MINUTES OF THE Governance Committee Meeting

HELD ON 15 April 2025

PRESENT:

Mayor Ned Mannoun

Deputy Mayor Peter Harle

Councillor Mira Ibrahim

Councillor Dr Betty Green

Councillor Fiona Macnaught

Councillor Peter Ristevski

Jason Breton, Acting Chief Executive Officer

Mr Farooq Portelli, Director Corporate Support

Ms Tina Bono, Director Community & Lifestyle

Ms Michelle Mcilvenny, Director Customer Experience & Business Performance

Mr Shayne Mallard, Director City Futures

Mr Dan Riley, Acting Director Planning and Compliance

Mr David Galpin, General Counsel, Manager Governance, Legal and Procurement

Mr Vishwa Nadan, Chief Financial Officer

Mr Terry Bilal, Manager City Works Civil Operations

Mr Mark Hannan, Manager City Planning

Ms Julie Scott, Manager City Economy

Ms Jacqueline Newsome, Coordinator Community Development

Ms Gaya Arasaratnam, Coordinator Business Development

Mr David Grasso, Rates Coordinator

Mr Siva Karthigesh, Coordinator Contributions Planning

Ms Melissa Mallo, City Strategy and Performance Coordinator

Ms M’Leigh Brunetta, Manager Civic and Executive Services 

Ms Justine Young, Acting Manager Civic and Executive Services

Ms Katrina Harvey, Councillor Executive and Support Officer

Ms Gabriella Rojas, Acting Councillor and Executive Support Officer (minutes)

The meeting commenced at 10.06am.

APOLOGIES

Councillor Richard Ammoun

Councillor Matthew Harte

Councillor Sam Karnib

Councillor Emmanuel Adjei

Councillor Ethan Monaghan

Ms Lina Kakish, Director Planning & Compliance

Mr Peter Scicluna, Acting Director Operations

Declarations of Interest

Nil.

Infrastructure and Planning Committee

ITEM NO:       ITEM 01

FILE NO:        095510.2025

SUBJECT:     Contributions Planning Framework Reform Project – Quarterly Status Report

RECOMMENDATION

That the Governance Committee receives and notes this Report.

COMMITTEE DECISION

Motion:                   Moved: Mayor Mannoun                          Seconded: Clr Dr Green

The Governance Committee recommended further investigation and discussion to:

1. Confirm that the approach undertaken to update the Established Areas Contributions Plan in 2019 was consistent with industry best practice, and report back to the Governance Committee, and;

2. Request that a report or memo be provided to the Governance Committee on a quarterly basis to confirm ongoing review and progress on the matters identified.

On being put to the meeting the motion was declared CARRIED.

Budget Committee

ITEM NO:       ITEM 02

FILE NO:        124182.2025

SUBJECT:     Finance Report - March 2025

RECOMMENDATION

That the Governance Committee receives and notes the report.

COMMITTEE DECISION

Motion:                   Moved: Deputy Mayor Harle                  Seconded: Clr Macnaught

That the Governance Committee receives and notes the report.

On being put to the meeting the motion was declared CARRIED.

Clr Macnaught left the meeting at 10:30am.
Clr Macnaught returned to the meeting at 10:33am.

Strategic Priorities Committee

ITEM NO:       ITEM 03

FILE NO:        090119.2025

SUBJECT:     Community Strategic Plan - Liverpool2050 Review - Mayor and Councillor Workshop Findings

RECOMMENDATION

That the Governance Committee recommends Council:

1.       Receives and notes the workshop findings as presented; and

2. Incorporates key insights from the workshops into the development of the new Community Strategic Plan, Delivery Program and Operational Plan.

COMMITTEE DECISION

Motion:                   Moved: Mayor Mannoun                  Seconded: Clr Dr Green

That the Governance Committee:

1. Receives and notes the workshop findings as presented;

2. Incorporates key insights from the workshops into the development of the new Community Strategic Plan, Delivery Program and Operational Plan;

3. Agrees that Council place greater emphasis on metro, transportation and housing affordability as part of the governing principles document; and

4. Recommends that Council establish a transport committee mechanism to liaise with Transport for NSW and other transport stakeholders to address the disconnectivity and support the development of comprehensive transport for the city.

On being put to the meeting the motion was declared CARRIED.

Councillor Ristevski left the meeting at 10:49am.

Councillor Ristevski returned to the meeting at 10:51am.

Mayor Mannoun left the meeting at 10:58am.

Mayor Mannoun returned to the meeting at 11:27am

ITEM NO:       ITEM 04

FILE NO:        094763.2025

SUBJECT:     Policy Review - Civic Awards Policy

RECOMMENDATION

That Council:

1.       Notes, the Draft Civic Awards Policy and Draft Civic Advisory Charter detailed in attachment one (1) and supports its commencement of public exhibition for at least 28 days;

2.       Notes, there is an opportunity for Councillors to provide further feedback on the draft policies throughout the public exhibition period; and

3.       Reports back to Council for policy final consideration and endorsement.

COMMITTEE DECISION

Motion:                 Moved: Clr Macnaught                       Seconded: Clr Dr Green

That the Governance Committee:

1. Notes, the Draft Civic Awards Policy detailed in attachment one (1) and supports its commencement of public exhibition with the following additions:

(a) Retention of the ‘Australia Day Awards’ to maintain connection; and

(b) Explanation of further information around the Australia Day celebrations.

2. Notes, there is an opportunity for Councillors to provide further feedback on the draft policies throughout the public exhibition period; and

3. Director to circulate a memo to Councillors ahead of next week’s Council meeting outlining the amendments. Manager to update the policy and recirculate for feedback with clearer reassurance in the marketing strategy to reflect the awards connection to Australia Day.

4.      Reports back to Council for policy final consideration and endorsement.

On being put to the meeting the motion was declared CARRIED

ITEM NO:       ITEM 05

FILE NO:        100866.2025

SUBJECT:     Policy Review - Rating Revenue Policy

RECOMMENDATION

That the Governance Committee recommends Council:

1. Endorse the administrative changes and the minor amendment to Clause 3.3, Debt Recovery, 3.3.1 from $800 to $1000;

2. Endorse the Rating Revenue Policy be placed on public exhibition for not less than 28 days; and

3.       Require a further report to Council in relation to any representations received during public exhibition of the draft Rating Revenue Policy.

COMMITTEE DECISION

Motion:               Moved: Mayor Mannoun                      Seconded: Clr Macnaught

That the Governance Committee:

1. Endorse the administrative changes and the minor amendment to Clause 3.3, Debt Recovery, 3.3.1 from $800 to $1000;

2. Endorse the Rating Revenue Policy be placed on public exhibition for not less than 28 days;

3.       Require a further report to Council in relation to any representations received during public exhibition of the draft Rating Revenue Policy; and

4.     Request a report detailing the approach to reducing the outstanding rates and charges ratio to 5-6%, including timelines for achieving this target and benchmarking data comparing Liverpool City Council to surrounding councils. The report should be submitted to the Governance Committee for further review before the public exhibition to ensure informed decision-making.

On being put to the meeting the motion was declared CARRIED.

Councillor Ristevski requested that the minutes reflect his disagreement with Point 1 of the recommendation - Endorse the administrative changes and the minor amendment to Clause 3.3, Debt Recovery, 3.3.1 from $800 to $1000.

Councillor Macnaught left the meeting at 11:47am.

Councillor Macnaught returned to the meeting at 11:51am.

Mayor Mannoun left the meeting at 11:55am.

ITEM NO:       ITEM 06

FILE NO:        100913.2025

SUBJECT:     Intermodal Precinct Committee - Charter Review and Strategic Direction

RECOMMENDATION

That the Governance Committee recommends Council:

1. Notes that Council has resolved to retain the Intermodal Precinct Committee.

2. Endorses a formal review of the Intermodal Precinct Committee Charter, incorporating relevant elements of the 2017 Charter (Attachment 1) and community input.

3. Notes that the Committee currently has no appointed Chair and recommends that the nomination and appointment process be established as part of the Charter review.

 4.   That Council ensures cross-functional representation on the Intermodal Precinct Committee, including key internal stakeholders from the Planning, Compliance, Traffic and Environmental teams. The inclusion will ensure the Committee’s ability to address interrelated and complex impacts of the Intermodal, particularly concerning planning controls, regulatory compliance, traffic management, and environmental health.

COMMITTEE DECISION

Motion:               Moved: Deputy Mayor Harle                Seconded: Clr Dr Green

That the Governance Committee:

1. Notes that Council has resolved to retain the Intermodal Precinct Committee.

2. Endorses a formal review of the Intermodal Precinct Committee Charter, incorporating relevant elements of the 2017 Charter (Attachment 1) and community input.

3. Notes that the Committee currently has no appointed Chair and recommends that the nomination and appointment process be established as part of the Charter review.

4.    Requests that Council convene a workshop prior to October 2025 with internal and external stakeholders, including Council Governance and Legal representatives, to formulate a fit-for-purpose and inclusive charter. The workshop is to consider legal frameworks and best-practice models to ensure any proposed structure is practical, achievable, and aligned with Council’s strategic objectives.

On being put to the meeting the motion was declared CARRIED.

Councillors voted unanimously for this motion.

ITEM NO:       ITEM 07

FILE NO:        108683.2025

SUBJECT:     Dissolution of the Liverpool Access Committee and Charter

RECOMMENDATION

That Council:

1.       Dissolve the Liverpool Access Committee and its Charter.

COMMITTEE DECISION

Motion:                   Moved: Clr Dr Green                   Seconded: Clr Macnaught

That the Governance Committee recommends Council:

1. Dissolve the Liverpool Access Committee and its Charter; and

2. Redirect resources to support a broader, more diverse approach to overall engagement through more inclusive mechanisms.

On being put to the meeting the motion was declared CARRIED.

Clr Ibrahim left the meeting at 11:21am.

Clr Ibrahim returned at 11:33am.

THE MEETING CLOSED AT 12:15PM.