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00:00:00 Mayor Wellington: Okay, we're recording folks. Before I open the meeting tonight, we have a little bit of extra business to perform. I understand it was a certain councillor's birthday yesterday. It's their birthday boxing day today. So I think she's deserving of a little embarrassment and some singing. Councillor Jurisevic: Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Ingrid. Happy birthday to you. Mayor Wellington: Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Meeting called to order. You started it. We have one apology and that's Councillor Glasgow. We've got a bunch of minutes to confirm folks. The first one's the ordinary meeting held on the 16th of May. Moved Councillor Stockwell. Seconded Councillor Pardon. All those in favour.
00:01:00 Thank you. That's carried. The next one's the minutes of the special meeting held on the 22nd of May. Moved Councillor Wilkie. Seconded Councillor Jurisevic. All those in favour. Thank you. That's carried. The minutes of the special meeting held on the 5th of June. Moved Councillor Wilkie. Seconded Councillor Pardon. All those in favour. Thank you. That's carried. There are no mayoral minutes. Petitions. Councillor Jurisevic: I do have a petition. I request that the petition be tabled and request that the appropriate action be taken by the CEO with regard to a petition that has been lodged by Meg Thomas as the principal petitioner, requesting that council would first like to, I'll read through the spiel. First, I commend you on your efforts to protect and preserve the local environment. For the most part, our beaches remain relatively clean and litter free. However, I understand this is the result of council employees collecting rubbish from not only the current bins provided, but also the rubbish that is discarded on the ground. Anti-litter signage and the convenience of bin locations have been found to significantly reduce littering behaviour.
00:02:00 Although many bins are already provided along the main beaches, and even more so during peak periods, I believe that permanent bins at even more entrances and exits to the beach would not only reduce littering behaviour, but also make litter collection by the public more convenient. And the further it goes on. We are designed to talk about anti-littering signage. If signage is implemented, I recommend the following points. There's a number of points with regard to environmentally friendly materials, natural beauty of the location not to be detracted from, signage wording to be considered, signage of main beach entrances should feature a map that highlights locations of bins, bins should be available at direct entrances and exits from beaches, and be made from environmentally friendly materials, and designed to ensure rubbish is irretrievable by wildlife. Thank you. Increasing bins and anti-littering signage will positively impact on the reduction of marine debris along the coast of Australia.
00:03:00 The petition has been supported by 1,113 people so far, and I submit the petition to the CEO. I second it, Mr. President. Mayor Wellington: Thank you. Seconded, Councillor Wilkie. Councillor Jurisevic: Thank you, Mr. CEO. Mayor Wellington: I'll put the motion. All those in favour? Thank you. The motion is carried. I do have some petitions, quite a few in fact. The first one has 86 signatures. It comes from people living in Tewantin. The submission has been prepared in response to the draft new Noosa plan and seeks for the inclusion of a pathway link along Lake Doonella in the LIGIP, otherwise known as the Local Government Infrastructure Plan between Shield Street and Doonella Street, Tewantin. In other words, asking for a pathway to be included in our LGIP. So I move that that be dealt with by the CEO appropriately. I'll second it. Seconded by Councillor Stockwell. All those in favour? Thank you. That's carried. The next petition, this comes from people living in Pandanus, Carrila and Mitty Streets
00:04:00 up there at Little Cove. And this is something of a response to a previous petition we had at the last ordinary meeting. In this case, the petitioners are asking that Council continue to invest. They are asking that Council continue to invest in the new Noosa plan. They claim that 47% of Mitti Street houses currently offer short term accommodation, 75% of owners do not reside in their homes, and therefore they support the Noosa Council's planned short stay areas in the draft planning scheme. I move that that be dealt with appropriately. I'll second it. Seconded by Councillor Jurisevic. All those in favour? Thank you. That's carried. The next one, that's from the City Council. This is a terrific one, this one. This is a petition from the Cunningham Park Gang. Yes. Isn't that great? It says, please, Noosa Council, our parents told us that if we get enough signatures on
00:05:00 a petition, you might build us a proper cubby house in Cunningham Park at Pomona. We like playing there. More kids would join us if we had a cubby house. Cool. We would like to help you design it, and we promise to keep it tidy. The Cunningham Park Gang. I do want to read you how, there's a handwritten note that goes with it. It says, dear Mr Mayor, the children of Pomona need your help. We want you to build a cubby house in Cunningham Park where many of us play. We love being in the outdoors and discovering nature. A cubby house, a place where we will be friends. We want to help the Council design a new cubby house for all of us. Lots of people support us. They put their names on this petition. Please grant my request, Jack Cameron. That's fantastic. Okay, I'll put the motion. All those in favour? Thank you. Yes, Councillor? Thank you. And we're coming to the end of them. The final one, the principal petitioner is Brian O'Connor. It's got 539 signatures, and it states, the petition seeks two outcomes.
00:06:00 One, the lifting of a ban Noosa Council has placed on the staging of a traditional Anzac Day march at Pomona. Now, I do want to editorialise here because Noosa Council has not placed a ban on an Anzac Day march at Pomona, so unfortunately there's some misinformation there. And also permission to install at the memorial in its own memorial place, additional elements of commemoration such as a permanent flagpole, commemorative stone and explanatory plaques. So I move that that be dealt with appropriately by the CEO, seconded by Councillor Jackson. All those in favour? Thank you. That's carried. There are no further petitions from anyone. Councillor Jackson. Councillor Jackson: I'd like to move a notified motion that I've put on the agenda. And in order for our viewers to be aware of what we're discussing, I'll read the notified motion.
00:07:00 That in line with the Local Government Act principle, transparent and effective processes and decision making in the public interest. Council agree to make all informal councillor meetings on council matters open to the public, including councillor workshops, briefings and discussion forums, unless declared to be closed for reasons listed in Section 375 of the Local Government Regulation. Request the CEO to make the schedule of such informal council meetings publicly available. Including any reasons for closure, and to ensure records are kept for recommendations and decisions made at such meetings, and included as an addendum to the minutes of the succeeding ordinary meeting. Institute a public question time at each ordinary meeting, during which members of the public
00:08:00 may ask questions of council as a whole, the mayor and councillors, and record the questions and answers in the ordinary meeting minutes. Provide lists of the members of council reference groups, focus groups, stakeholder forums, round tables, advisory committees, and the like, on council website, and have a policy requiring members of such committees to declare and record conflicts of interest. Rescind the 21st of June Council Resolution which exempted committees from keeping minutes, and request the CEO to ensure minutes of each committee meeting are taken under Section 272 of the Local Government Regulation. And as in the 21st of June resolution, note that the Planning and Environment Committee, Services and Organization Committee, and General Committee meetings will continue to note the movers and seconders of motions in accordance with Section 270. Record in the minutes any live record notes, the names of councillors present,
00:09:00 and how each voted at council and committee meetings. Live stream our Planning and Environment Committee and Services and Organization Committee meetings, and make sure recordings are available for future public viewing. Investigate bookmarking of agenda items in archive reading videos for ease of access. Publicize that under existing Noosa Council Standing Orders, deputations by the public may be received at a meeting where written applications have been received and the mayors agreed to such a deputation. Publicize that under existing Noosa Council Standing Orders, the local government may allow a non-member to participate in the discussion of a particular item of business before the local government on conditions decided by the local government. Publicize upcoming council and committee
00:10:00 meetings in a variety of ways. Publicize upcoming council and committee meetings in a variety of ways including prominent display on council's website, social media, and newspapers, highlighting agenda items, and providing links to agendas, attachments, and live streaming web page, and after meetings, publicize the links to meeting notes, minutes, and archive meeting videos as relevant. And finally, request the Chief Executive Officer to take the necessary steps to implement these actions, and I will add some words. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. So, I put this motion for councilors. And I'll stick that up. Mayor Wellington: I'll second the motion. As Chair, I would like to point out that at this very fine reading some of the words were slightly different to what's printed in the motion and what you read out. Nevertheless, nothing changes
00:11:00 in terms of the intent of the motion. healing We'd you care to speak to the motion? Councillor Jackson: Yes, I certainly do. I will speak to it. I think we all appreciate that transparency is an essential part of effective and representative democracy and essential to building and maintaining trust with the community. My motion is about enhancing transparency through openness, disclosure, engagement and better communication. We have taken some positive actions so far and now we need to build on them. Noosa Council has an opportunity to be a leader in transparency and open government. By becoming more transparent along the lines I propose, this Council can demonstrate over and over again that it is operating in the public interest. We demonstrate that we are truly listening to the community and understand what the community needs.
00:12:00 It is no coincidence that Operation Belcarra, an initiative of the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission, has led to important changes in the Local Government Act and the Electoral Act. These changes have been purpose-designed to make councils and councillor behaviour more transparent. It is not just coincidence that the very first principle stated in the Queensland Local Government Act imposes on councils the duty to ensure, and I quote, transparent and effective processes and decision-making in the public interest. Our own councillor code of conduct enshrines this principle of transparency in a set of values which includes, and again I quote, the development of open and transparent processes and procedures.
00:13:00 To honour these obligations, I am recommending making all informal council meetings open to the public, and that we provide minutes of these meetings. Since our election, we Noosa councillors have participated in over 400 in-house workshops, briefings and discussion forums. In these meetings, it is often the case that consensus is sought or straw polls are conducted, which in effect are directions to council staff, or pre-emptive decisions made outside formal open council meetings. They are hidden from the community, yet they can greatly affect the community. As representatives, we should exclude the community only from matters we are legally obliged to discuss confidentially. This is reinforced in our councillor code of conduct that states, and again I quote, in making decisions in the public interest, councillors will make decisions in open council meetings.
00:14:00 A recent report by the Victorian Ombudsman highlighted what a transparent council looks like, and this includes, quote, having policies in place to deter councillors from reaching agreements outside council meetings, and allowing non-transparent influences, not allowing non-transparent influences to impact on decision making. And another one, officers providing frank and fearless advice and not seeking inappropriate direction from councillors to guide advice and recommendation in officers' reports. This last point is reinforced in the Queensland Local Government Act that specifies, and I quote, no councillor, including the mayor, may give a direction to any other local government employee.
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00:15:00 In South Australia, it is legislated that all informal council meetings, councillor meetings, which involve discussion or effectively make decisions about matters which will be on a formal council agenda, must be open to the public. In Victoria, it is legislated that all records of informal council meetings which consider council matters, must be reported at council ordinary meetings and included in ordinary meeting minutes. Interestingly, as long ago as 2015, Guindy Council voted to make its councillor workshops and briefings open to the public. We Noosa councillors are not a political party. We are not a group under the Electoral Act. We are not a cabinet. We are independently elected representatives. Our meetings, discussions, debates, agreements, decisions and votes should all be open and available to the public.
00:16:00 I'm also recommending another significant step to enhance disclosure and this is to establish a public question time at each ordinary meeting. As examples, Rockhampton and Cairns Regional Councils invite public comments and questions. Mayor Wellington: Councillor, you're out of your five minutes. Councillor Jackson: Oh dear. I'll just, well, I'll finish quickly. Another simple step is recommended by the Victorian Ombudsman to disclose on council websites the names of members of all council reference groups, focus groups, stakeholder forums, round tables and the like and to have a policy requiring participants to declare conference of interests. Our own director... Mayor Wellington: Councillor, really, sorry, I'll have to put it to the rest of the councillors. Are you happy for the councillor to continue? Councillor Pardon: Yeah, that's fine. Thank you. Carry on. No objection. Yes.
00:17:00 Councillor Jackson: Meanwhile, our Warwick Agnew, who is the Director General of Queensland Department of Local Government, recently wrote to all councillors, and all of us, that councils will have to take minutes of committee meetings as part of the next set of local government reforms coming out of operations Belcarra. So, Noosa Council has an opportunity to get on the front foot by doing this now. Why wait? As well as, I'm suggesting, minuting how each councillor votes on each motion. I'm also recommending the Queensland Information Commissioner's push model, which is by proactively publicising council meetings, meeting videos and opportunities for public involvement in council meetings. So, in conclusion... I want to emphasise that greater transparency will make us elected representatives more fully accountable to the people we represent.
00:18:00 It will enable residents and ratepayers to know that each of us elected representatives, what each of us elected representatives stands for and how we vote. In short, by enhancing transparency, our local government can operate as a better representative democracy. Thank you. Councillor Wilkie: Thank you. Councillor Wilkie. Mr Chairman, I'd like to ask a few questions about this rather large motion, please, if I could. Mayor Wellington: Certainly. Who are they directed to? Councillor Wilkie: To the CEO, firstly, please. Item two of the notified motion refers to informal councillor meetings and decisions made at such a moment. Do these informal... The question is, do these informal meetings have the authority to make decisions? Yes. Speaker 1: No. The short answer to that is no. The only way the council can have a committee that can make decisions is if the council... Under the Act, you're probably aware that the council can set up standing committees,
00:19:00 which we have, which is general committee, planning environment committee, services organisation, can use the power under the Act to delegate decision making to those committees. And that's the only way that there would be the ability for councillors outside of a council meeting to make decisions. Thank you. There's no other power to make decisions outside of that. Okay. Councillor Wilkie: So if councillors don't make decisions at these informal meetings, is it possible for the... It's still on item two. Is it possible for minutes of other meetings to be attached as addendums to the ordinary meeting? Speaker 1: If... Well, go back a step. The purpose of minutes is to record what occurred at that meeting. And so the minutes record... Obviously, I'll use this as an example, the council meeting. The purpose of the council meeting is that what occurred at this meeting will be recorded, with movers, seconders, decisions and so on. Minutes are not intended to record what happened elsewhere at another time, another place.
00:20:00 So if a matter was not dealt with at the council meeting, addendum of what has occurred at another forum or whatever, it couldn't be attached because it doesn't form part of that meeting. The only way it could actually form an addendum is if there was a report or some other way of that being called up at that meeting or being dealt with at that meeting. If it's not dealt with at that meeting, it couldn't be an addendum to the... To the meeting. Councillor Wilkie: Yeah. So just to clarify, it has to be an item that was dealt with as part of the ordinary meeting. Speaker 1: Correct. The minutes are a reflection of what occurred at that meeting or what's been considered at that meeting. Councillor Wilkie: Thank you. Item number five refers to rescinding decision of the local government. Is it possible to rescind motions of a local government if they've been acted upon or under what circumstances can decisions of a local government be rescinded? Speaker 1: Yeah. Look, rescinded... When council resolutions are rescinded or not rescinded, it's always been an interesting
00:21:00 issue. I've been a local government for 30 years. There's always been a big debate about this issue going back to the 93 Act and I've probably shown my age even back to the 1936 Act. The short answer is no, that the general view amongst local government practitioners is that once a resolution has been acted upon, the resolution can't be repealed. That doesn't mean you can't change what you're doing and perhaps the best way to answer that is to give you some examples. What would be the best one? So if, for example, the council adopts a policy by resolution and then two years later it has to develop a new policy, we don't go back and repeal the original resolution because that resolution has been... has been acted upon and that policy has been in place. What you do is repeal the policy from that point and then you go forward with a different policy. The same would be on local laws, for example, where you don't go back and repeal the resolution that adopted the original local law. What you're doing is repealing the local law to go forward. So the general view amongst practitioners I've said is once the resolution has been acted
00:22:00 upon, you don't repeal the resolution and that's certainly the case for contracts or whatever it might be. I have to say that there's often been some argument about this amongst legal practitioners about the extent to which you do or don't repeal those and I've seen some arguments around that with appointment of councillors for committees, for example, if you want to...since you asked the question, to be a deputy mayor, if you want a council to change that, do you need to repeal the original resolution? The majority of you says that, no, you don't, because that reflects some...the time that the original resolution was passed, that's what's occurred. That person has been deputy mayor or on this committee and if you want to change that, then you're not repealing the original resolution, you are simply adopting that from this point on. X, Y and Z will be a member of the committee or whatever. But I have to say that there has been some legal debate about this over the years and it's the sort of thing that I know I've discussed this with King & Co who are probably the local government experts on these legal issues before and they've in the past told me that it's
00:23:00 better if there is a... If you want to repeal a resolution, it's better that it...if it's been acted upon, it's more difficult to repeal a resolution. Okay. But, you know, there are other ways of achieving that because, really, what you're trying to do is set what you want to do from that point forward, whether it's the...in this case... Change... Yeah, changing minutes. Yeah. You can do that through...well, from this point on, we will keep minutes or whatever it might be, but you don't necessarily have to go back and repeal the original resolution because that's been in place and it's been acted upon in terms of that process. Councillor Wilkie: Yes. I'll continue my questioning if I may. On item 7 now, which says, record in the minutes and any live record notes the names of councillors present. The question is, don't we already record in the minutes and the live record notes the name of councillors present? Don't we already do that? Speaker 1: Yes. We do that for all of our committees and council meetings. So, obviously, it's an attendance record about who was there. Yes.
00:24:00 We've been doing that for years and, in fact, it's a requirement of the minutes of any meeting to record who was present. Councillor Wilkie: Okay. Item 8, live stream planning and environment committee and services committee meetings. Isn't there a review of live streaming, including future options due to be presented to council? Isn't... Haven't we... Didn't we ask that there be a review of live streaming? Wouldn't there be a review of live streaming, including consideration of this to be presented to council as part of the formal report? Mayor Wellington: The previous resolution. Councillor Wilkie: As a previous... I believe it's a unanimous resolution of council to investigate that. Speaker 1: Just let me bring up the... December last year, wasn't it? Yeah. Councillors might recall that last year, in December, I put a report to council proposing and making a recommendation that we go into the video streaming and live streaming. And, obviously, that was adopted. And, obviously, that was adopted. There were a number of elements to that council decision. Obviously, the first parts of those were about implementing the live streaming, and we commenced
00:25:00 that in February. The relevant part... Paragraph F of that decision was that the council requests the chief executive officer to provide a report to council after six months to review the technology and practices of the live video streaming. And for council to determine at that stage whether to extend the live video streaming technology to the committee room and or the other committees. So, under that decision, what I'll be doing is bringing back to the council meeting in August, because we started in February, so that six months will be the July meeting. So, bring back a report in August in accordance with that council decision, outlining how the technologies work, the practices, what's occurred, but also looking at determining at that stage whether to extend the live video streaming technology to the committee room and or the other committees. Councillor Wilkie: Thank you. Item 11.
00:26:00 Publicise an under-existing... We're talking here about members of the public, a non-member, to participate in discussions. And item 12 talks about... Sorry. Isn't this item 11 to be considered as part of the upcoming review of standing orders? No. It's also a resolution of the local... An anonymous resolution of the local government. Speaker 1: Are you referring to 10? Yeah, I think it is. Councillor Wilkie: 10. A bigger high, 10. Councillor Jurisevic: I think the numbers are out on the screen display. There's 13 points. There's only 12 up there. I think 10 becomes the one on here. Thank you. Going out of sequence. Councillor Wilkie: Yeah, it's about deputations... Sorry. Deputations and, yeah. Speaker 1: Yeah. Yeah. Again, you might recall, councillors, I think our Director of Executive Services did a report to council in December last year, outlining the changes that were coming through as a result of the Belcarra Stage 1 amendments to the local government, and that was when the new Code of Conduct came in for councillors and a range of other issues, and the state around that time was also in the process of publishing the, I'll call it the best practice meeting procedures,
00:27:00 like standing orders, and in that report, and I think the council decision was that noted that CEO was going to prepare a new set of standing orders for council to consider. I had hoped to have that finalised before now. I was intending to do it the first half of this year, but budget processes and flight paths and so on got in the way, so workload took that. But before I went on leave a couple of weeks ago, I had sent around to the councillors that we started to work on, got a draft ready, and that when I'd get back from Holdo's, which I am now, we'd sit down and go through that draft to have a look at. Once I get some feedback from councillors about what would be in there, then I'll bring that report to council on the standing orders and the new standing orders and what could be in that, probably to the August round as well.
00:28:00 Councillor Wilkie: And forgive me if I've already asked this, the public question time, that's part of that review of standing orders? Speaker 1: Yes, certainly that's one of the issues that the state government has put in their best practices, and that's one of the things that we consider whether or not you want that in your standing orders or not, because that's the way that process would work if you wanted to go down that path, it would be through the standing orders process. Councillor Wilkie: Mr Chairman, I'd like to move a procedural motion, if I may. I've had it prepared earlier, and I'll read it. Mayor Wellington: Yes, if you wouldn't mind. Councillor Wilkie: That debate on the notified motion be deferred to the ordinary meeting on 15 August 2019, in order to receive a report from the Chief Executive Officer on video live streaming of council meetings, in accordance with the council decision of 20 December 2018.
00:29:00 Receive a report from the Chief Executive Officer on a new set of standing orders for council, in accordance with the council decision on 20 December 2018. Receive a report from the Chief Executive Officer on current proposed legislative changes to the Local Government Act by the state government that will impact on council's governance arrangements. Indeed, receive a report from the Chief Executive Officer on any other matters in the notified motion that will enable councillors to consider the costs, practical implications and legal aspects of the issues raised in the notice of motion. Thank you, Councillor. Seconder, Councillor Parkin. Thank you, Mr Chairman. Mr Chairman. Look, I really appreciate the intent of the notified motion, but this deferral motion doesn't negate any of the notified motion ideas, but ensures they are subject to public scrutiny through the open, transparent decision-making process, like all other matters.
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00:30:00 For those who may not know, rather than just appearing as a last-minute agenda item tonight, by contrast, the 35 other matters in this round were all made available to residents, ratepayers and councillors in publicly available terms. This allowed residents, ratepayers and especially councillors the capacity to publicly scrutinise, debate and refine issues in two other public meetings before coming up for a final decision tonight. Even initiatives to improve transparency need to be handled in a transparent way, which is the usual meeting process, not as a notified motion which appears here at the last minute. And it does have some shortcomings in terms of it's pre-emptive. We've got reports coming on a lot of the items. There are some discrepancies about rescinding motions, some of the things we're already doing. It's ironic that any motion promoting transparency would be brought before the Council in the least transparent decision-making process available, which is a notified motion which appears as an item at the last meeting in the three-meeting round,
00:31:00 unsupported by professional staff advice on legalities, the broader context or financial costs, to ratepayers. This motion means that we can assess these initiatives after a considered, open and transparent process rather than at the last minute with little or no public scrutiny. I think we can all agree we need to demonstrate transparency in action, not just our words. The deferral allows residents, ratepayers and councillors to weigh up the reports, reviewing live streaming and the new standing orders, including public question times and deputations, that we as Councilers unanimously approved back in December. This included a resolution to undertake a comprehensive review of the model standing procedures, model meeting procedures and Noosa Council standing orders, and a resolution to review live streaming technology, including whether to include other committees. The deferral motion also allows residents and councillors to also consider the local government governance reforms on the way,
00:32:00 including minutes, keeping minutes for all advisory committees, plus any other items in the notified motion and their implication for Noosa Council, residents and ratepayers. As stated, the motion doesn't negate any of the ideas, many of them very, very worthy in the notified motion, but ensures they are considered via open and transparent processes, which Noosa Council has demonstrated a genuine commitment to over many, many decades. Thank you. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Thank you. Anyone else wish to speak? I've just got a question of the CEO. There you go. At the top of the motion was a reference to effective decision making, and to my mind, some of the initiatives, new initiatives in there are towards the lower end of the scale in terms of increasing effectiveness. Is it possible to amend this motion, it's a procedural motion, relating to that top level, which was to have transparency, effective decision making,
00:33:00 in a way which would allow, over that period of deferment, to include in the motion, a request for staff to report on more meaningful approaches to public participation, that would have a real impact on decision making? My understanding is you can't. Speaker 1: Can I just clarify the question? The question is about broadening what was in the original notice of motion to deal with, call it engagement or public participation, outside of the council meeting process? Deputy Mayor Stockwell: If we scrolled to the top, the top said that in line with our government principle on transparent and effective processes and decision making in the public interest. Yeah, my question is, if we look at, down there's a series of issues that, on the spectrum of public participation, are all down on the lower impact level.
00:34:00 What I'm saying is, can this motion be included within the deferment, looking at some other options which would actually increase the effectiveness and meaningfulness of public participation? Speaker 1: My advice to the Mayor would be no. That it's beyond the scope of what was in the notice of motion. The notice of motion was about the council meeting processes and procedures, not public participation in general. Mayor Wellington: And further to that, we have got a procedural motion. There's no capacity within the Standing Orders to amend a procedural motion. So, does anyone have any questions? Anyone wish to speak to it? Yes, Councillor Jackson. Councillor Jackson: First of all, I'd like to say that I'm all in favour of exploring further options for transparency. I put up some that I felt were easy to do and some that I thought were extremely important about opening things up. But, of course, I'm very welcoming of further opportunities to look at transparency. I'd also like to mention that our CEO, Brett de Chastel,
00:35:00 was away when I was, a week ago, or more than a week ago, arranging this notified motion. And when I did see the Acting CEO, I requested assistance with the wording. But, you know, reality is that our own CEO would have been able to advise. Some of the wording that has come from this question, I think, would have been corrected had that advice been given to me. I have certainly no issues with some of that. And, in fact, as I had a motion before Council, I would have been quite happy to amend that wording with the CEO's advice, which, unfortunately, I was not able to get at the time. I really must say that I find this a very unsatisfactory response to my notified motion. My notified motion is all about transparency. And some of the highlights, which will continue to be important, regardless of how many bureaucratic
00:36:00 activities we carry out over the months in order to assess standing orders and report on video streaming. The things about video streaming, about opening up meetings, about making sure minutes are taken, continue to be doubted. And, of course, I will continue to argue and fight for those in any discussions that are had. I find this tactic very typical of what I'm experiencing on Noosa Council. It's called kicking the can down the road. Instead of getting on with making decisions about important matters... Mayor Wellington: Councillor, you may not impugn improper motives on the part of the councillors. Councillor Jackson: Actually, it's not an improper motive. Mayor Wellington: I think you're suggesting that councillors here are... ...failing to take charge of decision-making and are deferring things for frivolous
00:37:00 reasons. That seems to be the implication in what you're saying. And I would prefer you didn't make such allegations with the fellow councillors. Councillor Jackson: Okay. I won't do that. But I would like to say I'm very disappointed that a decision isn't being made tonight to fully commit to a lot of important things to do with transparency, which could have made a big difference right away. I'm very disappointed that this is going to happen. It's going to be delayed. And for all I know, many of these things are not going to necessarily be agreed to. So, to me, it's a very disappointing situation. I would like to point out... I have experienced previously, and today again, Councillor Wilkie criticized the fact that this was done as a notified motion rather than through a staff report. And I would like to point out that notified motions are not only done through a staff report, they're done through standing orders. But you know what?
00:38:00 They're in standing orders right across Australia. I wonder why. Do you know why? Because we, our councillors, are elected to be the voice of our residents, to stand for our community. We are not just here to listen to staff reports. We are empowered, in a democracy, to put forward our ideas. And in fact, without that voice of our residents, we are not here to listen to staff reports. Without that opportunity, we wouldn't be operating properly as a democracy. So, to poo-poo the fact that I have put forward a motion myself, as a councillor, I think is very sad. Very sad. I also would like to point out that I had begun to ask for a review of standing orders back in January 2017. And in fact, I checked the CEO's email. He said he 100% agreed it was timely to review.
00:39:00 And that was January 2017. In January 2018, I provided all councillors and the CEO all my recommendations about the standing orders, which includes the things that are listed here, the things about standing orders. In 2000, at the end of 2018, the CEO wrote to all councillors and said over Christmas he'd be working on the standing orders. So this is not new. And this idea that somehow everyone's getting this information at the last minute, well, it seems to have taken years. I'd also like to point out that... Mayor Wellington: Councillor, once again, you've chewed up your five minutes. Councillor Jackson: Oh, have I? What a shame. In July... Mayor Wellington: I beg your pardon? Councillor Jackson: I'm sorry. Mayor Wellington: I'd like to finish. Well, in that case, I will put it to a vote, if you don't mind. Certainly. Is everyone happy for Councillor Jackson to continue speaking? Yes. Thank you. We'll carry on, Councillor Jackson. Councillor Jackson: Thank you. In July 2018, at a councillor discussion forum, I recommended that we set up a working group
00:40:00 to look at how to improve transparency in the council. And I also recommended that we get external independent review, and that that might be either a consultant who specialises in... that sort of transparency, or somebody like the Queensland Information Commissioner. The idea of a working group, and I had hoped that would involve councillors and staff, was totally not accepted, and there was a decision to go ahead with seeking Queensland Information Commissioner review, but that has not eventuated. Apparently, we've been told the commissioner's too busy, but basically, this is not new, that I am required... to make a difference to our transparency. So, it's not like a last-minute thing that's been put out.
00:41:00 I guess that'll probably be enough. I'm extremely disappointed about this. And I will call for a division for this procedural motion, because I will, of course, vote against it. Mayor Wellington: Thank you. Anyone else who wishes to speak? Deputy Mayor Stockwell: I'll go to a stock. We'll briefly be... Yes. A notified motion is an opportune way to raise issues. To get your councillors to support you, you need to put forward a case. In this case, I haven't seen anything from the community that's asked me to vote in the way on a number of those issues. I haven't seen... I haven't had the chance to go out and ask those questions to a broad cross-section of my community, so I can represent them in debate. I've had a few days. I do note that... I have been lobbied from the community with very adverse reactions to some of the suggestions
00:42:00 in there. But I don't know whether that's representative or non-representative. So, I think it is important that, as representatives, we listen to our community. And to give me the opportunity, I think the deferment is a good way to go. Councillor Pardon: Councillor? Yes. Councillor Pardon? Yes. Mr Chairman. Yes, look. Some of the... Of course, a councillor can vote. I don't have a problem with that. The thing is, whilst some of the things that Councillor Jackson's put forward in the notified motion, some make sense, and we'll have a look at that down the track. And I don't have a problem with some of those things. But Councillor Jackson was talking about Victorian experience and stuff that's happening in councils down south and that, and suggesting things like that. You know, caucusing and that. Well, I'd have to tell you, when you get across certain local governments across the state of Queensland, if they're going to try and take caucusing out, you know, meetings
00:43:00 before meetings, forget it. Once you have... This is an independent council, and it doesn't caucus, and a lot of independent councils probably don't. But certainly, you know, you get to Townsville, Rockhampton, Brisbane, they caucus. They get together. It's a done deal before you get in there. So you can debate all you like. So you can talk about openness and transparency. But once you get into political-type councils, you know, that'll be interesting how they're going to do that. The other thing is, there's a series, 12-odd documents there, a series of things. Well, when you get into some of them, and as I said, councillors and I support a lot of those things, but some of them are going to be a problem, as I see going forward. So when you get to policy on the run, and that's the way I look at this type of thing, if you don't have discussions, if you don't work through things, you end up with policies that you can quote Victoria and other places.
00:44:00 Well, you can quote things in Victoria where some of this stuff's been introduced. It's just caused chaos down there. You're introducing staff into those meetings. We get a lot of good ideas out of staff. Well, you mightn't get anything out of staff if you start opening up, and you can't have an informal discussion and kick the can around the table and have a chat. So whilst there's a lot of good there, there's things there that I would have to work through, get my head around. So as I said, policy on the run, I'll never support that. Never have. Thank you, councillor. Councillor Jurisevic: Councillor Jurisevic. Look, I support the procedural motion. I think it's the way that things could be done. I couldn't have supported the notice of motion as presented because of the views of one councillor and one councillor only. There are a number of implications potentially in the 13 points raised that may have security issues, may have cost implications, none of which appear anywhere in the notice of motion.
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00:45:00 So I've got no idea what the benefit or the cost to this community could be of implementing some of those. Having public forums where the public can speak can present challenges, particularly where you've got members of the public that are... Stridently opposed to something that council's doing. You may have security issues with regards to practice. And I'm well aware that this happens in some of those councils to the south. With regard to conflicts of interest that I mentioned here. I mean, one of the things about the Velcara review, they have been dealing with conflicts of interest. That's been their primary cause of concern. It's with regard to... And our methodology here has sought to deal with that. I think we're at the forefront of dealing with conflicts of interest with regard to our meeting procedures and the like. The idea of making everything open to the public council... Pardon, alluded to caucus style meetings that happen in larger councils and politicised councils. I mean, that could happen anywhere. I mean, just because meetings are open to the public, the more public and transparent
00:46:00 it appears, the more likelihood there is that things could happen behind closed doors and councillors or staff could meet in secret. Nobody knows anything about what's being discussed. So that doesn't necessarily make any sense. It doesn't necessarily bring everything to the fore. Again, with regard to minute-taking, I mean, we don't have Hansard style minute-taking. The closest we have is live streaming. What the councillor seems to be suggesting in the recording of minutes, he's trying to develop more of a Hansard style... Councillor Jackson: I object to that, but that's not true. It's not stated there. Mayor Wellington: Yeah. Look, it's not casting an aspersion on you as part of his argument. And he's allowed to say something in his argument. Councillor Jurisevic: Even if you disagree with it, that is my part of my interpretation of what this could lead to. It may not be your your presentation was just that's all through the chair, please. Sorry, that's that's that is what that is my perception of what this could potentially lead to. And that would have significant cost implications on council going forward and councils around
00:47:00 the country. If that's what if that's what the state and the the review considers to considers going forward. There are other other elements of this that that are redundant. There are elements of of the notice of motion that are already in place and already happened or and have been undertaken or been prosecuted previously. So to turn around and take take the procedural motion to review those those points and allow it to go through due process, I think is the only fair way the fair way forward. Mayor Wellington: Thank you councillor. Councillor Wilkie, you care to close? Councillor Wilkie: Yeah. Thank you, Mr Chairman. Look. Fellow councillors. I may be very disappointed and seek to paint this as a as an argument against transparency. I think it's the opposite. To have approved the original notified motion would be asking this council to approve a multi faceted motion, a multi part motion that has has not been properly thought through,
00:48:00 has not even been. Councillor Jackson: I object. That is actually casting. Yeah, you're quite right. Councillor Wilkie: Okay. That needs further developing. That is technically incorrect in some aspects. That is not feasible in some aspects. Certainly not costed. Would be to approve that in its current state would be an abrogation of our duties to make responsible decisions. Understand the full implications for residents and rate payers. It's come to us at the last minute in a meeting round. It's come to us at the last minute in a meeting round. By contrast to every other item before us, which are 35 other items, which were available in report 16 days ago, which means residents and rate payers had access. I object. Councillor Jackson: This is not correct. Excuse me. I object because an untruth is being said.
00:49:00 Again, casting aspersions on me. I followed regulations and it was distributed eight days before the meeting. Mayor Wellington: What I'm hearing, councillor, is that Councillor Wilkie is talking about the difference between a notified motion and a multi faceted motion. It was not last minute. Okay. Point made. Nevertheless, remember that in debate, it is all right for another councillor to say something with which you disagree. And you can't object on the basis of a disagreement. You can rightly object if they're casting aspersions on your character or your ability as a councillor. So carry on, please, councillor. Councillor Wilkie: Thank you, Mr Chairman. I am talking entirely about the selection of process here. I'm talking about process. It's an item about transparency. And to an item of transparency, especially should be brought throughout the through the through the council, through the usual decision making process, which is the most transparent and open process we have available to us. And it enables any issue to be subject to the proper public scrutiny.
00:50:00 That is transparency in practice, not just word. And I'm sure we all agree that that's what we need to do. That's what we aspire to. So to have approved the original notified motion would be to approve an un-costed, impose an un-costed raft of initiatives on ratepayers. And I think I'm unaware of this council having done that at any time in the past. So we'll break new grounds in the wrong direction, in my opinion, if we were to approve the original notified motion. This procedural motion attempts to capture all the good parts of the notified motion, which many of us agree with. It's about having them considered in a in a in a way which the residents and ratepayers, as well as councillors, can be fully apprised of the implications. What is feasible? What is not feasible?
00:51:00 What is doable in the short term, long term? How does it sit with the reforms that are coming our way as part of the Belcarra reforms already? How does it fit with the. The CEO's review of live streaming? Do we just move the committee meetings into here where a camera exists? Or do we install new cameras in the other room? These are the discussions that need to be had and will be presented as options and costed as part of an upcoming report. For example, it is not a negation or a denigration of the content of the notified motion. It is merely as we're merely suggesting a better way to bring it before the law. It is a necessary step for the local government. Something which goes to the heart of transparency and proper process should be handled in an open manner via proper process. It's ironic that it could be any any other way. Councillor Jackson: The irony is. He seems to be casting aspersions at me. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Councillor Wilkie: I'm not making personal comments at all. Councillor Jackson: It may not be personal but it is personal.
00:52:00 You are casting aspersions on what I've done. Mayor Wellington: I think you have to be careful where you tread here, I think, Councillor Wilkie. Have you finished or not? You are welcome to talk about the notified motion and the time in which councillors have had to consider the notified motion, but you have to be very careful about what you say about the councillors' intent in bringing the notified motion. Councillor Wilkie: Well, sorry, Mr Chairman, I don't believe I went anywhere near. I can't speculate on what the councillors' intent in using a notified motion is. No, so do not. Yes, thank you. So I've been very careful not to go there. Look, I'll only be repeating myself from now on, Mr Chairman. Mayor Wellington: I think we're getting to that stage. Councillor Wilkie: Yeah, I just ask the councillors to support this in the interests of openness and transparency. Mayor Wellington: Okay, thank you. I'm going to put the deferral motion, all those in favour. That's Councillor Stockwell, Wilkie, pardon, sorry.
00:53:00 Yes. Sorry, you've got a problem? No, that's okay. Councillor Jurisevic and Councillor Wellington. Those against? Councillor Jackson. The procedural motion of deferral is carried. We move on with the agenda. Thank you, everyone. So we now go on to consideration of committee recommendations, and the first batch come from the Audit and Risk Committee. Item number one is the Queensland Audit Office briefing note. Item number two is the Internal Audit Plan and Update on Register of Action Items and Strategic Risk Register. Item number three. Item number four, Payroll Security Breach Issue, Item number five, Annual Insurance Update. Item number six, Legal Services. The recommendation is that they be adopted. So moved, Mr Chairman. And moved, Councillor Jurisevic, who sits on the Audit Committee. I'll second it, Mr Chairman. Seconded, Councillor Wilkie. All those in favour? Thank you, that's carried. We go on to the Planning and Environment Committee recommendations. Item number one is an MCU for an Undefined Industrial Business.
00:54:00 It's at 29 New Mundy, Noosa Road, Noosaville. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Councillor Stockfield, I think you might have something to say here. Yes, I wish to declare a perceived conflict of interest in this matter, due to the fact that I am the group leader of the Noosa Sea Scouts, which is located adjacent to the site. While the Scouts have no formal position on this matter, as there may be issues raised that we would then have an interest in, I will leave the meeting for the purpose of the debate. Thank you. Mayor Wellington: So, Councillors, we'll deal with this item separately, obviously. Moved, Councillor Pardon. Seconded, Councillor Jackson. Do you wish to speak to it, anyone? No. I'll put the motion. All those in favour? Thank you, that's carried. Councillor Stockwell gets to return. Thank you.
00:55:00 Mayor Wellington: Thank you. We'll move on to Item 2, and that is the MCU, Material Change of Use for a Brewery and Ancillary Brew Cafe at 130 New Mundy Road, Noosaville. Councillor Jackson: I'll move that. Councillor Wilkie: Oh, no. Mayor Wellington: No, no, no. No, no. At the end. It's going to be in the Omnibus. Okay. Item number 3 was referred to the General Committee. Item number 4 was referred to the General Committee. They'll both be dealt with later. Item number 5 is Representations to Conditions and Development Approval for an MCU for a Fitness Centre at 26 Project Avenue, Noosaville. Items number 6, 7 and 8 were all referred to the General Committee. So, the recommendation is that the recommendations from the Planning and Environment Committee be adopted. Moved, Councillor Jackson. Seconded, Councillor Jurisevic. I'll put the motion. All those in favour? Thank you, that's carried. We now go on to the Services and Organisation Committee recommendations. Item number 1 is a tender for the Noosa North Shore Campground Refurbishment Stage 1.
00:56:00 Item number 2 is the Peregian Beach Amenities Construction Tender. Item number 3 is the Community and Environment Grants Program Overview. Item number 4 is Community Project Grants Programs. Item number 5, Community Projects Grants Events. Councillor Jackson: I'd like to declare... Mayor Wellington: Councillor Jackson. Councillor Jackson: I'd like to declare a conflict of interest in this matter. Mayor Wellington: Which, we were talking about item 5? Councillor Jackson: Due to my membership of the Sunshine Coast Open House Management Committee and from leaving the room. Mayor Wellington: Okay, thank you. Of course, that's because Councillor Jackson doesn't sit on this committee, so she didn't have to declare a conflict during the original committee. Councillor Wilkie: I'll move it, Mr Chairman. Mayor Wellington: I'll move Councillor Wilkie, seconded Councillor Pardon. Anyone wish to speak? No, I'll put the motion all those in favour. Thank you, that's carried.
00:57:00 Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Councillor Stockwell, you're standing for a reason. I'd like to declare a real conflict of interest on item 6 in that it relates to the Noosa Lions Football Club, which I am the Vice President of, and I'll leave the room further than perhaps the debate. Thank you. Mayor Wellington: Have you got all that, Kyle? Councillor Wilkie: I'll move it, Mr Chairman. Mayor Wellington: I'll move Councillor Wilkie, seconded Councillor Jurisevic. Anyone wish to speak? I'll put the motion all those in favour. Thank you, that's carried. I'll invite Councillor Stockwell back. We go on to item 7, which is Community Projects Grants Infrastructure. Item number 8 is Environment Project Grants. Councillor Stockwell, you're jacking the box. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Okay. I wish to declare a perceived conflict of interest in this matter due to the fact that as a sole trader in my business, Watershed Australia, I have both been contracted by, and some subcontracted officers of Noosa and District Landcare prior to becoming a councillor.
00:58:00 I'm also an ordinary member of, and a long-standing association of Noosa and District Landcare, and one of the founding members. In addition, I'd like to declare that I am councillor's representative on Noosa Integrated Catchment Association. I believe I can stay in the room and act, and consider the matter impartially and in the public interest. Mayor Wellington: Councillor, it's a declaration, it's been declared. Are there any questions of Councillor Stockwell on the matter? Councillor Jurisevic: Only to ask that the contracted work and subcontracted of officers, that's only a past contracting matter, or is it current? Deputy Mayor Stockwell: That's right. No, that's predated my term as a councillor of Noosa and District Landcare. Councillor Wilkie: Just to clarify a question, Mr. CEO, being an ordinary member of a group does not, constitute a perceived conflict of interest? Speaker 1: No, that's right. If you're an ordinary member,
00:59:00 once you're onto a committee, it's a different issue. And the other one up there, also just to clarify that, if you're a council-nominated person on a committee, then that does also not trigger a conflict of interest. You're the council representative. Councillor Wilkie: Just for clarity of understanding for future issues that come before the council, is it then pertinent that we remove reference to being an ordinary member, and also council's nominator representative on NICA, under the heading about a perceived conflict of interest, because it could create confusion in the future, when it comes to ordinary membership? Mayor Wellington: Councillor, your point's well made, but it's up to the individual councillor to determine what they want to declare and have on the public record, not the other councillors. Councillor Wilkie: Okay. Mayor Wellington: Our job is to determine whether or not they should remain in the room, and you're welcome to ask any questions you like in relation to that. Councillor Wilkie: Okay, so just to clarify, being an ordinary member of the group and council's appointee does not constitute a perceived conflict of interest?
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01:00:00 Speaker 1: No, they don't. What the Mayor said is absolutely right. It's up to the councillor to declare what they believe may lead to that perception. The only thing is you can take that into account in terms of the cumulative impact of it, but there is absolutely no conflict arising from being an ordinary member on its own or from being the council representative on its own. Okay, thank you. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: If I could just explain. Certainly. Because I have previously declared a perceived conflict of interest for the New Zealand Regretted Catchment Association under the old legislation, I thought it appropriate to do it this time. Mayor Wellington: Okay. Any other questions for the councillor? Someone wish to move? I'll move it, Mr Chair. I'll second it. Speaker 1: Councillor Wilkie, you need to work out what you're moving. Mayor Wellington: Yeah, yeah. Well, that is your point. You need to dictate it now, Councillor Wilkie. Councillor Wilkie: Yeah, that councillor's note, the perceived conflict of interest declaration of Councillor Stockwell and the result that this represents a perceived conflict of interest in this matter, and Councillor Stockwell may remain in the meeting room to participate in the debate and vote on the matter.
01:01:00 Mayor Wellington: Okay, and the second that we have, Councillor Pardon, you're happy with that motion? Yes, yes, absolutely. Councillor Wilkie: No further. Mayor Wellington: All right, do you wish to speak to it? The debate's kind of finished. No, no, thank you, Mr Chair. I'll put the motion. All those in favour? Thank you. That's carried. Councillor Stockwell remains in the room for item number, where are we up to, eight, which is the Environment Project Grants. So we move on to. So moved, Mr Chair. Councillor Wilkie: So moved, Mr Chair. Mayor Wellington: Oh, sorry. Yes, we have to move it. Thank you, Pardon. I'll second it. Councillor Jurisevic, seconded by Councillor Wilkie. I'll put the motion. All those in favour? Sorry, Councillor, sorry. Speaker 1: I haven't recorded how Councillor. I've voted in favour, yes. Mayor Wellington: Yeah. We need to record how Councillor Stockwell voted on it. Councillor Jurisevic: Yeah, good point. Thank you for the audience, Mr Chair. Mr CA. Mayor Wellington: Mr. Councillor Wilkie, yeah, we're up to nine, so it's time to get on your feet. Sure. Councillor Wilkie: I declare a conflict of interest in this matter, because I'm the, have a committee role as President in the Noosa Arts Theatre, and that this item deals with a grant for that,
01:02:00 so I'll choose to leave the room. Thank you. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: I also wish to declare a perceived conflict of interest in the matter, in relation to the grant applications, oh, you're up to high, grant applications by the Mary River Cashman Association and Nursery District Glandcare, in relation to the Mary River Cashman Association, I have been, in addition to what I said about land care, I've been both contracted by, and have subcontracted officers of the Mary River Cashman Association during this term of Council, and prior for Nursery District Glandcare, as well as what I had previously said about land care. I advise that while I'm the nominated rep for Mary River Cashman Association, I do believe that my current, the current nature of my business dealings with Mary River Cashman Association I shall leave the room. Thank you, councillor. Don't get up to any mischief. Councillor Jurisevic: I'm glad to see we still have a quorum. Have we got any more? Yes, I hope not. Councillor Pardon: I hope we've got a quorum issue. You had a clear and leave.
01:03:00 No. Item nine. Mayor Wellington: Seconded councillor Jurisdict. Anyone need to speak to it? I'll put the motion, all those in favour. Thank you, that's carried. Invited two scallywags back. It would have been interesting if one more had to clear. It would have cost you more. I was well aware of that. I was watching very closely. Speaker 1: What would have happened then? You would have had to delegate to the CEO to make a decision. Go ahead. Thank you. Mayor Wellington: That's why we, if you recall, broke up the community grants into smaller pipes, so that at one point in time, we'd try to deal with them all at the same time. Councillor Jurisevic: That's why I don't want to sit on any committee or hold an executive's position on any committee. Mayor Wellington: We move on to item 10, and that is the three-year signature events. No? Good. Item 11 is the three-year festive season event grants. Councillor Pardon. Councillor Pardon: Yes, I wish to declare a perceived conflict of interest, Mr. Chairman, as I am a life
01:04:00 member of a sub-branch of the RSL, but I'd choose to stay in the meeting if my councillors would like. Thank you. Vote on the matter. Mayor Wellington: Okay. Councillor Wilkie: Questions? Yeah. No. Look, I'll move the resolution. I'll second it. Okay. That councillors note the perceived conflict of interest declaration. Councillor Pardon will resolve that this represents a perceived conflict of interest in this matter. Councillor Pardon may remain in the meeting room to participate in the debate and vote on this matter. Mayor Wellington: Thank you. I put that motion. All those in favour? Thank you. That's carried. We're back to the substantive motion. And I've got something else to declare. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Oh, you've got another one. Okay. Just go for it. Yeah. So I wish to declare that I have a perceived conflict of interest matter in the Tewantin Noosa RSL Club. I'm a sponsor of the Noosa Lions Football Club, which I am the Vice President of. I however believe that I can stay in the room and consider this an item partially in the public interest. Mayor Wellington: Any questions for Councillor Stockwell?
01:05:00 Anyone care to remove something? Well, look, I'll... You're getting good at it. I'll move it. Councillor Wilkie: Again, that the councillors note the perceived conflict of interest declaration of Councillor Stockwell and resolve that this represents a perceived conflict of interest in this matter. And Councillor Stockwell may remain in the meeting room to participate in the debate and vote on this matter. And I'll second that. And I'll second it. Councillor Jurisevic: Councillor Pardon seconded. I'll ask a question. Does the Noosa Lions Soccer Club receive any direct benefit from any of the grants within this item? Deputy Mayor Stockwell: In this item? No. Thank you. Okay. Councillor Wilkie: Okay. I'll move it. I'll move the resolution too, Mr Chair. Mayor Wellington: No, no. We've got a vote on... Councillor Stockwell remaining in the room. So I'll put the motion. All those in favour? Thank you. We now go to the substantive motion. Moved. Moved by Councillor Stockwell. Moved by Councillor Wilkie. Seconded by Councillor Jurisdict. Does anyone need to speak to it? I'll put the motion.
01:06:00 All those in favour? Yes, Councillor Jackson. Please note that Councillor Stockwell abated in favour. And Councillor Pardon. And Councillor Pardon too, I guess. Okay. Moving on. Item number 12 is the RADEP Regional Arts Development Fund Grant Recommendations. Item number 13, we have somewhat different recommendations. Councillor Jurisevic: I'll move the alternative motion, or the motion in red as stated on the screen. Mayor Wellington: Seconded by Councillor Jackson. I think you should read it out because it doesn't appear in the agenda. Councillor Jurisevic: Okay. Because it's been late changed. The motion as raised, that Council note the report by the Coordinator of Waste Management to the Services and Organisation Committee, dated 11 June 2019, regarding Tender 1819-T090, collection and purchase of scrap materials. And do not award the tender at this time and defer the decision to a future Council meeting.
01:07:00 Thank you. Does the Council wish to speak to it? Only that it has come to the attention of Council staff that with regard to the introduction of the new state waste levy occurring on the 1st of July, this has now been seen to have implications on the tenderers in this matter and they wish to take time to assess the implications of the waste levy Mayor Wellington: on the tender. Anyone else wish to speak to the motion? I'll put the motion. All those in favour? Thank you. The motion is carried. We go back to our list. And the next one is item 14, the revised garden waste service policy. Item number 15 is the application of national competition policy reform for the next budget. Item number 16 is the 2019-20 fees and charges. Just by way of explanation, we used to adopt these fees and charges with our budget at our special budget meeting,
01:08:00 but we're adopting them early in this case, which I think is a better methodology because it allows businesses in the Shire to be able to make appropriate quotes into the next financial year with this information ahead of time. Item number 17 is the Noosa Spit shoreline erosion management plan update. Item number 18 is the Go Noosa Christmas and Easter peak period traffic management trials evaluation. And item number 19 was referred to the general committee. So finally, we get to a recommendation that the service and organisation committee recommendations be adopted, except we're dealt with otherwise. So moved, Chair. Moved, Councillor Jurisdict. Seconded, Councillor Pardon. I'll put the motion almost in favour. Thank you. We go on to the general committee recommendations. Item number one is an MCU for a retail business and reconfiguration of a lot, a boundary realignment at 34 Elm Street, Cooroy. Item number two is an MCU for detached houses and multiple housing and reconfiguration
01:09:00 of a lot of 27 Atunga Heights Noosa Heads. Again, we should deal with this item separately because I believe we have a recommendation that's somewhat different to that recommended by the committee. So let's start with a mover if we can, seconder. Moved, Councillor Pardon. Councillor Pardon: Yeah, and I'll read it out, Mr. Chair. The red's not up there, but I'll read here. It says basically defer the application to a future council meeting given the stop the current period as provided for under the Planning Act 2018. That's correct. It was in the agenda. That was the recommendation. Mayor Wellington: My mistake. I'll second it. Okay, we'll deal with it separately. I apologise, everyone. Nevertheless, it has been moved and seconded. Does anyone wish to speak to it?
01:10:00 Mr. Chair, self-explanatory. Yep, I'll put the motion almost in favour. Thank you for indulging me. That's passed. Item number three is the Planning and Environment Court Appeal for Operational Works Signage at 4.25. Gibson Road, Noosaville. Item number four is the Noosa Environment Strategy and Implementation Plan. Item number five is the Environment Levy Land Acquisition Program Update. Item number six is the Community Satisfaction Survey Results. Item number seven is the Planning and Environment Court Appeal Enforcement Notice Issue to Noosa Airfield, Lake Wyver Drive and Enie Creek Road. And item number eight is the Financial Performance Report for May. I'll move, Mr. Chair. Moved, Councillor. Councillor Jackson, seconded, Councillor Wilkin. I'll put the motion almost in favour. Thank you. That's carried. There are no ordinary meeting reports, as usual. There was no confidential session. But there are a couple of presentations, just to note. Councillor Jurisevic, you've got a big lump of wood there.
01:11:00 Councillor Jurisevic: A very proud lump of wood. Finally, I'd like to... All those who are involved in Pink Stumps Day, we have an annual match with Council versus the Kin Kin community. And for the third year being held, I can proudly say the Council has finally been the winner of the trophy for this year. And I present it to the Mayor for display, appropriately, until we next contest the Pink Stumps Match in Kin Kin. Mayor Wellington: It's all thanks to my bowling, as I understand it. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: I thought it was the fact that I didn't play. Councillor Jurisevic: I'm sure I'll find a use for this. Yeah, not on my head, hopefully. Mayor Wellington: Cheese board, mate. And there's another presentation. A media release has already gone out. But I do want to table this, because it's rather lovely. That is, it's an award for excellence from the local government, Managers Australia, Queensland Inc. for our collaboration on the Urol Ringtail Forest deal.
01:12:00 And it comes with a lovely little... ...thing. And a certificate as well. A dust collector. A glass dust collector. Councillor Jackson: Um, Mr Mayor, I would actually like to move that we minute a vote of thanks to the CEO for the exceptional work he's done on this project. Mayor Wellington: Oh, that's very nice. I'll second that. I'll second that. I'll second that. Seconded, Councillor Jurisevic. I think you're up to your feet first. Just get the wording right, so you're happy with it, please. Councillor Jurisevic: Exceptional. Speaker 1: Exceptional. Exceptional. Exceptional. Councillor Jurisevic: I suggest a minor change there, not just the Chief Executive Officer but also the staff involved because there have been a number of staff involved in getting that and relevant staff that they have undertaken.
01:13:00 Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Mr Chair, a procedural matter. Would it be appropriate to suspend those parts of Standing Orders which would prevent us moving that motion? Mayor Wellington: It's probably a wise move given that it's not on the agenda. So yes, I think that's probably a superb motion. Councillor Stockwell, you can't have moved that procedural motion that the Standing Orders be suspended. Do I have a second of that? Second. Seconded by Councillor Jurisevic. Put the motion. All those in favour? Thank you. Are you happy to come back to that, Kylie? Councillor Jackson: Yes. Mayor Wellington: Okay. So we have a resolution. Moved by Councillor Jackson, seconded by Councillor Jurisevic. Councillor Jackson, do you wish to speak to it? Councillor Jackson: Well, I simply wish to thank the CEO. I think the work has been excellent and I'm really happy with the outcome but I really appreciate what you've done and certainly also all the staff who have contributed which has been a phenomenal amount of work and a great outcome.
01:14:00 Councillor Jurisevic: Thank you. Councillor Jurisevic? Thank you. Thank you. A first for Queensland in a collaborative approach towards an exercise of this kind in acquiring land that has otherwise been previously used for plantations and the like. So it's a great collaboration between not only the state, the council and the community but also on behalf of HQ Plantations in seeing the value of making this land available for environmental purposes for the future. Thank you. Councillor Pardon: Councillor Kerr. Yeah, look, I'd add to that, endorse those words and look, there's been trips to Brisbane and stuff that I wouldn't know about and the CEO is still involved and it's an ongoing process so it's been a tremendous job and for the CEO with regards to, you know, overseeing 350-odd staff, you know, $30 million capital works, the whole shooting box, he's been extremely busy.
75 minutes in ¶
01:15:00 Thank you. Thank you. It's hard to get all the things that councillors bring forward in bodies of work, but he does his best, and on this particular issue, it's been an outstanding job. Didn't he have hair before he started? Councillor Wilkie: Just a question, Mr Chairman. Is there any truth to the rumour that the Premier is intending to call it the de Chastel National Park? Mayor Wellington: I haven't had that memo, no. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: No, no. Councillor Stockwell, you're heading to your feet. I am. I think what's really important to understand is this was a great outcome from an incredibly complex negotiation. And I'm trying to think of the legal precedent that we set in terms of understanding how we can and can't deal with government land.
01:16:00 But I know, being an ex-bureaucrat for the State Government, this would have been an easy one to put on the back of your head. And if it wasn't for the CEO coming up and driving that process and identifying what could be the hiccups and how to overcome them, that we wouldn't be in the situation today. So, while it is a team effort and a great deal of work done, and obviously he's supported, it was his leadership, I think, that got it over the line. Mayor Wellington: Yeah, I'd like to say, as I have the very good fortune to work closely with the CEO, I am acutely aware of the many... the many hours that he put late at night and on weekends, reading through vast documents to try and stitch this deal together. And I know that Mr. Chastel saw this as a significant legacy project for this Council, in fact, which will stand this Council in good stead into the future.
01:17:00 And therefore, he does us all proud in the efforts he puts into these sort of projects and this one in particular. And we are also blessed, of course, to have a... a CEO who's not only a terrific negotiator and knows exactly how to speak with bureaucrats, but also has a legal background, which was very useful in stitching this very complicated deal together. And I can't help but continue to congratulate him, as I've done previously, on the efforts he put in, but also, of course, the staff who also supported the project. Thank you. Ah, Mr. Jackson, you wish to close in any way? I'm helpful. Okay, we'll put the motion, all those in place. All those in favour? Thank you. That's carried. Someone like to move standing orders so we can resume? Councillor Jackson, seconded Councillor Jurisevic. I'll put the motion. All those in favour? Thank you. The meeting closed. Councillor Pardon: We can't even be here. Mayor Wellington: Thank you, Lawrence, and thank you, Bobo.