Wrap of the March 2022 Meeting

Published on 31 March 2022

MAYORAL MINUTES

Telecommunications help needed

Council will lobby relevant Government officials to assist with the installation of a temporary mobile phone tower/booster at the racecourse for the Mundi Mundi Bash and Agfair, and advocate for the installation of a permanent tower as a long-term solution to ongoing mobile phone issues at the racecourse.

Request for weather radars

Council has supported an urgent push by the Pastoralists Association for the installation of up to two doppler radars in the Far West to provide advance notice of damaging storms and other weather events.

NOTICES OF MOTION

Mowers for Landcare

A report will be prepared with options for the purchase of five ride-on mowers. Council would then seek a memorandum of understanding with Landcare for their volunteers to use the equipment to clear footpaths of weeds.

REPORTS

A toast to our history

Council will suspend the Alcohol Free Zone at the rear of the Town Hall Facade between April 14-17 to allow attendees at the Heritage Highlights projection show to enjoy a drink. The projection of historical images on the rear of the Facade is a popular feature of the annual Heritage Festival.

Focus on child care

Council will write to Federal Member Mark Coulton and Local Member Roy Butler to reinforce the importance of securing more child care services in Broken Hill. Council will also continue to support work being undertaken by Foundation Broken Hill to research and identify improved child care options.

Discount for footway dining

Council will reimburse 50% of footway dining fees for eateries to help accommodate the influx of customers expected across Easter and the Mundi Mundi bash.

Lead presentation

The Lead Reference Group will be invited to give a presentation to Council regarding the current status of lead levels in the city.

CWA mural report requested

Council has requested a report on the approval process surrounding the CWA mural, and requested that the mural be approved by 2023. Council will also provide $5000 as a good will gift to the CWA.

Gallery branding questions

Council has requested a detailed report into the processes and expenditure surrounding the proposed rebranding of the city's art gallery.

Submissions for Councillor Misconduct Framework

Council's Policy and General Committee opted against providing a submission to the State Government's consultation process around the Councillor Misconduct Framework. Councillors can instead send individual submissions if they wish.

Conduct policies updated

A number of points were removed from Council's adopted Code of Conduct, Media Policy, and Social Media Policy. The points removed were deemed superfluous and already covered in the NSW Government's Model Code of Conduct. The policies will be placed on public display for 28 days here and submissions can be made here.

More support for committees

While considering delegates to 355 Committees, Council also noted that a member of Council's Assets team will be present at all future 355 Committee meetings to ensure any issues raised are brought to Council in a timely manner. The possibility of Councillors being default Chairs of each Committee is also being considered.

Cr Jewett Sydney-bound

Councillor Hayley Jewitt will be Council's representative at the 2022 NSW Branch Annual Conference of the Australian Local Government Women's Association. The conference will be held in Fairfield, Sydney, from July 7-9.

No support for LGNSW motion

Council will request that LGNSW rescind a recent motion stating that real estate agents be prohibited from serving in Local Government. The matter will also be raised at the next meeting of the Western Division of Councils, which will be attended by Mayor Tom Kennedy, Councillor Gallagher, and Councillor Chandler.

Newsletter investigation

Council has requested a report outlining the costs and logistics of producing a monthly newsletter to be posted to all residents.

Grant panel finalised

Council has appointed community members Kenneth Martin, Jodie Whitehair, and Sandra Haring to the panel to assess Community Assistance Grants applications.