For more information and appendices for each item, view the Council Meeting Agenda above.
The below summary is unconfirmed until the Minutes of the Meeting are accepted by Council.
1. Opening Prayer & Original Custodians Statement
2. Apologies
None.
3. Confirmation of Minutes
That the Minutes of the Scheduled Meeting of Council held on 6 May 2024, be confirmed. (7-0)
4. Declaration by Councillors and Officers of any Conflict of Interest in any Item on the Agenda
None.
5. Mayoral Presentation
6. Public Question Time
7.1. WARRNAMBOOL CITY COUNCIL 2024-25 BUDGET
The Warrnambool City Council 2024-25 Budget has been prepared for adoption by Council in line with Section 94 of the Local Government Act.
Councils’ budget must be adopted by Council by the 30th of June each year. The budget has been prepared for the 2024-25 financial year and the following three financial years in line with the act.
The Warrnambool City Council 2024-25 Budget proposes a 2.75% increase in rates, in line with the rate cap declared for the 2024-25 financial year under the Victorian Government’s “Fair Go Rates” system.
The Warrnambool City Council 2024-25 Budget proposes an allocation of $17.5m to new Capital Works, and $1.5m to non-capital projects.
Council began an initial engagement process that was undertaken to inform the preparation of the budget in November/December 2023, followed by a subsequent period of community engagement with the release of the draft budget in May 2024. Council placed the draft budget on public exhibition on Monday 6 May 2024, calling for public submissions for a period of two weeks.
3 budget submissions were received through this process, and none of the submitters requested to be heard at a hearing of submissions meeting of Council.
Councillors met to review and consider submissions at an informal meeting on Monday 27 May 2024. The submissions and responses are contained in this report.
Amendments to the draft exhibited budget were limited to updating of rating and valuation data based on the latest valuation advice from the Valuer-General (no material impact on financials) and some minor typographical amendments.
Council supported the following recommendations (7-0):
That Council:
1. Adopt the Warrnambool City Council 2024-25 Budget as presented in attachment 1 to this report.
2. Approve the 2024-25 Fees and Charges as set forth in attachment 2 to this report.
3. Note the public submissions report as presented in attachment 3 to this report.
4. Declares the amount of rates and charges to be raised as follows:
5. Declares that rates, rating differentials and charges for 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025 align with
Council’s Revenue and Rating Plan and will be applied as outlined in section 4.1 of the budget.
6. Notes that rates and charges must be paid by four instalments made on or before the following dates:
a. Instalment 1 – 30 September 2024
b. Instalment 2 – 30 November 2024
c. Instalment 3 – 28 February 2025
d. Instalment 4 – 31 May 2025
7. Requires that any person pays interest on any amounts of rates and charges which:
a. That person is liable to pay; and
b. Have not been paid by the dates specified for their payment; and
c. Are not specifically waived as part of Council’s Hardship Provisions.
8. Authorise the Manager Financial Services to levy and recover the rates and charges in accordance with the Local Government Act.
9. That Cultural and recreational Land be levied in accordance with section 4(1)(3) of the Cultural and Recreational Lands Act 1963, the amounts payable in respect of recreational lands under this act shall be in accordance with the attached budget document.
10. That no incentives be offered or declared for early payment of rates or charges.
7.2. 7.2. COUNCIL PLAN 2021-2025 (REVISED 2024)
The Council Plan is the feature document in Council’s suite of strategic planning documents, formulated to guide the work for which Council has responsibility.
Council’s vision for Warrnambool expressed in the Council Plan is for Warrnambool to be “A thriving city at the heart of coast and country.”
Although it is a four-year plan, it is reviewed annually to ensure it is relevant, has responded to significant events and/or remains aligned with the community wishes.
At its meeting on 6 May 2024, Council approved the release of the revised annual actions within the Council Plan 2021-2025 and Draft Budget 2024-2025 for community feedback, in line with Council’s Community Engagement Policy which requires Council to engage with the community “when Council is setting its strategic direction".
Following the release of the documents, Council received four submissions from community members. These included one submission on the Draft Council Plan actions and three related to the Draft Budget.
Council supported the following recommendations (7-0):
That Council, pursuant to Section 90 of the Local Government Act 2020, adopt the Council Plan 2021-2025 (2024 Revision) and make a copy of the plan available for public inspection at the Warrnambool Civic Centre, 25 Liebig Street, Warrnambool, and on Council’s website, www.warrnambool.vic.gov.au.
7.3. ELECTION PERIOD POLICY 2024
The Election Period Policy was recently reviewed in November 2023. However, due to changes communicated by the Victorian Electoral Commission there must be a change made to the dates of the caretaker period.
The Policy has been updated to reflect this change.
Council supported the following recommendations (7-0):
That Council:
1. Adopt the attached Election Period Policy 2024.
2. Revoke the Election Period Policy 2023
7.4. EXTENSION OF MEALS ON WHEELS CONTRACT
This report provides an update on Council’s current contractual arrangements with South West Healthcare for the ongoing supply of meals for the Meals on Wheels service for a period of 12 months, up to 30th of June 2025. This is an extension outside of the original contract time period of an additional 3 months to align with external funding and financial year.
Council supported the following recommendation (7-0):
That Council endorses the extension of the meal procurement contract up to 30 June 2025, with a contract variation for an additional 3 months, to be signed under delegation by the CEO.
7.5. INFORMATION COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY SHARED SERVICES JOINT VENTURE ESTABLISHMENT
In October 2022 the Warrnambool City, Moyne Shire and Corangamite Shire Councils formalised the shared service arrangement that had been in place since the adoption of an endorsement by Council at a meeting on 25 March 2019 of the shared ICT project by the adoption of a Joint Venture Agreement. The adoption of the Joint Venture Agreement gave the form and substance to the informal arrangement that had been in place and set the mechanisms by which the three Councils could work and plan together and resolve any issues related to the operation of this shared services venture.
The establishment of the Joint Venture agreement facilitated participation in the Local Government Victoria’s Rural Council Transformation Program. The three Councils received $4,500,000 under this program to deliver the specified business case, which included an integrated shared service Enterprise Resource Platform (ERP).
The Joint Venture Agreement requires that the three Councils affirm their participation not less than 12 months prior to the expiry of the original term (Clause 2.2), being June 2025.
Council supported the following recommendations (7-0):
That
1. Having complied with Division 3 of Part 5 of the Local Government Act 2020, Council entered into, established, and operates the South West Councils ICT Alliance as a joint venture on the terms set out in the South West Councils ICT Alliance Joint Venture Agreement; and
2. Notes that, in accordance with:
a. Clause 5.1.1(a) of the South West Councils ICT Alliance Joint Venture Agreement, the Chief Executive Officer has been appointed to the Joint Venture Governance Committee; and
b. Clause 5.1.1(b) of the South West Councils ICT Alliance Joint Venture Agreement, the Chief Executive Officer has nominated one staff member to the Joint Venture Governance Committee, being Council’s Director Corporate Strategies; and
3. Authorises the Chief Executive Officer to:
a. Agree in writing to the Joint Venture Governance Committee and to the other two participating Councils to the extension of the Joint Venture Agreement.
b. Exercise Council’s rights and powers under the Joint Venture Agreement on Council’s behalf.
7.6. COMMUNITY AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE - REPLACING
COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES
Three community members on CIRAC have left since the start of 2024, including two at the last meeting in March. The opportunity exists to replace them for a two-year term from the list of applicants who applied in March 2023.
Of the initial nominations received in March 2023, it is recommended the following two, who confirmed they would like to be put forward again, are considered by Council for endorsement.
Two other nominees were contacted but declined due to existing commitments.
Council supported the following recommendation (7-0):
That Council:
1. Adopts the updated Terms of Reference for the Community and International Relations Advisory Committee (CIRAC); and
2. Appoints Courtney Mathew and Alex Mellert to the Community and International Relations Advisory Committee for the remainder of the current committee term.
7.7. LAKE PERTOBE INTEGRATED WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
This report outlines the Lake Pertobe Integrated Water Management (IWM) Plan 2024.
Lake Pertobe holds significant potential for Integrated Water Management (IWM) within its highly regarded open space.
The final plan has been developed in collaboration with Council staff, Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation (EMAC), Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority (GHCMA), Wannon Water (WW), Southern Rural Water (SRW) and the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA).
This report outlines the Lake Pertobe Integrated Water Management (IWM) Plan 2024.
Council supported the following recommendation (7-0):
That Council adopt the Lake Pertobe Integrated Water Management Plan 2024.
7.8. ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORTS
This report contains the records of Advisory Committee/Reference Group meetings.
1. Community & International Relations Advisory Committee Meeting – 26 March 2024
2. Cycling Reference Group Meeting – 24 April 2024
Council supported the following recommendation (7-0):
That the records of the Community & International Relations Advisory Committee meeting held on
26 March 2024 and the Cycling Reference Group meeting held on 24 April 2024, be received.
7.9. INFORMAL MEETINGS OF COUNCIL REPORTS
Section 80A(2) of the Local Government Act 1989 required the record of an Assembly of Councillors to be reported at an ordinary Council meeting.
Assembly of Councillor Records are no longer a requirement in the Local Government Act 2020 as of 24 October 2020. However, under Council’s Governance Rules, a summary of the matters discussed at the meeting are required to be tabled at the next convenient Council meeting and recorded in the minutes of that Council meeting.
The record of the following Informal Meetings of Council are enclosed:-
1. Monday 13 May 2024 – refer Attachment 1.
2. Monday 20 May 2024- refer Attachment 2.
3. Monday 27 May 2024 – refer Attachment 3.
Council supported the following recommendation (7-0):
That the records of the Informal Meetings of Council held on 13, 20 and 27 May 2024, be received.
7.10. MAYORAL & CHIEF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ACTIVITIES – SUMMARY REPORT
This report summarises Mayoral and Chief Executive Officer Council activities since the last Ordinary Meeting which particularly relate to key social, economic and environmental issues of direct relevance to the Warrnambool community.
Council supported the following recommendation (7-0):
That the Mayoral & Chief Executive Officer Council Activities – Summary Report be received.
8. Notice of Motion
9. General Business
10. Urgent Business
11. Close of Meeting