MINUTES OF Workshop Meeting

Held at Council Chambers, HORNSBY

on Wednesday, 24 November, 2010

at 6.40 pm

PRESENT

Councillors Berman (Chairman), Browne, Chopra, Evans, Hutchence, Martin, McMurdo, Mills, Russell and Smart

AUDIO RECORDING OF COUNCIL MEETING

Statement by the Chairman:

"I advise all present that tonight's meeting is being audio recorded for the purposes of providing a record of public comment at the meeting, supporting the democratic process, broadening knowledge and participation in community affairs, and demonstrating Council’s commitment to openness and accountability.  The recordings will be made available on Council’s website once the Minutes have been finalised. All speakers are requested to ensure their comments are relevant to the issue at hand and to refrain from making personal comments or criticisms."

APOLOGIES / leave of absence

Nil

declarations of interest

Nil

petitions

Nil

Mayoral Minutes

Nil

Notices of Motion

Nil

Rescission Motions

Nil

MATTER OF URGENCY

RESOLVED ON THE MOTION OF COUNCILLOR SMART, seconded by COUNCILLOR RUSSELL,

THAT COUNCILLOR SMART be permitted to raise a Matter of Urgency regarding an issue with the proposed median strip on Edgeworth David Avenue at Balmoral Street, Waitara.

FOR:               Councillors Berman, Browne, Chopra, Evans, Hutchence, Martin, McMurdo, Mills, Russell and Smart

AGAINST:      Nil

2                 MOU8/10  Proposed Median Strip on Edgeworth David Avenue at Balmoral Street, Waitara

 (F2004/10120 )

RESOLVED ON THE MOTION OF COUNCILLOR SMART, seconded by COUNCILLOR HUTCHENCE,

THAT Council not progress Local Traffic Committee Item No. 33/2010 in its current form using a median strip solution. 

FOR:               Councillors Berman, Browne, Chopra, Evans, Hutchence, Martin, McMurdo, Mills, Russell and Smart

AGAINST:      Nil

ITEMS PASSED BY EXCEPTION / CALL FOR SPEAKERS ON AGENDA ITEMS

Nil

GENERAL BUSINESS

Nil

General Manager's Division

Nil

Corporate and Community Division

1                 CC70/10    Section 377 Community Centres and Halls Management Committees - Report on 2010 Annual General Meetings and Feedback Regarding Future Management Option

(F2004/05947)

NOTE:        Mr Gary Bensley, Executive Manager Corporate and Community Division, made           a presentation in respect of this item.

Mrs Marcia Horvai, on behalf of the Pennant Hills District Civic Trust Inc., addressed Council regarding this item.

Ms Chabela Torres, of Dangar Island, addressed Council regarding this item.

Mrs Nan Horne, of Cherrybrook, addressed Council regarding this item.

Mr Jonathan Sanders, on behalf of the Cowan Community Centre Management Committee, addressed Council regarding this item.

RESOLVED ON THE MOTION OF COUNCILLOR McMurdo, seconded by COUNCILLOR Browne,

THAT:

1.      The contents of Executive Manager’s Report No. CC70/10 be received and noted.

2.      Council note the further consultation undertaken with Section 377 Management Committees regarding the amended Option 7 that was developed following Council’s 28 July 2010 Workshop Meeting.

3.      The minimum committee number for Management Committees be reduced from seven to five, with the conditions detailed in Report No. CC70/10 applying to the makeup of the Committees.

4.      The frequency of asset inspections conducted by Management Committees be reduced from monthly to quarterly for all Centres.

5.      Council accept the management of Epping and Pennant Hills Community Centres and the associated conditions detailed in the submissions made by those Committees.

6.      Council write to and formally thank the Committees of Epping and Pennant Hills Community Centres for their outstanding community service and the professional manner in which they operated these Centres.

7.      Advisory Committees be formed at the Epping and Pennant Hills Community Centres with outgoing members of the Management Committees encouraged to serve in this capacity.

8.      Council allow other Management Committees to self determine their preferred model of management where they continue to meet the amended and agreed inspection and reporting standards and where an appropriately constituted committee is formed.

9.      Following appropriate consultation with the relevant Committee, a report be prepared for Council’s consideration if that Committee does not meet agreed performance standards regarding inspection and reporting i.e. it fails to submit required documents in a reasonable time on two occasions in the period between Annual General Meetings.

10.    Council require members of Section 377 Management Committees to sign Working with Children Checks in order for their places on the Committee to be considered valid and contributing to the quorum. In the event that quorum numbers for Management Committees are not met, Council resume management of the relevant centre.

11.    Funds derived from the hire of Council managed centres be used to employ a full time officer to manage the bookings associated with Epping, Arcadia, West Epping and Brooklyn Community Centres/Meeting Rooms and to provide additional support to Management Committees and Advisory Committees.

12.    The Branch Administrator role within the Community Services Branch be redesigned in order to provide additional support to Management and Advisory Committees in order to ensure that agreed performance standards are met.

13.    The Section 377 Reference Committee undertake a review of the booking processes and procedures of centres managed by Section 377 Management Committees and make recommendations to Council with the goal of improving efficiencies, taking advantage of partnership opportunities between Centres and improving the customer service outcomes for Community Centre clients.  A report on the recommendations of the Section 377 Reference Committee be provided to Council staff by the end of April 2011 such that an informal briefing can be provided to Councillors by staff no later than May 2011 with a final report and recommendation subsequently considered by Council at the June 2011 Ordinary Meeting.

FOR:               Councillors Berman, Browne, Chopra, Evans, Hutchence, Martin, McMurdo, Mills, Russell and Smart

AGAINST:      Nil

Environment Division

Nil

Planning Division

Nil

Works Division

Nil

SUPPLEMENTARY AGENDA

Nil

CONFIDENTIAL ITEMS

Nil

PUBLIC FORUM – NON AGENDA ITEMS

Nil

QUESTIONS OF WHICH NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN

Nil

QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Nil

THE MEETING terminated at 8.05pm.

These Minutes were confirmed at the meeting held on Wednesday, 8 December, 2010, at which meeting the signature hereunder was subscribed.

CONFIRMED                                                                         CHAIRMAN

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