Council Meeting
Wednesday, 20 May 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
20 May 2020
MM05/20-29 Mayoral Minute - Scheduling of Council Meetings during Covid-19 5
20 May 2020
Item No: MM05/20-29
Mayoral Minute - Scheduling of Council Meetings during Covid-19
Author: Mayor Steve Christou
File Number: SC486
Summary
At the Ordinary Council meeting held on 1 April 2020, Council resolved via a Mayoral Minute that during the Covid-19 period, Council meetings would be scheduled to be held on the third Wednesday of each month only.
We have now trialled one Council meeting per month, and I can clearly see the logic in our existing Code of Meeting practice where it states that Council meetings are generally scheduled on the first and third Wednesday of each month, with the exception of January.
It is clearly evident from tonight’s massive agenda, that one Council meeting per month is not conducive to the functioning of an effective Council and administration.
Each matter before us is very important, and when our agendas are as extensive as tonight it means that there is potentially less time to review and consider such matters, including Councillor Motions, given our meetings must conclude at 10.30pm or at the conclusion of the final item. Also, it is clear that the General Manager and senior management team are able to run a more effective organisation if they are able to put matters requiring decisions before Council on a more frequent basis.
Given the success of recent meetings with remote access, the possibility of social distancing restrictions remaining for many months and the potential of an extraordinary Council meeting being required to complete tonight’s business, I would rather that our community have more transparency and consistency around when this Council is scheduled to meet.
Therefore Councillors, I recommend the following:
That Council as of June 2020, return to conducting Council meetings in accordance with the adopted Code of Meeting Practice, with remote meeting options continuing until Government restrictions around Covid-19 are lifted. |
Attachments
Nil