As is the ECHOway we are developing this post out in
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COMMENT SECTION BELOW
SEE BEYOND READ MORE FOR MORE DETAILS
Given the burgeoning economic crisis impacting on all citizens in the kanamalukaTAMAR Esk catchments as a consequence of international, national and local factors will Council now work proactively with all local governance jurisdictions and the State Govt. in the relevant catchments to: • ... Empanel a ‘Catchment Assembly’ modelled on, and with members appointed, as is the case with ‘Citizen’s Juries/Assemblies’ empanelled in various jurisdictions throughout Australia and internationally;
• ... Task the Assembly to interrogate alternative local governance modelling and structures in the context of 21st C imperatives, current technologies and the catchments’ geographic imperatives and their networks;
• ... Task the Assembly to openly seek submissions and expert advice from a broad spectrum community members and experts in various fields intrastate and interstate;
• ... Task the Assembly to meet in an open forum context from time to time throughout the relevant catchments over the life of the Assembly;
• ... Task the Assembly to develop better and inclusive understandings of the diversity and the cultural realities present within communities within the catchments; and
• ... Task the Assembly to openly report on its finding and recommendation throughout its period of tenure and finally to the State Govt and all Councils in the relevant catchments.
Yours sincerely,
..................................
Given Tasmania’s housing crisis and the plight of people who as a consequence of Govt policy settings – Federal, State & Local – will Council proactively engage with adjoining Council jurisdiction to:
1 … Survey all local residential buildings with a view to determining which ones have been vacant for more than 50% of a year and imposing a special rate on residential housing stock that fails an occupancy test with the income generated lodged in a housing trust;
2 … Desist in approving the conversion of housing stock to other purposes in defined precincts;
3 … Providing incentives for the provision of residential accommodation within business districts where and when possible;
4 … Ensure that residential housing stock has adequate access to ‘green spaces’ with appropriate canopy cover; and
5 … All new housing stock has onsite stormwater and greywater infrastructure to ensure that best use is made of water resources.
..................................
Given the current and emerging energy crisis in Australia and internationally, and in context with Council’s CLIMATE EMERGENCY POLICY will Council now urgently reset its strategic direction to focus its own and the wider community’s attention in order that Council and the community can refocus on how in a 21st C context the community can proactively engage with:
1 … Council’s and their own renewable energy generation via the proactive reporting on the outcomes of infrastructure installations – Govt. corporate & domestic;
2 … The proactive initiation of, and promotion of, the installation of community cum precinct batteries that enable Council itself, business and urban residences to be more actively engaged in the production of renewable energy within the Council’s jurisdiction;
3 … The proactive initiation of community battery networks across the region in collaboration and cooperation with along with adjoining Local Govt. jurisdictions;
4 … A regional Community Energy Network with a diverse membership drawn from within the region and reporting regularly to the appropriate authorities; and
5 … A Community Cooperative established to enable Local Governance, the corporate sector and domestic users to invest in renewable energy infrastructure at the most competitive price available.
..................................
Given the shifting priorities in regard to resource recovery and Council’s current ‘Waste Management Infrastructure’ will Council now restructure its operations in this area away from ‘waste management’ to ‘resource recovery’ and in doing so:
1 … Establish community WASTE WATCH NETWORKS in order to identify recalcitrant waste and resource recovery opportunities;
2 … Provide rewards to COMMUNITY WASTE WATCHERS for identifying wasteful activity in the community and resource recovery opportunities;
3 … Proactively seek opportunities for RESOURCE RECOVERY ENTERPRISES – not-for-profit & for-profit entities – occupy appropriate public land within Council’s jurisdiction; and
4 … Proactively seek an operator for a REPAIR CAFÉ such as the one that has been established in Hobart and that exist nationally and internationally.
..................................
Given community concerns in regard to Council’s lack of accountability and transparency and class of decision making apparently going on well away from around the table in Open Council, and Councillor general disengagement with their constituents, will Council now move proactively to:
1 … Replace it fortnightly ‘Workshop Sessions’ with ‘Community Forums’ to enable constituents to canvass community sponsored initiatives;
2 … Interrogate Council’s implementation of its strategic priorities and planning determinations;
3 … Better ensure Council accountability in regard to budget management and policy implementation.
..................................
In order to remove any ambiguity, will Council now, and with some urgency, given community concerns to do with equity and fairness, articulate in detail the current tendering protocols relative to all classes of expenditure relative to Councils approved recurrent budget. Moreover, will Council identify all officers with the authority to expend Council funds along with any constraints upon those authorities.
..................................
Will Council please confirm ‘the date’ upon which Council was granted ownership of the museum in Lindsay Street by the University of Tasmania?
Moreover, will Council also explain the rationale for the ownership ever being held by the University of Tasmania and furthermore, Council’s apparent reluctance to provide this information in open Council on several occasions?
..................................
Given community concerns relative to graffiti in the city generally and especially so in the city’s Central Business District and urban shopping centres, will the Council please:
1 … Articulate its ‘graffiti management plan’ if there is one;
2 … Advise proactively provide property owners with management advice relative to graffiti;
3 … Seek advice within the region’s cultural networks in regard to appropriate management strategies for graffiti;
4 … Work with property owners and cultural producers to develop socially and culturally responsible graffiti management strategies;
5 … Provide incentives to bring about and facilitate the installation/initiation of culturally appropriate graffiti sites in the municipality.
..................................
In reference to Council’s acquisition of the Birchalls Building and the attempted purchase of the Paterson Street Central Carpark:
1 … How did the proposal to acquire the Birchalls Building and the carpark come about and upon whose initiative and under what imagined social licence?
2 … Taking all associated expenditures into account, how much has Council invested in the building to date?
3 … Taking all associated expenditures into account how much has been invested thus far in the overall proposal to acquire and redevelop the Paterson Street Central Carpark?
4 … Of the total expenditure committed to the Paterson Street Central Carpark project, how much of that sum is attributable to legal expenses?
5 … Given the ongoing litigation relative to the acquisition of the Paterson Street Central Carpark site how much does Council anticipate expending on legal expenses yet?
6 … On what grounds can the Council defend it actions of exposing a property owner and an investor in the city’s infrastructure to the extraordinary expenditure that if has?
7 … In the event of the pending appeal before the Supreme Court fails, what will the total cost of the overall project be and that will ultimately be carried by the municipality’s ratepayers?
8 … Should Council not have purchased the Birchalls Building how much would have its owners contributed to Council’s budget via rates?
..................................
Given Council’s determination to implement a Homelessness Action Plan for the city, will Council please update its constituency on:
1 … Who has been appointed to the flagged committee;
2 … What the committee’s terms of reference are;
3 … What has been achieved on the ground for those people who find themselves homeless in the city;
4 … What resources have been installed on appropriate sites to assist homeless people in the city since the flagging of the Homelessness Action Plan;
5 … Who has been engaged with Council in addressing the city’s housing crisis and to what end.
.........
Page 11.
8. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
Local Government (Meeting Procedures) Regulations 2015 - Regulation 31
8.1. Public Questions on Notice
8.1.1. Public Questions on Notice - Ron Baines - Waste, Parking and Project FILE NO: SF6381
AUTHOR: Anthea Rooney (Council and Committees Officer)
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER: Michael Stretton
QUESTIONS and RESPONSES:
The following question, asked at the Council Meeting on 2 June 2022 by Ron Baines, has
been answered by Leanne Purchase (Manager Governance).
Questions:
1. In this calendar year how many projects [over $250,000] have been contracted by the
City of Launceston Council without going to tender?
Response:
In this calendar year, one tender has been awarded pursuant to section 27 of the
Local Government (General) Regulations 2015, which deals with non-application of
the public tender process.
The tender was awarded to mitigate a time critical asbestos risk and was subsequently
reported in the Council Meeting Minutes of 24 March 2022.
The City of Launceston publishes detailed information about tenders and contracts
each year in its Annual Report, a copy of which is found on the Council's website
www.launceston.tas.gov.au. The 2021/2022 Annual Report will be available in the
fourth quarter, ahead of the 2022 Annual General Meeting.
The details published in the Annual Report include information about contracts valued
at or exceeding $250,000 (excluding GST), and some instances where tenders have
not been sought for specific reasons - for example, because of an emergency.
ATTACHMENTS:
Nil
City of Launceston
Council Meeting Agenda
Thursday 16 June 2022
Page 12 8.1.2. Public Questions on Notice - Ray Norman - kanamaluka/Tamar Estuary
FILE NO: SF6381
AUTHOR: Anthea Rooney (Council and Committees Officer)
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER: Michael Stretton
QUESTIONS and RESPONSES:
The following questions, submitted in writing to the Council on 8 June 2022 by Ray
Norman, have been answered by Michael Stretton (Chief Executive Officer).
.Questions:
1. Given the burgeoning economic crisis impacting on all citizens in the
kanamaluka/Tamar Esk catchments as a consequence of international, national and
local factors, will the Council now work proactively with all local governance
jurisdictions and the State Government in the relevant catchments to:
• empanel a Catchment Assembly modelled on, and with members appointed, as is
the case with Citizen's Juries/Assemblies empanelled in various jurisdictions
throughout Australia and internationally;
• task the Assembly to interrogate alternative local governance modelling and
structures in the context of 21C imperatives, current technologies and the
catchments’ geographic imperatives and their networks;
• task the Assembly to openly seek submissions and expert advice from a broad
spectrum community members and experts in various fields intrastate and
interstate;..
• task the Assembly to meet in an open forum context from time to time throughout
the relevant catchments over the life of the Assembly;
• task the Assembly to develop better and inclusive understandings of the diversity
and the cultural realities present within communities within the catchments; and
• task the Assembly to openly report on its finding and recommendation throughout
its period of tenure and finally to the State Government and all Councils in the
relevant catchments?
Response:
The Council remains committed to the Tamar Estuary Management Taskforce
(TEMT) which was created under the Launceston City Deal. The TEMT has
brought together all the organisations, business, local and State government to
improve and deliver a healthier estuary. It is an advisory body which seeks to
explore and provide options and advice to the Tasmanian Government on how to
develop and manage the kanamaluka/Tamar Estuary. The membership includes
those government departments, agencies, local government authorities and expert
bodies with responsibilities for the estuary. For more information on the TEMT
please visit: kanamaluka - Tamar Estuary Management Taskforce.
City of Launceston
Council Meeting Agenda
Thursday 16 June 2022
Page 14
8.1.3. Public Questions on Notice - Ray Norman - Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery Governance FILE NO: SF6381
AUTHOR: Anthea Rooney (Council and Committees Officer)
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER: Michael Stretton
QUESTIONS and RESPONSES:
The following questions, submitted to the Council in writing on 8 June 2022 by Ray
Norman, have been answered by Michael Stretton (Chief Executive Officer).
Questions:
1. Against the background of the Council’s General Manager/Chief Executive Officer
asserting that Councillors are not trustees of the Queen Victoria Museum and Art
Gallery’s (QVMAG) collections valued at $230m plus; the Council deeming the
QVMAG to be a City of Launceston cost centre and the centre currently being
rationalised; the lack of open reporting to the Councillors and thus opaque
accountability to ratepayers, donors and owners of intellectual and cultural property
held by the centre, the apparent lack of published research outcomes, the apparent
lack of access to scientific and cultural material held in QVMAG collections, will the
Council, and with urgency:
a. provide ratepayers and the QVMAG’s Community of Ownership and Interest with a
firm timeline for the transitioning of the QVMAG from being a cost centre to a
credible Regional Cultural Institution under the direct governance of a standalone
appointed expert Board of Trustees;
b. commit to funding the recurrent and program funding in competition all cultural
entities in the City’s jurisdiction;
c. seek the support of Councils in adjoining jurisdictions for program and project
development relative to their constituencies aspirations and cultural realities;
d. seek support from the Tasmanian State Government via its maintenance of what
is essentially research funding to the QVMAG and that the institution currently
enjoys; and
e. task the new QVMAG Trustees to establish a Research Institute focused on
social, cultural and scientific research relevant to the region’s river catchments?
Response:
The assertions made in relation to the background to this question are not agreed.
The Council has developed a draft Futures Plan for the Queen Victoria Museum
and Art Gallery (QVMAG) which will be considered by Councillors at a Workshop on
23 June 2022. This is then planned to be considered at the subsequent Council
Meeting. This Futures Plan will provide clear directions for the QVMAG in areas
such as governance, funding, programming and development, (etc). Much of what
the writer is seeking will be addressed by this Futures Plan and, if not, any
suggestions can be further considered in the future.
City of Launceston
Council Meeting Agenda
Thursday 16 June 2022
Page 15
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Public Questions on Notice - Ray Norman - Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery
Governance [8.1.3.1 - 1 page].
QUESTIONS and RESPONSES:
The following questions, submitted in writing to the Council on 8 June 2022 by Ray
Norman, have been answered by Dan Ryan (General Manager Community and Place
Network)
Questions:
1. Given Tasmania’s housing crisis and the plight of people who, as a consequence of
government policy settings - Federal, State and Local, will the Council proactively
engage with adjoining Council jurisdictions to:
a. survey all local residential buildings with a view to determining which ones have
been vacant for more than 50% of a year and imposing a special rate on
residential housing stock that fails an occupancy test with the income generated
lodged in a housing trust?
b. desist in approving the conversion of housing stock to other purposes in defined
precincts?
c. providing incentives for the provision of residential accommodation within business
districts where and when possible?
d. ensure that residential housing stock has adequate access to ‘green spaces’ with
appropriate canopy cover?
e. all new housing stock has onsite stormwater and greywater infrastructure to
ensure that best use is made of water resources?
Response:
The City of Launceston is not supportive of the suggested approach to survey local
residential buildings as the Council's current policy receives rates for properties in
certain rating zones. The Launceston Interim Planning Scheme 2015 sets out the
allowable use and development across the Council area. Most residential dwellings
are located in Residential Zones which provide very limited options for non-residential
use, allowing only those things that people may need close to their houses for
convenience with few exceptions. This is regulated on a consistent State-wide basis
by the State Government Planning Directive 6. This provides a broad opportunity for
homeowners to use their houses flexibly subject to a series of simple criteria and
standards. There are no current plans to modify these arrangements as suggested.
There are currently no plans to establish incentives for the provision of residential
accommodation within business districts.
With regard to the consideration of the provision of parks and reserves in an area, the
decision is made at the time of subdivision and the Council assesses the needs of
these areas on a case-by-case basis. The Council also manages parks and reservesCity of Launceston
Council Meeting Agenda
Thursday 16 June 2022
Page 17
to provide an appropriate canopy. Further to this, the City of Launceston has recently
established a Greening of Launceston Memorandum of Understanding with the
Launceston Chamber of Commerce which includes the development of an Urban
Forest Plan to maintain and increase canopy cover across Launceston.
In urban areas, drainage from individual houses is regulated by building and plumbing
regulations. These provide options for homeowners to manage stormwater and
greywater in different ways subject to their circumstances. The Council is committed
to continuing to seek alternative strategies that maximise the value of water resources.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Public Questions on Notice - Ray Norman - Housing Issues [8.1.4.1 - 1 page]
QUESTIONS and RESPONSES:
The following questions, submitted in writing to the Council on 8 June 2022 by Ray
Norman, have been answered by Shane Eberhardt (General Manager Infrastructure and
Assets Network).
Questions:
1. Given the current, and emerging, energy crises in Australia and internationally and in
context with the Council's Climate Emergency Policy, will the Council now urgently
reset its strategic direction to focus its own and the wider community's attention in
order that the Council and the community can refocus on how, in a 21C context, the
community can proactively engage with:
a. the Council's and their own renewable energy generation via the proactive
reporting on the outcomes of infrastructure installations - government, corporate
and domestic;
b. the proactive initiation of, and production of, the installation of community come
precinct batteries that enable the Council itself, business and urban residences to
be more actively engaged in the production of renewable energy within the
Council's jurisdiction:
c. the proactive initiation of community battery networks across the region in
collaboration and cooperation with adjoining Local Government jurisdictions;
d. a regional community energy network with a diverse membership drawn from
within the region and reporting regularly to the appropriate authorities; and
e. a community cooperative established to enable Local Government, the corporate
sector and domestic users to invest in renewable energy infrastructure at the most
competitive price available?
Response:
The City of Launceston's Towards Zero Emissions Plan 2021-2025 endorsed by
Council at its Meeting on 29 July 2021 and the Sustainability Action Plan 2021-2030
endorsed by Council at its Meeting on 27 January 2022, sets the clear strategic
direction which is built on comprehensive expert evidence, community engagement
and alignment with the global Sustainable Development Goals and what local
government can influence. Both Plans are available on the City of Launceston website
https://www.launceston.tas.gov.au/Natural-Environment-andWaste/Sustainability/Sustainability-Strategies-and-Plans.
City of Launceston
Council Meeting Agenda
Thursday 16 June 2022
Page 19
The Sustainability Action Plan includes the target to:
Power all City of Launceston owned buildings by 100% renewable energy by
2025 and Rooftop solar PV is installed on all City of Launceston owned
buildings with high energy usage (>200,000kWh) by 2025.
This includes the following actions:
continuing the roll out of rooftop solar PV installations on buildings with high
daytime energy usage (>200,000kWh).
continuing to install smart meters and building control systems across the
Council's owned assets to understand energy usage, solar power generation and
increase energy efficiencies.
exploring the use of solar batteries for buildings with high night time energy usage.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Public Questions on Notice - Ray Norman - Climate Emergency [8.1.5.1 - 1 page]
1. Public Questions on Notice - Ray Norman - Climate Emergency [8.1.5.1 - 1 page]
City of Launceston
Council Meeting Agenda
Thursday 16 June 2022
Page 20
8.1.6. Public Questions on Notice - Ray Norman -FILE NO: SF6381
AUTHOR: Anthea Rooney (Council and Committees Officer)
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER: Michael Stretton
QUESTIONS and RESPONSES:
The following questions, submitted to the Council in writing on 8 June 2022 by Ray
Norman, have been answered by Shane Eberhardt (General Manager Infrastructure and
Assets Network).
Questions:
1. Given the shifting priorities in regard to resource recovery and the Council’s current
Waste Management Infrastructure, will the Council now restructure its operations in
this area away from waste management to resource recovery and in doing so:
a. establish community waste watch networks in order to identify recalcitrant waste
and resource recovery opportunities;
b. provide rewards to community waste watchers for identifying wasteful activity in
the community and resource recovery opportunities;
c. proactively seek opportunities for resource recovery enterprises - not-for-profit and
for-profit entities - that occupy appropriate public land within the Council’s
jurisdiction; and
d. proactively seek an operator for a repair café, such as the one that has been
established in Hobart, and that exist nationally and internationally?
Response:
The City of Launceston (CoL) has had a strong focus on resource recovery for over
two decades and a change to current practices is not intended at this point in time.
The CoL continues to deliver resource recovery services such as recycling, organics
diversion, resale opportunities (via Uptippity), walking floor recovery, a recycling hub at
the Town Hall and Launceston Recycling Centre which offers recovery for difficult
recoverable materials like paint, e-waste, cooking oil, motor oil, cardboard, paper,
scrap metal, mobile telephones, flourescent tubes, batteries, clear soft plastics and
polystyrene, to list a few.
The CoL participates in The Northern Tasmanian Waste Management Group which
actively supports resource recovery opportunities and has consistent State-wide
communications via the RETHINK website and Facebook. Through this group, grants
are awarded annually to encourage resource recovery projects in the community.
Individuals and organisations are rewarded and celebrated through the Waste NOT
Awards.
City of Launceston
Council Meeting Agenda
Thursday 16 June 2022
Page 21
The CoL has also supported the introduction of Regional Circular Economy
Development by providing grant funding to successful applicants demonstrating
resource recovery and reuse/re-manufacturing outcomes.
Community repair and community interactions are demonstrated via the CoL's support
of Men's Sheds programs; repair is also an action at the Uptippity resale shop -
particularly bicycles. Further community repair opportunities are being explored
through the CoL's Sustainability Action Plan (SAP). The SAP is available on the City
of Launceston website.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Public Questions on Notice - Ray Norman - Waste Management Infrastructure
[8.1.6.1 - 1 page]
QUESTIONS and RESPONSES:
The following questions, submitted to the Council in writing on 8 June 2022 by Ray
Norman, have been answered by Michael Stretton (Chief Executive Officer).
Questions:
1. Given community concerns in regard to the Council’s lack of accountability and
transparency and class of decision making apparently going on well away from around
the table in Open Council, and Councillor general disengagement with their
constituents, will the Council now move proactively to:
a. replace its fortnightly Workshop Sessions with Community Forums to enable
constituents to canvass community sponsored initiatives;
b. interrogate the Council’s implementation of its strategic priorities and planning
determinations;
c. better ensure the Council's accountability in regard to budget management and
policy implementation.
Response:
Other than those expressed by the writer, the Council is unaware of any community
concerns being expressed in respect to a lack of accountability and/or transparency.
In any event, given the generalised nature of the assertions there is simply no basis for
a response.
The Council conducts workshops on a fortnightly basis with the date and purpose of
these workshops included in the Council Agenda pursuant to the Local Government
(Meeting Procedures) Regulations 2015. There is no intention to replace Councillor
workshops with community forums.
In terms of accountability in regard to budget management and policy implementation,
the City of Launceston regularly reports to Council regarding the statutory estimates
and Council formally considers any necessary amendments to those estimates. The
Council already provides ample avenues for members of the public to integrate and/or
question its strategic priorities and budget management, with the public advertising of
the annual plan and budget being the latest example of this.
Planning determinations are made by Council when sitting as a Planning Authority.
The Planning Authority sits in open session and members of the public are welcome
make contributions as representors or as speakers during consideration of the items.
City of Launceston
Council Meeting Agenda
Thursday 16 June 2022
Page 23
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Public Questions on Notice - Ray Norman - Council Workshops [8.1.7.1 - 1 page]
Public Questions on Notice - Ray Norman - National Automobile Museum of
Tasmania
FILE NO: SF6381
AUTHOR: Anthea Rooney (Council and Committees Officer)
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER: Michael Stretton
QUESTIONS and RESPONSES:
The following questions, submitted to Council on 8 June 2022 by Ray Norman, have been
answered by Louise Foster (General Manager Organisational Services Network).
Questions:
1. Will Council please confirm the date upon which the Council was granted ownership of
the museum in Lindsay Street by the University of Tasmania? Moreover, will the
Council also explain the rationale for the ownership ever being held by the University
of Tasmania and furthermore, the Council’s apparent reluctance to provide this
information in Open Council on several occasions?
Response:
Ownership of the National Automobile building transferred to the City of Launceston
(CoL) in December 2021. The CoL was the title holder of the previous site of the
National Automobile Museum in Willis Street, Launceston. The Willis Street site was
identified as a future location for University of Tasmania (UTAS) buildings as part of
the relocation of UTAS from Newnham to the Inveresk site. Contractual
arrangements, endorsed by Council at an open Council Meeting, have been
transparently reported to the public, resulting in the UTAS constructing the current
building at the new site and transferring ownership to CoL following completion.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Public Questions on Notice - Ray Norman - QVMAG Site [8.1.8.1 - 1 page]
QUESTIONS and RESPONSES:
The following questions, submitted in writing to the Council on 8 June 2022 by Ray
Norman, have been answered by Dan Ryan (General Manager Community and Place
Network).
Questions:
1. Given Council’s determination to implement a Homelessness Action Plan for the City,
will Council please update its constituency on:
a. who has been appointed to the flagged Committee;
b. what the Committee’s terms of reference are;
c. what has been achieved on the ground for those people who find themselves
homeless in the City;
d. what resources have been installed on appropriate sites to assist homeless people
in the City since the flagging of the Homelessness Action Plan;
e. who has been engaged with the Council in addressing the City’s housing crisis
and to what end?
Response:
The transition from the existing Homelessness Response Committee to the new
Homelessness Advisory Committee is currently underway. The proposed membership
model is detailed within the Homelessness Advisory Committee Terms of Reference
as per Agenda Item 13.1 in today's Agenda.
The City of Launceston continues to work with the community and those in the sector
to address the complex issue of homelessness. Short term outcomes and resources
have been delivered through the provision of portable toilets at locations around the
City and the extension of operating hours of the Council's owned and operated shower
and toilet facilities. A portable shower unit is on order which will be allocated to an
appropriate site upon arrival. The Council's officers continue to engage with the
homeless community and service providers via the Homelessness Response
Committee. The City of Launceston continues to proactively engage with State and
Federal Governments along with a range of service providers to identify potential
options to address the housing needs of the City. These conversations are ongoing
with a variety of options being discussed at various levels.
City of Launceston
Council Meeting Agenda
Thursday 16 June 2022
Page 26
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Public Questions on Notice - Ray Norman - Homelessness Action Plan [8.1.9.1 - 1
page]
QUESTIONS and RESPONSES:
The following questions, submitted to the Council in writing on 8 June 2022 by Ray
Norman, have been answered by Shane Eberhardt (General Manager Infrastructure and
Assets Network).
Questions:
1. Given community concerns relating to graffiti in the City generally and especially so in
the City’s Central Business District and urban shopping centres, will the Council
please:
a. articulate its graffiti management plan if there is one;
b. proactively advise provide property owners with management advice relative to
graffiti;
c. seek advice within the region’s cultural networks in regard to appropriate
management strategies for graffiti;
d. work with property owners and cultural producers to develop socially and culturally
responsible graffiti management strategies;
e. provide incentives to bring about and facilitate the installation/initiation of culturally
appropriate graffiti sites in the municipality.
Response:
The Council does not have a graffiti management plan, however, it does provide a
variety of resources for businesses, property owners and residents on graffiti
management, as well as undertake its own graffiti management activities. This
information can be found at https://www.launceston.tas.gov.au/Community/Graffiti.
The City of Launceston's Safer Communities Partnership provides guidance to the
organisation on discouraging unlawful graffiti and works with agencies to provide
alternative outlets. The Council currently works with agencies such as Cityprom and
Launceston's Safer Communities Partnership to develop socially and culturally
responsible graffiti management strategies. The Council's Cultural Advisory
Committee is well placed to provide cultural guidance when addressing similar issues.
Last year the City of Launceston adopted an interim Art in Public Space Policy, an
initiative arising from the Council's Cultural Strategy. This policy is designed to
facilitate artwork in public spaces and covers a number of art forms including street art.
The Council is also finalising a Public Art Strategy which will enable approved artistic
creation in both public and private space. Further to this, the recent decision by the
Council to waive development application fees for public art is intended to support the
activation of public art.
City of Launceston
Council Meeting Agenda
Thursday 16 June 2022
Page 28
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Public Questions on Notice - Ray Norman - Graffiti in the City [8.1.10.1 - 1 page]
QUESTIONS and RESPONSES:
The following questions, submitted to the Council in writing on 8 June 2022 by Ray
Norman, have been answered by Louise Foster (General Manager Organisational
Services Network).
Questions:
1. In order to remove any ambiguity, will the Council now, and with some urgency, given
community concerns to do with equity and fairness, articulate in detail the current
tendering protocols relative to all classes of expenditure relative to Council's approved
recurrent budget. Moreover, will the Council identify all its officers with the authority to
expend the Council's funds along with any constraints upon those authorities.
Response:
Other than the writer of the question, the Council is unaware of any community
concerns in respect to the equity and fairness of its tendering process.
The City of Launceston's Procurement Policy, Standard Terms and Conditions of
Purchase, Conditions of Tender and Code for Tenders and Contracts are all available
on the Council's website - www.launceston.tas.gov.au.
These documents are comprehensive and consistent with the relevant legislative
requirements.
Purchasing limits are assigned to Council officers with regard to the responsibilities of
their role. Controls such as quote requirements are detailed in the Code for Tenders
and Contracts. Other controls are detailed in internal procedures and in financial
system workflows.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Public Questions on Notice - Ray Norman - Tendering Protocols [8.1.11.1 - 1 page]
8.1.12. Public Questions on Notice - Ray Norman - Birchalls Aquisition and
Paterson Street Car Park
FILE NO: SF6381
AUTHOR: Anthea Rooney (Council and Committees Officer)
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER: Michael Stretton
QUESTIONS and RESPONSES:
The following questions, submitted to the Council in writing on 8 June 2022 by Ray
Norman, have been answered by Michael Stretton (Chief Executive Officer).
Questions:
1. In reference to the Council’s acquisition of the Birchalls building and the attempted
purchase of the Paterson Street Central Car Park:
a. how did the proposal to acquire the Birchalls Building and the carpark come about
and upon whose initiative and under what imagined social licence?
b. taking all associated expenditures into account, how much has the Council
invested in the building to date?
c. taking all associated expenditures into account how much has been invested thus
far in the overall proposal to acquire and redevelop the Paterson Street Central
Car Park?
d. of the total expenditure committed to the Paterson Street Central Car Park project,
how much of that sum is attributable to legal expenses?
e. given the ongoing litigation relative to the acquisition of the Paterson Street
Central Car park site, how much does the Council anticipate expending on legal
expenses?
f. on what grounds can the Council defend it actions of exposing a property owner
and an investor in the City’s infrastructure to the extraordinary expenditure that it
has?
g. in the event of the pending appeal before the Supreme Court failing, what will the
total cost of the overall project be and will that ultimately be carried by the
municipality’s ratepayers?
h. should the Council not have purchased the Birchalls Building, how much would its
owners have contributed to the Council’s budget via rates?
Response:
A detailed response to this question will be provided in the Agenda for the Council
Meeting to be held on 30 June 2022.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Public Questions on Notice - Ray Norman - Birchalls Acquisition and Paterson Street
Car Park [8.1.12.1 - 1 page]
City of Launceston
Council Meeting Agenda
Thursday 16 June 2022
Page 31
8.2. Public Questions Without Notice
Local Government (Meeting Procedures) Regulations 2015 - Regulation 31(2)(b
11. QUESTIONS BY COUNCILLORS
11.1. Councillors' Questions on Notice
Local Government (Meeting Procedures) Regulations 2015 - Regulation 30
(A councillor, at least seven days before an ordinary Council Meeting or a Council
Committee Meeting, may give written notice to the Chief Executive Officer of a
question in respect of which the councillor seeks an answer at that Meeting. An
answer to a Question on Notice will be provided in writing).
No Councillors’ Questions on Notice have been identified as part of this
Agenda
11.1.1. Public Questions on Notice - Ray Norman - Budget Issues
11.2. Councillors' Questions Without Notice
Local Government (Meeting Procedures) Regulations 2015 - Regulation 29
(Questions Without Notice, and any answers to those questions, are not required
to be recorded in the Minutes of the Meeting).
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