Agenda of Environmental Sustainability Policy Committee

Environmental Sustainability Policy Committee 7 February 2017

1.1 Declaration of pecuniary interests, significant non-pecuniary interests and less than significant non-pecuniary interests

The provisions of Chapter 14 of the Local Government Act, 1993 (the Act) regulate the way in which Councillors and designated staff of Council conduct themselves to ensure that there is no conflict between their private interests and their public role.

The Act prescribes that where a member of Council (or a Committee of Council) has a direct or indirect financial (pecuniary) interest in a matter to be considered at a meeting of the Council (or Committee), that interest must be disclosed as soon as practicable after the start of the meeting and the reasons given for declaring such interest.

As members are aware, the provisions of the Local Government Act restrict any member who has declared a pecuniary interest in any matter from participating in the discussion or voting on that matter, and requires that member to vacate the Chamber.

Council’s Code of Conduct provides that if members have a non-pecuniary conflict of interest, the nature of the conflict must be disclosed. The Code of Conduct also provides for a number of ways in which a member may manage non pecuniary conflicts of interest.

Recommendation

It is recommended that Committee Members now disclose any conflicts of interest in matters under consideration by the Environmental Sustainability Policy Committee at this meeting.

Environmental Sustainability Policy Committee 7 February 2017

2 Committee Minutes

2.1 Minutes of the Companion Animal Community Committee - 5 December 2016

TRIM REFERENCE: 2016/3040

AUTHOR: David Waddell, Director Development Services

EXECUTIVE Summary

The minutes of the Companion Animal Community Committee held on 5 December 2016 are provided to the Environmental Sustainability Policy Committee for adoption.

Link To Delivery/OPerational Plan

The recommendation in this report relates to the Delivery/Operational Plan strategy “7.2 Our Community – Seek innovative and creative solutions in partnership with key stakeholders that respond to the community’s need for a safe and secure City including infrastructure and activities, recognising the needs of older people and those of younger people”.

Financial Implications

Council has been advised that as a council included in the NSW Government’s merger proposals under consideration by the Office of Local Government since referral on 6 January 2016, Council must comply with the merger proposal period guidelines issued under S23A of the Local Government Act 1993.

The guidelines instruct Council it should expend money in accordance with the detailed budget adopted for the purposes of implementing the Delivery/Operational Plan for the 2015/16 year.

Any expenditure outside the adopted budget requires the identification of clear and compelling grounds and must be approved by Council at a meeting that is open to the public. The guidelines indicate the resolution of Council for increased expenditure must specify the reasons why the expenditure is required and warranted.

If increased expenditure is greater than $250,000 or 1% of the Council’s revenue from rates in the preceding year, whichever is the greater, Council is required to exhibit the increase to the budget and consider comments received.

Council must also avoid entering into contracts or undertakings where expenditure or revenue is greater than $250,000 or 1% of the Council’s revenue from rates in the preceding year, whichever is the greater, unless the contract or undertaking is as a result of a decision or procurement process commenced prior to the merger proposal period or where entering into a contract or undertaking is reasonably necessary for the purposes of meeting the ongoing service delivery commitments of the Council or was previously approved in the Council’s Delivery/Operational Plan.

Implication of this report

The budget amount remaining of $13,910 is available to carry out projects such as fencing/signage for off leash areas and a Council cat desexing program. It is expected that the recommendation for these projects will be funded by the budgeted amount.

Policy and Governance Implications

Nil

Recommendation

That the recommendations made by the Companion Animals Community Committee at its meeting held on 5 December 2016 be adopted.

further considerations

Consideration has been given to the recommendation’s impact on Council’s service delivery; image and reputation; political; environmental; health and safety; employees; stakeholders and project management; and no further implications or risks have been identified.

Attachments

1 Minutes of the Meeting of the Companion Animals Community Committee held on 5 December 2016

ORANGE CITY COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE

Companion Animals Community Committee

HELD IN Councillor's Workroom, Civic Centre, Byng Street, Orange

ON 5 December 2016

COMMENCING AT 4.00pm

1 Introduction

Attendance

Cr N Jones (Chairperson), Cr R Kidd, Ms M Clifford (4.54pm), Ms P Davis (4.10pm), Ms A Reith, Ms S Sanders, Ms J Tallents, Mr J Wills, Ms H Wood, Manager Building and Environment, Companion Animal Registrar

1.1 Apologies and Leave of Absence

RESOLVED Ms J Tallents/Mr J Wills

That the apologies be accepted from Ms D Coleman, Dr L Downs, Ms B Ferguson, Ms L Ferguson, Dr A Taylor, Ms H Wood, Director Development Services, for the Companion Animals Community Committee meeting on 5 December 2016.

1.2 Acknowledgement of Country

1.3 Declaration of pecuniary interests, significant non-pecuniary interests and less than significant non-pecuniary interests

2 Previous Minutes

RESOLVED Ms A Reith/Mr J Wills

That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Companion Animals Community Committee held on 10 October 2016 (copies of which were circulated to all members) be and are hereby confirmed as a true and accurate record of the proceedings of the Companion Animals Community Committee meeting held on 10 October 2016.

3 Presentations

3.1 Statistics - Dog attacks

TRIM Reference: 2016/2866

An email received from member Deb Coleman (who was unable to attend the meeting) was tabled which listed many reasons why dogs attack and the possible solutions

RECOMMENDATION Ms S Sanders/Mr J Wills

That Council support any organisation that wishes to introduce a basic dog training program.

3.2 Stray Pets - after-hours options

TRIM Reference: 2016/2867

Report from RSPCA Manager that the after hours cages were disbanded because they were constantly being broken into and despite sourcing special cages the decision was made to disband the service.

RECOMMENDATION Ms A Reith/Ms S Sanders

That Council update the website to reflect the after hours contacts if they find a stray animal including stock.

3.3 Off-leash Areas

TRIM Reference: 2016/2868

RECOMMENDATION Cr R Kidd/Mr J Wills

That Council ensure in future subdivision design public recreation areas including playgrounds, off leash areas and parks as the population density is increasing and the lot sizes are smaller.

RECOMMENDATION Ms A Reith/Mr J Wills

1 That Council consider the strip of land previously reserved for the distributor road located between Ploughmans Lane and Lombardy Way to the south of The Escort Way as a possible off leash area.

2 That Council identify one site that is currently open space for an offleash area in North Orange north of the distributor road.

3.4 Possible areas of expenditure for 2016-2017

TRIM Reference: 2016/2870

The budget at present has a balance of $13,910 which is to cover off leash and special projects. Possibility of Anne Greenaway running a Dog Attack Seminar in 2017 and that some funding could help the Orange Kennel Club to run dog training courses. Also the possibility of holding a cat desexing program and advertising responsible pet ownership.

RECOMMENDATION Mr J Wills/Ms A Reith

1 That Council further explore support for a dog behaviour seminar and also support the Orange Kennel Club to run dog obedience training courses.

2 That Council hold a desexing program for cats in February 2017.

The Meeting Closed at 5.43pm

Environmental Sustainability Policy Committee 7 February 2017

2.2 Minutes of the Environmental Sustainability Community Committee - 9 December 2016

TRIM REFERENCE: 2016/2985

AUTHOR: Chris Devitt, Director Technical Services

EXECUTIVE Summary

The Environmental Sustainability Community Committee met on 9 December 2016 and the recommendations from that meeting are presented to the Environmental Sustainability Policy Committee for information. As there was not a quorum, the recommendations are to be endorsed by the Environmental Sustainability Community Committee at its next meeting to be held in 2017.

Link To Delivery/OPerational Plan

The recommendation in this report relates to the Delivery/Operational Plan strategy “12.1 Our Environment – Ensure the Plans of Management for the City’s natural resource assets are current and reviewed”.

Financial Implications

The guidelines instruct Council it should expend money in accordance with the detailed budget adopted for the purposes of implementing the Delivery/Operational Plan for the 2015/16 year.

Policy and Governance Implications

Nil

Recommendation

That the recommendations made by the Environmental Sustainability Community Committee at its meeting held on 9 December 2016 be acknowledged.

further considerations

Attachments

1 Minutes of the Meeting of the Environmental Sustainability Community Committee held on 9 December 2016

ORANGE CITY COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE

Environmental Sustainability Community Committee

HELD IN Councillors Workroom, Civic Centre, Byng Street, Orange

ON 9 December 2016

COMMENCING AT 8.00am

1 Introduction

Attendance

Cr N Jones (Chairperson), Mr Robert Alford, Mr Andrew Kennedy, Mr Stephen Nugent, Dr Murray Fletcher, Director Development Services, Manager Building and Environment, Water Treatment Manager, Manager Waste Services and Technical Support

1.1 Apologies and Leave of Absence

RECOMMENDATION Mr S Nugent/Dr M Fletcher

That the apologies be accepted from Mr Peter West, Ms Melanie McDonell and Dr Anantanarayanan Raman for the Environmental Sustainability Community Committee meeting on 9 December 2016.

As there was not a quorum, the members present discussed the agenda items and refer the following record of the meeting for recommendation at the next Environmental Sustainability Community Committee meeting to be held in 2017.

1.2 Acknowledgement of Country

1.3 Declaration of pecuniary interests, significant non-pecuniary interests and less than significant non-pecuniary interests

Nil

2 Previous Minutes

RECOMMENDATION Mr S Nugent/Dr M Fletcher

That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Environmental Sustainability Community Committee held on 20 May 2016 (copies of which were circulated to all members) be and are hereby confirmed as a true and accurate record of the proceedings of the Environmental Sustainability Community Committee meeting held on 20 May 2016.

3 Presentations

3.1 Container Deposit Scheme

TRIM Reference: 2016/2642

Cr Jones read to the Committee an email of response from the Minister of the Environment to ECCO advising of how eligible containers may be collected under the scheme via a network of collection points from 1 July 2017. Additional advisory material outlining how the scheme may be rolled out along with Council’s submission to the EPA will be distributed to the ESCC members for their information.

RECOMMENDATION Mr R Alford/Mr A Kennedy

That the information provided in the letter from Environment Protection Authority on the Container Deposit Scheme dated 28 October 2016, the email response from the Minister of the Environment to ECCO advising of how eleigible containers may be collected under the scheme and advisory material outlining how the scheme may be rolled out be acknowledged.

3.2 Waratahs Wetland Project

TRIM Reference: 2016/2638

RECOMMENDATION Dr M Fletcher/Mr A Kennedy

That the information provided in the verbal report on Waratah Wetlands Project be acknowledged.

3.3 Threats to Biodiversity in the Mt Canobolas State Conservation Area

TRIM Reference: 2016/2635

RECOMMENDATION Cr N Jones/Mr S Nugent

1 The Committee recommends future development of the Mount Canobolas State Conservation Area take account of all biodiversity issues to ensure integrity of the environment.

2 The Committee recommends Council to lobby the State Government for additional resources to manage the ongoing threats of invasive weeds species and necessary maintenance requirements of the Mount Canobolas State Conservation Area.

4 General Reports

4.1 Environmental Monitoring

TRIM Reference: 2016/1764

Recommendation Mr R Alford/Mr A Kennedy

That Council supports any initiatives that promote expansion of environmental monitoring systems which enhance the health and safety of the community.

4.2 Central Tablelands Local Land Service NRM Community Advisory Group

TRIM Reference: 2016/1871

Andrew Kennedy advised the Committee that the NRM Community Advisory Group last met on 11 November 2016 and has set some priority work areas for 2017, being:

1. Communication within and beyond the Local Land Service

2. Biodiversity, science, information and conservation

3. Landholder and stakeholder capacity building

4. Coordinated biosecurity management

5. Regenerative agriculture/landscapes.

The next meeting is planned for March 2017 with good opportunities for collaboration with the Environmental Sustainability Community Committee.

Recommendation Mr S Nugent/Dr M Fletcher

That the information provided in the report on Central Tablelands Local Land Service NRM Community Advisory Group be acknowledged.

4.3 Gap Analysis Chart

TRIM Reference: 2016/1860

Recommendation Mr S Nugent/Mr A Kennedy

That the information provided in the report on Gap Analysis Chart be acknowledged.

4.4 Gap Analysis Sub-Group Action Lists

TRIM Reference: 2016/1861

Recommendation Mr S Nugent/Dr M Fletcher

The Committee noted the Action Lists and recommended the Gap Analysis Chart and Sub Group Action Lists be listed at the beginning of the agenda for the next meeting of the Environmental Sustainability Community Committee scheduled for 17 February 2017.

The Meeting Closed at 9:35AM.