2020-11-16 General Committee Minutes

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES                                               16 NOVEMBER 2020


    4   LOCAL GOVERNMENT GOVERNANCE REFORM
        Committee Recommendation
        Moved:             Cr Jurisevic
        Seconded:          Cr Wilkie
        That Council note the report by the Chief Executive Officer to the Services &
        Organisation Committee Meeting dated 10 November 2020 regarding local
        government governance reform and:
        A.    Adopt the updated Councillor Code of Conduct (prescribed by the Department of
              Local Government, Racing and Multicultural Affairs) dated 4 August 2020
              provided at Attachment 1 to the report and repeal the previous Councillor Code
              of Conduct which was adopted by Council in December 2018 and further, agree
              that each Councillor will sign a declaration to abide by the new Councillor Code
              of Conduct at all times;
        B.    Adopt the updated Standing Orders for Council Meetings provided at Attachment
              2 to the report and repeal the previous Standing Orders which were adopted in
              by Council in August 2019;
        C.    Repeal the Model Meeting Procedures adopted by Council on 20 December
              2018 and note that the new Model Meeting Procedures provided at Attachment
              3 to the report have been incorporated into Council’s Standing Orders for Council
              Meetings;
        D.    Adopt the updated Investigation Policy provided at Attachment 4 to the report
              and repeal the previous Investigation Policy which was adopted by Council in
              December 2018; and
        E.    Adopt the Councillor Briefing Sessions and Workshops (Non-Statutory Meetings)
              Policy provided at Attachment 5 to the report.
                                                                              Carried unanimously.



    5   INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES DEPARTMENT UPDATE – 1ST QUARTER 2020-21
        In accordance with Chapter 5B of the Local Government Act 2009, Cr Lorentson provided the
        following declaration to the meeting of a declarable conflict of interest in this matter:
        I declare I have a friendship with Cathryn and Andrew St Baker who have a property that fronts
        Park Road and for that reason I will leave the room.

        In accordance with Chapter 5B of the Local Government Act 2009, Cr Wegener provided the
        following declaration to the meeting of a declarable conflict of interest in this matter:
        I, Cr Wegener inform the meeting that I have a declarable conflict of interest in this matter due
        to my association with Andrew St Baker who owns a property in Park Road, adjacent to the
        where the pathway is located. Andrew St Baker contacted me in May about the pathway in
        question which runs on the northern edge of his property. I went to meet with him and looked
        at the path and he told me the history of his dealings with Council. I contacted the Project
        Officer and passed on Mr. St Baker’s concerns. Later, I informally met the Project Officer on
        the boardwalk and, I believe, he told me that it will eventually come before Council. I have a
        perceived association with Mr. St Baker as I am a surfboard manufacturer and he is an owner
        of Thomas Surfboards and the Thomas Factory. I believe Mr. St Baker has had a fantastic
        influence on manufacturing in Noosa. In Council I have often congratulated the Thomas Factory
        and I have discussed the emerging Enterprise Business Zones which Mr. St Baker supports.
        During the Campaign Mr. St Baker allowed me to put an election core flute at the Thomas
        Surfboard Factory. I occasionally meet Mr. St Baker in the surf and have had two discussions
        of the Noosa Biosphere, the history of Noosa and the Bring Back the Fish campaign at his
        house, which is, obviously, right above the surf break.

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