Central Sydney Planning Committee - Election of Councillors

18/09/2023 - Central Sydney Planning Committee - Election of Councillors

Memorandum by the Chief Executive Officer

To Council:

The Central Sydney Planning Committee (CSPC) is constituted by the City of Sydney Act 1988 (the Act).

Section 34(1) of the Act provides that the Committee shall consist of seven members:

(a)        the Lord Mayor of Sydney;

(b)        two councillors of the City of Sydney elected by the City Council; and

(c)        four persons (two of whom are senior State government employees and two of whom are senior State government employees and two of whom are not State or local government employees) appointed by the Minister administering Part 4 of the Planning Act, each having expertise in at least one of architecture, building, civic design, construction, engineering, transport, tourism, the arts, planning or heritage.

The persons currently appointed by the Minister pursuant to clause (c) as members and alternate members are Abbie Galvin, David Gainsford, Dick Persson AM, Richard Horne, Olivia Hyde, Julian Frecklington and Bruce James.

Previously, the Council has chosen to hold a separate election for each of the two Council-elected members; the elections were by open, exhaustive voting (that is, by a show of hands or similar means for candidates duly nominated).

At the Council meeting of 19 September 2022, Council elected then Councillor Jess Scully and Councillor HY William Chan to the two positions on the Central Sydney Planning Committee, for a term commencing immediately and ending on 30 September 2023.

The Act provides that Council may appoint an alternate for each of the elected members. At the Council meeting of 19 September 2022, Council appointed Councillor Robert Kok as alternate to then Councillor Scully and Councillor (Waskam) Emelda Davis as alternate to Councillor Chan until 30 September 2023.

As elections are scheduled to be held in September 2024, it is recommended that Councillors be elected to the Central Sydney Planning Committee for the new term of office commencing immediately and ending on the day appointed for the next ordinary election of Council.

Recommendation

It is resolved that:

(A)       Council elect two Councillors to be members of the Central Sydney Planning Committee effective immediately and ending on the day appointed for the next ordinary election of Council;

(B)       the method of voting be open, exhaustive voting;

(C)       the Chief Executive Officer conduct the election forthwith; and

(D)       Council appoint alternates for each member elected.

MONICA BARONE

Chief Executive Officer

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

It is resolved that:

(A)       Council elect two Councillors to be members of the Central Sydney Planning Committee effective immediately and ending on the day appointed for the next ordinary election of Council;

(B)       the method of voting be open, exhaustive voting;

(C)       the Chief Executive Officer conduct the election forthwith; and

(D)       Council appoint alternates for each member elected.

Carried unanimously.

S062388

At this stage of the meeting, the Chief Executive Officer, as Returning Officer, called upon the Manager OCEO to assist with the conduct of the ballot.

The Manager OCEO invited nominations from Councillors for the first position on the Central Sydney Planning Committee.

One nomination for the first position on the Central Sydney Planning Committee was received, as follows –

Councillor HY William Chan (nominated by the Chair (the Lord Mayor), seconded by Councillor Kok), noting the alternate member is to be Councillor Sylvie Ellsmore.

Councillor Chan indicated acceptance of his nomination.

The Manager OCEO then declared Councillor HY William Chan duly elected to the first position on the Central Sydney Planning Committee effective immediately and ending on the day appointed for the next ordinary election of Council.

The Manager OCEO invited nominations from Councillors for the second position on the Central Sydney Planning Committee.

One nomination for the second position on the Central Sydney Planning Committee was received, as follows –

Councillor Adam Worling (nominated by Councillor Chan, seconded by Councillor Davis), noting the alternate member is to be Councillor Robert Kok.

Councillor Worling indicated acceptance of his nomination.

The Manager OCEO then declared Councillor Adam Worling duly elected to the second position on the Central Sydney Planning Committee effective immediately and ending on the day appointed for the next ordinary election of Council.