Council Meeting

 17 February 2021

Minutes of the Council Meeting 17 February 2021

Present:

Steve Christou (Mayor)

Councillor

Eddy Sarkis (Deputy Mayor)

Councillor

Ned Attie

Councillor (arrived 6:37pm)

George Campbell

Councillor (via web conferencing)

Greg Cummings

Councillor

Glenn Elmore

Councillor

Paul Garrard

Councillor

Ola Hamed

Councillor (via web conferencing)

Kun Huang

Councillor

Lisa Lake

Councillor

Joseph Rahme

Councillor (via web conferencing)

Suman Saha

Councillor

Michael Zaiter

Councillor

Tom Zreika

Councillor (via web conferencing)

Hamish McNulty

General Manager

Melissa Attia

Director Community & Organisation Development

Daniel Cavallo

Director Environment & Planning

Richard Sheridan

Director Finance & Governance

Brendan Govers

Acting Director Works & Infrastructure

 

Also Present:

Colin McFadzean

General Counsel

Carol Karaki

Acting Executive Manager Corporate Services

Olivia Shields

Senior Governance Officer

The Mayor, Councillor Christou declared the meeting open at 6:33pm.

Opening Prayer 

The opening prayer was read by Pastor Edward Conteh from the Auburn Salvation Army.

Acknowledgement of Country

The Mayor, Councillor Christou read 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

There were no declarations of interest.

Confirmation of Minutes

Min.1021

C02/21-674 Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Council - 3 February 2021

Resolved  (Cummings/Attie)

That Council confirm the minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Council held on 3 February 2021.

 

Public Forum:

Speakers on Items on the Council Meeting Agenda

Speaker

Item #

Suburb

Roydon Ng

C02/21-681 Westmead - Submission on the Draft Westmead 2036 Place Strategy and Inclusion of Westmead South Precinct in Council's Strategic Planning Work Program

Lidcombe

 

Min.1022

 Suspension of Standing Orders

Resolved  (Sarkis/Garrard)

That in accordance with Clause 8.2 of the Code of Meeting Practice, Council suspend standing orders to allow Item C02/21-681 to be brought forward for consideration at this time of the Meeting.

 

Min.1023

C02/21-681 Westmead - Submission on the Draft Westmead 2036 Place Strategy and Inclusion of Westmead South Precinct in Council's Strategic Planning Work Program

Resolved  (Garrard/Attie)

That Council:

1.      Endorse the draft submission on the Draft Westmead 2036 Place Strategy in Attachment 2 and forward to the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment including the following:

a)    Enhanced connectivity – Call for NSW Government to immediately honour its commitment to widen the Bridge Road rail overpass.

b)    Commuter Parking – Express the need for a clear plan to accommodate the demand for increased commuter parking, free short stay parking and residential parking in Westmead South.

c)    Social Infrastructure – Express strong concern about overcrowding in the current school infrastructure and the need for a clear plan to address the anticipated increase in children numbers from the implementation of the Westmead Strategy.

2.      Delegate authority to the General Manager to finalise the draft submission, including minor typographical changes.

3.      Endorse that Westmead South precinct be included in Council’s strategic planning work program, as provided in Attachment 3, with the following activities to be undertaken prior to further reports being considered by Council:

a. Completion of background analysis

b. Early community consultation on the planning proposal

c. Preparation of draft planning proposal

d. Preparation of draft planning controls associated with the planning proposal

e. Consideration of draft planning proposal by the Cumberland Local Planning Panel

f. Councillor briefings prior to early community consultation and prior to consideration by the Cumberland Local Planning Panel.

Carried Unanimously

 

Min.1024

Resumption of Standing Orders

Resolved  (Attie/Cummings)

That in accordance with Clause 8.2 of the Code of Meeting Practice, Council resume the normal order of business.

 

Min.1025

Matter of Urgency – Councillor Huang

Councillor Huang raised a Matter of Urgency regarding the remarks made by the Mayor to the Sydney Morning Herald in regards to Council’s cultural events.

 

The Mayor advised Councillor Huang that he did not believe the matter of urgency raised was of great urgency. The Mayor proceeded to put the Motion before the Chamber.

 

The Motion to have the Matter of Urgency be considered 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:                     Campbell, Elmore, Hamed, Huang, Lake and  Saha.

Councillor(s) Against the Motion:              Attie, Christou, Cummings, Garrard, Rahme, Sarkis, Zaiter and Zreika.

 

Min.1026

Matter of Urgency – Councillor Saha

Councillor Saha raised a Matter of Urgency regarding the remarks made by the Mayor to the Sydney Morning Herald in regards to Council’s cultural events.

 

The Mayor advised Councillor Saha that he did not believe the matter of urgency raised was of great urgency. The Mayor proceeded to put the Motion before the Chamber.

 

The Motion to have the Matter of Urgency be considered 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:                     Campbell, Elmore, Hamed, Huang, Lake and  Saha.

Councillor(s) Against the Motion:              Attie, Christou, Cummings, Garrard, Rahme, Sarkis, Zaiter and Zreika.

 

Min.1027

Items by Exception

Resolved  (Sarkis/Elmore)

That Council adopt items C02/21-675, C02/21-677, C02/21- 678, C02/21- 679 and C02/21-680 on the Council Agenda in bulk as per the recommendations in the reports.

 

Min.1028

C02/21-675 Legal Report

 

Resolved  (Sarkis/Elmore)

That the report be received.

 

Min.1029

C02/21-677 Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) - National General Assembly of Local Government

 

Resolved  (Sarkis/Elmore)

That Council:

1.      Confirm its participation in the annual ALGA National General Assembly 2021.

2.      Give consideration to nominating the Mayor and/or Councillor(s) to attend the 2021 National General Assembly of Local Government to be held in Canberra from 20 – 23 June 2021; and

3.      Give consideration to submitting motion(s) to the 2021 National General Assembly of Local Government.

 

Min.1030

C02/21-678 Monthly Management Accounts December 2020

 

Resolved  (Sarkis/Elmore)

That Council receive the information contained in this report.

 

Min.1031

C02/21-679 Investment Report - January 2021

 

Resolved  (Sarkis/Elmore)

That Council:

1.   Receive the 31 January Investment Report. 

2.   Note the recommendation of Prudential Investments to increase the medium term growth fund from 5% of total balance to 10% noting this change is compliant with the Investment Policy.

 

Min.1032

C02/21-680 Report on Variations to Development Standards Approved under Delegation - October to December Quarter

 

Resolved  (Sarkis/Elmore)

That Council note this report.

 

Min.1033

C02/21-676 Quarter 2 Performance Report on the Operational Plan 2020-21 and Quarterly Budget Review Statement

Motion (Elmore/Saha)

That Council:

1.   Receive the report.

2.   Approve the revised estimates of income and expenditure for 2019/20 contained in the Quarterly Budget Review Statement.

3.  Remove the duplication of Granville Park Renewal Works and add Auburn South Community and Recreation Centre to the program subject to the availability of funding.

Amendment (Zaiter/Sarkis)

That Council:

1.   Receive the report.

2.   Approve the revised estimates of income and expenditure for 2019/20 contained in the Quarterly Budget Review Statement.

3.   Remove the duplication of Granville Park Renewal Works.

 

The Amendment moved by Councillor Zaiter seconded by Councillor Sarkis 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 Amendment:           Attie, Christou, Garrard, Rahme, Sarkis, Zaiter and Zreika.

 

Councillor(s) Against the Amendment:   Campbell, Cummings, Elmore, Hamed, Huang, Lake and Saha.

 

The Amendment moved by Councillor Zaiter seconded by Councillor Sarkis then became the motion.

 

The motion moved by Councillor Zaiter seconded by Councillor Sarkis on being Put was declared CARRIED to become the resolution of Council (as shown in the amendment).

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, Cummings, Garrard, Rahme, Sarkis, Zaiter and Zreika.

Councillor(s) Against the Motion:        Campbell, Elmore, Hamed, Huang, Lake and  Saha.

 

 

C02/21-677 Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) - National General Assembly of Local Government

This item was dealt with earlier in the meeting.

 

 

C02/21-678 Monthly Management Accounts December 2020

This item was dealt with earlier in the meeting.

 

 

C02/21-679 Investment Report - January 2021

This item was dealt with earlier in the meeting.

 

 

C02/21-680 Report on Variations to Development Standards Approved under Delegation - October to December Quarter

This item was dealt with earlier in the meeting.

 

 

C02/21-681 Westmead - Submission on the Draft Westmead 2036 Place Strategy and Inclusion of Westmead South Precinct in Council's Strategic Planning Work Program

This item was dealt with earlier in the meeting.

 

Min.1034

Closed Session

Resolved (Elmore/Cummings)

At this stage of the meeting being 7:25pm, 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:

(b) the personal hardship of any resident or ratepayer.

(d) commercial information of a confidential nature that would, if disclosed

(iii) reveal a trade secret.

 

Min.1035

Open Session

Resolved (Elmore/Attie)

Council returned to Open Session at 8:05pm to resolve the below Confidential Items:

C02/21-682   Local Infrastructure Contributions on Complying Development Certificate for 25 Daniel Street, Granville

C02/21-683  Proposed New Council Administration Building - Completed Feasibility Study

 

Min.1036

C02/21-682 Local Infrastructure Contributions on Complying Development Certificate for 25 Daniel Street, Granville

Resolved (Attie/Zaiter)

That Council:

1.      Note the contents of the report.

2.      Endorse that Option 1 be applied in relation to local infrastructure contributions for Complying Development Certificate (CDC2020-0170) at 25 Daniel Street, Granville.

Councillor Hamed left the Meeting at 7:29pm and returned to the Meeting at 7:30pm during the consideration of this item.

Councillor Hamed left the Meeting at 7:31pm and returned to the Meeting at 7:32pm during the consideration of this item.

 

Min.1037

C02/21-683 Proposed New Council Administration Building - Completed Feasibility Study

Resolved (Attie/Rahme)

That Council:

1.      Receive the report.

2.      Endorse that Council requires the amount of approximately 13,000 sqm for an Administration Building and proceed to an Expressions of Interest (EOI) process after a workshop has been conducted.

3.     Include in the scope of the EOI,  the Council Administration Building with sufficient carparking and any additional community benefits.

4.      Receive a report following the EOI process for determination.

The motion moved by Councillor Attie seconded by Councillor Rahme on being Put was declared CARRIED.

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, Huang, Lake and  Saha.

The Mayor, Councillor Christou left the Meeting at 7:38pm. The Deputy Mayor, Councillor Sarkis assumed the Chair accordingly. The Mayor, Councillor Christou returned to the Meeting and assumed the Chair at 7:39pm.

Councillor Hamed left the Meeting at 7:40pm and returned to the Meeting at 7:41pm during the consideration of this item.

Councillor Rahme left the Meeting at 7:52pm and returned to the Meeting at 7:54pm during the consideration of this item.

Councillor Hamed left the Meeting at 8:03pm during the consideration of this item and did not return to the Meeting.

 

 

 

 

 

The Mayor, Councillor Christou closed the meeting at 8:06pm.