Recognition for Mosman
Mayor Carolyn Corrigan presented a Mayoral Minute advising of Mosman’s recent success in major awards programs. Mosman Art Gallery has added yet another win to its growing stable of local, national and international awards. At this month’s Local Government Week Awards ceremony the Gallery was announced as Joint Winner of the 2019 Leo Kelly Award for Arts and Culture for its 2018 ‘New Sacred’ exhibition. The exhibition, presented in partnership with Parramatta Artists Studios, featured the works of nine contemporary Australian artists across a range of art media including installation, performance, video, and painting.
Mosman Council has also been recognised in recent State and National Awards Programs for excellence in service delivery and innovation. At the 2019 Australian Institute of Traffic Planning and Management (AITPM) Awards in late July Mosman was selected as one of three National Finalists for the AITPM Excellence Award, recognising its parking technology journey in recent years. One of the key aims of the Excellence Award is to celebrate organisations ‘that challenge established patterns and practices with an innovative approach in an effort to improve existing standards’. Mosman Youth Service’s ‘Raise the Youth’ Youth Week event was also Finalist in the Best Local Youth Week Category of the 2019 NSW Local Government Youth Week Awards announced in early August, while its ‘Market for Your Mind’ event was highly commended by the Mental Health Association.
2019/20 Community Grants Program
Council considered recommendations for funding of community-based projects under its 2019/20 Community Grants Program. It was resolved that almost $70,000 in grants be made available to a total of 25 local organisations, with funded projects ranging from youth mentoring to training and placement of assistance animals in local aged care facilities, digitisation of historical records, netball training events, community website development, various small equipment purchases and concert performances.
Local Government Representations
Council approved delegates to attend the 2019 Local Government NSW Annual Conference and also endorsed a Motion on Encouraging the Uptake of Electric Vehicles for consideration at the Conference. A further Motion will also be developed with a view to encouraging better alignment and efficiency between the operations of internal and external auditors.
Code of Meeting Practice
Having recently exhibited a draft Code of Meeting Practice which elicited no submissions from the community, Council resolved to adopt the new Code with minor amendments to the exhibited document. The minor nature of these changes means that the Code will not require re-exhibition.
Complaints and Accolades
A report detailing complaints received and resolved by Council in 2018/19, together with accolades received from the community during the same year, was presented to Council. In total, 44 complaints were received, being a reduction of 16% on the previous year. 91% of complaints received were resolved before the end of the year. During 2018/19 156 written accolades were also received by Council. This was noted by Councillors to be a particularly pleasing result as Council is involved in hundreds of thousands of interactions with residents and other stakeholders over the course of a year.
Local Government Elections
Council gave consideration to coordination of the next Council elections scheduled for September 2020 and resolved that arrangements be entered into with the Electoral Commissioner to administer the Council elections, together with any poll or constitutional referendum relevant to the local government area of Mosman. Should the NSW Government make the option of postal voting available by 1 January 2020 this is to be included in the relevant contract with the Electoral Commissioner. It was also resolved that Council seek to reduce the number of polling stations to meet the minimum requirements of the Commission, to reduce the pre-polling period to one week if possible and to enquire whether other polling technologies are available. A provisional sum of $250,000 is to be included in Council’s 2020/21 budget to fund election costs.
Street Lighting Energy Reduction
Council heard from community members supportive of Council efforts to embrace newer technologies and to reduce greenhouse emissions. It was subsequently resolved that Council accelerate the development of a business case for conversion of street lighting to LED, including options for finding the required funding, and that this be reported on for review and decision as soon as practicable. Council also resolved to explore options to purchase renewable energy as part of the current Large Site energy contract administered through SSROC and to reinforce the Civic Centre roof in 2020/21 with a view to future installation of solar panels. It was further resolved that Council become a member of Cities Power Partnership.
Sporting Tender Assessments
Council considered tender assessments relating to its sporting fields and parks and resolved to award contracts for Allan Border Oval Local Irrigation and Subsurface Drainage Works in 2019/20 and for various parks and sporting field works 2019-2024 including oval management, turf wicket management, sporting fields renovations, parks turf management, public garden management, irrigation management, water feature management, playground and fitness equipment management and park asset maintenance.
Community Participation Plan
A new requirement under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 is that Council prepare a Community Participation Plan by 1 December 2019 outlining how and when Council will engage the community across its planning functions. A draft Community Participation Plan was presented to Council and it was resolved that this be exhibited for public comment. The exhibition period for this document will commence on Thursday 29 August 2019.
Toilet Facilities – Memory Park
It was resolved by Council that staff prepare a report on location and costings to install toilet/s in Memory Park, Cowles Road, Mosman, with this report to be brought to Council in three months.
Bushcare with Sporting Clubs
Council considered opportunities to engage sporting groups and school children in bush regeneration. It was resolved that staff identify bush regeneration opportunities close to sporting fields and liaise with the sporting clubs that use those fields to identify joint bushcare projects focussed at primary school aged children.
