Council meeting catchup - 21 February 2024

MOVED Crs Pearl/Bond

That Council:

• Expresses its deep regret on the passing of Reg Macey.
• Offers its sincere condolences to their family and places on record its appreciation for their service to the City of Port Phillip.

A vote was taken and the MOTION was CARRIED unanimously.

Purpose
1.1 To provide Council with a regular update from the Chief Executive Officer regarding Council’s activities and performance.

MOVED Crs Martin/Clark

That Council:

3.1 Notes the CEO Report – Issue 103 (provided as Attachment 1).

A vote was taken and the MOTION was CARRIED unanimously.

Purpose
1.1 To seek Council endorsement to implement a new model for aged care service delivery referred to as the “Village Model.”

MOVED Crs Baxter/Nyaguy

That Council:

3.1 Acknowledges the ongoing commitment to supporting older people to age positively in our community.

3.2 Notes that the Commonwealth Aged Care Reforms drive a need for Council to review the way it delivers services to older people to ensure it is viable, relevant, efficient, and demonstrates best value to the community.

3.3 Notes the feedback from staff, clients, community, advisory committees, community groups and unions received through the formal consultation process has informed and shaped the recommended future model of service delivery- the Village model.

3.4 Defers any decision to relinquish back to the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) funded services to no later than August 2024 until Council receives a further detailed report on options for continuing to deliver CHSP in-home services.

3.5 Notes that the Regional Assessment Service (RAS) will cease on the 30 of June 2024 at the conclusion of the contract with the Commonwealth.

Cr Baxter requested that the vote be taken under DIVISION.
FOR: Crs Baxter, Crawford and Nyaguy
AGAINST: Crs Bond, Sirakoff, Martin, Pearl, Clark and Cunsolo
The MOTION was LOST.

MOVED Crs Martin/Cunsolo

That Council:

3.1 Acknowledges the ongoing commitment to supporting older people to age positively in our community.

3.2 Notes that the Commonwealth Aged Care Reforms drive a need for Council to review the way it delivers services to older people to ensure it is viable, relevant, efficient, and demonstrates best value to the community.

3.3 Notes the feedback from staff, clients, community, advisory committees, community groups and unions received through the formal consultation process has informed and shaped the recommended future model of service delivery- the Village model.

3.4 Endorses the implementation of the Village.

3.4.1 Endorses the relinquishment of Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) funded in-home support services (domestic assistance, personal care, respite care, social support -individual, property maintenance and home modifications) back to the Commonwealth.

3.4.2 Approves notifying the Commonwealth of Council’s intention to relinquish CHSP in-home services and our commitment to work together to ensure a smooth transition for clients to Commonwealth approved providers.

3.4.3 Continues to deliver Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) funded community-based services which include delivered meals, transport, and social connection programs.

3.4.4 Approves notifying the State of Council’s intention to relinquish HACC/PYP funded in-home support services (domestic assistance, personal care, respite care, social support -individual) back to the State.

3.4.5 Continues to fund and deliver the hop on hop off bus service.

3.4.6 Establishes a Community Connector service that will provide older people with a single point of contact for Council to support them to navigate the aged care service system, whether that be to link them to the Commonwealth Government’s support at Home Program, or to access other activities and supports in the city to assist them to age well. Council will continue to be a first point of call for community members requesting this type of support and the Community Connector service will be reviewed after 12 months to ensure it is delivering its role effectively.

3.4.7 Approves an annual budget of $0.42m in the 10-year financial plan which is an increase of $0.065k in the Community Services budget and includes the establishment of the Community Connector roles.

3.4.8 Approves one off business transition costs of $0.36m in the 2024/25 financial year for business improvement activities to establish the Village Model, in addition to the annual recurring budget of $0.42m.

3.4.9 Notes that $1.81m one-off transition costs incurred by the relinquishment of funded in-home support services will be considered as part of the budget 2024/25 development.

3.4.10 Approves the implementation of the Village model by no later than September 2024.

3.5 Notes that the Regional Assessment Service (RAS) will cease on the 30 of June 2024 at the conclusion of the contract with the Commonwealth.

A vote was taken and the MOTION was CARRIED.
Cr Baxter called for a DIVISION.
FOR: Crs Bond, Sirakoff, Martin, Pearl, Clark and Cunsolo
AGAINST: Crs Baxter, Crawford and Nyaguy
The MOTION was CARRIED.

Purpose
1.1 To present the review recommendations and community engagement findings from the mid-strategy review of the Move, Connect, Live: Integrated Transport Strategy 2018 – 2028.

Councillor Nyaguy left the chamber at 9.19 pm and was not present for the vote of this item.

MOVED Crs Bond/Clark

That Council:  

3.1 Thanks the community for taking part in the review of the Move, Connect, Live: Integrated Transport Strategy.

3.2 Notes the results of the consultation on the Strategy.

3.3 Notes the progress on actions to date described in Attachment 3.

3.4 Endorses updates to five of the Strategy’s indicators and discontinuance of six indicators used to measure progress due to changes in availability of data sources and alignment with other Council polices.

3.5 Endorses an amended Action 18 in the Strategy from:
“Deliver a network of dedicated and continuous protected bike corridors to create safer routes for all ages and abilities”
to
Action 18a: “Deliver a range of interventions to build a network of connected, safe riding options, ensuring safety for people of all ages and abilities.”
and adds
Action 18b: “Advocate to State government to deliver protected bike corridors on state-managed arterial roads.”

3.6 Authorises the CEO (or delegate) to make minor editorial changes to the Strategy to reflect the endorsed review recommendations.

AMENDMENT
MOVED Crs Martin/Cunsolo
That Council amends action 18a at part 3.5 of the recommendation as indicated in bold:
Action 18a: “Deliver a range of interventions to build a network of connected, safe riding options, ensuring safety for people of all ages and abilities, and continue to explore opportunities for the provision of protected bike lanes in the City of Port Phillip.”

A vote was taken and the AMENDMENT was CARRIED.
The AMENDMENT became the SUBSTANTIVE MOTION.
A vote was taken and the SUBSTANTIVE MOTION was CARRIED.
Councillor Nyaguy returned to the chamber at 9.30 pm.

Purpose
1.1 To present the results of the evaluation of the Pickles Street Safety Improvement Trial and recommend the permanent closure of the median at the intersection of Pickles Street and Bridge/Glover Street Port Melbourne.

MOVED Crs Pearl/Martin

That Council:

3.1 Notes that the intersection of Pickles Street at Bridge Street and Glover Street is identified as a Road Safety Black Spot.

3.2 Notes that the trial has proven to be successful in that the trial addressed the main cause of the recorded crashes, without significantly changing traffic volumes in the adjacent local road network.

3.3 Endorses making the trial median closure at the intersection of Pickles Street at Bridge Street and Glover Street permanent.

3.4 Advises the community of the outcome of the trial, next steps, and thanks them for their contribution.

A vote was taken and the MOTION was LOST.
Cr Crawford called for a DIVISION.
FOR: Crs Baxter, Bond, Martin and Pearl
AGAINST: Crs Crawford, Sirakoff, Clark and Cunsolo
ABSTAINED Cr Nyaguy
The MOTION was LOST.

Purpose

1.1 To consider the next steps in the Stormwater Harvesting program.

MOVED Crs Clark/Baxter

That Council:

3.1 Notes the five options for the Stormwater Harvesting Program included in this report.

3.2 Pursues option 5 to:
(a) place Fitzroy Street/Catani Gardens Stormwater Harvesting Scheme on hold.

(b) pursue potential partnering and funding opportunities with South East Water and other State Government partners, on the Elwood Park Expansion Stormwater Harvesting Scheme.

(c) Receives a further report on the outcome of the discussions with South East Water and the State Government.

A vote was taken and the MOTION was CARRIED.

Purpose
1.1 To conclude the statutory procedures for a proposed lease of the Port Phillip EcoCentre in the St Kilda Botanical Gardens at 55A Blessington Street, St Kilda, pursuant to section 115 of the Local Government Act 2020.

MOVED Crs Martin/Crawford

That Council:

3.1 Concludes the statutory process under section 115 of the Local Government Act 2020 by granting a lease over the Port Phillip EcoCentre site to Port Phillip EcoCentre Incorporated on the following key terms:

3.1.1 Length of lease – 15 years.
3.1.2 Rent – commencing at $104.00 per annum exclusive of GST.
3.1.3 The tenant to be responsible for a schedule of maintenance and for all utilities and outgoings associated with the operation of their service.
3.2 Authorise the Chief Executive Officer, or their delegate, to execute the lease.

A vote was taken and the MOTION was LOST.
Cr Baxter called for a DIVISION.
FOR: Crs Baxter, Crawford, Martin, Nyaguy and Cunsolo
AGAINST: Crs Bond, Sirakoff, Pearl and Clark
The MOTION was CARRIED.

Purpose
1.1 To provide Council with an overview of the results of the mid-year 2023/24 performance to budget and seek approval for any unbudgeted items.

MOVED Crs Martin/Nyaguy

That Council:

3.1 Notes that full year cumulative cash surplus before the mid-year budget requests is $0.1 million which is $0.77 million unfavourable compared to budget of $0.87 million with the following movements:

3.1.1 Notes additional funding of $0.18m approved by the Chief Executive Officer for emergency works related to the St Kilda Foreshore Lighting Renewal Project (funded from the Asset Renewal Reserve)  

3.2 Notes attachment 1 – Financial Statements with accompanying explanatory notes.

3.3 Approves the following budget requests with a net financial impact of $0.07m for 2023/24 and $0.38m for 2024/25 including (see attachment 2):

3.3.1 $373,000 additional for the Elwood Reserve Change Rooms and Toilets project due to outcome of tender process. Noting funding of $277,000 from the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program Stage 4 and the remaining $96,000 to be included in Budget 2024/25.

3.3.2 $150,000 additional for the JL Murphy Baseball Infield project due to outcome of tender process. Noting funding of $75,000 from Open Space Reserves and remaining $75,000 to be funded from the 2023/24 cumulative cash surplus.

3.3.3 $359,000 additional for the Albert Parks Bowls Pavilion Upgrade to expand scope of works to include upgrade of the male facilities and office contingent on a financial contribution of $266,000 from the Albert Park Bowls Club and also addition scope to include accessibility compliance requirement with remaining $93,000 to be included in Budget 2024/25.

3.3.4 $372,000 additional for the JL Murphy Soccer Pitch 2 Reconstruction due to updated costings through the design phase. Noting funding of $186,000 from Open Space Reserves and remaining $186,000 to be included in Budget 2024/25.

A vote was taken and the MOTION was CARRIED unanimously.

Purpose
1.1 To report on the expenses incurred by Councillors during November and December 2023, and January 2024, in accordance with the Councillor Expenses and Support Policy.

MOVED Crs Pearl/Sirakoff

That Council:

3.1 Notes the monthly Councillor expenses report for November 2023 (attachment 1) and that this will be made available on Council’s website.

3.2 Notes the monthly Councillor expenses report for December 2023 (attachment 2) and that this will be made available on Council’s website.

3.3 Notes the monthly Councillor expenses report for January 2024 (attachment 3) and that this will be made available on Council’s website.

A vote was taken and the MOTION was CARRIED unanimously.

Purpose
1.1 To report to Council the written records of Informal Meetings of Councillors at the City of Port Phillip as required by the Governance Rules.

MOVED Crs Pearl/Sirakoff

That Council:

2.1 Receives and notes the written records of Informal Meetings of Council (attached) as required by the Governance Rules.

A vote was taken and the MOTION was CARRIED unanimously.

MOVED Crs Martin/Cunsolo

That Council:

1. Waives permit fees valued at $35,000 for the Clarendon and Coventry Streets Business Association to assist in completing their Heritage Verandah Upgrade project.

A vote was taken and the MOTION was CARRIED.
Cr Bond called for a DIVISION.
FOR: Crs Baxter, Crawford, Sirakoff, Martin, Pearl, Clark, Nyaguy and Cunsolo
AGAINST: Cr Bond
The MOTION was CARRIED.

MOVED Crs Pearl/Baxter

That Council:

3.1 Notes the request from the Victorian Government for feedback on Local Government Victoria’s (LGV) Local Government Reforms 2024 Consultation Paper (Attachment 1).

3.2 Thanks LGV for the opportunity to provide feedback on the Local Government Reforms 2024 Consultation Paper, but notes the challenging timeframe provided has impacted the organisation’s ability to support Council to engage with the proposed changes.

3.3 Authorises the Mayor to make a written submission to LGV’s Local Government Reforms 2024 Consultation Paper on behalf of Council aligned with the key points outlined in section 4.11 of this report.

3.4 Authorises the CEO, or their delegate, to support the Mayor’s submission.

A vote was taken and the MOTION was CARRIED.

As previously advised by Mayor Cunsolo at the commencement of the meeting, item 17.1 ‘Provision of Recycling Processing Services’ was removed from the agenda.

This item will be considered at a future Council meeting.