Decision details

Memorandum by the Chief Executive Officer

To Council:

This memorandum seeks Council’s consideration of the nomination of Councillors as voting delegates to the Local Government New South Wales (LGNSW) Annual Conference, to be held from Sunday 23 October to Tuesday 25 October 2022 at the Crowne Plaza, Hunter Valley.

Consideration is also sought on appointing all Councillors as voting delegates for the 2022 election to fill the casual vacancy on the Local Government NSW Board.

The conference is the main policy-making event for the local government sector. Delegates will vote on motions which determine the policies and priorities for LGNSW and the sector.

The draft conference program is not yet available. Information will be updated and will be available in the coming months at: https://www.lgnsw.org.au/Public/Public/Events/Annual-Conferences/2022/2022-annual-confernce-tabs.aspx.

Councillors will receive email notifications directly from Local Government NSW, but should direct questions or requests to Secretariat, who will coordinate all arrangements with Local Government NSW on behalf of Councillors, including conference registrations, voting registrations and accommodation bookings.

Registration to Attend the Conference

Conference attendees are invited to register from Monday 4 July 2022 to take advantage of early bird rates. Early bird rates are available until Wednesday 17 August 2022. Standard registrations open Thursday 18 August 2022 and close 5pm Monday 10 October 2022.

Voting delegates must be registered to attend the conference, and also be registered as a voting delegate on motions. Conference registrations will be managed by Secretariat.

Registration as a Voting Delegate

The City of Sydney is entitled to register up to 10 voting delegates for motions. It is proposed that Council nominates the Lord Mayor and all Councillors as voting delegates

The deadline to provide LGNSW with the names of voting delegates is Monday 10 October 2022. Additional nominations received after the closing date cannot be accepted. However, the names of voting delegates may be substituted at any time, in line with Rule 34 of the LGNSW Rules.

Voting delegates may not appoint a proxy to attend or vote at formal business sessions on their behalf. Registrations for voting on motions will be managed by Secretariat.

Conference Program/Motions

The conference will include discussion and debate on a range of motions from councils relating to current and emerging policy issues facing local government in NSW.

All members can put forward motions to be considered at the conference, which should be strategic, affect members state-wide, and introduce new or emerging policy issues and actions.

Members submitting motions are encouraged to be familiar with the LGNSW Policy Platform, at: https://www.lgnsw.org.au/policy/policy-platform. The purpose of this Policy Platform is to consolidate the numerous policies and positions of LGNSW – as determined by members – into a single document for ease of reference for members and stakeholders.

Members are asked to submit motions by Monday 29 August 2022 for inclusion in the conference business paper. The latest date for submission of motions is Sunday 25 September 2022.

The full conference business paper is expected to be available one week prior to the conference.

Councillors' Expenses and Facilities Policy

Councillors Chan, Davis, Gannon, Ellsmore, Jarrett, Scott and Weldon were the City of Sydney delegates at the 2022 LGNSW Special Conference held in Sydney in February/March 2022. Expenditure incurred for the special conference totalled $10,807.71.

The Councillors' Expenses and Facilities Policy 2017 provides for Councillors to attend the LGNSW Annual Conference at the City’s expense. Funds are available in the draft 2022/23 operating budget to cover registration fees, travel and other reasonable expenses incurred by Councillors.

Travel

The conference venue, Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley, is a two-hour drive from Sydney via the M1. Alternative methods of travel will be detailed on the Local Government NSW website in the coming months. 

Accommodation has been pre-booked for Councillors for the nights of 23 and 24 October at Harrigan's at the Hunter Valley, which is a six-minute drive to the Crowne Plaza. Details of delegate transfers from the local hotels to the conference venue will become available on the Local Government NSW website.

LGNSW Board Election – Casual Vacancy

LGNSW has a casual vacancy on the Board for the Office of Director (Metropolitan/Urban Council) which is required to be filled by secret postal ballot. Arrangements have been made with the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) to conduct the election.

Only Councillors from Metropolitan/Urban members are eligible to nominate as a candidate and to vote in the election. Members are required to advise LGNSW of the names and postal addresses of their nominated voting delegates for the election by 7 July 2022.

Registrations for voting in the election will be managed by Secretariat.

MONICA BARONE

Chief Executive Officer

Moved by the Chair (the Lord Mayor), seconded by Councillor Scott –

It is resolved that:

(A)      Council appoint the Lord Mayor and all Councillors as its voting delegates at the Local Government NSW (LGNSW) Annual Conference to be held in the Hunter Valley from 23 to 25 October 2022;

(B)      Council note all registration fees, travel and other reasonable expenses associated with the attendance of Councillors at the LGNSW Annual Conference will be met by the City in accordance with the Councillors' Expenses and Facilities Policy 2017;

(C)      Council note that a spouse, partner or other person may accompany a Councillor at the conference, and the City will meet any associated ticket costs; and

(D)      Council appoint the Lord Mayor and all Councillors as its voting delegates for the 2022 election to fill the casual vacancy on the Local Government NSW Board, to be conducted via postal vote by the Australian Electoral Commission.

Carried unanimously.

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