August 2022 Council Meeting News Bites

Published on 16 August 2022

August 2022 Council Meeting News Bites

Northern Grampians Shire Council held its council meeting on Monday, 15 August 2022 in person in the Council Chambers, Stawell at approximately 1pm following the Statutory Council Meeting.

Quarterly Council Action Plan

Council noted the details of the fourth quarter of the Council Action Plan 2022 and approved the forecast plan.

General Local Law Adoption and Dog on Leash Areas

Council adopted the General Local Law 2022. The professionally certified Local Law will come into effect on 5 September 2022 following the public notice requirements defined by section 74 of the Local Government Act 2020. The Local Law includes Waste Services Guidelines which outline processes relating to kerbside services and waste management. Council also adopted an Order of Council which will prohibit dogs and cats in public places and impose conditions on means of restraint, times animals are not permitted and other conditions. This order will also come into effect on 5 September.

Arts and Culture Action Plan

Council endorsed the Arts and Culture Action Plan 2022-25 which is an outcome of the Arts and Culture Strategy and Policy 2020. The action plan implementation period has been extended to a three-year period to better facilitate the arts and culture actions.

Procurement Policy

Council adopted the amendments proposed after a review of its Procurement Policy. The policy provides a new threshold value of $15,001-$50,000 for panel contracts that will reduce administration overheads incurred by lower value items up to $15,000.

Community Loans Policy

Council adopted a revised Community Loans Policy. The Policy defines council’s capacity to provide loan finance to the community organisations that wish to develop community facilities particularly those with a focus on heritage streetscape preservation. The minor amendments include an update to the Community/Heritage Loan Reserve total lending to $150,000 to align with the Financial Reserves Policy.

Audit and Risk Committee Chairperson Appointed

Council reappointed Mr Peter Knights as the Audit and Risk Committee Chairperson for the 2022/23 financial year and set the remuneration of the Chairperson and external independent committee members.

Lord Nelson Park Pavilion Place Naming

According to the results of council’s public naming poll, the community’s preferred name for the multipurpose sports pavilion is Lord Nelson Park Community Sports Centre. Council agreed to give public notice of its proposal to formally name the pavilion in accordance with the naming requirements defined in the Geographic Place Names Act 1998.

Adoption of Governance Rules

Council adopted the amendments to the Governance Rules which will take effect on 2 September 2022 allowing council to conduct virtual meetings on a permanent basis.

Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy

Council approved a revised Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy in line with the Victorian Government’s Child Safe Standards and the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations. Some of the key changes include involving families and communities in efforts to keep children and young people safe, and the management of child abuse in online environments.

The meeting can be viewed on Council’s YouTube channel here:  https://youtu.be/UUGw410XgOM