The Lane Cove Council November 2022 Meeting will be held on Thursday, 24 November 2022.
Listed below are the agenda items for the meeting.
Have Your Say – Be Part of the Process
Residents can write to Councillors on any agenda item or issue. The email address that will reach all Councillors is: [email protected].
A Zoom meeting link will be emailed to the provided email address.
A time limit of three (3) minutes per public forum address applies.
Notices of Motion
Notice of Motion – Converting Council Chambers Meeting Room to Multi Functional Performance Space
Councillor Bridget Kennedy (working with Councillor Kathy Bryla – Lane Cove, who is an architect) has developed a plan to redesign the current Lane Cove Council Chambers and adjacent meeting rooms (which are not used on a regular basis) to a multi-function space to function as both as Council Chambers and a performance space which would provide maximum use of the space. She is presenting the plan via a notice of motion at the Lane Cove Council November 2022 meeting to be held on 24 November 2022.
This proposal will assist local cultural and arts groups such as Lane Cove Theatre Company to be able to have a permanent base for productions and storage. It will also be able to be used by other cultural groups.
More details are in our article here.
Notice of Motion – Parking Near Development Sites for Businesses Providing Medical Services
Councillors Katherine Mort and David Brooks-Horn are proposing that for large developments (usually commercial or apartment blocks) requiring Sydney North Planning Panel approval, Lane Cove Council, as part of its assessment process, identify and/or, upon request, businesses that provide medical services and discuss with them concerns that may impact the provision of medical services due to the pending approval of the development.
ITC has been contacted by numerous people who have been impacted by the installation of the lights at Tambourine Bay Road and Burns Bay Road who can no longer park near the Lane Cove Medical Surgery at 65 Burns Bay Road due to the Mobility Parking Space being removed near the surgery. Lane Cove Council should also be reviewing its processes when planning changes to traffic and parking.
Notice of Motion – Security Cameras and Security Generally Over the Christmas Period
Councillors Scott Bennison, Katherine Mort and David Brooks-Horn are proposing an upgrade of security cameras in the Lane Cove Council area. Councillor Scott Bennison was recently a victim of a crime when his number plates were switched on his vehicle.
Councillor Scott Bennison is requesting the Lane Cove Council pass the following resolution:
- The General Manager and/or the Mayor discuss at the next North Shore Police Area Command meeting the possible installation of security cameras at the entrance/exit points of our LGA and/or other measures that would assist Police in catching criminals; and
- The General Manager contact our local Police and develop and implement an information campaign to provide residents and the business community that assists them in protecting their personal/business property from crime.
ITC reported the following in our Lane Cove Week in Review (where we regularly issue crime warnings and provide residents with information on how to protect their property):
“Crime Report – Number Plate Switch
We have been advised by a roving reporter about a number plate switch. A resident noticed their car’s number plates had been switched. The new number plates were not securely fastened, and the front and back number plates did not match. The car was parked on the street in central Lane Cove (not far from the Lane Cove Village).
Police advised that criminals will steal a car. They will then look for a car that is similar to the one they have stolen and switch plates. When police use number plate recognition technology, they will not be aware a car is stolen. The stolen car is then used for another theft or a break and enter.
If you park on the street, park near street lights. Always check your car is locked and that you don’t have any valuables on display.
After we warned our Facebook readers about this incident, the following comments were posted:
There has also been an increase in vandalism in the Lane Cove Council area, with one Lane Cove business having its furniture and umbrella vandalised on the weekend.
Notice of Motion – Community Organisations Consultation
Councillors Scott Bennison, Katherine Mort and David Brooks-Horn are proposing the General Manager contact the President of the Lane Cove Chamber of Commerce with the express purpose of arranging a community forum that explains the different types of structures that best represent community members’ interests.
Notice of Motion – Rise of Anti-Semitism
Councillors Scott Bennison, Katherine Mort and David Brooks-Horn, are proposing Lane Cove General Manager contact the Jewish Board of Deputies and the Sydney Jewish Music to develop appropriate strategies that address the concerns of antisemitism and that Lane Cove Council provide the use of its Library facilities for this purpose.
This notice of motion was prompted by Councillor Bennison attending a recent Kristallnacht Commemoration and a post on a local Facebook group page last year. The post was discussed at a 2021 Lane Cove Council Meeting. Please note this statement was NOT published on any page or group run by In the Cove. The background to the notice of motion includes the following:
“Last year a Lane Cove Facebook Group in our community posted a picture of Auschwitz with a caption comparing a policy of Lane Cove Council’s to the atrocities committed by the Nazis.
The above posting, apart from being ignorant and unfortunate, was offensive to Holocaust survivors and/or their descendants who live in our LGA.
I understand that the Jewish Board of Deputies and the Jewish Museum are working with Wollongong Council in working with local communities raising awareness and anti-Semitic behavior.
I have spoken with the Jewish Board of Deputies and the Sydney Jewish Museum who have stated that they would support a similar initiative in Lane Cove.”
Officer Reports for Determination
Presentation of Audited Annual Financial Statements – Year Ended 30 June 2022
Section 418 of the Local Government Act 1993, requires that as soon as practicable after a council receives a copy of the Auditor’s Reports:-
- It must fix a date for the meeting at which it proposes to present its audited financial reports, together with the auditor’s reports, to the public; and
- It must give public notice of the date so fixed.
The audit of the Annual Financial Statements for the year ended 30 June 2021 has been completed by the Council’s Auditors – the Audit Office of NSW and Grant Thornton Australia.
A copy of the Audit Report is included in the Annual Financial Statements.
The 2022 draft audited Annual Financial Statements were presented to Council on 27 October 2022 for the purposes of lodging them with the Office of Local Government by 31 October 2022. The Annual Financial Statements were lodged with the Office of Local Government on Monday, 31 October 2022.
Notice was placed on Council’s website on 4 November 2022 of the intention to present the Annual Financial Statements at the 24 November 2022 Ordinary Council Meeting. The Annual Financial Statements have been available for inspection on Council’s website since 4 November 2022. Written submissions have been invited and at the time of writing this report, no submissions had been received. The audited financial statements, together with the Auditors Reports, are now formally presented to Council.
Council’s overall financial result for the for the year was a surplus of $28.89M including capital grants and contributions and $7.609M excluding capital grants and contributions.
Council’s Auditor will be in attendance at the meeting to present the Auditor’s Report. A Copy of the Annual Financial Statements, including the Auditors Report, for the year ended 30 June 2022 is attached to this agenda item (click on this link)
Have Your Say Lane Cove Council Audited Financial Accounts 2021/2022
At the Lane Cove Council October 2022 meeting, it was resolved to adopt the audited Financial Statements and the Auditor’s Reports for the year ending 30 June 2022.
The financial statements are now on the Lane Cove Council website, and locals can review them and send any comments to Lane Cove Council.
You must send any comments by 5 pm on 16 December 2022.
If you want to know more about Lane Cove Council’s financial statements, you can attend the Lane Cove Council meeting on 24 November 2022 where the NSW Audit Office and Grant Thornton Australia will present the Auditors Report. If you can’t attend the meeting, you can always watch a Lane Cove Council meeting via webcast.
Contact:
Chief Financial Officer
Ph: (02) 9911 3512
Email: [email protected]
Have Your Say
In accordance with Section 420 of the Local Government Act 1993 (NSW), any person may make a submission in writing to Council with respect to Council’s Audited Financial Statements or the Auditors’ Report. Please make a written submission to the General Manager by:-
Email to [email protected] or post to Lane Cove Council, PO Box 20, Lane Cove NSW 1595, quoting SU774.
Link to Financial Statements
Annual Financial Statements Year Ended 30 June 2022
Notices Of Motion Relating to Bushland
This item is in response to three notices of motion about Lane Cove Bushland.
The officer’s report recommends that Council include in the next Development Control Plan review measures to reduce light spill in urban bushland.
Secondly, commence the development of a process to involve the community in the selection of a name for the area currently known as the Northwood Slope along the western edge of the Golf Course.
Thirdly, consider increasing the current Golf Course Bush Regeneration budget by $10k in next financial year’s budget.
Draft Community Engagement Strategy
This report provides an update on the progress made in relation to the review of Council’s community consultation and includes a Draft Community Engagement Strategy for Council’s consideration. It is recommended that Council adopt the Draft Community Engagement Strategy for the purposes of public exhibition.
The Draft Community Engagement Strategy has been developed to guide Council’s approach to community engagement. Whereas the Community Engagement Policy outlines Council’s commitment to community engagement in a holistic sense, the Community Engagement Strategy specifically articulates Council’s commitment to the IPA2 Framework, outlines our approach to community engagement (what, why, where, when and how) and contains key objectives and actions as components of an Implementation Approach.
Lucretia Baths – Options for the Future
Lucretia Baths are located on Dunois Street and are part of Woodford Bay. The Lane Cove Council Officer’s Report notes the baths are in such a state of disrepair that they should immediately be closed.
The Report raises the issue of Council deciding:
- To undertake community consultation about the future of the Baths if the grant is unsuccessful – which would include considering providing funding in the 2023/4 budget to cover the cost of the rebuilding. An amount of $150,000 would need to be included in the budget to cover the cost of Council’s contribution if the grant was successful.
- To exploring alternative options which could include – returning the Baths to TFNSW or demolishing the Baths and rejuvenating the area adjacent to the Baths to enhance its attractiveness to the community.
Read our article on the future of Lucretia Baths here.
LEP Amendment No 40 – Subdivision of Existing Approved Dual Occupancy Dwellings
This agenda item will allow owners of dual occupancies in the R2 zone of the Lane Cove local government area that were approved on or before 16th June 2022 to subdivide their properties.
2022/23 Budget – First Quarter Review
The Council must prepare a Budget Review Statement each quarter, per Clause 203 of the Local Government (General) Regulation 2005. The purpose of these reviews is to ensure that the impacts of financial variations are reflected in the forecast of Council’s global budgetary position to 30 June 2023, and the adopted Budget adjusted accordingly.
Delivery Program and Operational Plan – 2022/23 First Quarter Review
The 2022/23 – 2024/25 Delivery Program and 2022/23 Operational Plan were endorsed by Lane Cove Council on 23 June 2022.
Lane Cove Council’s 2022/23 Delivery Program and Operational Plan outlines the strategies, actions and new initiatives proposed to be undertaken during the financial year in order to advance the goals and objectives of the Community Strategic Plan: Liveable Lane Cove: 2035. The First Quarter Review of the 2022/23 Delivery Program and Operational Plan is attached at AT-1. The report indicates the responsible work area and includes a short progress report and action status
Lane Cove Council Draft Annual Report 2021/22
The Local Government Act, 1993 requires all NSW councils to prepare an Annual Report for the previous reporting period by 30 November each year. Lane Cove Council’s Draft Annual Report for 2021/22 has been produced and Lane Cove Councillors are being asked to adopt this document as the finalised Annual Report and send a copy to the Minister for Local Government as required by the Local Government Act, 1993.
Annual Customer Satisfaction Survey Results 2022
Mayor Andrew Zbik, on his website, summarised the survey process and results as follows:
“Each year Council undertakes a Customer Satisfaction Survey which aims to understand and identify the community’s satisfaction with Council’s performance across various service areasincluding planning and development, maintenance of roads and footpaths, parks and open space, and community services and facilities in accordance with Council Community Strategic Plan. It alsoidentifies the community’s overall level of satisfaction with Council performanceand analysesthe community’s contact with Council and satisfaction with Council’s customer service .This year Council achieved and overall satisfaction index of 6.90 against a target of 7.”
A telephone survey of 400 Lane Cove residents was conducted to ascertain Lane Cove Council’s customer satisfaction survey. While this may be a statistically valid sample size, it’s interesting to note that North Sydney Council surveys 400 residents and 200 local businesses.
The survey follows the format of the Community Strategic Plan. The touchpoints for many people with Lane Cove Council are its customer service section and website. This is such an important topic that some councils have a stand-alone survey on customer service.
Willoughby City Council uses the same market research company as Lane Cove Council and encourages its residents also to complete an online survey for those who were not contacted. ITC has noticed that other NSW councils have adopted this approach. Should Lane Cove Council be doing more to ascertain community feedback?
Before the last election, ITC conducted a survey, and a summary of the results are here, which differ from the results in the Micromax survey in relation to dealing with Lane Cove Council. Read more here.
Extract from ITC Survey:
If you raised an issue or problem with Lane Cove Council, how did they go about resolving it?
Only 30% of the respondents were either satisfied or very satisfied with the way Lane Cove Council handled an issue.
Additional Digital Transformation Reference Group and Lane Cove Festival Advisory Committee Nominations
Lane Cove Council is being asked to endorse the following:
- Note Leisa Wahlin has resigned from the Digital Transformation Reference Group;
- Endorse Monpasha Mukherjee as a digital expert on the Digital Transformation Reference Committee;
- Endorse Nathan Gilkes as a Community Representative on the Lane Cove Festival Advisory Committee; and
- Advise the nominees of Council’s decision.
Greenwich Point Wharf Upgrade – Update
TfNSW has advised that they do not propose to undertake any further community engagement on the Greenwich Point Wharf project. However, they will be amending the design to incorporate the design changes requested by Council where possible.
Golf Course Alternate Operating Model – 12 Month Update
The Lane Cove Council Officer Report notes:
“The 12 months from October 2021 to September 2022 was a difficult period to report on for the purposes of evaluating the success (or otherwise) of the alternate operating model. The impacts of COVID 19 lockdown rules and wet weather make comparison with historical performance difficult. NPS have introduced new initiatives such as the pro shop upgrade and undertaken increased marketing and awareness efforts, which have been thwarted by continued bad weather, prompting protracted periods of course closure. It is proposed to maintain the status quo from a golf operations management perspective by retaining NPS and Kasey Dive Golf.”
Officer Reports for Information
Internal Audit Committee – 2021/22 Annual Report
At a recent Internal Audit Committee meeting, it was recommended that an Annual Report be produced to promote awareness to the Council and the community of the functions and performance of the Committee and the matters it has dealt with over the previous financial year. The report can be read here.
Lane Cove Council publishes a snapshot every month which sets out what has been happening over the month from development applications, parking fines, waste and landfill reduction reports, and reports on upcoming footpath maintenance.
Below are some of the stats of interest for October 2022.
Closed Session
Council will be reviewing the General Manager’s Performance for the previous year in a closed session. The Office of Local Government released a discussion paper on General Manager’s Remuneration you can read more here. Lane Cove Council is a small metropolitan council. In the report discussed above, it was noted that Craig Wrightson, Lane Cove General Manager, was the highest-paid General Manager in this classification.
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