Original motion moved by Councillor Ellsmore,
seconded by Councillor Scott.
It is resolved that:
(A)
Council note that:
(i)
the City of Sydney is currently undertaking a
consultation with the community about the activities and services in the City
of Sydney’s community centres and libraries, with comments due by 15 December
2022;
(ii)
Council included in the 2022/23 budget that venue
hire be waived, and public liability insurance coverage be provided for free,
for local community groups;
(iii)
the
Council decision provided free use of community halls, meeting rooms and other
community spaces for not for profit groups, where a group resides in or
provides services largely to communities in the City of Sydney. That is:
incorporated associations and unincorporated associations whose membership base
and purpose is within the City of Sydney Local Government Area. Government
agencies, political parties, and groups who do not reflect the Inclusion and
Equity principles in the City of Sydney’s Community Strategic Plan and other
City of Sydney plans such as our Reconciliation Action Plan and Inclusion
(Disability) Plan are not included;
(iv)
this measure was one a number of measures which
have been implemented by Council to support the community to recover
post-Covid. Other initiatives which had been implemented included parking fee
suspension, commercial and community rent waivers and fee waivers for outdoor
dining permits;
(v)
fee and other Council income waivers in 2022/23
amount to more than $6 million. The fee waiver for free community uses for one
year is estimated to cost Council $170,000;
(vi)
to date, Council staff and Councillors have
received strong positive feedback about the free hire for local community
groups; and
(vii)
Council is also implementing a number of other
measures to increase access to its community spaces, including through streamlined
booking processes and increased staffing;
(B)
Council further note that:
(i)
at the 21 November 2022 Council meeting, Council
received a report back on the public exhibition of the Outdoor Dining Policy
and guidelines; and
(ii)
Council resolved to include in the draft budget an
extension of the outdoor dining program for an additional two years, until 30
June 2025, at a cost of approximately $4 million in revenue foregone; and
(C)
the
Chief Executive Officer be requested to include in the next draft budget to be
submitted to Council for endorsement to go on public exhibition an extension of
the fee waiver for the use of community centres and community spaces by
eligible community groups, incorporated and non-incorporated associations and
not for profit groups.
The amended motion was carried unanimously.
X086659