Reports tabled at the Special Meeting of Council on Wednesday date held virtually by Zoom and broadcast on the City's website commencing at 7:33pm..
Source: |
Governance, Strategy & Performance - Strategy and Performance – Governance |
Director: |
Rebecca Leonard |
Portfolio: |
Leadership and Governance |
To elect a Mayor of the Greater Geelong City Council.
Section 25(1) of the Local Government Act 2020 (the Act) provides that at a Council meeting open to the public, Councillors must elect a Councillor to be Mayor of the Council.
Section 26(1) of the Act provides that a Mayor is to be elected no later than one month after the date of a general election.
The election of the Mayor must be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Act and the Governance Rules. As such, the election of the Mayor will be chaired by the Chief Executive Officer.
Subject to the provisions of the Act, the Mayor must be elected by an absolute majority of the Councillors.
Section 26(2) of the Act provides that the Mayor of the Greater Geelong City Council must be elected for a 2 year term.
Councillor Grzybek moved, Councillor Sullivan seconded -
That pursuant to the provisions of section 25 of the Local Government Act 2020 that nominations for Mayor for a 2 year term be received.
Carried.
The Chief Executive Officer invited nominations for the Office of Mayor.
Councillor Grzybek moved, Councillor Sullivan seconded –
That Councillor Asher be nominated to be Mayor of the City of Greater Geelong for a two year term.
Carried.
There being no further nominations, Councillor Stephanie Asher was declared elected as Mayor of the City of Greater Geelong.
Councillor Asher assumed the Chair.
The newly elected Mayor, Councillor Asher, briefly addressed the meeting.
Funds are allocated annually for the office of Mayor.
The Act provides that the Councillors must elect a Councillor to be Mayor of the Council, therefore community engagement is not appropriate.
Section 25(2) of the Act provides that subject to section 167, Determinations by a Councillor Conduct Panel, any Councillor is eligible for election to the office of Mayor.
Section 18 of the Act defines the role of the Mayor:
The role of the Mayor is to—
chair Council meetings; and
be the principal spokesperson for the Council; and
lead engagement with the municipal community on the development of the Council Plan; and
report to the municipal community, at least once each year, on the implementation of the Council Plan; and
promote behaviour among Councillors that meets the standards of conduct set out in the Councillor Code of Conduct; and
assist Councillors to understand their role; and
take a leadership role in ensuring the regular review of the performance of the Chief Executive Officer; and
provide advice to the Chief Executive Officer when the Chief Executive Officer is setting the agenda for Council meetings; and
perform civic and ceremonial duties on behalf of the Council.
The Mayor is not eligible to be elected to the office of Deputy Mayor.
Section 19 of the Act defines the specific powers of the Mayor:
The Mayor has the following specific powers—
to appoint a Councillor to be the chair of a delegated committee;
to direct a Councillor, subject to any procedures or limitations specified in the Governance Rules, to leave a Council meeting if the behaviour of the Councillor is preventing the Council from conducting its business;
to require the Chief Executive Officer to report to the Council on the implementation of a Council decision.
An appointment under subsection (1)(a) prevails over any appointment of a chair of a delegated committee by the Council.
The election of Mayor is to be conducted in accordance with section 25 of the Act and the Governance Rules.
The election of Mayor relates to Strategic Priority 11 of the Council Plan 2018-2022: Organisational Leadership, Strategy and Governance.
No Council Officer declared a conflict of interest under the Act in the preparation of this report.
In accordance with section 25(5) of the Act, if an absolute majority of the Councillors cannot be obtained at the meeting to elect a Mayor, the Council may resolve to conduct a new election at a later specified time and date.
There are no environmental implications associated with this report.
Source: |
Governance, Strategy & Performance - Strategy and Performance – Governance |
Director: |
Rebecca Leonard |
Portfolio: |
Leadership and Governance |
To consider the establishment of an office of Deputy Mayor and if established, elect a Deputy Mayor.
Greater Geelong City Council has historically elected a Deputy Mayor. The introduction of the Local Government Act 2020 (the Act), specifically section 20A, requires Council to consider whether or not to establish an office of Deputy Mayor.
Section 20A(1) of the Act provides for the establishment of an office of Deputy Mayor.
If Council chooses not to establish an office of Deputy Mayor, section 20B applies which provides for a Council to appoint a Councillor to be the Acting Mayor to fulfil the duties of the Mayor if the Mayor is unavailable.
If Council chooses to establish an office of Deputy Mayor, the Deputy Mayor must perform the role of the Mayor if the Mayor is unable or incapable of performing their role or if the office of the Mayor is vacant.
Councillor Aitken moved, Councillor Mason seconded -
That Council:
pursuant to the provisions of section 20A of the Local Government Act 2020, establishes an office of Deputy Mayor of the Greater Geelong City Council; and
if it votes to establish the office of Deputy Mayor, pursuant to the provisions of section 25 of the Local Government Act 2020, receive nominations for Deputy Mayor for a 2 year term.
Carried.
The Mayor invited nominations for the Office of Deputy Mayor.
Councillor Kontelj moved, Councillor Nelson seconded –
That Councillor Trent Sullivan be nominated to be Deputy Mayor of the City of Greater Geelong for a two year period.
Carried.
There being no further nominations, Councillor Sullivan was declared elected as Deputy Mayor of the City of Greater Geelong.
The newly elected Deputy Mayor, Councillor Sullivan, briefly addressed the meeting.
Funds are allocated annually for the Office of Deputy Mayor.
The Act provides that the Councillors must determine whether or not to establish the office of Deputy Mayor and if the office is established, elect a Councillor to be the Deputy Mayor of the Council.
There are no direct social equity considerations associated with this report.
The establishment of the office of Deputy Mayor is provided for in section 20A of the Act.
The role of the Deputy Mayor is set out in section 21 of the Act.
The establishment of the office of Deputy Mayor relates to Strategic Priority 11 of the Council Plan 2018-2022: Organisational Leadership, Strategy and Governance.
No Council Officer declared a conflict of interest under the Act in the preparation of this report.
There are no significant risks associated with the recommendation of this report.
There are no direct environmental implications associated with this report.
As there was no further business the meeting closed at 7:42pm Thursday 12 November 2020.
Signed: _________________________________________
Councillor Stephanie Asher (Mayor)
Date of Confirmation: _____________________________
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