2020-04-30 Ordinary Meeting Agenda

ORDINARY MEETING AGENDA                                                              30 APRIL 2020


REPORT
The purpose of this report is for Council to consider the re-establishment of Standing Committees
as part of its decision making process, membership of those Committees and the adoption of a
meeting timetable for the remainder of 2020.

The Local Government Regulation 2012 provides that a Council may appoint from its Councillors,
standing committees or special committees to assist it to deal with matters. It is proposed that the
Council’s decision making process continue with the system used by the Noosa Council since 2014.
Noosa Council also used a similar meeting structure prior to amalgamation in 2008. This structure
is made up of two Standing Committees each comprising the Mayor and three Councillors
(Committees), a Standing Committee comprising all Councillors (General Committee) and the
Ordinary meeting.

A local government can revisit its decision making structure at any time during its term.

Other than a mandatory requirement to hold an Ordinary meeting each month, each Council can
choose how to manage its decision-making framework. It could choose to only have an Ordinary
meeting each month, only one Standing Committee, or multiple Standing Committees etc.
Attachment 2 sets out the typical models used across Queensland local governments and outlines
some pros and cons of each of the options.

Noosa Council has traditionally used option 4 in that attachment and it has served this Council well
for many years (both pre-amalgamation and post de-amalgamation).

Pursuant to Section 264 of the Local Government Regulation 2012, it is proposed that the following
Standing Committees be re-established:
    Planning and Environment Committee comprising the Mayor and three Councillors;
    Services and Organisation Committee comprising the Mayor and three Councillors; and
    General Committee comprising the Mayor and all Councillors.

The roles of the Planning and Environment Committee, the Services and Organisation Committee,
and the General Committee are:
1.   To make recommendations to Council on:
          The formulation of program policies, objectives, priorities and levels of service and the
           course of action for specific issues and matters presented to the relevant Committee for
           determination;
          Issues arising from the monitoring and review of the operation and performance of the
           Council’s programs.
2.   To provide oversight and guidance to staff on policies and issues relating to the programs
     under their Department’s jurisdiction.

Areas of responsibility of the Planning and Environment Committee include the responsibilities
associated with the functions of:
    Development Assessment Planning;
    Building and Plumbing;
    Economic Development;
    Strategic Land Use Planning; and
    Environment (including Sustainability and Natural Areas).




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