Council Minutes - Section C: Notice of Motion

Notices of Motion tabled at the Ordinary Meeting of Council on 10 March 2015 which was held at City Hall in Little Malop Street, Geelong.

Notice of Motion - Cr Macdonald

Review of Electronic Bill Distribution and Payment Opportunities

Background

The increasing costs associated with billing distribution and payment, along with a rapid change in technologies to manage theses processes provide an opportune time for council to review the options available to it. The recent increases in postal rates imposed by Australia Post are a prime example of the changes occurring in our country.

Council has a large volume of posted mail as well as account distribution. Regular accounts such as rates, animal registration, premises licensing renewals are among those transactions conducted by council. Technology is currently available to streamline the operation of these services and in doing so provide a cost saving to council and provide an improved service.

Within the City of Greater Geelong, 74% of dwellings (ABS Census 2011) have some form of internet connection. The service provided will improve as the NBN is introduced across our region and the number of connections is expected to rise. This represents a significant opportunity for council to develop its services to make use of the technology to reach residents who are “on-line”.

At a time when officers have been considering the method of managing these services, it is appropriate that a report be presented to council to provide recommendations to move to technology based business solutions. In assessing the options, value for money, quality of service and ease of use should be considered as key elements.

Cr Macdonald moved, Cr Ellis seconded -

That officers conduct a review of bill distribution and payment methods and provide a report to Council within three months that:

assesses opportunities to introduce electronic distribution and payment of accounts, and
provide recommendations, including an implementation plan.

Carried.

Notice of Motion - Cr Richards

Council to Re-establish Asbestos Working Group

The City of Greater has previously run an Asbestos Working Group involving several stakeholders such as the EPA, WorkSafe, Geelong Trades Hall, the Regional Waste Management Group and others. This group met for approximately eighteen months from 2010 to 2012 to work through several issues relating to the management and removal of asbestos from the community. The main issue it dealt with was the lack of co-ordination between regulators to deal with asbestos in the domestic housing area.

In 2010, a wide ranging review was established by the Commonwealth Government to make recommendations for the development of a national strategic plan to improve asbestos management in Australia. The review encompassed asbestos management issues beyond work health and safety to include environmental and public health issues. The review also looked at issues including education and public awareness, removal, transport and disposal of asbestos. The Asbestos Management Review Report released in August 2012 recommended the development of a national strategic plan to improve asbestos awareness and management in the broader community.

Council made a submission to the review, including advocating for Geelong to be a site for any trial works the Commonwealth Government may wish to carry out.

The Victorian State Government has announced a review of the Environmental Protection Agency, and within that review, the regulation of how asbestos is managed in the Victorian community.

Cr Richards moved, Cr Irvine seconded -

That Council:

reconvenes the Asbestos Working Group, as a Committee of Council;
establishes Terms of Reference for the Committee;
receives a report from the Committee setting out the current regulatory and management framework for dealing with asbestos in the City of Greater Geelong, and any problems or issues associated.