SPECIAL MEETING OF COUNCIL

13 AUGUST 2013

MINUTES

Signature…………………………….. Presiding Member

MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF THE HELD AT THE COUNCIL’S ADMINISTRATION/CIVIC CENTRE, 1 BOLD PARK DRIVE, FLOREAT ON TUESDAY 13 AUGUST 2013 AT 6.03 PM.

A Special Meeting of the Council was held on Monday 13 August 2013 to discuss Local Government Reform in the western suburbs.

1. OPENING

The meeting was declared open by the Mayor at 6.03 pm.

2. ATTENDANCE

Present:

Mayor Simon Withers

Councillors: Rod Bradley Louis Carr Sonia Grinceri Tracey King Alan Langer Corinne MacRae Colin Walker

Officers: Jason Buckley, Chief Executive Officer Jason Lyon, Director Corporate and Strategic Cam Robbins, Director Community Development Ian Birch, Director Planning and Sustainability Brett Jackson, Director Projects Jon Bell, Acting Director Infrastructure Denise Ribbands, Administration Officer (Corporate Support)

Apologies:

Nil

Leave of Absence:

Nil

3. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

Nil

4. PETITIONS

Nil

5. DEPUTATIONS

Nil

6. ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE MAYOR WITHOUT DISCUSSION

Nil

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7. REPORTS

7.1 LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORM - WESTERN SUBURBS

SUMMARY:

To consider a response to the State Government's proposal for Council mergers in the metropolitan area and specifically, the proposal to form one local government in the western suburbs including the Town of Cambridge. The Councils in the western suburbs have indicated they are opposed to one council being created in this area. An alternative model that is expected to be more acceptable to our communities is two councils in the western suburbs. This report proposes that the is invited to discuss the possibility of creating a single council to be part of the two council solution in the western suburbs.

BACKGROUND:

The Metropolitan Local Government Review Panel (Robson Report) was completed in mid 2012 and contained 30 recommendations concerning the future structure and governance arrangements for local governments in the metropolitan area.

The Robson Report and its recommendations was released for comment until 5 April 2013 after the State Government elections held in March 2013.

Recommendation 15(c) of the Robson Report proposed a reduction in the number of Councils in the metropolitan area from 30 to 12. As part of this recommendation, it was proposed that the Town of Cambridge would be amalgamated into a new Western Suburbs Council combining seven local governments being Cambridge, Subiaco, Nedlands, Claremont, Mosman Park, Cottesloe and Peppermint Grove.

The Town of Cambridge responded to this proposal by endorsing an alternative three Council model in the Western Suburbs and that model be formally submitted to the Local Government Advisory Board which was done in late June 2013.

The State Government responded to the recommendations of the Robson Report at a briefing held with metropolitan Mayors and CEOs on Tuesday, 30 July 2013. A copy of the government response to the recommendations is attached.

In relation to the number of Councils in the metropolitan area, the government has proposed to decrease the current number from 30 to 14. Under this model, Joondalup, Wanneroo and Rockingham would not be affected. Perth and Stirling will not be part of a merger but will have their boundaries adjusted. The remaining 25 councils are proposed to be involved in a merger creating nine new local governments.

The merger proposals are detailed in the table below:

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Area/Councils Population Population 2015 2026 1. Perth and part Vincent n/a n/a 2. Cambridge/Subiaco/Nedlands/Claremont/Cottesloe/Mosman 113,000 124,000 Park/Peppermint Grove including parts of Stirling and Fremantle 3. Stirling and part Vincent 205,000 225,000 4. Swan/Mundaring 157,000 218,000 5. Armadale/Serpentine Jarrahdale 89,000 132,000 6. Cockburn/Kwinana 132,000 183,000 7. Fremantle/East Fremantle/Melville 157,000 164,000 8. Canning/Gosnells 184,000 215,000 9. Bayswater/Bassendean 109,000 110,000 10. Belmont/Kalamunda 97,000 104,000 11. South Perth/Victoria Park 88,000 100,000

As detailed above, Cambridge is proposed to be included in a new Western Suburbs Council with a population of approximately 113,000.

The key points and timeframe for the State Government's proposal are:

• 14 Councils modelled on around 100,000 population, but not all the same size. • Poll Provisions to be removed to prevent residents from voting against amalgamations - this requires changes to legislation. • Councils to put in boundary merger proposals consistent with the Government's plan by 4 October 2013. • If a merger proposal is not submitted or different from the Government's plan the Minister will submit the merger proposal. • Local Government Advisory Board to review proposals commencing December 2013 and make recommendations to the Minister by August 2014. • Minister decides on new merged councils and recommends the Governor makes an order to be issued in late August 2014. • New Councils come into being on 1 July 2015. • Commissioners appointed from July 2015. • Elections for new councils in October 2015.

DETAILS:

The proposed changes to local government in the metropolitan area are significant in scale. There are only a few councils not affected by the Government's proposal. All the new Councils will be large, with populations expected to be more than 100,000 in just over 10 years, with some councils being considerably more.

It is proposed that Cambridge be merged with the six western suburbs councils being the largest number of councils being combined (seven into one). All the other merger proposals (with the exception of Fremantle, East Fremantle and Melville) are based on two council mergers.

There is a higher level of complexity bringing together seven organisations with respect to the differing communities, organisation culture, rating and charging regimes, staffing as well as the business systems. The challenge presented of combining these organisations into one should not be underestimated.

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The Town of Cambridge has consistently differentiated itself from the western suburbs; however, the proposal announced by the State Government firmly places the Town of Cambridge within that grouping.

It should be noted that the other Councils in the western suburbs do not support being merged into one local government. A meeting of Mayors and CEO's was held on Wednesday, 7 August 2013 to discuss the government's proposal and the following was decided at the meeting:

"The Mayors of Cambridge, Claremont, Cottesloe, Mosman Park, Nedlands, Peppermint Grove and Subiaco, have met to discuss the implications of the Government's proposal for a G7 amalgamation and unanimously agreed that:-

1. We do not agree with the G7 proposal being forced on our communities; 2. We oppose the removal or dilution of the Dadour Poll provision in the Local Government Act; and 3. We will now talk to our respective Councils about developing an alternative model that may be acceptable to our communities and the Government."

With respect to the third decision to consider an alternative model, it is suggested that two councils in the western suburbs based on a north council (Cambridge and Subiaco) and a south council (Nedlands, Claremont, Cottesloe and Peppermint Grove) would be a more acceptable outcome for our communities.

Whilst the Town previously submitted a three council model for the western suburbs to the Local Government Advisory Board, it is considered that the scale of the Government's plans to amalgamate councils across the metropolitan area with populations around 100,000 has superceded that proposal. The three council model would result in the western suburbs councils having populations of 34,000 to 42,000. It is now considered that the population sizes based on that model would not be large enough to be acceptable to the Government. Therefore, if the Town is to propose any alternative to the Government to avoid one council in the western suburbs, a more acceptable outcome would be for two councils.

Under a two council model, the Town would be combined with City of Subiaco and that part of the as proposed in the State Government's merger proposal ie Wembley Downs, Churchlands and part of Woodlands as well as Herdsman and that part of Wembley currently not in the Town of Cambridge.

The southern council would include the remaining five western suburbs councils.

The population of these two councils would be about 55,000 to 60,000 each.

To commence the process, it is proposed that the Town formally invite the City of Subiaco to discuss the possibility of creating a single council. It is also proposed that the seven western suburbs councils consider a joint approach to submitting an alternate plan to the Local Government Advisory Board. Once that is done, it is up to the Minister for Local Government to decide whether or not to submit the Government's proposal for one council in the western suburbs to the Local Government Advisory Board.

POLICY/STATUTORY IMPLICATIONS:

The Government's response to the Robson Report proposes significant restructuring of local governments by reducing the number of councils in the metropolitan area to 14.

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Currently, Schedule 2.1 of the Local Government Act 1995 provides poll provisions that could provide the community with an opportunity to vote on any proposed amalgamation. The Government have advised they will amend the current Local Government Act to suspend these poll provisions in the metropolitan area.

The following provisions detailed in Schedule 2.1 of the Local Government outline the process for making a proposal to amend local government boundaries.

2. Making a proposal

(1) A proposal may be made to the Advisory Board by - (a) the Minister; or (b) an affected local government; or (c) 2 or more affected local governments, jointly; or (d) affected electors who — (i) are at least 250 in number; or (ii) are at least 10% of the total number of affected electors.

(2) A proposal is to - (a) set out clearly the nature of the proposal, the reasons for making the proposal and the effects of the proposal on local governments; and (b) be accompanied by a plan illustrating any proposed changes to the boundaries of a district; and (c) comply with any regulations about proposals.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:

The proposal by the Government to combine all western suburbs councils will have a significant financial impact on the Town whilst also incurring substantial implementation costs.

STRATEGIC DIRECTION:

The proposal by the State Government for the Town of Cambridge to be combined in a new Western Suburbs Council will have a significant impact on the Town's Strategic Community Plan, 2013-2023. This plan was adopted in June 2013 following consultation with the community and under the Goal of "A strong performing local government" and includes a strategy to "Actively pursue local government reform in the best interest of our community".

This report is consistent with the key action to "Submit a boundary change proposal that reflects communities of interest in our area".

COMMUNITY CONSULTATION:

The impact of the merger proposal on the community will be significant. At this stage the State Government are requiring local governments to submit boundary proposals to the Local Government Advisory Board by 4 October 2013. The Minister for Local Government has advised that the State Government propose to amend the poll provisions of the Local Government Act to suspend them in the metropolitan area so that the community will not be able to vote to support to oppose the proposed amalgamations.

ATTACHMENTS:

1. Government Response - Local Government Review Recommendations

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ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDATION:

Moved by Mayor Withers, seconded by Cr MacRae

That:-

(i) the State Government's merger proposal for the western suburbs councils to be combined into one local government be rejected;

(ii) the City of Subiaco be invited to discuss the possibility of creating a single council incorporating:-

(a) City of Subiaco; (b) Town of Cambridge; and (c) that part of the City of Stirling as proposed in the State Government's merger proposal,

as a part of a two council solution in the western suburbs.

Amendment

Moved by Cr Grinceri, seconded by Cr Pelczar

That clause (i) of the motion be amended by adding the word 'forced' before 'merger'.

Amendment lost 1/8

For: Cr Grinceri Against: Mayor Withers, Crs Bradley, Carr, King, Langer, MacRae, Pelczar and Walker

Amendment

Moved by Cr Grinceri, seconded by Cr Pelczar

That clause (i) of the motion be amended by adding the word 'seven' before 'western'.

Amendment carried 8/1

For: Mayor Withers, Crs Bradley, Carr, Grinceri, King, Langer, MacRae and Walker Against: Cr Pelczar

COUNCIL DECISION:

That:-

(i) the State Government's merger proposal for the seven western suburbs councils to be combined into one local government be rejected;

(ii) the City of Subiaco be invited to discuss the possibility of creating a single council incorporating:-

(a) City of Subiaco;

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(b) Town of Cambridge; and (c) that part of the City of Stirling as proposed in the State Government's merger proposal,

as a part of a two council solution in the western suburbs.

Carried 9/0

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8. CLOSURE

There being no further business, the Mayor thanked those present for their attendance and declared the meeting closed at 6.40 pm.

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