The next Ordinary Council Meeting of Lane Cove Council is this THURSDAY 21st Noember at 7.00 pm. It is important to note that the Public Gallery returns as part of the same meeting immediately prior to Council Business. It will be both in person and webcast via ZOOM from the Council Chambers. CLICK HERE for more information.
CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES
ORDINARY COUNCIL MEETING - 24 OCTOBER 2024
1 Notices of Motion
1.1 Notice of Motion - Lane Cove LEP Review: Planning for Sustainability and Affordable Housing
A motion to initiate a review of Lane Cove’s LEP (Lane Cove Local Environmental Plan 2009) to include additional targets and provisions for sustainability, and affordable housing, and to action other urgent updates.
1.2 Notice of Motion - 12 Ft Sailing Club Longueville - Maintaining the assets the community have enjoyed for years
A motion for maintaining the 12 Ft Sailing Club Longueville for the community who have enjoyed this asset for years.
1.3 Notice of Motion - Bob Campbell Oval - Removal of Dog Enclosure and Removal of Fencing on C2 Land
Works are proceeding at the project site, and the fencing to a fenced off- leash dog enclosure is complete. Council officers have confirmed that part of the dog enclosure encroaches into C2 zoned land. Staff have advised the cost of removal is approximately $4000 which can be funded from the project budget.
1.4 Notice of Motion - Proposed Review to support the reporting and delivery of Major Projects
This motion recommends to Council to establish improvements in reporting details and regularity to support the delivery of Major Projects whilst minimising additional resourcing requirements.
1.5 Notice of Motion - Report on Review of St Leonards South Precinct Section 7.11 Development Contributions Plan
This motion is for a review of the St Leonards South Precinct- Section 7.11 Development Contributions Plan and to investigate funding the new local park as early as possible in the development timeline with a report on the review and investigation to be tabled for consideration at the Council Planning workshop in 2025 or as soon as practicable thereafter with any amendments to the plan to be tabled for the approval of Council before submission of the amended plan to IPART.
2 Officer Reports for Determination
2.1 Presentation of Audited Annual Financial Statements - Year Ended 30 June 2024
Following completion of the audit, Council’s Annual Financial Statements for the year ended 30 June 2024, together with the Auditor’s Reports, are presented to Council and the public. It is recommended that the report be received and noted.
2.2 14 Gay Street - November 2024 Update
At its July 2024 meeting Council resolved to dedicate 14 Gay Street as Community Land, rezone the property C2 - Environmental Conservation. It was also resolved to develop a detailed plan for the removal of the existing building, including tree protection measures, remediation of the land and construction of a new bush track through the property connecting to the bush track in Upper Stringybark Creek Reserve.
2.3 Stringybark Reserve Draft Masterplan for Community Consultation
Council’s Operational and Delivery Plan nominated Stringybark Reserve for the development of a Masterplan. This Masterplan will be used as a guiding tool for Council to plan future upgrades and the funding required to deliver them.
Council undertook Stage One of the community consultation and has incorporated the feedback in the Draft Masterplan for Stringybark Reserve.
The Draft Masterplan for Stringybark Reserve (AT – 1) is recommended for adoption for the purposes of undertaking community consultation as outlined in the report.
2.4 Naming of the New Multipurpose Performance Space
This report recommends naming the new multipurpose performance venue at 1 Pottery Lane as the “Pottery Lane Performance Space” to reflect its purpose and location. The recommended name aligns with both community input and regulatory requirements.
2.5 Submission to the Office of Local Government NSW - Councillor Conduct and Meeting Practices
The Office of Local Government NSW (OLG) released a Circular to Councils,(24-17) on 5 September 2024 seeking a written submission on their Conduct and Meeting Practices Discussion Paper , (AT-1) by 15 November 2025.
The OLG has concerns that the current Councillor conduct framework fails to provide the transparency and community respect necessary for the Councillor role, with closed Council briefing sessions being used to make decisions out of public view, while debates often devolve into personal attacks instead of fostering respectful, constructive discussions focused on the community's best interests.
2.6 2024/25 Budget - First Quarter Review
The 2024/25 Budget - First Quarter Review involves a number of variations to both income and expenditure estimates, together with the rollover and revotes of unexpended 2023/24 budgets for projects and activities continuing in 2024/25.
Income Statement summary:
Taking into consideration the variations from the Review, the projected 2024/25 operating result before capital grants and contributions has been revised to a surplus of $129K from the original budget surplus of $109K. The overall operating result is forecast to be a surplus of $14,272K compared to the original budget surplus of $12,569K.
Program Budget summary:
Capital expenditure has been increased by $21,899K, including $13,417 rolled over from 2023/24, to $77,821K. When transfers to and from Reserves are taken into account, the net result of the quarterly review is effectively balanced with a small improvement of $264 in the program budget surplus.
It is recommended that the 2024/25 Budget be varied in accordance with this report.
2.7 Delivery Program and Operational Plan - 2024/25 First Quarter Review
This report outlines the 2024/25 First Quarter progress towards achieving the projects and activities listed in the adopted 2024/25 Delivery Program and Operational Plan. It is recommended that the report be received and noted.
2.8 Review of Community Strategic Plan - Lane Cove 2035 - Community Engagement Plan
The Integrated Planning and Reporting (IPR) Framework for NSW Councils requires each Council to have as the core of its framework a long term Community Strategic Plan (CSP). The CSP must be reviewed every four years by each new council following ordinary local government elections.
The Community Strategic Plan identifies the community’s main priorities and aspirations for the future, and must address social, environmental, economic and civic leadership issues. It may include priorities and aspirations which fall to State or Federal government agencies or the non-Government sector to meet. The Community Strategic Plan will therefore also identify opportunities for partnerships and may include issues with a broader regional focus.
The Community Strategic Plan must include:-
- a community vision statement
- a series of strategic objectives for the community
- strategies for achieving each objective
- assessment methods for determining whether the objectives are being achieved.
It is recommended Council endorse the proposed Community Engagement Plan for the review of the Community Strategic Plan – Lane Cove 2035, as outlined in this report.
2.9 2022 to 2024 State of the City Report (formerly known as End of Council Term Report)
Following the introduction of the Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework in 2009, NSW Councils have traditionally been required to present an End of Term Report to the last Council Meeting at the end of each Council term which details the achievements of that Council during the term and outlines how the community is progressing towards achieving the goals outlined in the Community Strategic Plan. As Council would be aware, this was reported to Council at the last Council Meeting of the term, that being August 2024.
It has come to staff’s attention that the Office of Local Government renamed the End of Term Report to ‘the State of the City Report’ which needs to be presented at the second Council meeting following the election of the Mayor in a new Council term. The 2022 to 2024 State of the City Report (formerly known as End of Council Term Report) provides a summary of progress with respect to the implementation of the Community Strategic Plan.
It is recommended that this report be received and noted.
2.10 Lane Cove Council Draft Annual Report 2023/24
The Local Government Act, 1993 requires all NSW councils to prepare an Annual Report for the previous reporting period by 30 November each year. Lane Cove Council’s Draft Annual Report for 2023/24 has been produced and this report recommends that Council adopt this document as the finalised Annual Report and send a copy to the Minister for Local Government as required by the Local Government Act, 1993.
2.11 Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee - 2023/24 Annual Report & Annual Workplan
The purpose of this report is to present the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 2024 and the ARIC Annual Workplan. The Annual Report highlights the role, focus and achievements of the Committee over the past financial year. The Annual Workplan provides both the ARIC and Council with a checklist of activities that will be undertaken throughout a calendar year, in addition to the internal audit reviews as agreed in the Annual Internal Audit Plan. It is recommended that Council receive and note both the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee Annual Report for year ended 30 June 2024 and the ARIC Annual Workplan.
2.12 Deferral of the decision about Lane Cove Cenotaph Relocation
The purpose of this report is to recommend a deferral of immediate action on the consideration of the cenotaph's relocation, in response to a request from the RSL. This additional time will enable a thorough review and support more informed decision-making. It is recommended the Department of Veteran’s Affairs and Lane Cove RSL sub-branch be invited to a Councillor workshop to discuss the proposal early in Q1 2025.
2.13 December 2024 Ordinary Meeting of Council - Proposed Change of Date
This report recommends that Council reschedule the December Ordinary Council Meeting from 5 December 2024 to 12 December 2024 to allow sufficient time for the receipt of Councillor Notice of Motions, Council Officer Reports, and the preparation of the Ordinary Council Meeting.
3 Officer Reports for Information
3.1 Council Snapshot October 2024
Attached for the information of Councillors is a review of Council’s recent activities.
This Snapshot report provides a summary of the operations of each Division within Council for October 2024 at AT-1.
Included at AT-2 is Council’s Resolution Tracker showing the progress of Council’s resolutions.