Minutes
Open Portion
Monday, 27 April 2020
AT 5:00 pm
This meeting of the Council was conducted in accordance with a Notice issued by the Premier on 3 April 2020 under section 18 of the COVID-19 Disease Emergency (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2020.
|
Minutes (Open Portion) Council Meeting |
Page 2 |
|
27/4/2020 |
|
PRESENT, APOLOGIES AND LEAVE OF ABSENCE
3. Communication from the Chairman
4. Notification of Council Workshops
7. Consideration of Supplementary Items
8. Indications of Pecuniary and Conflicts of Interest
9. Council Acting as Planning Authority
9.1 379 Elizabeth Street, 367-375 Elizabeth Street, 31 Strahan Street, North Hobart
Special Report – General Manager
10. Financial Report and COVID-19 - City of Hobart Response
11. Motions of which notice has been given
11.1 Employee Resources - COVID-19
11.2 Support for International Students - COVID-19 Pandemic
11.3 Elected Member Allowances
12. Review of Salamanca Market By-Law No. 1 of 2010
13. Closed Portion of the Meeting
|
Minutes (Open Portion) Council Meeting |
Page 4 |
|
27/04/2020 |
|
PRESENT:
The Lord Mayor Councillor A M Reynolds, the Deputy Lord Mayor Councillor H Burnet,
Aldermen M Zucco, J R Briscoe, Dr P T Sexton, D C Thomas, Councillor W F Harvey, Alderman S Behrakis, Councillors M Dutta, H Ewin, Z Sherlock and W Coats.
APOLOGIES:
Nil.
LEAVE OF ABSENCE:
Nil.
Alderman Behrakis left the meeting at 5.57pm, returning at 5.58pm.
Councillor Sherlock left the meeting at 5.59pm, returning at 6.03pm.
Alderman Briscoe left the meeting at 6.58pm, returning at 7.00pm.
The Deputy Lord Mayor Burnet left the meeting 7.05pm, returning at 7.05pm.
Councillor Harvey left the meeting 7.05pm, retuning at 7.06pm.
Councillor Ewin left the meeting 7.51pm, returning at 7.54pm.
Alderman Briscoe left the meeting at 8.02pm, returning at 8.03pm.
Councillor Coats left the meeting at 8.23pm, returning at 8.24pm.
Councillor Ewin left the meeting at 8.32pm, returning at 8.39pm.
Alderman Briscoe left the meeting at 8.46pm, returning at 8.48pm.
Councillor Ewin left the meeting at 9.15pm, returning at 9.24pm.
Behrakis
That: 1. The Council
consent and approve to this and future meetings of the Council being video
streamed. 2. Future virtual meetings feature consistent City of Hobart branding.
3. Normal protocols pertaining to Council meetings be suspended. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
MOTION CARRIED
VOTING RECORD
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
COUNCIL RESOLUTION: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
That: 1. The Council consent and
approve to this and future meetings of the Council being video streamed. 2. Future virtual meetings feature consistent City of Hobart branding.
3. Normal protocols pertaining to Council meetings be suspended. |
The Chairman reports that she has perused the minutes of the meeting of the Open Portion of the Council meeting held on Monday, 23 March 2020, finds them to be a true record and recommends that they be taken as read and signed as a correct record.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
dutta That the recommendation be adopted. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
MOTION CARRIED
|
The minutes were signed.
Are there any items, which the meeting believes, should be transferred from this agenda to the closed agenda or from the closed agenda to the open agenda, in accordance with the procedures allowed under Section 15 of the Local Government (Meeting Procedures) Regulations 2015?
No items were transferred.
No communication was received.
In accordance with the requirements of the Local Government (Meeting Procedures) Regulations 2015, the General Manager reports that no Council workshops have been conducted since the last ordinary meeting of the Council.
No petitions were received.
Ref: Part 2, Regulation 8(6) of the Local Government (Meeting Procedures) Regulations 2015.
That the Council resolve to deal with any supplementary items not appearing on the agenda, as reported by the General Manager in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government (Meeting Procedures) Regulations 2015.
No supplementary items were received.
|
Ref: Part 2, Regulation 8(7) of the Local Government (Meeting Procedures) Regulations 2015.
Elected Members are requested to indicate where they may have any pecuniary or conflicts of interest in respect to any matter appearing on the agenda, or any supplementary item to the agenda, which the Council has resolved to deal with.
No interest was indicated.
In accordance with the provisions of Part 2 Regulation 25 of the Local Government (Meeting Procedures) Regulations 2015, the intention of the Council to act as a planning authority pursuant to the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993 is to be noted.
In accordance with Regulation 25, the Council will act as a planning authority in respect to those matters appearing under this heading on the agenda, inclusive of any supplementary items.
The Council is reminded that in order to comply with Regulation 25(2), the General Manager is to ensure that the reasons for a decision by a Council or Council Committee acting as a planning authority are recorded in the minutes.
9.1 379 Elizabeth Street, 367-375 Elizabeth Street, 31 Strahan Street, North Hobart PLN-19-933 - File Ref: F20/40305 Application Expiry Date: 4 June 2020 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
That pursuant to the Hobart Interim Planning Scheme 2015, the Council refuse the application for extension to operating hours at 379 Elizabeth Street, 367375 Elizabeth Street and 31 Strahan Street, North Hobart, for the following reasons:
1. The proposal does not meet the acceptable solution or the performance criterion with respect to clauses Hours of Operation D21.3.1 A1 and P1 of the Hobart Interim Planning Scheme 2015 because it has not been demonstrated that the noise impact of the late night / early morning operation (to 5am on Friday and Saturday nights, and 3am on all others) of the hotel industry use would not have unreasonable impact on residents in the adjacent inner residential zone.
2. The proposal does not meet the acceptable solution or the performance criterion with respect to clauses D21.3.6 Hotel Industries A1 and P1 of the Hobart Interim Planning Scheme 2015 because the extended operating hours of this hotel industry use would have an unreasonable impact on the amenity and safety of the surrounding use. Evidence has not been provided to the contrary. |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
DUTTA That the recommendation be adopted. |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
MOTION LOST
VOTING RECORD
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Sherlock
That the Council approve the application for extension to operating hours at 379 Elizabeth Street, 367375 Elizabeth Street and 31 Strahan Street, North Hobart, for the reason that the application satisfies the performance criteria for operating hours, noise and hotel industries, for a 12 month trial period with the following conditions:
GEN
PLN s1 · Friday and Saturday: 10am to 3am. · Sunday to Thursday: 10am to 2am.
· Monday to Sunday, including Public Holidays: 10am to midnight (12am). · Note that hours of operation is defined in the planning scheme as “the hours that a business is open to the public or conducting activities related to the business, not including routine activities normally associated with opening and closing for business.”
PLN s2
ADVICE
NOISE REGULATIONS
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
MOTION CARRIED
VOTING RECORD
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
COUNCIL RESOLUTION: |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
GEN
PLN s1 · Friday and Saturday: 10am to 3am. · Sunday to Thursday: 10am to 2am.
· Monday to Sunday, including Public Holidays: 10am to midnight (12am).
· Note that hours of operation is defined in the planning scheme as “the hours that a business is open to the public or conducting activities related to the business, not including routine activities normally associated with opening and closing for business.”
PLN s2
ADVICE
NOISE REGULATIONS
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
a. Report - 379 Elizabeth Street, 367-375 Elizabeth Street, 31 Strahan Street North Hobart ⇨ |
10. Financial Report and COVID-19 - City of Hobart Response File Ref: F20/39351 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
BURNET
That the recommendation contained within the report of the General Manager dated 22 April 2020, be adopted with the inclusion of the following:
The General Manager be endorsed to make a submission to the Local Government Association of Tasmania on the Covid-19 Diseases Emergency Bill in accordance with the memorandum titled ‘Covid-19 Diseases Emergency Bill 2020’, circulated on 27 April 2020.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Amendment
Zucco That: 1. The allocation for the Council grants program in the 2020/21 Budget Estimates be retained at the same amount as presently in the 2019/20 Estimates, namely $1.167M, subject to: (i) In determining the Guidelines for any business and community grants, the General Manager seek advice from an arts advisory group and a business advisory group; and (ii) The General Manager undertake a review of the allocation for the Taste of Tasmania and Dark MoFo and report back to the Council in May. 2. The General Manager, in consultation with Council’s internal auditors, provide advice to the Council on how to save $6.0M in recurrent expenditure from 2021/22. 3. The General manager consider streamlining and simplifying the grants system to make it more accessible for applicants. 4. Clause 10 be amended from ‘$10,000’ to ‘$4,000’. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Sherlock That vote on the amendment be taken in parts.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
MOTION LOST
VOTING RECORD
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
AMENDMENT CARRIED VOTING RECORD
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Amendment
Ewin
That 1. The word ‘creative’ be added before the word ‘community’ in the sixth dot point of clause 10.
2. Councillor Ewin be appointed as a member of the Covid-19 Reference Group, as established at the Council Meeting of 23 March 2020. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
AMENDMENT CARRIED VOTING RECORD
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
SUBSTANTIVE MOTION CARRIED VOTING RECORD
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
COUNCIL RESOLUTION: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
That: 1. That the information be received and noted. 2. The Council note the Financial Report as at 31 December 2019 and approve the changes to the 2019/20 Estimates listed in tables 4,5,7 and 9 marked as Attachment A to item 10 of the Open Council agenda of 27 April 2020, the financial impacts of which are to decrease the underlying result by $2.3M to a deficit of $1.89M. 3. The Council note the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Council’s financial position in the period since 31 December 2019 and note and endorse actions taken by the General Manager in responding to the Covid-19 emergency. 4. The Council note actions taken in response to the Council resolution of 23 March 2020 as outlined in this report and specifically reaffirm its approach to deal with financial hardship in the community in the period through until 30 June 2020, as resolved at that meeting. 5. The Council authorise the General Manager to offer a Covid-19 focused community grants program at the appropriate time in the remainder of this financial year utilising a proportion of unallocated February 2020 community grants round funding. 6. The allocation for the Council grants program in the 2020/21 Budget Estimates be retained at the same amount as presently in the 2019/20 Budget Estimates, namely $1.167M, subject to:
(i) In determining the guidelines for any business and community grants, the General Manager seek advice from an arts advisory group and a business advisory group; and (ii) The General Manager undertake a review of the allocation for the Taste of Tasmania and Dark MoFo and report back to the Council in May 2020. 7. The General manager consider streamlining and simplifying the grants system to make it more accessible for applicants. 8. The General Manager, in consultation with Council’s internal auditors, provide advice to the Council on how to save $6.0M in recurrent expenditure from 2021/22 Budget Estimates. 9. The Council approve the City of Hobart Financial Hardship Assistance Policy marked as Attachment F to item 10 of the Open Council agenda of 27 April 2020. 10. The Council note the submission of an application in partnership with the other three Hobart metropolitan councils to the State Government’s $150m interest free loans scheme for local government. The final amount to be taken up will be the subject of Council consideration as part of the formal Estimates process for 2020/21. · Advice in relation to borrowings will be based on modelling of the impact on Council’s long-term financial sustainability including an independent review of this modelling. 11. The Council note the likely impacts on its revenue in 2020/21 as outlined in the report marked as item 10 of the Open Council agenda of 27 April 2020. 12. The Council further note that the draft Estimates, including a revised capital works program and operating budget will be presented to Council for consideration in late May reflecting these circumstances. 13. The Council approve the following elements of a Community Support package to commence on 1 July 2020 to be used by officers as the basis for preparation of the draft Estimates: · A zero per cent increase to the general and service rates excluding fixed service charges including waste management, green waste (including FOGO) and landfill rehabilitation, which will be considered on the basis of service cost. · A policy of zero per cent increase on other Council fees and charges.
· Rates relief support package including waiving penalties and interest, negotiated payment plans, formal postponements and remissions on application and determined on a case by case basis in accordance with the City’s Financial Hardship policy (above). · To this end, the Council delegate, pursuant to section 22 of the Local Government Act, to the General Manager the power to approve rates remissions up to a limit of $4,000 with remissions above that limit being approved by absolute majority of the Council, noting that all rate remissions are reported six monthly to the Council and are recorded as a grant / benefit in the Council’s Annual Report. · Rent relief support package for the City’s tenants with payment plans developed on application and in accordance with the principles of the Financial Hardship policy and future commercial tenancy legislation. · A one-off Covid-19 creative, community and business grants program utilising the funding that would have ordinarily been made available through the various community grants streams of the City · Development and enactment of long term social and economic recovery plans, including specifically establishment of the business continuity and resilience committee as approved by the Council on 23 March 2020 at the appropriate time. 14. The Council continue to authorise the General Manager to take all further actions necessary to address the Covid-19 pandemic. 15. The Council pursuant to Section 6(3) of the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993, delegate the General Manager and Director City Planning to determine all applications that would otherwise be determined by the City Planning Committee or the full Council unless called in by an Elected Member for the period from 28 April to 25 May inclusive. 16. The Council note that the next scheduled Council meeting will be 25 May 2020 and that Council Committee meetings remain suspended.
17. The General Manager be endorsed to make a submission to the Local Government Association of Tasmania on the Bill in accordance with the memorandum titled ‘Covid-19 Diseases Emergency Bill 2020’, circulated on 27 April 2020. 18. Councillor Ewin be appointed as a member of the Covid-19 Reference Group, as established at the Council Meeting of 23 March 2020.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
a. Report - Financial Report and COVID-19 - City of Hobart Response ⇨ |
IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION 16(5) OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (MEETING PROCEDURES) REGULATIONS 2015
11.2 Support for International Students - COVID-19 Pandemic File Ref: F20/38739; 13-1-9 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Motion:
“This motion seeks the City of Hobart to:
1. Publicly recognise the enormous contribution economically and socially of our international students.
2. Work with relevant organisations including education providers, peak bodies and student services to provide increased support for international students during the COVID-19 pandemic.
3. Lobby the State and Federal Government to establish or support the establishment of a hardship fund to support international students to which contributions can be made by the public and private sector, organisations and education institutions from the City of Hobart during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
sherlock ewin
That the motion, as amended by the following, be adopted.
1.
The words ‘temporary
Visa holders’ be included after every appearance of the words
‘international students. 2. Clause 2 be replaced with ‘The Lord Mayor write to the Premier, so that his Government can consider additional programs that may assist international students who have ongoing needs of financial support, including state support for a hardship fund.’
3. The word ‘Lobby’ be replaced with the word ‘Urge’ in clause 3
4.
The following additional
clauses be added: 4. That council note, acknowledge and commend the Premier for showing compassion and leadership in allocating funds for temporary visa holders in Tasmania.
5. That the Lord Mayor write to the Council of Capital City Lord Mayors to consider constructing a collective and united letter from each of those Councils to the Prime Minister. This letter recognise the contribution of international students and temporary Visa holders, their role in the recovery process and local government’s support for this cohort and encourage the Federal Government to establish a financial hardship fund and support programs for this cohort. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Burnet
Councillor Sherlock be granted an additional 2 minutes to address the meeting. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
MOTION CARRIED VOTING RECORD
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
That the motion be voted on in parts.
The motion lapsed for want of a seconder.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The Chairperson then put the motion. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
MOTION LOST
VOTING RECORD
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Thomas
That: 1. The Lord Mayor write to the Premier acknowledging the announced assistance for working visa holders including some financial hardship payments for international students;
2. The Lord Mayor also seek from the Premier that the government consider additional programs that may assist international students who have ongoing needs of financial support, including state support for a hardship fund;
3. The Lord Mayor write to the Prime Minister seeking the Federal Government to reconsider support programs that will assist international students and working visa holders who play a major role in the local economy and will form part of the recovery process.
4. The Lord Mayor write to the University of Tasmania and other registered training organisations providing international student education in Hobart, encouraging them to provide further assistance to students. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Amendment
Burnet
That the following additional clauses two clauses be included in the motion:
5. The Lord Mayor write to the Council of Capital City Lord Mayors to consider constructing a collective and united letter from each of those Councils to the Prime Minister. This letter recognise the contribution of international students and temporary Visa holders, their role in the recovery process and local governments support for this cohort and encourage the Federal Government to establish a financial hardship fund and support programs for this cohort.
6. Publicly recognise the enormous contribution economically and socially of our international student temporary Visa holders.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
AMENDMENT LOST VOTING RECORD
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
MOTION CARRIED VOTING RECORD
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
COUNCIL RESOLUTION: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
That: 1. The Lord Mayor write to the Premier acknowledging the announced assistance for working visa holders including some financial hardship payments for international students;
2. The Lord Mayor also seeks from the Premier that the government consider additional programs that may assist international students who have ongoing needs of financial support, including state support for a hardship fund;
3. The Lord Mayor write to the Prime Minister seeking the Federal Government to reconsider support programs that will assist international students and working visa holders who play a major role in the local economy and will form part of the recovery process.
4. The Lord Mayor write to the University of Tasmania and other registered training organisations providing international student education in Hobart, encouraging them to provide further assistance to students. |
The Lord Mayor vacated the Chair after moving the motion.
The Deputy Lord Mayor took the Chair.
11.3 Elected Member Allowances File Ref: F20/39563 |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Motion:
“That Council: 1. Notes the financial hardship being experienced by many residents and Hobart businesses as a result of the COVID19 crisis, and also the City’s own budget challenges due to a significant downturn in operating revenue. 2. Requests all elected members take a voluntary 20% reduction in their allowances for up to 6 months. 3. Encourages the
General Manager to consider similar voluntary salary reductions for the
Executive Leadership Team of the City.” |
||||||||||||||||||
|
Reynolds SHERLOCK That the motion be adopted. |
||||||||||||||||||
|
VOTING RECORD
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
COUNCIL RESOLUTION: |
||||||||||||||||||
|
The motion was lost. |
The Lord Mayor resumed the Chair.
File Ref: F20/40398; 13-1-9 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Motion:
“Motion that:
a) Streamlining and simplifying Council’s grants system to make it more accessible for Hobartians.
b) Reprioritising all grants expenditure for the next financial year to target locally owned small businesses and sole traders/freelancers, and charitable community support organisations (including Salvos, City Mission, Headspace).” |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
BEHRAKIS Burnet That the motion be withdrawn. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
MOTION CARRIED VOTING RECORD
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
COUNCIL RESOLUTION: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The motion was withdrawn. |
12. Review of Salamanca Market By-Law No. 1 of 2010 File Ref: F20/38476 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
SHERLOCK
That the recommendation contained in the report of the Manager Activation Programs and Tourism and the Director Community Life of 22 April 2020, be adopted. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
MOTION CARRIED VOTING RECORD
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
COUNCIL RESOLUTION: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
That the Council approve the draft Salamanca Market By-Law No. 1 of 2020 showing as Attachment A to item 12 of the Open Council agenda of 27 April 2020 be released for further stakeholder engagement. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
a. Report - Review of Salamanca Market By-Law No. 1 of 2020 ⇨ |
That the Council resolve by absolute majority that the meeting be closed to the public pursuant to regulation 15(1) of the Local Government (Meeting Procedures) Regulations 2015 because the items included on the closed agenda contain the following matters:
· Extension of a Contract
The following items were discussed:-
Item No. 1 Minutes of the last meeting of the Closed Portion of the Council Meeting Item No. 2 Communication from the Chairman Item No. 3 Leave of Absence Item No. 4 Consideration of supplementary Items to the agenda Item No. 5 Indications of pecuniary and conflicts of interest Item No. 6 Contract Extension - Contract No. P17/1 - Panel of Providers for the Standing Offer for Supply of Cleaning and Janitorial Products
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
BURNET |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
MOTION CARRIED BY ABSOLUTE MAJORITY VOTING RECORD
|
The Chairman adjourned the meeting at 7.29pm for a comfort break.
The meeting reconvened at 7.34pm.
Item 11.1 was then taken.
There being no further business the open portion of the meeting closed at 9.56pm.
TAKEN AS READ AND SIGNED AS A CORRECT RECORD
THIS
25th DAY OF may 2020.
CHAIRMAN