2021-07-15 Ordinary Meeting Minutes

ORDINARY MEETING MINUTES                                                                        15 JULY 2021


     Council Resolution
     Moved:              Cr Wilkie
     Seconded:           Cr Jurisevic
     That Council note the report by the Community Development Manager to the Services &
     Organisation Committee Meeting dated 6 July 2021 and approve the recommended three year
     Maintenance of Community Sports Fields agreements as provided in Attachment 1 to the
     report.
                                                                        Carried unanimously.
     Cr Stockwell returned to the meeting.



10   COMMUNITY TENURE RENEWALS
     In accordance with Chapter 5B of the Local Government Act 2009, Cr Stewart provided the following
     declaration to the meeting of a declarable conflict of interest in this matter:
     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.

     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, Cr Lorentson, inform the meeting that I have a declarable conflict of interest in this matter in relation
     to the proposed lease renewal for Sunshine Coast Sports Aviators as one of the Club members, David
     Cookman, approached me after a Meet the Candidates night and asked for some election campaign
     posters to advertise on his properties. I did not know Mr Cookman or have any relationship with him
     prior to meeting him that night. 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. As such,
     there does not appear to be any personal benefit accruing to Mr Cookman as a result of the lease
     renewal. Although I have a declarable conflict of interest, I do not believe a reasonable person could
     have a perception of bias because I do not consider that I have a close personal relationship with Mr
     Cookman and I believe Mr Cookman does not stand to receive a personal benefit or loss in relation to
     this matter. 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.
     Cr Wilkie assumed the Chair for this item for the purpose of considering the conflict of interest declaration
     by Crs Stewart and Lorentson.

     Council Resolution
     Moved:             Cr Finzel
     Seconded:          Cr Wegener
     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 a reasonable
     person would not have a perception of bias because Mr Cookman does not stand to receive a personal
     benefit or loss in relation to this tenure renewal in relation to this funding, and therefore a reasonable
     person would trust that the final decision is made in the public interest.
                                                                                         Carried unanimously.
     Crs Stewart and Lorentson did not vote on the above motion.


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