April 23 Council Meeting: Notes

23 April 2018

Mayoral Minute – VMG toilets

Councillors have resolved that staff bring back a report in July 2018 detailing options for improving accessibility to toilet facilities for visitors to the Victory Memorial Gardens

Utilising the main street area to hold markets/events – Notice of Motion

A Notice of Motion from Cr Koschel requesting a report on options for utilising the main street area to hold markets and events has been resolved by Council.

Demolition and construction of 8 x two storey units – Day Street

Council has approved a development application for the demolition of an existing dwelling and construction of 8 x two storey three bedroom units at 14-16 Day Street.

Council Meeting structure

Council has resolved to adopt the amended Code Meeting Practice after no submissions were received during the 42 day public exhibition period.

As part of the changes to the Code of meeting Practice Council will now hold two Council meetings per month from May to December 2018 (dates below), and allow englobo resolutions of confidential reports at the same time as open Council reports.

2018 Council Meeting dates:

14 May 2018
28 May 2018
11 June 2018 (Meeting on Tuesday due to Queen’s Birthday holiday)
25 June 2018
9 July 2018
23 July 2018
13 August 2018
27 August 2018
10 September 2018
24 September 2018
8 October 2018
29 October 2018 (Meeting on the fifth week to cater for the financial statements)
12 November 2018
26 November 2018
17 December 2018 (amended to three weeks due to Christmas break)

Financial assistance request

Council has approved three Section 356 donations at tonight’s meeting totalling more than $6500.

Cantilena Singers                                                               $920
South Wagga Apex Club                                                    $85
Tarcutta Racecourse Recreation Reserve trust                 $6470

Integrated Planning and Reporting (IP&R) – Draft Long term Financial Plan

Council has resolved to place the draft Combined Delivery Program and operational plan 2018/19, the draft Fees and Charges 2018/19 and he draft Long Term Financial Plan 2018.2028 on public exhibition.

The draft IP&R have been formulated together with consideration to the Wagga View Community Strategic Plan 2040 previously endorsed by Council as well as the draft Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2017/21.

Further details in separate media release.

Proposed Boatshed – Bidgee Dragons

Council has resolved to enter into a licence agreement with NSW Dept of Industry – Crown Lands for the purpose of enabling construction of a boatshed on land at Lake Albert for use by Bidgee Dragons.

Construction costs for the boatshed are estimated at approximately $50,000. Bidgee Dragons will fund construction costs from various sources and grants (including Council community grants). Council will not incur any costs in relation to construction of the boatshed. Costs associated with completing a boundary adjustment to the land is estimated at $5,000 including survey and registration costs.

Eastern Riverina Arts Constitution and Membership

Council has endorsed the General Manager as Council’s delegate for its Eastern Riverina Art’s membership and approved for the General Manager to be able to appoint a staff delegate to act in his place.

Eastern Riverina Arts (ERA) has recently adopted a new constitution their organisation and under the new constitution, the General Manager is automatically considered the delegate of Council’s membership. ERA have written to Wagga Wagga City Council requesting that this now be endorsed by the member Council.

Service NSW - Easy To Do Business

Councillors have resolved to enter into an agreement with Service NSW for the Easy to do Business initiative.

The Small Business Commissioner and Service NSW have developed the “Easy to do Business” program. This free program provides a number of benefits for Councils:

· Increased productivity with ‘decision ready’ applications and reduced transaction costs

· Effective tools to help boost our local economy, enabling more jobs in the region – and assisting Council to deliver on its Community Strategic Plan 2040.

Currently there is evidence to support that anyone wanting to establish a cafe, small bar and/or restaurant would have to deal with up to 13 agencies, 75 regulations, up to 30 phone numbers and complete 48 forms, taking as long as 18 months to navigate. This program has seen this reduced to one digital application and one phone number, reducing the opening time for businesses to 90 days.

The initiative will provide a customer, who wishes to set up cafés, restaurants or small bars, with a single point of contact within Service NSW who will help them navigate all the required approvals to operate the business, for example registering the business, obtaining an ABN, and required Council approvals.

Recreation, Open Space and Community Strategy and Implementation Plan 2040

After consideration of the significant community engagement process and the public submissions received, the Recreation, Open Space and Community Strategy and Implementation Plan 2040 (ROSC 2040) was adopted by Councillors tonight.

The final ROSC 2040 document is a blueprint for the future development of community spaces in Wagga Wagga. It reflects the needs and expectations for the community, while setting the framework for the creation of an active, safe, healthy and vibrant city that enhances Wagga Wagga’s position as a leading regional city.

The development of the ROSC 2040 has been a significant undertaking for the community and Council as a whole. There has been a substantial amount of community engagement throughout the process, which has been invaluable in developing the final document.

The document was developed in conjunction with the Wagga Wagga Integrated Transport Strategy and Implementation Plan 2040 and is integral to the development of the Activation Strategy (formerly known as the Residential Strategy), which will be presented to a future Council meeting for consideration.

Contact Kate Roberts 6926 9133 / 0409 079 663 or media@wagga.nsw.gov.au