Council Meeting Summary: 28 September 2021

News

A monthly Council Meeting was held virtually last night, Tuesday 28 September, with all Councillors in attendance. The meeting was livestreamed on Council’s website and YouTube page.

Public Question Time

Following the Acknowledgement of Country, there were no questions submitted for Public Question Time.

DELEGATES REPORT

The Delegates Report followed, with Councillors providing updates on a range of meetings and engagements over the past month.

P20341 – 1115 Shelford-Mt Mercer road, Shelford (Broiler Farm)

At its August meeting, Council considered an application to grant a planning permit for the use and development of the land for the purposes of a broiler farm and associated buildings and works at 1115 Shelford-Mt Mercer Road, Shelford, subject to conditions detailed in the report. Council did not approve the planning permit application.

As a final decision was not made at the August 2021 Council Meeting, the applicant has since lodged an Application for Review at the Victorian Civil & Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) against Council’s failure to determine the application within the prescribed time. The matter has been set down by VCAT for a hearing on 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 May 2022.

Following a presentation by the applicant, Council resolved to form a position of support for planning permit application P20341.

ANNUAL REPORT 2020/21

The Golden Plains Shire Council Annual Report 2020/21 has been prepared in accordance with the Local Government Act 1989 and shares the story of Council’s major highlights and achievements from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021. Council resolved to receive the Annual Report 2020/21, which will be sent to the Minister for Local Government and made available on Council’s website and at Council’s Customer Service Centres.

IN-PRINCIPLE PERFORMANCE STATEMENT AND IN-PRINCIPLE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2021

Council resolved to note the Performance Statement and Financial Statements 2020/21, which, in accordance with Section 99 of the Local Government Act 2020, have been approved in principle by the Audit and Risk Committee. Due to External Audit’s positive outcomes in the Management Letter, the Audit and Risk Committee recommended the 2020/21 financial statements to be certified; and as authorised by Council at the 27 July 2021 meeting, Mayor Cr Helena Kirby and Cr Brett Cunningham, as Council representatives of the Audit and Risk Committee, certified the Performance Statement and Financial Statements.

FINANCE QUARTER 4 UPDATE

Council considered and resolved to note the Quarter 4 (Final Quarter) Finance Report for the 12 months ending 30 June 2021.

SUBMISSIONS TO THE LONG-TERM FINANCIAL PLAN

At its meeting on 24 August 2021, Council resolved to place the Draft Long-Term Financial Plan 2021/22-2030/31 on public exhibition. During the three weeks of exhibition, no submissions were received. In accordance with the Local Government Act 2020, the final Long-Term Financial Plan 2021/22-2030/31 will be presented to Council for adoption at its 26 October meeting.

ARTS, CULTURE AND HERITAGE STRATEGY 2022-2026 FOR EXHIBITION

The Draft Arts, Culture and Heritage Strategy 2022-2026 has been developed in conversation with the Golden Plains community, reflecting the Shire’s cultural aspirations and detailing four clear strategic directions, each with a list of key actions. Council endorsed the Draft Arts, Culture and Heritage Strategy 2022-2026 for public exhibition, with the final Strategy to be presented to Council for adoption later in 2021. The Draft Arts, Culture and Heritage Strategy will be on public exhbition from 30 September to 28 October.

DRAFT GOLDEN PLAINS SHIRE MUNICIPAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING ACTION PLAN 2021-2025

In June, Council adopted the Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan (MPHWP) as an integrated component of the Council Plan 2021-2025. To progress implementation of the MPHWP priorities, the Draft Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Action Plan 2021-2025 (Draft Action Plan) has been prepared and last night, Council endorsed the public exhibition of the Draft Action Plan. Following a three week public exhibition period, the final Action Plan will be presented to Council for adoption at the 26 October meeting, in accordance with requirements of the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008. Read more about the Draft Action Plan and how community members can provide feedback here.

VAGO AUDIT – SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT

In February 2021, the Audit and Risk Committee and Council were presented with the findings of the Audit report conducted by the Victorian Audit Generals Office (VAGO) on Sexual Harassment in Local Government. An action plan has been developed by officers to incorporate these recommendations and also the requirements of the Gender Equality Act 2020, due to the close alignment of outcomes of these two key projects. At last night’s meeting, Council noted an update on the implementation of the action plan regarding the recommendations made in the VAGO Report and noted the update was presented to the Audit and Risk Committee at its 14 September meeting.

LOCAL ROADS AND COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM – PHASE 3 FUNDING ALLOCATION

Council resolved to endorse allocating $2,667,310 as part of the Federal Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program Phase 3 funding to the following projects:

  • Meredith to Shelford Road – Stage 4 ($990,000)
  • Meredith Interpretive Centre Septic System ($42,000)
  • Bannockburn Bowls Sewer Connection ($210,000)
  • Bannockburn Youth Hub Fit Out ($77,000)
  • Public Open Space Asset Renewal ($500,500)
  • Meredith to Shelford Road - Stage 5 ($667,810)
  • Lethbridge Lakes Boardwalk Upgrade ($180,000)

Council noted that the delivery of the Meredith to Shelford Road – Stage 5 project is contingent on securing additional funding of $322,190, and that the list of projects endorsed by Council will be submitted to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development for final approval.

AUDIT and RISK COMMITTEE REPORT – 14 SEPTEMBER 2021

The report provided a summary of business considered at the 14 September 2021 meeting of the Audit and Risk Committee and Council resolved to note the minutes from the meeting.

AUDIT AND RISK COMMITTEE – ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REVIEW

Under section 13 of Golden Plains Shire Council’s adopted Audit and Risk Committee Charter, the Committee members are required to undertake an assessment of its performance against the Charter on an annual basis and provide a copy of the annual assessment to the Chief Executive Officer for tabling at the next Council meeting. Council resolved to note the Committee’s self-assessment report for 2020/21, including areas of improvement from last year and continuing opportunities for future improvement.  

COUNCIL GOVERNANCE RULES REVIEW – DRAFT FOR PUBLIC EXHIBITION

At the August meeting, Council deferred the report on the Council Governance Rules Review to the September meeting. An alternate motion was moved with an amendment to the Governance Rules. Council then resolved to endorse the review of the Governance Rules (Attachment 1) with the amendment; place the document on public exhibition for a period of three weeks; hear any submissions at the 26 October 2021 Council meeting; and consider the Governance Rules for adoption at the November 2021 Council meeting. Read more about the proposed changes and how community members can provide feedback here.

GIFTS, BENEFITS AND HOSPITALITY REGISTER

Council noted the gifts, benefits and hospitality received by Councillors and Council Officers from 30 April 2020 to 31 August 2021.

Notice of Motion – ESTABLISHING AN OFF-ROAD TRAIL BETWEEN TEESDALE AND BANNOCKBURN

Cr Gavin Gamble moved the following Notice of Motion:

“That Council request that a report by Council officers be presented to Council at the October or November ordinary meeting regarding the feasibility and costings of establishing of an off-road trail between Teesdale and Bannockburn.”

After a discussion, Council did not approve the Notice of Motion.

There were no petitions for decision on the Council Agenda and no Confidential Reports for Decision.

The next meeting of Council will be held on Tuesday 26 October, 2021 at the Golden Plains Civic Centre, should COVID-19 restrictions allow. The meeting will be available by livestream on Council’s website and YouTube page.

WATCH THE Mayor's Meeting Summary Video

Watch Mayor Cr Helena Kirby's summary video to find out what was discussed and decided at Golden Plains Shire Council's Meeting on 28 September 2021.

WATCH THE 28 September 2021 MEETING OF COUNCIL

Watch the recording of the 28 September 2021 Meeting of Council.

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