A monthly Council Meeting was held at the Linton Shire Hall last night, Tuesday 25 May, with all Councillors in attendance. The meeting was open to members of the public and was livestreamed on Council’s YouTube page.
public Question Time
Following the Acknowledgement of Country, there were three questions submitted by two residents for Public Question Time, read by Mayor Cr Helena Kirby. Responses to each enquiry were read by Director Josipovic and will be provided directly to the two questioners.
DELEGATES REPORT
The Delegates Report followed, with Councillors providing updates on a range of meetings and engagements over the past month.
Council Meeting date Update – june 2021
Council approved changing the June 2021 Council Meeting date from Tuesday 22 June to Tuesday 29 June, 2021, due to the Mayor attending the National General Assembly of Local Government in Canberra on 22 June 2021. The Council Report noted that the June meeting will include the recommended adoption of the Council Plan 2021-2025 and the Council Budget 2021/22.
P11143B & P11144A 168, 174 & 225 Lynch road, maude
Council considered an application to grant an amendment to Planning Permits P11143B & P11144A for the use and development of land for extractive industry at 168, 174 & 225 Lynch Road, Maude. Following a presentation by a representative from Chelvon Quarries and the reading of a written submission by an objector, Council supported the recommendation from officers to reject the application and resolved to issue a notice of decision to refuse to grant the amendment.
draft road management plan review
The Draft Road Management Plan 2021-2025 has been prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Road Management Act. As required by the Road Management (General) Regulations 2016, the Plan is required to be reviewed by 30 June 2021, following the appointment of a new Council. At last night’s meeting, Council endorsed the Draft Road Management Plan 2021-2025 to be placed on public exhibition, which will take place from 26 May to 7 June, with all residents welcome to lodge a written submission on the Draft Plan.
draft G21 & AFL Barwon towards 2030 Strategy for public exhibition
The draft G21 and AFL Barwon Towards 2030 Strategy aims to guide the future planning and development of football and netball throughout the G21 Region for the next 10 years. The draft Strategy is an initiative of AFL Barwon and the G21 Sport & Recreation Pillar and has been informed by a facilities audit, participation data and with the collaboration and engagement of stakeholders in the G21 Region including the five participating Councils. At last night’s meeting, Council endorsed the Draft G21 and AFL Barwon Towards 2030 Strategy for public exhibition for a period of six weeks from 31 May to 11 July.
COVID-19 hardship policy and customer assistance progress
As of 30 April 2021, $57,659 of the $100,000 COVID-19 Hardship Policy fund has been used to financially assist 127 ratepayers who were financially impacted by Covid-19 pandemic. In addition, $10,481 will be used to waive environmental health permits and $9,900 to waive the Meredith interpretative centre lease resulting in $21,960 remaining in the fund. As part of this update, Council considered extending the current Policy into the 2021/22 Financial Year.
Cr Sharkey put forward an alternate motion: That Council:
- Note the update on assistance provided to our residents through the COVID-19 recovery plan during 2020/21.
- Continue the COVID-19 Hardship into 2021/22 and refer $50k to the Draft 2021/22 Budget for consideration.
- Receive a report at the July Council meeting reviewing the current COVID-19 Financial Hardship Policy and the eligibility criteria.
- As part of the policy review include criteria to deliver a COVID-19 Recovery Program and refer $50k to the draft 2021/22 budget for consideration.
Council resolved to approve the alternate motion.
nomination of state significant places for inclusion in the victorian heritage register
At last night’s meeting, Council endorsed the nomination of the following state significant places for inclusion in the Victorian Heritage Register:
- Church of Epiphany, Meredith;
- Presbyterian Church, Rokewood; and
- Former Police Stables and Lock Up, Smythesdale
All sites are currently covered by a Heritage Overlay.
mobile traders policy
Council has developed a Draft Mobile Traders Policy as a framework to support the operation of mobile trading and ensure a consistent, coordinated and equitable approach to mobile trading. The intention of the Draft Policy is to meet the needs of the growing community and attempt to protect current and future businesses operating in their locations within the Shire, by balancing the needs of bricks and mortar businesses, the community and the requests from mobile traders. At last night’s meeting, Council endorsed the Draft Policy for a four-week public exhibition period, welcoming community submissions and writing to all current permit holders and food businesses advising of the Draft Policy. The public exhibition will begin later this week.
bannockburn growth plan – update
A report on the progress of the Bannockburn Growth Plan was considered at last night’s meeting and was noted by Council.
proposed naming of unnamed road, lethbridge submission results
Council resolved to receive and note the public submissions received on the naming of the unnamed road in Lethbridge. Council resolved to name the unnamed road in Lethbridge ‘Capron Lane’ and requested official gazettal of the name from the Registrar of Geographic Names.
melbourne cup public holiday consultation results
At the meeting held on 23 February 2021, Council resolved to seek feedback from the community to determine whether to observe the Melbourne Cup Public Holiday or another alternative for the next four years. Consultation was held between 24 February 2021 and 18 April 2021 with a total of 100 submissions received.
An alternate motion was put forward by Cr Sharkey:
That Council:
1. Receive the results of the Melbourne Cup Public Holiday public consultation held between 24 February 2021 and 18 April 2021.
2. Approve the date for the public holiday for all parts of the Shire to be Melbourne Cup Day for the years 2021 – 2024.
Council resolved to approve the alternate motion.
planning permit compliance policy - 2021
Council resolved to adopt the revised Planning Permit Compliance Policy 2021 with amendments, following an alternate motion presented by Cr Whitfield. The policy, previously titled Planning Permit Enforcement Policy, outlines Council’s strategy for ensuring compliance with planning permit conditions.
panel of suppliers – tree maintenance services
Council resolved to award the Contract for the provision of Tree Maintenance Services to the following suppliers for the initial term of 3 years, with 2 x 12-month options to extend:
- Aspect Tree Management Pty Ltd
- Acorn Tree Services Pty Ltd
- Tree Synergy Pty Ltd T/A Bellarine Tree Services
- Tree Scene
- Tom McLoughlan Contracting ATF TMC Enviro Trust
Council also resolved to delegate to the Chief Executive Officer or his delegate authority to execute the contract on behalf of Council.
audit & risk committee report – 11 may 2021
The report provided a summary of business considered at the 11 May 2021 meeting of the Audit & Risk Committee and Council resolved to note the minutes from the meeting.
vago Audit – sexual harassment in local government – update April 2021
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 the action plan to implement the recommendations made in the VAGO Report into Sexual Harassment in Local Government.
There were no notices of motion, petitions or confidential reports for decision on the Council Agenda.
The next meeting of Council will be held on Tuesday 29 June, 2021 at the Golden Plains Civic Centre, 2 Pope Street, and available by livestream.
Watch the Mayor's Meeting Summary
Watch Mayor Cr Helena Kirby's summary video to find out what was discussed and decided at Council's Meeting on 25 May 2021.
Watch the May 2021 Meeting of Council
Watch the recording of the 27 May 2021 Meeting of Council.