Council Meeting
15 July 2020
Steve Christou (Mayor) |
Councillor |
Eddy Sarkis (Deputy Mayor) |
Councillor |
Ned Attie |
Councillor |
George Campbell |
Councillor (via web conferencing) |
Greg Cummings |
Councillor |
Glenn Elmore |
Councillor |
Paul Garrard |
Councillor |
Ola Hamed |
Councillor |
Kun Huang |
Councillor |
Lisa Lake |
Councillor |
Joseph Rahme |
Councillor |
Suman Saha |
Councillor |
Michael Zaiter |
Councillor |
Tom Zreika |
Councillor |
Hamish McNulty |
General Manager |
Melissa Attia |
Director Community and Organisation Development |
Daniel Cavallo |
Director Environment & Planning |
Richard Sheridan |
Director Finance & Governance |
Stewart Rodham |
Acting Director Works & Infrastructure |
Also Present:
Charlie Ayoub |
Executive Manager Corporate Services |
Colin McFadzean |
General Counsel |
Carol Karaki |
Governance Coordinator |
Laith Jammal |
Governance Officer |
Opening Prayer
The opening prayer was read by Reverend Brian Rensford from Holroyd New Life Church.
The Mayor, Councillor Christou opened the Meeting with the following Acknowledgement of Country:
“I would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of this land – the Darug People, and pay my respects to their elders past, present and emerging.”
National Anthem
At this point in the meeting the Mayor, Councillor Christou asked all of those in attendance to stand for the playing of the Australian National Anthem.
Notice of Live Streaming of Council Meeting
The Mayor, Councillor Christou advised that the Council meeting was being streamed live on Council's website and members of the public must ensure their speech to the Council is respectful and use appropriate language.
Apologies/Leave of Absence
Nil
Declarations of Pecuniary & Non Pecuniary Conflicts of Interest
Councillor Zreika declared a pecuniary interest in item C07/20-501 as he is related to and acts for clients who may benefit from the result of this item. As such, Councillor Zreika exited the Chamber during the consideration of this item.
Councillor Sarkis declared a pecuniary interest in item C07/20-501 Cumberland Local Environmental Plan - Post Exhibition Report on new Planning Controls for Cumberland City as he and his family own property in the LGA other than their primary places of residence. As such, Councillor Sarkis exited the Chamber during the consideration of this item.
Councillor Christou declared a non-pecuniary, less than significant interest in item C07/20-501 as the item being deliberated is a broad planning instrument and to the best of his knowledge, he or any related persons are not subject to gain or loss as a result of this item.
Councillor Saha declared a non-pecuniary, less than significant interest in item C07/20-501 as the item being deliberated is a broad planning instrument and to the best of his knowledge, he or any related persons are not subject to gain or loss as a result of this item.
Councillor Garrard declared a non-pecuniary, less than significant interest in item C07/20-501 as the item being deliberated is a broad planning instrument and to the best of his knowledge, he or any related persons are not subject to gain or loss as a result of this item.
Councillor Hamed declared a non-pecuniary, less than significant interest in item C07/20-501 as the item being deliberated is a broad planning instrument and to the best of his knowledge, he or any related persons are not subject to gain or loss as a result of this item.
Councillor Attie declared a non-pecuniary, less than significant interest in item C07/20-501 as the item being deliberated is a broad planning instrument and to the best of his knowledge, he or any related persons are not subject to gain or loss as a result of this item.
Councillor Zaiter declared a non-pecuniary, less than significant interest in item C07/20-501 as the item being deliberated is a broad planning instrument and to the best of his knowledge, he or any related persons are not subject to gain or loss as a result of this item.
Councillor Huang declared a non-pecuniary, less than significant interest in item C07/20-501 as the item being deliberated is a broad planning instrument and to the best of his knowledge, he or any related persons are not subject to gain or loss as a result of this item.
Councillor Rahme declared a non-pecuniary, less than significant interest in item C07/20-501 as the item being deliberated is a broad planning instrument and to the best of his knowledge, he or any related persons are not subject to gain or loss as a result of this item.
Councillor Rahme left the Meeting at 6:35pm and returned to the Meeting at 6:37pm.
Confirmation of Minutes
Min.754 |
C07/20-494 Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Council - 1 July 2020 |
That Council confirm the minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Council held on 1 July 2020 subject to the inclusion of the motion of dissent moved by Councillor Lake in the minutes. |
Public Forum:
Speakers on Items on the Council Meeting Agenda
Speaker |
Item # |
Suburb |
Reverend Peter Blayney |
C07/20-501 Cumberland Local Environmental Plan - Post Exhibition Report on new Planning Controls for Cumberland City |
Guildford |
Mr Michael Rowe |
C07/20-501 Cumberland Local Environmental Plan - Post Exhibition Report on new Planning Controls for Cumberland City |
Sydney |
Mr Mohammed Al Zoubi |
C07/20-501 Cumberland Local Environmental Plan - Post Exhibition Report on new Planning Controls for Cumberland City |
Auburn |
Carly and Gordon Lewis |
C07/20-501 Cumberland Local Environmental Plan - Post Exhibition Report on new Planning Controls for Cumberland City |
Merrylands |
Mr Leon Savage |
C07/20-501 Cumberland Local Environmental Plan - Post Exhibition Report on new Planning Controls for Cumberland City |
Lidcombe |
Mr Matt Fisher |
C07/20-501 Cumberland Local Environmental Plan - Post Exhibition Report on new Planning Controls for Cumberland City |
Auburn |
Speakers on General Items
Speaker |
Subject |
Suburb |
Mr Rodyon Ng |
Planning for Rail Services West of Bankstown Station in 2024 |
Lidcombe |
The Mayor, Councillor Christou advised that 2 public forum written submissions were received in relation to Rates Harmonisation and in relation to Item C07/20-501 Cumberland Local Environmental Plan - Post Exhibition Report on new Planning Controls for Cumberland City. A copy was sent to all Councillors by the officers prior to the meeting. The Mayor, Councillor Christou proceeded to read out the submissions as follows:
Ms Sharlyn Teo – Community Member – Pemulwuy
To whom it may concern,
Rates harmonisation is an issue that will affect all rate payers in our community. As of this moment, the only reason I know about the rates harmonisation is because I saw the information on Facebook. How are all rate payers being notified? There will be a great number of our community members who do not have social media, or do not speak English as a first language. We are a multicultural and multilingual community. It concerns me that information about an issue which affects every member of the community is not being disseminated to all those affected. Could I suggest that the submission period be extended, and a notice be sent out with the next rates notice?
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Ms Yildiz Yigiter– Community Member – Granville
My name is Yildiz Yigiter, and I am the owner of 116 Elizabeth street Granville. I am addressing council concerning the proposed rezoning of 112, 114 & 116 Elizabeth street from R3 to R4. My property is directly behind the 131, 133, 135, 137, 139 & 141 Woodville road properties. I have been contacting council via email since 2016 in regards to this matter. I believe that my property and the properties of 114 & 112 Elizabeth street should be approved for an R4 rezoning. This is not only for the fact that our properties are within walking distance to Granville train station, but for multiple other reasons such as: our properties are behind the Tafe and are a couple minutes’ walk away. There is a bus stop just off Elizabeth street, where multiple buses go to Bankstown and directly to Parramatta, along with a bus stop on the Avenue which goes to a variety of locations. Merrylands station is within walking distance.
In addition, there are multiple properties that are not situated along Woodville road, yet they have been included as part of the Woodville road project. These properties are on William, John, Meadows, Claremont and Lumeah Streets, and Patten avenue and Merrylands road. I hope this information above, alongside the recommendation by the Cumberland Local Planning Panel will allow you to approve my property within the Woodville Road Corridor.
Thank you for your considerations.
Min.755 |
Suspension of Standing Orders |
Resolved (Attie/Hamed) That in accordance with Clause 8.2 of the Code of Meeting Practice, Council suspend standing orders to allow Item C07/20-501 to be brought forward for consideration at this time of the Meeting. |
Min.757 |
Motion of Expulsion |
Note: Councillor Campbell referred to the Mayor, Councillor Christou as “Madame Mayor” on multiple occasions at this point of the meeting. The Mayor, Councillor Christou and the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Sarkis requested that Councillor Campbell apologise for the remarks made as the remarks were deemed insulting. Councillor Campbell advised that the remarks made were in accordance with Clause 7.1 of the Code of Meeting Practice and refused to apologise. Resolved (Attie/Sarkis) That Councillor Campbell be expelled from the meeting in accordance with Clause 15.16 of the Code of Meeting Practice.
A division was called, the result of the division required in accordance with Council’s Code of Meeting Practice is as follows:
Councillor(s) For the Motion: Attie, Christou, Garrard, Rahme, Sarkis and Zaiter.
Councillor(s) Against the Motion: Campbell, Cummings, Elmore, Hamed, Huang, Lake and Saha.
Councillor Huang requested that this vote be clarified and that Councillor Campbell be returned to the Meeting via audio-visual link whilst it was being clarified.
Councillor Zreika left the Meeting at 8:34pm and returned to the Meeting at 8:43pm during the consideration of this item.
ADJOURNMENT 8:39pm The Mayor, Councillor Christou adjourned the Meeting to enable Councillor Campbell to return to the Meeting via audio-visual link. 8:45pm The Mayor, Councillor Christou resumed the Meeting. |
Min.758 |
Motion to Recommit |
Note: Councillors Sarkis noted that the Motion of Expulsion should be recommitted to clarify the votes. Accordingly, the Mayor, Councillor Christou allowed for the Motion to be recommitted.
Motion (Sarkis/Rahme) That Councillor Campbell be expelled from the meeting in accordance with Clause 15.16 of the Code of Meeting Practice. The Motion moved by Councillor Sarkis seconded by Councillor Rahme on being Put was declared LOST.
A division was called, the result of the division required in accordance with Council’s Code of Meeting Practice is as follows:
Councillor(s) For the Motion: Attie, Christou, Garrard, Rahme, Sarkis and Zaiter.
Councillor(s) Against the Motion: Campbell, Elmore, Hamed, Huang, Lake, Saha and Zreika.
Councillor Cummings left the Meeting at 8:45pm during the consideration of this item. |
Min.759 |
|
That Council adopt items C07/20-495, C07/20-496 and C07/20-498 on the Council Agenda in bulk as per the recommendations in the reports.
Councillor Cummings returned to the Meeting at 8:48pm during the consideration of this item. |
Min.760 |
|
That the report be received. |
Min.761 |
|
That Council endorse the four applications recommended for funding as outlined under Attachment 1 of this report and allocate $21,590 from the 2020/21 Emergency Relief Fund to support vulnerable community members affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. |
|
C07/20-498 Bi-Annual Report on Councillor Expenses and Facilities |
This item was dealt with earlier in the meeting. |
Min.764 |
|
That Council: 1. Receive and note this report. 2. Be provided with a further report on the following:
(a) The reason the sum of $40,805,447 is presented as the total cost pool; (b) The items included for property development and buildings at $9,769,441; and (c) The cost driver data for the table on page 49.
Carried Unanimously |
Min.766 |
|
At this stage of the meeting being 9:12pm, the Mayor advised that in accordance with Section 10a of the Local Government Act 1993 the meeting would move into Closed Session, with the members of the press and public excluded from the closed session and access to the correspondence and reports relating to the items considered during the course of the closed session being withheld. This action was taken as the items listed were within the following provisions under Section 10a of the Local Government Act:-
(2) The matters and information are the following: (a) personnel matters concerning particular individuals (other than councillors).
The Motion moved by Councillor Attie seconded by Councillor Cummings on being Put was declared CARRIED on the casting vote of the Mayor.
A division was called, the result of the division required in accordance with Council’s Code of Meeting Practice is as follows:
Councillor(s) For the Motion: Attie, Christou, Garrard, Rahme, Sarkis Zaiter and Zreika.
Councillor(s) Against the Motion: Campbell, Cummings, Elmore, Hamed, Huang, Lake and Saha. |
Min.767 |
Open Session |
Resolved (Attie/Sarkis) Council returned to Open Session at 10:07pm to resolve the below Confidential Item: C07/20-502 Budget Savings Initiatives Post COVID-19 |
Min.768 |
|
That Council delegate authority to the General Manager to implement the savings and business improvement initiatives outlined in the attached report.
The Motion moved by Councillor Attie seconded by Councillor Zreika on being Put was declared CARRIED on the casting vote of the Mayor.
A division was called, the result of the division required in accordance with Council’s Code of Meeting Practice is as follows:
Councillor(s) For the Motion: Attie, Christou, Garrard, Rahme, Sarkis Zaiter and Zreika.
Councillor(s) Against the Motion: Campbell, Cummings, Elmore, Hamed, Huang, Lake and Saha. |
The Mayor, Councillor Christou closed the meeting at 10:07pm.