SUPPLEMENTARY

BUSINESS PAPER

 

General Meeting

 

Wednesday 8 November 2017

at 6:30PM

 

 


Hornsby Shire Council                                                                                           Table of Contents

Page 1

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

SUPPLEMENTARY ITEMS               

Item 21    MM15/17 Urban Canopy and Tree Preservation in Hornsby Shire................................... 1

Item 22    MM16/17 General Manager Recruitment........................................................................ 3

Item 23    MM17/17 Alteration of Boundary Proposal Update...................................................... 10

Item 24    MM18/17 Senior Living Developments In The Rural Areas Of The Shire........................ 11 

 


          


 

Mayoral Minute No. MM15/17

Date of Meeting: 8/11/2017

 

21      URBAN CANOPY AND TREE PRESERVATION IN HORNSBY SHIRE    

 

 

The last substantive change to Council’s Tree Preservation Controls was made in 2011 where the controls were changed from their historical setting of protecting all trees with a small list of exempt species, to a setting where tree protections are essentially limited to tree species that are indigenous to Hornsby Shire along with those in Heritage Conservation Areas.

Further changes occurred in August 2014 with the introduction of the NSW Government’s 10/50 Vegetation Clearing Entitlement Scheme which overrides Council’s tree preservation controls and allows people to clear vegetation near their homes to improve protection from bush fires.

Monitoring conducted by Council since this time has identified a significant loss of canopy trees across the Shire’s urban environment. During 2014/15 the urban areas of Hornsby lost approximately 15,000 trees which equated to about 60 ha of canopy. At that time, 60 ha was about 3% of the total canopy across suburbia. 

The urban tree canopy provides a range of environmental and economic benefits including:

·              Improving the visual amenity of the Shire

·              Providing habitat for native fauna

·              Helping to protect the health of waterways

·              Improving air quality by removing fine particles from the air.

·              Providing shade and comfort

·              Reduction in the urban heat island effect

·              Property values - a 10 per cent increase in street tree canopy can increase the value of properties by an average of $50,000 (AECOM 2107, Green Infrastructure: A vital step to Brilliant Australian Cities)

The benefits of an urban tree canopy are recognised by the Greater Sydney Commission’s Draft Greater Sydney Region Plan which contains a key objective to increase urban tree canopy cover. The Draft North District Plan likewise includes a planning priority to increase urban tree canopy cover and deliver green grid connections.  Once finalised, Council will have a responsibility to respond to these Plans.

Noting the current rate of loss being experienced to our tree canopy cover I believe that it is vital for Council to review its current practices and identify ways to reduce current tree canopy loss including Council’s Tree Preservation Controls to place a greater emphasis on protecting canopy trees.

 

RECOMMENDATION

THAT a report outlining options to strengthen tree protection measures and re-establish tree canopy across the Shire be prepared for Council’s consideration at the earliest opportunity.

 

  

The Honourable Cr PHILIP RUDDOCK

Mayor

 

 

 

Attachments:

There are no attachments for this report.

 

File Reference:           F2007/00707

Document Number:    D07331489

 

 


 

Mayoral Minute No. MM16/17

Date of Meeting: 8/11/2017

 

22      GENERAL MANAGER RECRUITMENT   

 

 

Following on from Council’s decision at the 11 October 2017 General Meeting to commence the recruitment process for a new General Manager, Councillors met on Wednesday 1 November 2017 to interview three recruitment consultants who had submitted proposals to be responsible for the recruitment process. At the conclusion of the interviews, Councillors agreed that McArthur Management Services should be appointed as the Recruitment Consultant to progress the matter in line with their proposal for the work.

At this stage of the process, it is appropriate for Council to confirm a number of matters.  They are:

·              The updated General Manager Job Description (a copy of which is attached)

·              The appointment of McArthur Management Services as the Recruitment Consultant

·              The interview process to be utilised

Councillors have considered various approaches to the interview process and have agreed that the Consultant, assisted by a panel of Councillors, should process all applicants and develop an eligibility shortlist, all of whom should then be interviewed by the full Council. The Councillor panel to assist in the shortlisting process includes Cr Ruddock, Cr Heyde, Cr McIntosh and Cr Tilbury.

At the conclusion of that process, a further Mayoral Minute should be submitted for Council’s consideration recommending the preferred candidate for the General Manager position.

 

RECOMMENDATION

THAT

1.         The updated Job Description for the General Manager position which is attached to Mayoral Minute No. MM16/17 be approved

2.         McArthur Management Services be appointed as the Recruitment Consultant to undertake the recruitment of Council’s new General Manager

3.         The interview process proposed in Mayoral Minute No. MM16/17 for the recruitment of Council’s new General Manager be approved

4.         When the recruitment process has been completed, a further Mayoral Minute be submitted for Council’s consideration recommending the appointment of the preferred candidate for the General Manager position

 

 

The Honourable Cr PHILIP RUDDOCK

Mayor

 

 

 

Attachments:

1.View

General Manager's Position Description

 

 

 

 

File Reference:           F2017/00267

Document Number:    D07331572

 

 


Hornsby Shire Council

Attachment to Report No. MM16/17 Page 4

 

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Mayoral Minute No. MM17/17

Date of Meeting: 8/11/2017

 

23      ALTERATION OF BOUNDARY PROPOSAL UPDATE   

 

 

At its 11 October 2017 General Meeting Council resolved to submit an alteration of boundaries proposal to the Minister for Local Government seeking to have the previous Hornsby Shire Council area south of the M2 Motorway returned. 

Council resolved such as it considered that an alteration of boundaries proposal was the best way to give effect to the NSW Government’s commitment that Hornsby Shire Council and its ratepayers would not be financially worse off as a result of the Government’s decision to abandon its amalgamation program.

The alteration of boundaries proposal was subsequently submitted to the Minister for Local Government on 13 October 2017.  To date Council has not received any response or acknowledgement of its proposal from the Minister or the Office of Local Government.

Councillors will be aware that the boundaries proposal is of vital importance to the future of the Hornsby Shire and I believe that our community needs to have an understanding of the timeframe and process for the Minister to consider and determine our proposal.

 

RECOMMENDATION

THAT Council seek an urgent meeting with the Minister for Local Government to discuss the timeframe and process for the Minister to consider and determine Council’s alteration of boundaries proposal.

 

  

The Honourable Cr PHILIP RUDDOCK

Mayor

 

 

 

Attachments:

There are no attachments for this report.

 

File Reference:           F2016/00007

Document Number:    D07331927

 

 


 

Mayoral Minute No. MM18/17

Date of Meeting: 8/11/2017

 

24      SENIOR LIVING DEVELOPMENTS IN THE RURAL AREAS OF THE SHIRE   

 

 

Earlier this week, I attended a briefing with my fellow Councillors on the revised draft North District Plan prepared by the Greater Sydney Commission.  The Plan states that urban development is not consistent with the values of the Metropolitan rural area and includes an action to contain development to within existing urban areas.  However, this position appears to be in conflict with State Government planning policy which promotes seniors housing development on the urban boundary.

Land on the urban fringe is under development pressure to transform from rural to urban use.  Council previously resolved to investigate the opportunity for the urban release of the area known as South Dural for urban purposes.  However, Council subsequently resolved to discontinue its evaluation of the proposal until an agreed plan is prepared for the delivery of the upgrade of the State road network and other supporting infrastructure to sustain development of the precinct. 

A coordinated and holistic planning strategy is required for the area to avoid ad-hoc planning outcomes resulting from site specific planning proposals and proliferation of senior housing developments.  With this in mind, Council has also sought to work with the State Government and The Hills Council to develop a clear vision for the rural areas in the region.  It has been some time since Council wrote to the Minister for Planning seeking an opportunity to discuss the preparation of a coordinated plan for the rural areas and to date we have not had a commitment.

Council’s concerns about the proliferation of seniors housing in South Dural are now proving to be well founded.  State Environmental Planning Policy Housing for Seniors or People with a Disability overrides Council’s planning strategies and controls to enable land adjoining an area already zoned primarily for urban uses to be the subject of a development application for seniors housing.  A significant portion of land within South Dural adjoins urban zoned land and therefore, has the potential to be considered for seniors housing. 

Council is currently assessing a development application for a 153 bed residential care facility at Nos. 705-717 Old Northern Road and despite Council’s objections, a site compatibility certificate has recently been issued for a residential aged care facility containing 74 beds and 219 self-care units in Quarry Road, Dural.  The Anglican Retirement Village is planning to expand its facility on Old Northern Road and I understand Council officers have had recent discussions with proponents concerning two further 10 hectare sites being planned for a mix of independent living units and high care seniors housing within the South Dural precinct.

The proliferation of seniors housing in our rural area is not good strategic planning.  The developments have the potential to detract from the character of the rural area and impact on the sensitive environmental attributes of the area.  Furthermore, consideration of the Planning Proposal for South Dural has demonstrated the capacity of the State roads in the area requires immediate attention. Any increase in urban development in the area should be supported by satisfactory funding arrangements to assist deliver essential community infrastructure such as open space and roads.

An urgent meeting should be sought with the Minister for Planning and Environment to discuss planning for the rural areas of the Shire and State Government planning policy which promotes seniors housing development which is inconsistent with the recommendations of the Greater Sydney Commission that the values of the rural areas should be maintained.  Until such time as a response has been received, it would be appropriate for Council to request that no further site compatibility certificates be issued by the State Government for seniors housing developments in the rural areas of Hornsby Shire.

 

RECOMMENDATION

THE MAYOR TO MOVE THAT:

1.       Council write to the Hon. Anthony Roberts, Minister for Planning seeking:

1.1        An urgent meeting to discuss the inconsistency of State Government planning policy which promotes seniors housing development with the recommendations of the Greater Sydney Commission that the values of the rural areas should be maintained.

1.2        Requesting no further site compatibility certificates be issued by the State Government for seniors housing developments in the rural areas of Hornsby Shire until a clear vision for the region is prepared including an infrastructure and funding plan to cater for existing and future development.

2.         Council write to local State and Federal members advising them of Council’s resolution and seeking their support and assistance in the implementation of the above action and facilitating discussions with the State Government.

 

  

The Honourable Cr PHILIP RUDDOCK

Mayor

 

 

 

Attachments:

There are no attachments for this report.

 

File Reference:           F2007/01473

Document Number:    D07331957