At Tuesday's Council meeting, discussions included the Cook Park Aviary, start times of Council meetings, the Disability Inclusion Action Plan, and Audit and Risk review.
The CEO wasn't able to make the meeting after ongoing flight delays, so Director Jen Sharp stepped in to act as CEO for this Council Meeting.
Here are some key decisions:
Cook Park Aviary
Council will seek a review and community consultation on the Cook Park Aviary so that a clear, informed decision can be made about the future of the aviary. The plan will include an independent check on the aviary, looking at animal welfare, the condition of the structure and what it takes to run and maintain it. The community will then be asked for feedback on the plan and a follow-up report will come back to Council with the findings, community feedback and recommendations for a final decision.
Council meeting times
Councillors have voted in favour of the new meeting time of 6pm after the 3‑month trial. Council meetings will continue to start at 6:00pm and aim to finish by 9:30pm going forward.
Councillors report back from the ALGWA Conference
Councillors received a wrap-up from the recent ALGWA (Australian Local Government Women's Association), highlighting key takeaways and ideas relevant to Council. The conference focused on leadership, community connection and building better facilities and services. Councillors shared insights that can help shape how we support our community and plan for the future.
Disability Inclusion Action Plan - on exhibition
The new Disability Inclusion Action Plan will go on public exhibition for at least 28 days so people can have their say.
The draft plan sets out how Council will improve access, inclusion and opportunities for people with disability. It's been developed with input from the community and focuses on making our services, facilities and public spaces more accessible.
Audit & Risk review
Councillors have backed an independent review of the Audit, Risk & Improvement Committee (ARIC) as part of the requirements of the new Office of Local Government Guidelines on Risk Management & Internal Audit. An external expert will be brought in to assess how the committee is performing. The review will look at things like governance, risk management and how well the committee supports Council decisions. This helps make sure Council is operating transparently and staying on top of risks.
