Mayoral Minute – Delegation of Authority to New General Manager & Establishment of a General Manager Performance Review Panel
The General Manager is the only employee that the elected Councillors appoint and manage. At no time during the six years that I have served on Council, no training has been offered to Councillors in work planning or performance management review. This is why I moved the additional point below:
That training in performance management be undertaken by the General Manager Performance Review Panel prior to their first meeting.
Carried
Lake Lyell – Correction of Historical Land Anomalies
This item dealt with the transfer of lands that started over 11 years ago to Energy Australia and relates to former roads submerged under Lake Lyall. This completes an old agreement where roads that Energy Australia owned were transferred to Council including a large portion of barton Ave in Wallerawang.
Carried:
For: Councillor M Statham, Councillor E Mahony, Councillor A Bryce, Councillor D Goodwin, Councillor S McGhie, Councillor C O’Connor and Councillor S Ring
Against: Councillor S Lesslie and Councillor C Coleman
Lake Lyell Lease – Proposed Excise of Lot 2 in DP792415 and Related Matters
This item related primarily to handing back part of the land leased from Energy Australia if he pumped hydro project goes ahead.
Ordinary Council meeting
At this meeting my primary concern related to the timing of the return of the lease which previously had been an immediate transfer. On that basis I supported the original motion as put.
For: Councillor M Statham, Councillor D Goodwin, Councillor S McGhie, Councillor C O’Connor and Councillor S Ring
Against: Councillor C Coleman, Councillor A Bryce, Councillor S Lesslie and Councillor E Mahony
Extraordinary Council meeting
A recission motion affords Councillors an opportunity to revisit an item and it is remiss of Councillors not to take the opportunity to review the original debate and to do additional research. This is exactly what I did.
I reviewed both the Environment Protection Act and Regulations. The landowner can submit a DA without a lessee’s consent.
I attended as President of the Lithgow District Chamber of Commerce 2 Energy Australia Benefit Sharing workshops.
I spoke to a variety of residents for, against and indifferent to the proposal.
I watched the debate several times.
Reviewed the legal implications of changing the project to Critical State Infrastructure.
What I concluded was that Councillor Lesslie was correct we need to secure a financial benefit because of the project – not just relinquishing a lease. I would also like to note that EA have legal avenues where they could cancel the lease. I do not believe that is likely to happen. The financial benefit should be consistent with the principles of benefit sharing or voluntary planning agreement.
With respect to the retention of the workers camp and use by Council moving forward more discussion is needed. A lot of questions need to be asked and resolved before making an informed decision.
For the reasons stated I chose to vote for the recission motion and not support the original motion. This does not mean I support or oppose the project – I will wait until all the information is on the table as I have previously stated.
The rescission motion was carried
For: Councillor M Statham, Councillor C Coleman, Councillor A Bryce, Councillor S Lesslie, Councillor E Mahony and Councillor S Ring
Against: Councillor D Goodwin, Councillor S McGhie, Councillor C O’Connor
NOM – Cr Mahony – – Reporting of Proceedings of Bushfire Management Committees Meeting to Council
This motion was primarily focused on Regional Fire meetings, attendance by Councillors and staff, and the sharing of minutes. I raised concerns over the treatment of volunteers specifically those in Lithgow’s Communication Brigade and successfully added the additional point.
That Council write to the NSW Rural Fire Services Commissioner seeking clarification with respect to the Chifley Area Command allegedly forcing the relocation of the Lithgow Communications Brigade to Bathurst amid threats of disbanding the unit if they refuse and what level of community consultation has occurred.
Carried
Making of Annual Rates and Charges 2024/2025
I successfully added an additional point:
That no changes to the Farmland Category occur during the 2024/25 financial year and that a full report on proposed changes including the consultation process is brought back to Council.
The amendment was carried out and became the motion.
A letter was sent to rural residents advising many that they were not deemed to be rural farms but rather rural residential. The amendment stopped this – rural production is a complex issue and needs to be dealt with properly.
Carried
Delivery Program 2022-2026 and Operational Plan 2024-2025
The Council Administration advertised additional positions for the LEEP program which are to be funded by the rate rise. I tried to stop this happening but was not successful. The Administration jumped the gun by advertising before the funding sources and positions were approved by the Council. In my opinion this is not good enough.
Local Government Remuneration Tribunal Determination 2024
I did not support this increase, nor did I support he reason Councillor Goodwin gave for moving the increase. At my first meeting on returning to Council I stated that this council lacks consumer confidence – this pay rise does nothing o alleviate that. The proposal to increase the level of remuneration should have been taken to the community as an election issue.
Carried:
For: Councillor M Statham, Councillor C Coleman, Councillor A Bryce, Councillor D Goodwin, Councillor S Lesslie, Councillor S McGhie and Councillor C O’Connor
Against: Councillor E Mahony and Councillor S Ring
The video clip below highlights what’s wrong with this Council -a lack of understanding of the role for the General manager and proper procedure