Key Decisions Snowy Valleys Council August Meeting

Published on 23 August 2021

Council’s Monthly Ordinary Meeting was held virtually on Thursday 19 August 2021, with seven of the nine Councillors in attendance. The meeting was livestreamed on Council’s YouTube channel.

At the meeting Council was presented with the following reports:

MAYORAL MINUTE SNOWY MOUNTAINS SPECIAL ACTIVATION PRECINCT - REQUEST FOR EXTENSION OF CLOSING DATE BY SVC ABORIGINAL LIAISON COMMITTEE

Mayor Hayes made a special request that Council contact the NSW Planning Department and request a one-month extension to allow the Snowy Valleys Aboriginal Liaison Committee to lodge a submission to the Snowy Mountains Special Activation Precinct.

AUSTRALIAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION'S REGIONAL FORUM AND 27TH NATIONAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY, CANBERRA, 20-23 JUNE 2021 - DELEGATES REPORT

Mayor Cr James Hayes and Councillors Cor Smit and Cate Cross provided a report summarising their attendance at the Australian Local Government Association’s Regional Forum and National General Assembly in Canberra during June 2021.

SECTION 218CC LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT PROPOSALS FOR DE-AMALGAMATIONS

The CEO provided an evaluation report on the way forward following changes to the Local Government Act and the recent decision of the Minister for Local Government to continue the Snowy Valleys Council.  Council confirmed that the organisation will continue to provide services and facilities for the whole Snowy Valleys community and supports the great work that staff and volunteers continue to do for the community.  They also agreed to write to the NSW Minister for Local Government and request that the Minister speed up the review of the Terms of Reference and Guidelines regarding the Boundaries Commission’s review of de-amalgamation applications, including an emphasis that applications be at no cost to ratepayers.

2020/21 OPERATIONAL PLAN FOURTH QUARTER REPORT

The fourth quarter Operations Plan was adopted, and council noted the achievement of the actions from 1 April to 30 June 2021. The 2020/21 Operational Plan contains 119 actions and initiatives that detail the delivery of Council’s services to the community. In summary 114 actions were completed. The 5 actions that were not completed have been rolled over to the 2021/2022 Operational Plan to allow council officers to progress and complete unfinished actions.

INTERIM FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE AS AT 30 JUNE 2021

Council received the report on Interim Financial Performance as at 30 June 2021 comparing the annual operating actuals against the annual operating budget. The report detailed an estimated operating result of $11.1M surplus, or a $907K loss after capital items and noted that the finalisation of the Annual Financial Statements is still in progress and items such as depreciation and grant income are yet to be finalized and this should not be considered the final financial position for the year

STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS - JULY 2021

Council received the report on Statement of Investments – July 2021 noting that cash investment rates continue to fall due to the uncertain economic environment and long-term outlook, and that investments are undertaken based upon the best rate on the day and after consideration of spreading Council’s investment risk across various institutions as per the Investment Policy and section 625 of the Local Government Act 1993 (NSW).

REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF 2020/2021 REVOTES

Council approved the increased to the capital budget 2021/22 by $641,904 for projects that have not yet commenced, and that Council still intends to deliver and noted the carry forward of $1,285,038 for expenditure in 2021/22 to cover works in progress at 30 June 2021 that have not yet been completed.

TUMBARUMBA MENS SHED

In response to a request received Council approved the transfer of management of crown land adjacent to the Figures Street Carpark to the Tumbarumba Men’s Shed Inc for the purposes of constructing a new club facility that will be owned, operated and maintained by the group.

DRAFT SNOWY VALLEYS COUNCIL CHILD SAFE ORGANISATION POLICY AND CHILD SAFE FRAMEWORK - FOR PUBLIC EXHIBITION

Council agreed to place the Draft SVC Child Safety Organisation Policy and Draft Child Safe Framework on public exhibition for community feedback. The drafted policy and framework have been developed in response to actions undertaken for SVC to become a child safe organisation.

SVC COMMUNITY GRANTS

Council endorsed $78,968 in Community Strengthening Grants for 12 projects and $39,998 in Capital Sports Grants for six projects. 

Community Strengthening Grants were awarded to - Adelong Alive Museum ; Adelong Enterprises ; Batlow Men’s Shed; Courabyra Hall Committee; Enterprising Batlow; Lacmalac Memorial Hall; Montreal Community Theatre Montreal Community Theatre;  Three Bridges Tooma Markets; Tumbarumba Golf Club; Tumut Anglican Church; Tumut Potters; and Tumut Croquet Club.

Capital Sports Grants were awarded to - Adelong Golf Club; Batlow Golf Club; Tumbarumba Tennis Club; Tumbarumba Golf Club; Tumbarumba Adult riding Club; and Tumut Rugby Union Club.

MINUTES OF COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Council received reports on minutes from a range of S355 council committees

CONFIDENTIAL REPORTS

TUMUT AERODROME - PROPOSED FIRE CONTROL CENTRE

Council provided in principal support for making suitable land available at the Tumut Aerodrome to accommodate an RFS Fire Control Centre and requested a further report providing additional information on the proposed Fire Control Centre noting that the proposal raised several matters for Council to consider further.

RFT 2021/05 - RECONSTRUCTION OF THE OURNIE COMMUNITY HALL

Council accepted the tender of Sustainabylt for the Reconstruction of the Ournie Community Hall for the lump sum amount of $749,930 including GST and noted that a further report will be provided regarding the ongoing ownership and management arrangements for the new hall considering whole of life costs for the facility. The reconstruction of the hall will be fully funded and resourced externally, including onsite supervision by the engaged architect.

REQUEST FOR ROAD CLOSURE AND SALE - GOOBARRAGANDRA ROAD, GOOBARRAGANDRA

Council approved the partial road closure and sale of the formed lot within Lot 6 DP1027218 Goobarragandra, subject to the terms of sale being met, and authorised the Chief Executive Officer to obtain an independent valuation of the road corridor and negotiate the sale of the land.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REVIEW - 1 JULY 2020 TO 30 JUNE 2021

Council categorised Chief Executive Officer, Matthew Hyde as personally performing at a high level and commended his leadership of the organisation. They also agreed to consider and select no more than seven major projects and priorities for inclusion in the Chief Executive Officer’s 2021/22 Performance Agreement.

The meeting documents and minutes can be viewed on Council’s website at www.svc.nsw.gov.au/19-Aug-2021.

The next Ordinary Meeting of Council will be held on Thursday 16 September 2021, starting at 2pm.

-ENDS-