Agenda of Planning and Consultation Committee Meeting

Planning and Consultation Committee Meeting Agenda 11 April 2023

Nillumbik Shire Council

Agenda of the Planning and Consultation Committee Meeting to be held
Tuesday 11 April 2023 commencing at 7:00pm.

Members of the public are advised the meeting will be livestreamed and recorded and the livestream recording will be made publicly available on YouTube and Council’s website.

2. Acknowledgement of Country

The Acknowledgement of Country to be read by the Chairperson

Nillumbik Shire Council respectfully acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people as the Traditional Owners of the Country on which Nillumbik is located, and we value the significance of the Wurundjeri people’s history as essential to the unique character of the shire. We pay tribute to all First Nations People living in Nillumbik, give respect to Elders past, present and future, and extend that respect to all First Nations People.

We respect the enduring strength of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and acknowledge the ongoing impacts of past trauma and injustices from European invasion, massacres and genocide committed against First Nations People. We acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded.

Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people hold a deep and ongoing connection to this place. We value the distinctive place of our First Nations People in both Nillumbik and Australia’s identity; from their cultural heritage and care of the land and waterways, to their ongoing contributions in many fields including academia, agriculture, art, economics, law, sport and politics.

3. Apologies

Recommendation

That the apologies be noted.

4. Disclosure of conflicts of interest

Committee members should note that any conflicts of interest should also be disclosed immediately before the relevant item.

Planning and Consultation Committee Agenda 11 April 2023

6. Officers’ reports

PCC.004/23 Draft Budget 2023-2024 Submissions

Item: Consultation Matter

Distribution: Public

Manager: Vince Lombardi, Chief Operating Officer

Author: Melika Sukunda, Finance Manager

Summary

This report considers submissions received from the public regarding the Draft Budget 2023-2024 (Attachment 1).

Council adopted the Draft Budget 2023-2024 at the Council Meeting on 28 February 2023 for the purpose of community consultation. The Draft Budget was exhibited for 28 days with 41 submissions being received. These submissions are attached to this report (Attachment 1).

It is proposed that the Committee considers the submissions on the Draft Budget 2023‑2024 and that the matter then be considered by Council on 23 May 2023.

Recommendation

That the Committee (acting under delegation from Council):

1. Receives and notes the submissions received in respect of the Draft Budget 2023‑2024, (Attachments 1 and 2) in accordance with the section 96 of the Local Government Act 2020.

2. Considers the matters contained in the submissions and the Committee’s report during finalisation of the Budget.

3. Acknowledges presentations made to the Committee.

4. Resolves that the confidential un-redacted submissions contained in (Attachment 2) remain confidential on the grounds specified in the definition of confidential information in Section 3(1) of the Local Government Act 2020.

5. Recommends the adoption of the 2023-2024 Budget at the 23 May 2023 Council Meeting.

Attachments

1.	Submissions and Attachments to Draft Budget 2023-2024 - Redacted
2.	Submissions and Attachments to Draft Budget 2023-2024 - Confidential

Discussion

Background

1. The Local Government Act provides that a council must:

· Prepare a budget for each financial year – section 94(1) of the Local Government Act 2020

· Ensure that the budget contains financial statements, description of services and major initiatives and a statement as to how these will contribute to achieving the strategic objectives specified in the Council Plan, indicators of service performance that are required to be reported against in the performance statement and any other details required by the regulations– section 94(2).

· Undertake public consultation in line with Council’s community engagement policy.

· Adopt the budget and submit a copy to the Minister.

2. Council adopted the Draft Budget 2023-2024 at the 28 February 2023 Council Meeting for the purpose of community consultation.

Submissions

3. In response to the public exhibition of the Draft Budget 2023-2024, forty-one (41) submissions were received from the community.

4. Submissions and Attachments to the Draft Budget 2023-2024 are contained in (Attachment 1).

5. A copy of the un-redacted Submissions and Attachments to the Draft Budget 2023‑2024 are contained in (Attachment 2). It is proposed that these Submissions and Attachments remain confidential on the grounds specified in the definition of confidential information in Section 3(1) of the Local Government Act 2020.

6. Submitters have been invited to attend this meeting of the Planning and Consultation Committee to speak to their submissions.

7. Once the Committee has considered the submissions, the Committee must present a report to the next Council meeting. Council is required to consider the Committee’s report on submissions prior to finalising the Budget.

Related Council decisions

8. The Draft Budget 2023-2024 was endorsed for the purposes of community consultation on 28 February 2023.

9. The 2023-2024 Budget will be presented for adoption at the 23 May 2023 Council Meeting commencing 7:00pm.

Council plans and policies

10. This report directly supports the achievement of the Council Plan 2021-2025 strategy:

· We continue to exercise sustainable and responsible financial management.

Access, Equity and Inclusion

11. A Gender Impact Assessment has been conducted and Gender Responsive Budgeting included within the guidelines as a priority consideration throughout the budget development process.

Sustainability implications

12. Council’s financial sustainability is informed by the indicators set by the Victorian Auditor General’s Office (VAGO).

13. These indicators comprise of both short term and longer term measures. The indicators are calculated and considered as part of the budget process.

Community engagement

14. Following on from Council’s adoption of the Draft Budget 2023-2024, public notice was provided, inviting the community to lodge submissions. Public exhibition was for 28 days. The Draft Budget was available for inspection at the Civic Centre and on Council’s website.

15. Following the consideration of any submissions, the Budget will be presented for adoption at the Council Meeting on 23 May 2023, whereby Council is then required to formally adopt the final Budget for 2023-2024.

Innovation and continuous improvement

16. Continuous improvement and innovation opportunities identified have been considered.

Collaboration

17. The Drafting of budget is conducted in consultation with managers and EMT.

Budget implications

18. The costs of preparing and exhibiting the Budget are funded from operating budget allocations.

Relevant law

19. Local Government Act 2020, sections 94 and 96.

20. The approach to the budget and the composition of the financial statements are prepared reflective of the overall compliance with the Australian Accounting Standards.

Regional, state and national plans and policies

21. Not applicable.

Conflicts of interest

22. No officer involved in the preparation of this report has declared a conflict of interest.

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Cr Natalie Duffy Edendale Ward				Cr Peter Perkins (Chairperson Planning Matters) Ellis Ward
Cr Karen Egan Bunjil Ward				Cr Ben Ramcharan (Mayor) Sugarloaf Ward
Cr Richard Stockman Blue Lake Ward				Cr Geoff Paine (Deputy Mayor) Wingrove Ward
Katia Croce Governance Lead	Sally Johnson Acting Director Governance Communications and Community Safety	Cr Frances Eyre (Chairperson Consultation Matters) Swipers Gully Ward	Carl Cowie Chief Executive Officer