Decision details

Moved by Councillor Jarrett, seconded by Councillor Gannon –

It is resolved that:

(A)      Council note:

(i)         representatives of the 4Cs (Coalition Caring 4 Community Centres) developed a strategy called Strengthening Connections in the City of Sydney and sent it to Council in June 2022;

(ii)        in August 2022 and in March 2023, representatives of the 4Cs wrote to the Lord Mayor and the Chief Executive Officer requesting the establishment of a working group to review the needs of community centres and develop responses to those needs;

(iii)      the current City of Sydney budget included a sizeable increase in funding specifically for community centre staffing and programming;

(iv)      a portion of this funding has been allocated to the new online booking system for community centres that is not expected to be available for another two years;

(v)       residents have raised concerns that funding is not being allocated towards solving the short-term issues of isolation and accessibility currently being experienced by communities; and

(vi)      local community representatives have highlighted that community centres within the City remain under-utilised and poorly maintained, with staffing issues being left unaddressed and are concerned with little evidence of action by the City to address the underlying problems of social isolation and loneliness; and

(B)      the Chief Executive Officer be requested to:

(i)         hold an immediate meeting with relevant senior staff at the City to determine how additional funds can be allocated to community centres in the 2023-24 budget;

(ii)        form a working group consisting of Council staff, Councillors, and community representatives to review the priorities and develop an action plan to address the community needs regarding community centre funding; and

(iii)      report back to Council on how the additional funds are to be allocated towards community centres in the upcoming budget and on the creation of a working group.

The motion was lost on the following show of hands –

Ayes (5)     Councillors Ellsmore, Gannon, Jarrett, Scott and Weldon

Noes (5)     The Chair (the Lord Mayor), Councillors Chan, Davis, Kok and Scully.

Motion lost.

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