CITY OF STIRLING

MINUTES

ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL
17 OCTOBER 2000

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ITEM SUBJECT/LOCATION/NAME PAGE

* - Indicates Separate Attachments submitted with Agenda.

MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CIVIC PLACE, STIRLING ON TUESDAY 17 OCTOBER 2000

Present:

Mayor

Councillor D C Vallelonga JP

 

Deputy

Councillor D Boothman

 

Councillors

J M Camilleri OAM JP, T W Clarey, J Copley JP, R J Daniel, B R Ham, G Italiano, E S Martin, P L Rose JP, A A Spagnolo JP, W M Stewart, T J Tyzack and R M Willox JP

 

Officers

Chief Executive Officer - M J Wadsworth, Deputy Chief Executive Officer - R A Constantine, Acting Executive Manager Works - S Morrison, Executive Manager Development - S Johnson, Acting Executive Manager Cultural and Social Services - T Holland, Acting Executive Manager Corporate Projects - B Henderson, Acting Manager Administrative Services - L Crouch, Communications Co-ordinator - P Flynn, Administration Officer - D Simmons and Administration Officer - S Billingham

 

Public

24

 

Press

2

DECLARATION OF OPENING OF MEETING

The Mayor declared the ordinary meeting of Council on 17 October 2000 open at 7.00pm.

ITEM: 1 PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

1.1 D. P. O'Brien, 6/223 North Beach Drive, Tuart Hill

Q1 Were the Councillors provided with the Bayswater, Belmont, Canning, Claremont and other "PROPORTIONAL TAXING" type modules before deciding on "THATCHERITE TYPE" "FLAT TAXING" when deciding on the $15.00?

Q2 Will the Council reconsider the resultant "OVER TAXING" of the residential Properties, which has occurred this year as against the "UNDER TAXING of the Asset Rich Corporations that can claim the TAX as an Income Tax Deduction?

A The Mayor indicated a written response to the questions would be supplied and the Deputy Chief Executive Officer responded verbally to Question 1.

Yes we did consider alternatives and this method was considered to be an equitable alternative given the level of the charge which is after all, only $15.00 per year.

And Question 2.

In relation to reconsideration, certainly that would be done as a matter of course with every Budget and with every change in legislation that would make possible some other method of charging.

1.2 P Perin, 5/23 Richardson Street, South Perth - (Item PL11).

Q1 How can the Council cease the use of the subject premises of a car yard when the non-conforming use of the yard was proved to be current and letters issued by the Council by a recent applicant granted approval for the yard to exist?

A1 The Executive Manager Development gave a verbal response to the question.

The City cannot end a non-conforming use unless it actually purchases the land, however the District Planning Scheme states if the use ceases, the non-conforming use right lapses.

I understand the use actually ceased as a car yard nine (9) to ten (10) months ago, so the non-conforming use right lapses. In addition to that in this case, not withstanding letters from the City, there is no evidence that a non-conforming use right ever existed on the land.

Notwithstanding all of that the recommendations to the Council, Mr Mayor, do say that if some evidence is produced of the non-conforming use right, Council will reconsider the matter.

1.3 R Sebrechts, 24 Exmouth Vista, Gwelup

Q1 At the Annual General Meeting I put forward a motion to discuss Councillor Eion Martin to remove him from the Town Planning and Statutory Services Committee, you stated it would be put to the next full Council meeting and it appears it was not. Why was the motion not discussed and why was the vote not taken?

A1 Response by Deputy Chief Executive Officer. The item was referred to the next Council meeting which referred the matter to the Policy, Corporate Planning, Budget and Finance Committee meeting on 24 October 2000.

Q2 Does the meeting of the full Council have the authority and power to remove Councillor Eion Martin from the Town Planning and Statutory Services Committee?

A2 Deputy Chief Executive Officer - Those details will be reported to the next Policy, Corporate Planning, Budget and Finance Committee meeting. There is not a straight forward as Yes/No Answer. Provisions of the Act do require where Councillors do nominate for a position on a Committee then Council must appoint the Councillor to at least one Committee. In the ultimate it is possible for a Council to remove Councillors but not the Mayor from a Committee. It is not a straight forward process.

Q3 Is Council, the Mayor or Chief Executive Officer aware that the Western Australian Legislation `Interpretation Act 1984' Section 52 states: The power to appoint includes the power to remove and suspend and other ancillary powers. It also mentions conflict of interest as one of these points.

A3 The Mayor received the documentation being tabled at the meeting. No verbal response was provided.

Q4 Mr Mayor are you aware that the owners of Lot 36 Gribble Road, Gwelup have cleared the block of vegetation and rubble and have dumped the material into the System Six wetland area set aside under the Town Planning Scheme for the area. This provision means that 20% of the land is to be turned over the public open space.

A4 The Mayor responded yes. The matter has been addressed.

Q5 Mr Mayor are you aware that around the 20 September 2000 myself contacted Councillor John Italiano about the problem and that he in turn contacted Daniel Rajah?

A5 The Mayor responded yes. The City of Stirling is aware.

Q6 Are you also aware Mr Mayor that Stuart Johnson and Daniel Rajah plus one other Council employee visited the site and a letter was sent to Moss Glades stating that they must clean up the site and stop dumping sand otherwise legal action would be taken?

A6 The Executive Manager Development responded:

I received a complaint but I did not personally inspect the block. The land was inspected by Mr Rajah, a Health Surveyor and the Planning Inspector. A report was prepared and a letter sent, it did not state legal action would be taken, it said if things did not stop, the matter would be referred to Council, the process is still continuing.

Q7 Are you also aware that between being sent the letter on or around the 25 September 2000 sand is continuing to be dumped even as late as a week ago?

A7 The Executive Manager Development responded yes. The City is aware.

Q8 Mr Mayor what steps will you take as a Council to make sure that the wetland is restored and that the dumping of sand is stopped?

A8 The Executive Manager Development responded that "Council has limited power to stop action, its remedy is by legal action through the courts. The courts are not able to stop people doing things but can only impose fines.

1.4 L Whyman, 47 Lawley Street, North Beach

Q1 Could the Council advise why Councillor Italiano having written the letter to instigate the recent local government inquiry, now wants it to stop?

Q2 Could the Council advise why Councillor Italiano having voted for the inquiry report to be challenged is now opposing that challenge?

Q3 Could the Council provide me with a copy of the records of all the discussions that Councillor Italiano has had with the building, planning or any other officers relating to Lot 36 Gribble Road Gwelup?

A The Chief Executive Officer stated a response would be provided in writing.

ITEM: 2 APOLOGIES AND LEAVE OF ABSENCE

Nil.

ITEM: 3 CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

3.1 ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL - 3 OCTOBER 2000

Moved Councillor Spagnolo, seconded Councillor Rose

That the Minutes of the Council meeting of 3 October 2000 be confirmed, and signed by the Mayor as a true and correct record of proceedings.

The motion was put and declared CARRIED.

ITEM: 4 BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES AND NOT APPEARING SEPARATELY IN THE AGENDA

Nil.

ITEM: 5 APPLICATION FOR LEAVE OF ABSENCE

Moved Councillor Camilleri, seconded Councillor Willox

1. That Councillor Copley be granted leave of absence for the period 31 October to 14 November.
2. That Councillor Rose be granted leave of absence for the next Council meeting on 31 October 2000.
3. That Councillor Daniel be granted leave of absence for the period 27 October to 8 November 2000 inclusive.

The motion was put and declared CARRIED.

ITEM: 6 MAYORAL BUSINESS

Nil.

ITEM: 7 BUSINESS LEFT OVER FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING

Nil.

ITEM: 8 QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE WITHOUT DISCUSSION