CCC Meeting 2025-03-17

  1. Acknowledgement of Country
  2. Apologies
  3. Declarations of Interests
  4. Omnibus
    1. Confirmation of Minutes
    2. Mayor's Communication
    3. Council Workshops
      • Budget season has started.
    4. Tabling of Petitions
    5. Reports from Outside Bodies
      • Reports from Single and Joint Authorities
      • Reports from Council and Special Committees and Other Representative Bodies
    6. Weekly Briefing Reports
  5. Public Question Time
    1. On Notice
      • Thomas Chick
        • Use of Council Branding: We recently received a mailout from the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Ritchie, advertising several “community council meeting[s]” in May, August and November. On both sides of the flyer, in the top right corner, Clarence’s logo is printed, which, along with the name used for the events, implies a connection between Council and these meetings that may not actually exist.
        1. Does Council have any involvement in these “community council meetings” or are they organised entirely on the deputy mayor’s initiative?
        2. If Council is not involved, is the use of Council’s logo to advertise events personally organised by individual councillors, such as this, authorised?
      • Bradley Walker
        1. Cash-in-Lieu of Public Open Space: What is the Council’s total current holding of cash-in-lieu of Public Open Space contributions and how does council access where to utilize these funds and whether it involves community input when such purchases arise?
        2. Professional Planner Advice: Does council obtain either inhouse or an external professional planners report before commencing legal proceedings for potential breaches of the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act?
    2. Previously Taken On Notice
      • Elector polls are being considered as part of local government regulation review. See 8.4.3
      • Council currently has no plans to provide additional pedestrian safety barriers at the Rosny Hill Road/Bligh Street/Kangaroo Bay Drive intersection.
      • Council's Customer Service Charter runs both ways, and council staff are empowered to end calls if the customer is disrespectful, rude or threatening. If required documents do not appear on Council's website, customers should request them separately.
    3. Without Notice
  6. Deputations are not listed in the Agenda, largely because they arise as a result of items on it
  7. Planning Authority Matters (nil)
  8. Reports of Officers
    1. Asset Management
      1. Tasman Highway – Hobart Airport to Midway Point Causeway, revised concept
    2. Governance
      1. Quarterly Report to 31 December 2024
      2. Local Government Electoral Bill Discussion Paper
        • State Gov't is moving local gov't electoral laws from regulation to legislation, and is weighing up whether to move to in-person voting by default, which I think will go poorly, or expand the polling period and increase the number of by-hand return points.
        • State Gov't proposes no longer directly electing the deputy mayor. Council suggests that councillors electing the deputy may lead to factionalisation, as if there isn't any already.
        • State Gov't proposes increasing elector poll threshold to 20% of electors, citing the recent Clarence poll. Council's position following workshopping is to remain at the lesser of 1000 or 5%.
        • There are a number of other proposed changes, but in the interests of my time, I'd just suggest pulling up the Agenda (38-84).
      3. Discussion Paper: Remaking Local Government Regulations
        • The Local Gov't Meeting Procedures and General regulations expire this year, so the State Gov't is taking the opportunity to do some reform.
        • Council's response to the Meeting Procedures reforms is largely supportive, but notes that moving answers to questions to the minutes instead of their current policy of the subsequent agenda may put a crunch on their ability to transcribe and/or properly investigate.
        • Council's response to the General reforms is largely supportive.
      4. Local Government Association of Tasmania - President and General Management Committee Elections
        • General Management Committee position is for the Southern Electoral District.
      5. Council Meetings – Change of Commencement Time
        • As a result of consultation, officers recommend moving Ordinary Meetings from 7pm to 6pm, from the next meeting on 7 April onward.
      6. Final Draft City Heart Plan - Consultation Report
        • Officers recommend removing affordable housing from Charles Hand Park, and then removing Charles Hand Park from the Plan entirely.
  9. Motions on Notice
    1. Cr Goyne: Implementation of Trial Period for Spray Signage
      1. That Council considers including funding for temporary signage in the upcoming budget, for a 12 month trial, to inform residents of when and what chemicals have been sprayed in public parks and reserves, that will remain on display for a period of seven days from spraying.
      2. That during the trial period, Council staff consult with other Councils and industry professionals on how they inform residents of spraying and current best practice methods.
      3. That, during the trial period, Council conducts community consultation on the current Herbicide Use Plan and seek to gain an understanding of what community expectations are moving forward.
      4. That, Council investigates extension of the time period that residents can opt in to the current no spray register (currently a four week period from 1 June each year).
      5. That, at the end of the trial period, a councillor workshop is undertaken to review the trial and its findings.
      • Cr Goyne conducted a survey on Facebook of 149 people, almost assuredly self-selecting and not scientifically rigorous:
        • 22 happy with current practices
        • 39 signs up for seven days
        • 31 signs and update the website
        • 57 phase out all herbicides and pesticides
      • CEO notes that Council already intends to provide permanent and/or temporary signage in places where herbicides are in use, and is preparing budget submissions to that effect. Further, Council already intends to review the No Spray Register process after this year's application process.
      • The underlying principles are a little flimsy, and the duplication of planned work probably sinks it, but this motion is better than I would have otherwise anticipated from Goyne
  10. Councillors' Question Time
  11. Closed Meeting (Applications for leave, a joint authority matter, and two tenders)