Council Meeting
Wednesday, 18 March 2020 at 6:30pm
Cumberland City Council Chambers
Merrylands Service Centre, 16 Memorial Avenue, Merrylands
Councillor Contact Details
Granville Ward |
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Clr Steve Christou (Mayor) |
0419 651 187 |
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Clr Ola Hamed |
0405 070 007 |
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Clr Joseph Rahme |
0418 995 471 |
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Greystanes Ward |
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Clr Greg Cummings |
0417 612 717 |
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Clr Eddy Sarkis (Deputy Mayor) |
0418 306 918 |
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Vacant |
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Regents Park Ward |
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Clr Ned Attie |
0419 583 254 |
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Clr George Campbell |
0409 233 315 |
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Clr Kun Huang |
0418 911 774 |
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South Granville Ward |
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Clr Glenn Elmore |
0418 459 527 |
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Clr Paul Garrard |
0414 504 504 |
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Clr Tom Zreika |
0400 805 303 |
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Wentworthville Ward |
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Clr Lisa Lake |
0418 669 681 |
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Clr Suman Saha |
0419 546 950 |
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Clr Michael Zaiter |
0418 432 797 |
For information on Council services and facilities please visit www.cumberland.nsw.gov.au
Council Meeting
18 March 2020
MM03/20-25 Mayoral Minute - Council's Response to Coronavirus (COVID-19) 5
NOTE: Council released communications during the day on Council’s website advising that the community participate in tonight’s meeting via livestream rather than physical attendance due to Coronavirus concerns.
18 March 2020
Item No: MM03/20-25
Mayoral Minute - Council's Response to Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Author: Mayor Steve Christou
File Number: SC486
Summary
The world is being rocked by the Coronavirus pandemic. The latest media reports indicate that NSW has reported 57 new cases, 6 deaths in Australia, 5 of them from NSW.
Personally, it’s a situation that I’ve never seen in my lifetime, and as a Council we’ve needed to take urgent and immediate measures to contain the spread of the virus as the situation escalates.
Many of our residents will be watching our live stream tonight instead of being at this meeting, in person. Closing the public gallery of a Council meeting is not a decision we’ve made lightly, but out of necessity for the health of the community.
The Prime Minister and the NSW Minister for Health have announced strict measures for all Australians to follow, which include cancelling any events or gatherings where more than 100 people will attend, and increasing sanitisation and hygiene protocols.
As a result, the following measures are proposed for Cumberland City Council to ensure that we are both complying with the directions from the various levels of government, and being prudent and looking after the safety of our community:
· Closing Council’s Libraries to the public until further notice;
· Suspending the Learn to Swim program until further notice, with all pools remaining open at this stage for general public use;
· Cancelling Citizenship Ceremonies until further notice;
· No events or bookings will be accepted for the Holroyd Centre, Central Gardens, Holroyd Gardens or Auburn Botanic Gardens;
Council events that have already been cancelled and will not proceed this year include:
o Youth Week
o Cumberland Reconciliation Day
o Ramadan Street Food Festival
o Fun 4 Kids "Warali Wali' Naidoc Event
o Refugee Camp in my neighbourhood
o Anzac Day - events assist the RSL sub branches with their events.
A decision will be made closer to the event date in relation to the Cherry Blossom Festival.
· Casual hirers of Council’s facilities are able to cancel any bookings made prior to today, within 30 days of the booking occurring with a full refund provided;
· Cancelling all non essential community, sport, and youth programs until further notice. Important essential services such as Meals on Wheels will continue at this stage;
· Working from home arrangements for Council staff will be implemented where feasible and possible by the General Manager, to minimise risks to business continuity;
· Childcare services to continue operating as normal, and will be closely monitored in accordance with any determination made in relation to the closing of schools across NSW.
· Any capital works that have not been committed will be postponed to offset the loss of revenue anticipated as a result of these measures. This does not affect routine repairs and maintenance works.
I acknowledge these are drastic measures which will affect our community, but the health and safety of our staff and residents is absolutely our priority.
Given the Coronavirus and relevant directions from the Prime Minister are evolving on a daily basis, I am also seeking the support of Council to delegate authority to myself and the General Manager to be able to make decisions about Council services between Council meetings that need to be made to accord with the relevant directions issued.
Finally, I want to reassure residents that Council’s essential services will continue to be delivered. Bins will be collected, our contact centre will remain open to answer the calls of our community.
Therefore Councillors, I am recommending the following:
That Council: 1. Endorse the actions within the Mayoral Minute; and 2. Delegate authority to the Mayor and General Manager to exercise the powers of Council between meetings for any urgent or critical decisions to be made relating to the minimisation of the spread of the Corona Virus, in accordance with s.226(o) and s. 377 of the Local Government Act 1993. |
Attachments