Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Greater Geelong City Council held at the Council Conference and Reception Centre - City Hall on25 June 2013, commencing at 7:00pm.
Colin Wallace
Mary Wallace
Cr K Fagg (Chair)
Crs:
T Ansett
L Ellis
J Farrell
K Fisher
B Harwood
M Heagney
E Kontelj
S Kontelj*(7:20pm)
R Macdonald
S Griffin (Chief Executive Officer)
J Wall (General Manager Corporate Services)
P Bettess (General Manager Economic Development, Planning and Tourism)
B Gaudion (Acting General Manager City Services)
J McMahon (General Manager Community Services)
D Frost (General Manager Projects, Recreation and Central Geelong)
J Brown (Manager Administration and Governance)
R Bourke (Governance Co ordinator)
D Chiller (Co ordinator Communication and Marketing)
The Mayor declared the meeting open at 7:05pm.
The Mayor acknowledged that we are here today on the land of the Wathaurong People and we pay our respects to Aboriginal elders past and present.
Councillors:
J Irvine
R Nelson
A Richards
Cr Macdonald moved, Cr Harwood seconded -
That Leave of Absence be granted to Cr S Kontelj from 28 June to 16 July 2013, inclusive.
Carried.
Cr Ellis moved, Cr Harwood seconded -
That the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on 11 June 2013 be confirmed and signed.
Carried.
Nil.
Question Time is an opportunity for questions to be addressed to Council and while the minutes record the general content, they do not purport to be a transcript of what was said by individuals. Likewise Councillor or Officer verbal responses are in summary form only. Views expressed may not be the views of Council.
Council's practice is to provide a separate document on its website setting out questions and responses including any more detailed written responses which may be provided subsequent to the meeting.
Colin Wallace asked:
(a) Would Councillors note that the Ropeworks Panel, upon which there was a traffic engineering expert and which had before it three traffic engineering consultants’ reports and heard the expert evidence of two traffic engineering consultants as well as taking advice on planning and urban design at the Panel Hearings held in August-September 2006, made it clear in its report of November 2006 (Greater Geelong Amendment C96/Planning Permit 1628/2004) that the use of First Street, Geelong West by cars should be minimised?
The Mayor noted the comments.
(b) Would Councillors note that the traffic engineering advice given to us was that the parking along the west side of First Street reduced traffic volume along First Street?
The Mayor advised that he could not recall the specific detail of the advice but noted the comment.
(c) Would Councillors note that both my wife Mary Wallace and I believe that if Council were to remove the parking along First Street, this would encourage the use of First Street by cars, going against what the Panel said which was to minimise the use of First Street by cars?
The Mayor noted the opinion.
Mary Wallace asked:
(a) Would Councillors note that my Question 3 at the Council Meeting of 28th May 2013 was: ‘The description in the invoice from Surbo Holdings that my husband and I were given as part of Council’s response to our Freedom of Information request of 31st March 2011 says: ‘Remove trees and make new foot path with fence First St as per quote’, with the amount being $30,000. Seeing we were given the invoice but were not given the quote, I am asking for a copy of the quote if it exists.’?
(b) Would Councillors note that Council’s response dated 5th June 2013 says: ‘With regard to Question 3 – Council does not have a copy of the quotation to ‘Remove trees and make new foot path with fence First St as per quote’.’?
(c) Through you, Mr Mayor, I am asking the CEO Stephen Griffin, what does this response from Council mean?
The Chief Executive Officer took the question on notice.
2a) Does Council have a quote from Surbo Holdings to remove the trees and make a new footpath with fence in First Street for $30,000?
The Mayor responded he was not aware of such a quote on the file.
(b) Was Council ever given such a quote?
B Gaudion responded that as the General Manager City Services was on leave he would take the question on notice.
Is it Council’s practice to contract out works without getting at least one quote?
B Gaudion responded that part of our formal process is that we would normally obtain up to three quotes for amounts from $25,000 to $150,000.
Jeff Wall added that Council has a Procurement Policy which requires up to three quotes up to the financial thresholds of $150,000 for goods and services, and $200,000 for works. Over these limits public tenders are sourced. It is acceptable to obtain a verbal quote up to $5,000.
Nil.
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