1 MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF STRATHFIELD HELD ON 2 JUNE 2009 COMMENCING: 7.10pm PRESENT: Councillor K Kwon (Chairman) Councillor P Barron Councillor H Brett-Bowen Councillor D Lim Councillor T Maroun Councillor B Carney arrived later in the proceedings STAFF: General Manager Acting Director Corporate Services Director Operations Acting Director Technical Services Manager Environmental Services Communications Officer Acting Manager Governance Procurement Coordinator 1. OPENING: The prayer was read. 2. PECUNIARY INTEREST/CONFLICT OF INTEREST The Mayor, Councillor Keith Kwon declared that Motion Pursuant to Notice Item 10 B 1. Port Enfield Committee, submitted by Councillor Barron, may have reference to himself as a member of the Australian Labor Party, however he does not consider that there is any conflict of interest and intends to participate in discussions. The Deputy Mayor, Councillor Hope Brett-Bowen declared that Motion Pursuant to Notice Item 10 B 1. Port Enfield Committee, submitted by Councillor Barron, may have reference to herself as a member of the Australian Labor Party, however she does not consider that there is any conflict of interest and intends to participate in discussions. Councillor Danny Lim declared a conflict of interest concerning Motion Pursuant to Notice Item 10 B 1. Port Enfield Committee, submitted by Councillor Barron, as he has put in an application relating to this Committee and does not intend to vote on this matter. 3. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES 192/09 RESOLVED: (Brett-Bowen/Maroun) That the minutes of the Ordinary Council meeting held on 5 May 2009, a copy of which have been furnished to each Councillor, be taken as read and confirmed as a true and correct record of those meetings and that the Chairman and General Manager be authorised to sign such minutes. 2 MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF STRATHFIELD HELD ON 2 JUNE 2009 193/09 RESOLVED: (Brett-Bowen/Barron) That the minutes of the Extraordinary Council meeting held on 26 May 2009, a copy of which have been furnished to each Councillor, be taken as read and confirmed as a true and correct record of those meetings and that the Chairman and General Manager be authorised to sign such minutes subject to the following amendment: 2. Appointment of Conduct Reviewers “22/09 RESOLVED: (Carney/Lim) 1. That Mr Rod Rimes be appointed as a Conduct Reviewer. 2. That Strathfield Municipal Council resolves to invite former Councillors, Mr Scott Farlow, Mrs Brenda Gillard and Mrs Laurel O’Toole as Conduct Reviewers. For the Motion: Councillors Barron, Carney, Lim and Maroun Against the Motion Councillors Kwon and Brett-Bowen The above resolution was first moved as an Amendment to the following Motion: Motion: (Brett-Bowen/Carney) That Mr Rod Rimes and Ms Eve Dutton be appointed as Conduct Reviewers. Voting on this item was unanimous.” Voting on this item was unanimous. 4. APOLOGIES An apology was tendered on behalf of Councillor Carney for late attendance. It was noted that Councillor Eswaran was on leave of absence previously approved by Council. 194/09 RESOLVED: (Maroun/Barron) That the apology tendered on behalf of Councillor Carney be accepted and leave of absence granted. Voting on this item was unanimous. 3 MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF STRATHFIELD HELD ON 2 JUNE 2009 5. DEFERRED/OUTSTANDING MATTERS AWAITING REPORT Nil. 6. PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT MATTERS Nil. 7. MAYORAL MINUTE Nil. 8. COUNCILLORS’ QUESTIONS TO THE MAYOR The Mayor ruled the questions submitted by Councillor Lim out of order. 9. REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES In accordance with Councils Code of Meeting Practice, Mrs T Le Strange addressed the Meeting. Report of Strathfield Traffic Committee Meeting held on 19 May 2009 195/09 RESOLVED: (Barron/ Brett-Bowen) That the minutes of the Traffic Committee meeting held on 19 May 2009 be noted and the recommendations (if any) be adopted. Voting on this item was unanimous. SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS Wedding of the Deputy Mayor 196/09 RESOLVED: (Maroun/Barron) That Strathfield Municipal Council congratulates the Deputy Mayor of Strathfield, Councillor Hope Brett-Bowen, on her upcoming wedding. Voting on this item was unanimous. STANDING ORDERS WERE RESUMED 4 MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF STRATHFIELD HELD ON 2 JUNE 2009 10. MOTIONS PURSUANT TO NOTICE A. Notices of Motion signed by Councillors Barron, Carney, Lim and Maroun 1. Scratchiti Prevention Measures I MOVE: THAT Strathfield Municipal Council resolves to authorise the General Manager to prepare a report on the incidence of scratchiti in the Strathfield local government area, as well as measures to prevent and eliminate scratchiti, including, but not limited to, the utilisation of safety film and/or grilles on potential targets, such as windows. 197/09 RESOLVED: (Lim/Maroun) That the Motion be adopted. Voting on this item was unanimous 2. Review of Business Continuity Plan I MOVE: THAT Strathfield Municipal Council resolves to authorise the General Manager to review and update Council’s Business Continuity Plan – as recommended by the New South Wales Department of Local Government Circular to Councils 09-16 of Friday, May 1st, 2009 – AND THAT a report to Council be prepared accordingly. The Mayor ruled the Motion out of order. 3. Meetings of the Planning Committee I MOVE: THAT Strathfield Municipal Council resolves to convene meetings of the Planning Committee, on second Tuesday of each month, commencing at 7.00 pm, as follows: (a) at the Council Chambers, in the first instance; and (b) at the Town Hall, as required. For the Motion: Councillor Lim Against the Motion: Councillors Barron, Brett – Bowen, Kwon and Maroun The MOTION when put was LOST. 5 MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF STRATHFIELD HELD ON 2 JUNE 2009 4. Joint Regional Planning Panels I MOVE: THAT Strathfield Municipal Council resolves to condemn the State Member for Strathfield, the Honourable Dianne Virginia Judge MP, Minister for Fair Trading, Minister for Citizenship, and Minister Assisting the Premier on the Arts, and the New South Wales State Government, over the proposed introduction of new Joint Regional Planning Panels (JRPPs) on Wednesday, July 1st, 2009, AND THAT Council further resolves to call on Ms Judge and the government to immediately stop the introduction of JRPPs for, but not limited to, the following reasons: (a) Diminished Role of Council The role of Strathfield Municipal Council and our local community will be diminished as the panels will include three (3) state government-appointed members, including the chairperson, and only two (2) appointed by the local government area where the development is located – this will result in Council and our community having only a minority voice in local development decisions; and (b) Lack of Accountability The panel members will not be accountable to the local community of Strathfield as the state-appointed panel members will never face an election – so, although they will be ‘legally’ accountable, the only person they are ‘politically’ accountable to is the state planning minister, who can dismiss them at any time; and (c) Large Development Determination Range The panels will determine a large range of local developments, capturing all commercial, residential, mixed use, retail and tourism developments valued at over $10 million, ‘ecotourism’ projects and public and community infrastructure projects valued at over $5 million, such as child care facilities, places of worship and schools, designated developments, certain coastal developments currently determined under Part 3A, and projects over $5 million, where Council is the proponent or has a conflict of interest; and (d) More Cost and Delay, But Less Local Input The panels will be costly, delay decision making and remove local input – with six JRPPs regions to be established (‘Northern’, ‘Hunter-Central Coast’, ‘Southern’, ‘Sydney Metropolitan East’ and ‘Sydney Metropolitan West’ – with the Sydney CBD to be excluded), local residents and community groups will have to travel long distances and give up significant amounts of time just to attend meetings – moreover, the state government has made no firm commitment on how the panels will be funded, making it likely that local communities, like Strathfield, will also bear the cost of running this additional layer of bureaucracy and also be responsible for the costs of defending panel decisions in any legal appeals, such as before the Land and Environment Court; and 6 MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF STRATHFIELD HELD ON 2 JUNE 2009 (e) Impractical Implementation Timeframe The proposed commencement of JRPPs on Wednesday, July 1st, 2009, is impractical as there has been no consultation with Strathfield Municipal Council and our local community, and no opportunity for Ms Judge and the government to obtain practical feedback on the proposed model – indeed, many important operational procedures for the JRPPs are yet to be finalised. 198/09 RESOLVED: (Lim/Barron) That the Motion be adopted. For the Motion: Councillors Barron, Lim and Maroun Against the Motion: Councillors Brett-Bowen and Kwon 5. Crime at Strathfield Train Station I MOVE: THAT Strathfield Municipal Council resolves to condemn the State Member for Strathfield, the Honourable Dianne Virginia Judge MP, Minister for Fair Trading, Minister for Citizenship, and Minister Assisting the Premier on the Arts, and the New South Wales State Government, for the alarmingly and unacceptably high incidents of crime at the Strathfield railway station, which now ranks as the FOURTH (4TH) most dangerous train station on the entire CityRail network – with SIXTY-NINE (69) recorded criminal incidents and TWENTY-SIX (26) assaults at the station between December 2007 and November 2008 – AND THAT Council further resolves, once again, to call on Ms Judge and the state government to open a genuine TWENTY-FOUR (24) hour, SEVEN (7) day operational police station at Strathfield.