2021-07-06 Services & Organisation Committee Meeting Minutes

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES                                                6 JULY 2021


        I, Cr Stewart, inform the meeting that I have a declarable conflict of interest in this matter in relation
        to the proposed lease renewal for the Sunshine Coast Sports Aviators as one of the Club
        members, David Cookman, donated $500 on 17 March 2020 to my 2020 election campaign and
        also put up corflutes for me during this campaign. Mr Cookman, is not the applicant for the
        proposed lease renewal nor is the renewal being issued to him. As such, there does not appear
        to be any personal benefit accruing directly to Mr Cookman. He is simply a member of a
        community organisation that is receiving a proposed lease renewal from Council. Mr Cookman is
        not a current committee member, although he has been a committee member in the past. I
        understand that he is a life member of the community group. Although I have a declarable conflict
        of interest, I do not believe a reasonable person could have a perception of bias because I believe
        Mr Cookman does not stand to receive a personal benefit or loss in relation to this application.
        Therefore, I will choose to remain in the meeting room. However, I will respect the decision of the
        meeting on whether I can remain and participate in the decision.

        The CEO gave advice that, as Cr Stewart subsequently declared a conflict of interest on the same
        matter as Cr Lorentson, then Cr Lorentson’s conflict should be dealt with again by the remaining
        Councillors who did not have conflicts.

        Committee Resolution
        Moved:               Cr Wilkie
        Seconded:            Cr Jurisevic
        That Council note the declarable conflict of interest by Cr Lorentson and determine that it is in the
        public interest that Cr Lorentson participates and votes on this matter because Council believes
        that Cr Lorentson does not have a close personal relationship with Mr Cookman and Mr Cookman
        does not stand to receive a personal benefit or loss in relation to this matter and therefore a
        reasonable person would trust that the final decision is made in the public interest.
                                                                                   Carried unanimously.
        Cr Stewart and Lorentson did not vote on the above motion.

        Committee Resolution
        Moved:               Cr Wilkie
        Seconded:            Cr Jurisevic
        That Council note the declarable conflict of interest by Cr Stewart and determine that it is in the
        public interest that Cr Stewart participates and votes on this matter because Council believes that
        Mr Cookman does not stand to receive a personal benefit or loss in relation to this funding and
        therefore a reasonable person would trust that the final decision is made in the public interest.
                                                                                    Carried unanimously.
        Cr Stewart and Lorentson did not vote on the above motion.

        Committee Recommendation
        Moved:               Cr Lorentson
        Seconded:            Cr Wilkie
        That Council note the report by the Property Officer to the Services & Organisation
        Committee Meeting dated 6 July 2021; and
        A.     Authorise the Chief Executive Officer to enter into tenure renewal negotiations with
               community organisations noted in Attachment 1, in accordance with the
               Community Purpose Land and Infrastructure Tenure Policy; and
        B.     Apply the exception to the requirement for tendering under Section 236 (1) (b) (ii)
               of the Local Government Regulation 2012 for disposal of a non-current asset other
               than by tender or auction if the valuable non-current asset is disposed of to a
               community organisation.
                                                                         Carried unanimously.




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