Decision details

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

It is resolved that:

(A)      Council approve the continuation of fee waivers and note the potential revenue foregone for the lockdown period, at an estimated value of $7.8 million per month;

(B)      Council approve funding donations of:

(i)         $300,000 to OzHarvest Limited;

(ii)        $300,000 to Foodbank NSW & ACT Limited; and

(iii)      $100,000 to SecondBite

to provide food relief to vulnerable communities;

(C)      the Chief Executive Officer be requested to explore further options for providing food relief to vulnerable communities;

(D)      Council approve funding of up to $50,000 to supply and distribute masks to vulnerable  communities and to increase communication to connect people with mental health and  social connection support services;

(E)      Council approve an additional $250,000 in new Community Emergency Quick Response Grants for not for profit entities to deliver community services addressing urgent needs as they arise;

(F)      authority be delegated to the Chief Executive Officer to finalise grant criteria, advertise  for applications as appropriate and approve the Community Emergency Quick Response Grants due to the emergency need, and to report back on grants awarded by way of CEO Update;

(G)      Council approve the transfer of $1.0 million from General Contingency funds to fund the initial phase of the recovery package, and note the balance of funding will be determined as the City gains a better understanding of the financial and operational impacts of the current lockdown, to refine and bring back its financial recovery plan to Council;

(H)      the Chief Executive Officer be requested to develop an appropriate grant program for delivery of an additional $4 million to support business and creatives in the recovery of the city economy (including funding for resources to do so), with the proposed program to be reported back to Council;

CBD Revitalisation Fund

(I)        Council approve a variation to the CBD Revitalisation Fund contract with NSW Treasury to extend the term of the program by 11 months until 30 September 2022;

(J)       authority be delegated to the Chief Executive Officer to negotiate, execute and administer the variation to the CBD Revitalisation Fund agreement;

(K)      authority be delegated to the Chief Executive Officer to make any further variations to  the CBD Revitalisation Fund contract to enable the implementation of activities as outlined in this report, with such changes to be reported by way of a CEO Update;

Outdoor Dining

(L)       Council adopt the temporary changes to City of Sydney Outdoor Dining Guidelines, June 2021, as shown at Attachment A to the subject report, noting the temporary changes will apply until 30 June 2022 across the whole of the local government area and public consultation has not been possible given the circumstances;

(M)     authority be delegated to the Chief Executive Officer to make any further temporary  changes to the Outdoor Dining Guidelines for the duration of the program to enable  the implementation of activities as outlined in this report, with such changes to be reported by way of the CEO Update; and

(N)      authority continue to be delegated to the Chief Executive Officer to, by notice on the City's website, approve the use of roads, footways and public open spaces for outdoor dining, extension of foyer space and performance space under Part 12 of the Liquor Act 2007 in accordance with the requirements of that Act, with such delegation to apply until 30 June 2022;

Advocacy

(O)      Council call upon the Federal Government to:

(i)         reinstate JobKeeper for those businesses affected by lockdowns directed at controlling the spread of Covid-19;

(ii)        extend existing Covid disaster payments to persons in receipt of Commonwealth benefits; and

(iii)      reinstate the Coronavirus supplement for persons receiving Commonwealth benefits in areas affected by lockdowns.

(P)      the Lord Mayor be requested to write to the Prime Minister and the Treasurer advising that Council calls upon the Federal Government to take the actions outlined in (O) above.

The motion, as varied by consent, was carried unanimously.

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