.2 of the Open City Infrastructure Committee agenda of 30 May 2018, which has been prepared in response to the recommendations of the New Town community’s Project Action Team.

2.    The Council receive and note the results of the consultation which has been undertaken to test the concept designs with the wider community, attached to item 6.2 of the Open City Infrastructure Committee agenda of 30 May 2018.

3.    The streetscape upgrade be implemented, based on the concept design proposal, with detailed design to be undertaken in 2018 and construction to commence in early 2019.

BURNET

thomas                                                           That the recommendation be adopted.

Amendment

Zucco

Sexton                                                                                                                        

That in the event the consultation process results in an increase in project costs, the details be advised to the Council.

AMENDMENT CARRIED

VOTING RECORD

SUBSTANTIVE MOTION CARRIED

VOTING RECORD

COUNCIL RESOLUTION:

That:   1.    The Council receive and note the draft streetscape plan for the New Town retail precinct, attached to item 6.2 of the Open City Infrastructure Committee agenda of 30 May 2018, which has been prepared in response to the recommendations of the New Town community’s Project Action Team.

2.    The Council receive and note the results of the consultation which has been undertaken to test the concept designs with the wider community, attached to item 6.2 of the Open City Infrastructure Committee agenda of 30 May 2018.

3.    The streetscape upgrade be implemented, based on the concept design proposal, with detailed design to be undertaken in 2018 and construction to commence in early 2019.

4.    In the event the consultation process results in an increase in costs, the details be advice to the Council.

12.      City Centre Marketing

Ref:    Open EDCC 6.1, 24/05/2018

That based on the success of the Hello Hobart marketing campaign for the city centre the Council endorse the continuation of the campaign with the annual cost of $75,000 being attributed to the Communications and Marketing function in the draft 2018-19 budget estimates.

Cocker

Sexton                                                            That the recommendation be adopted.

MOTION CARRIED

VOTING RECORD

13.      Marketing Grants

Ref:    Open EDCC 6.2, 24/05/2018

That:   1.    The Shopfront Improvement Grant continue in its current format with grants offered up to $5,000 in match funding, with a total pool of $24,000 over two grant rounds.

2.    The Local Trader Marketing Grant be amended to consist of funding of grants up to $8,000 per application, with a total pool of $24,000 over one grant round.

3.    The Civic Banner Quick Response Grant will be run as an ‘in-kind’ grant for civic banner installation at an amount of up to $1,000 per application. As per the pilot program, a total pool of $8,000 will be allocated to this grant for each financial year until the funds are exhausted.

4.    All marketing grants will no longer be piloted grants and will continue as permanent grants in the City of Hobart’s grants program.

5.    The current Council Policy, Application for Grants – Community and Development Division, be amended as shown in Attachment A to item 6.2 of the Open Economic Development and Communications Committee agenda of 24 May 2018.

6.    The General Manager be delegated to authorise administrative changes to the city’s grants program guidelines for the Shopfront Improvement, Local Trader Marketing and Civic Banner Quick Response Grants guidelines, in line with the Council Policy – Applications for Grants – Community Development Division, as required throughout the implementation of the programs.

7.    Officers further investigate the application of the Shopfront Improvement Grant Program on a precinct basis with a further report to be provided as soon as practicable.

Cocker

THOMAS                                                            That the recommendation be adopted.

MOTION CARRIED

VOTING RECORD

14.      Christmas Decorations 2018

Ref:    Open EDCC 6.3, 24/05/2018

That:   1.    The Christmas decorations program for 2018, with an operating and assets budget of $141,453, be approved by Council with the costs being attributed to the Communications and Marketing function within the draft 2018- 19 budget estimates.

            2.    A temporary live tree installation be incorporated into Wellington Court with a costing to be referred back to the Committee.

            3.    Officers to investigate the feasibility of fencing around the Mawson Place Christmas tree to provide an alternative option to static security.

Cocker

ZUCCO                                                              That the recommendation be adopted.

Amendment

Harvey

Ruzicka                                                                                                                      

That officers investigate and provide a report on how the City’s Christmas Decoration Program can align with the City’s Zero Waste to Landfill Strategy, including utilising the Art from Trash and other relevant programs when disposing of decorations.   

AMENDMENT CARRIED

VOTING RECORD

SUBSTANTIVE MOTION CARRIED

VOTING RECORD

COUNCIL RESOLUTION:

That:   1.    The Christmas decorations program for 2018, with an operating and assets budget of $141,453, be approved by Council with the costs being attributed to the Communications and Marketing function within the draft 2018- 19 budget estimates.

            2.    A temporary live tree installation be incorporated into Wellington Court with a costing to be referred back to the Committee.

            3.    Officers to investigate the feasibility of fencing around the Mawson Place Christmas tree to provide an alternative option to static security.

            4.    Officers to investigate and provide a report on how the City’s Christmas Decoration Program can align with the City’s Zero Waste to Landfill Strategy, including utilising the Art from Trash and other relevant programs when disposing of decorations.  

15.      Update - Measurement System, International Relationships

Ref:    Open EDCC 6.4, 24/05/2018

That the Council support the deferral of this project until after the City of Hobart elections in October 2018 when a report will be provided to Council to further scope the project and to provide detailed costings.

Cocker

BURNET                                                          That the recommendation be adopted.

MOTION CARRIED

VOTING RECORD

16.      2017-18 Annual Plan - Progress Report
Period Ending 28 February 2018

Ref:    Open FGC 6.11, 15/05/2018

That the Council endorse the 2017–18 Annual Plan Progress Report: period ended 28 February 2018, marked as Attachment A to item 6.11 of the Open Finance and Governance Committee agenda of 15 May 2018.

Ruzicka

THOMAS                                                            That the recommendation be adopted.

MOTION CARRIED

VOTING RECORD