2021-06-08 Planning & Environment Committee Meeting Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                              8 JUNE 2021


3.   Proposed funding deed 2021 - 2025
It is proposed that Council enter into a new four-year agreement with NBRF, for the Foundation to
continue to work with the Noosa community to develop education and research projects that enhance
biodiversity and promote sustainable living in line with the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere program
goals.
The proposed Partnership Agreement between Noosa Council and NBRF is attached to this report.
The Agreement differs from the previous agreement in several key ways;
    It is titled a Partnership Agreement rather than a Funding Deed. This was changed to more
     accurately reflect the way that Council and NRBF seek to work together.
    The term is for four years rather than three. Not only does this provide more certainty to the
     relationship, if also fits in with the local government political cycle very well. It allows for a newly
     elected Council in 2024 to have 9-12 months to understand and evaluate the role of NBRF
     prior to making decisions about our long-term relationship.
    Council does not guarantee any funding to NBRF. Each year NBRF will provide an Operational
     Plan with their requirements for ‘operational expenses’ (defined in the Agreement) to support
     Council’s decision-making process. This requirement has been brought forward to the end of
     February, rather than the end of March, to fit in better with Council’s annual budget process.
    The definition of ‘operational expenses’ has been somewhat broadened, making it about more
     than just administration. While larger implementation projects are not generally to be funded
     (as per 4(a)), and they can apply for competitive grants (as per 4(b)), this new definition is
     intended to still allow for direct funding for scoping studies or research support, so long as it is
     identified in their Operational Plan. It is intended this will enable NBRF to still attract and
     support quality research in Noosa.
    A clause has been added (4(c)) Council may elect to, on a commercial fee for service basis,
     and in addition to Funding the Operational Expenses of NBRF under clause 3, arrange for
     NBRF to undertake/facilitate (on Council's behalf and at the cost of Council) studies or projects
     relevant to Council's role in the management of the Biosphere. This would allow Council to
     engage NBRF to assist with research questions related to the Environment Strategy, taking
     advantage of their academic links to universities. This could be done on a case-by-case basis,
     depending on allocated funding, outside of the annual funding agreement. Any such projects
     would still be subject to Council’s normal procurement procedures and conditions.
    The reporting has been changed to six-monthly, as it was felt that quarterly was unnecessary.
     This could be reviewed on a project-by-project basis if required.
    The intellectual property section has been re-written to allow more flexibility when engaging
     with research institutions.
    The Key Performance Indicators have been removed as a separate item as several of them
     were not very relevant, there were no links within the previous agreement to their achievement,
     and no funding to NBRF is guaranteed anyway. The KPIs from the previous agreement have
     been included in section 6.2(b) of the Agreement to be reported against in the annual report.
     This will provide Council with the information it needs to consider annual funding requests.
Previous Council Consideration
Ordinary Meeting Minutes, 21 June 2018, Page 15, Item 1
That Council note the report by the Chief Executive Officer to the Planning & Environment Committee
Meeting dated 12 June 2018 and:
A.   Agree to enter into a 3-year Funding Deed with the Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation (the
     Foundation) as set out in Attachment 1 to the report;
B.   Authorise the Chief Executive Officer to make any minor alterations to the Funding Deed, as
     may be necessary, and enter into the Funding Deed with the Foundation;


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