Council Decided

Mayor Carolyn Corrigan informed the meeting that Council’s innovative MyMosman resident app had been formally recognised during Local Government Week 2018, winning its category in the prestigious RH Dougherty Awards for Excellence in Communication. MyMosman was developed completely in-house, and the Mayor congratulated staff involved in bringing the project to fruition.

Mayor Carolyn Corrigan reported on the annual inspection of the Scotland-Australia Cairn undertaken earlier in the day. These annual inspections have taken place since the dedication of the Cairn on St Andrew’s Day 1988, with today’s inspection also marking the Cairn’s 30th Anniversary.

The period for public comment on the draft MOSPLAN closed on 13 May and was again considered by Council, along with comments received. Council resolved to adopt all MOSPLAN documents, incorporating changes made following public consultation.

Council was presented with a third quarter progress report on the delivery of programs and projects under its revised 2013-2018 MOSPLAN Delivery Program, with the significant majority of actions completed or progressing according to plan.

Council resolved to place its latest MOSPLAN, including the draft 2018-2028 Community Strategic Plan, 2018-2028 Long Term Financial Plan, 2018-2021 Workforce Plan, 2018-2021 Delivery Program and 2018-2019 Operational Plan, Budget and Fees and Charges on public exhibition.

In presenting her Mayoral Minute on the 2018 Young Citizen of the Year, Councillor Corrigan also announced that she will be holding monthly informal gatherings to learn first-hand about youth priorities and concerns.

Council returned for its first meeting of 2018.

This was Council’s last Ordinary Meeting for 2017. Council’s next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 6 February 2018.

Council again considered proposed works including a synthetic surface, amenities building and playground at Middle Head Oval and resolved to cease further work on the relevant Development Application pending a report to Council at its December 2017 meeting.

After discussing the best way forward for Mosman in relation to its membership of a regional organisation of councils, it was resolved by Council that Mosman formally withdraw from membership of the Shore Regional Organisation of Councils (SHOROC) and join the Northern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (NSROC).

Mayor Carolyn Corrigan paid tribute to Dr Peter Abelson, who served a total of 13 years as Mosman’s Mayor, most recently as Mosman’s first popularly elected Mayor from 2012 to 2017.

The Council Meeting held on Friday 22 September 2017 (formally adjourned from Tuesday 19 September) was the first meeting of the 2017-2020 term of Mosman Council, at which all Councillors were present.

Presiding over his final Council meeting, Mayor Peter Abelson recorded his thanks to fellow Councillors, staff and community members for their exceptional contribution to Mosman over the past five years.

Council had previously resolved to conduct a Poll of Electors on the issue of Council mergers at the local government elections on 9 September. Following consideration of a Mayoral Minute on this issue, Council has decided to slightly amend the proposed poll question.

Council again considered the issue of its ongoing membership of Local Government NSW. It was subsequently resolved by Council that it support payment of a further 6 months membership of Local Government NSW, and to continue monitoring the works of the organisation.

Council considered polling places proposed by the NSW Electoral Commission for the next Mosman Council election scheduled for Saturday 9 September 2017.

The latest draft revisions to Council’s Delivery Program, together with a draft 2017-2018 Operational Plan, Budget and Pricing Policy – Schedule of Fees and Charges were considered by Council and endorsed in principle for exhibition.

In response to a Mayoral Minute delivered by Mayor Peter Abelson, Council resolved that, in the event of a council election taking place on or around 9 September 2017, a full citizen poll be conducted on the proposed merger of Mosman, North Sydney and Willoughby at that election and the NSW Government be asked to respect the results.

Mayor Peter Abelson reported on the recent Australia Day celebrations at Drill Hall Common, which were attended by around 200 people and during which 57 Mosman residents received their Australian citizenship.

Council met to consider Council’s proposed submission in response to the Amended Delegate’s Report September 2016 on the Proposal to Merge Mosman with North Sydney and Willoughby Councils.

The independent Chair of Council’s Audit Committee, Mr Brian Halstead, was in attendance to present his annual report detailing the work of the Committee over the past year.

Council resolved to maintain its practice of meeting on the first Tuesday of the month during 2017. The exceptions to this rule are November, when Council has traditionally met on the second rather than the first Tuesday of the month, and September, when the Council meeting will be moved to the third Tuesday to take account of local government elections scheduled for that month.

Council’s Audited Financial Reports and Auditors Reports for 2015/16 were presented to Council following a period of public exhibition. Council’s 2015/16 Financial Statements show an Operating Surplus (before capital grants and contributions) at 30 June 2016 of $1.038 million.

Council met to consider the implications of the judgment handed down by Justice Tim Moore in the case of Mosman Municipal Council v Minister for Local Government [2016] NSWLEC 124 on 20 September 2016. It was agreed at the meeting that Council maintain its long standing opposition to forced amalgamation and continue to work with its legal team to maintain Mosman’s independence.

Councillor Roy Bendall was elected as Mosman Council’s Deputy Mayor for the 12-month term to September 2017. Councillor Bendall also served as Mosman’s Deputy Mayor from 2012-2015, with Councillor Carolyn Corrigan serving as Deputy Mayor in 2015-16.

Mosman Mayor Peter Abelson presented his annual report for 2015/16, providing an overview of Council challenges and achievements during the past year. A full copy of the Mayoral Annual report is available here.

The Rotary Club of Mosman is embarking on an exciting new initiative to develop a special ‘Mosman’ souvenir edition of the popular Monopoly board game. This is the latest in a series of excellent community projects by the Club.

Council resolved to make a further budget allocation of $75,000 to fund legal costs associated with action being taken against the NSW Government’s merger proposal process. Legal proceedings are currently underway in the NSW Land and Environment Court.

Earlier this year tenders were called by Council for the lease and management of historic Boronia, a grand mansion built in 1885 at 624 Military Road Mosman.

Following discussion on the current local government reform process, it was resolved that Council commence legal proceedings in relation to the NSW Government’s Merger Proposals for Mosman, Manly and (part) Warringah (First Proposal) and Mosman, North Sydney and Willoughby (Second Proposal).

The latest revisions to Council’s 2013-2017 Delivery Program, together with a draft 2016-2017 Operational Plan, Budget and Pricing Policy – Schedule of Fees and Charges were considered by Council and endorsed in principle for exhibition. The documents approved for exhibition include new loan borrowings of $2 million to further augment programmed footpath works in Mosman.

Council recently advertised for new members on the Mosman Youth Forum. At the meeting it was resolved that local resident Lachlan Dent be appointed as the Forum’s newest member.

In response to a Mayoral Minute presented by Mayor Peter Abelson, Council resolved to endorse its existing policy against forced amalgamations and to oppose the NSW Government’s proposed merger of Mosman with North Sydney and Willoughby.

In response to a Mayoral Minute presented by Mayor Peter Abelson, Council resolved to authorise the Mayor and the General Manager to finalise Mosman Council’s submission on the Merger Proposal for Mosman, Manly and (part) Warringah.

Following presentation of a Mayoral Minute relating to the NSW Government’s current merger proposal of Mosman, Manly, and part of the Warringah local government areas, Council resolved to formally reject the proposal which has never previously been the subject of consultation with the Mosman community.

An Extraordinary Council Meeting was held to consider an information campaign relating to the NSW Government’s Merger Proposal for Mosman, Manly and part of Warringah.

Mayor Abelson delivered a Mayoral Minute addressing the NSW Government’s merger proposal that Mosman Council be amalgamated with Manly and the southern half of Warringah with a total initial population of approximately 153,000.

Mayor Peter Ableson presented a Mayoral Minute on the current state of the Government’s local government reform program.

Mayor Peter Abelson paid tribute to Mrs Patricia Joy Harvey OAM, who passed away on Tuesday 29 September at the age of 86.

Council debated improvements to Christmas lighting and decorations in Mosman and agreed to proceed with further enhancements to the civic precinct including decorated Christmas garland and Christmas trees on the first floor terrace of the Civic Centre.

Mayor Peter Abelson presented his Annual Mayoral Report detailing key achievements for 2014-15 and Councillor Carolyn Corrigan was elected as Deputy Mayor for 2015-16.

Council resolved to reiterate its commitment to independence following the Mayor’s presentation of a Mayoral Minute on the issue – a stance which is strongly supported by residents.

Council has resolved to maintain the current classifications of Council’s operational classified land portfolio and rescind and remove a range of superseded policies from Council’s Policy Register and Website.

The Mayor presented three Mayoral Minutes on Mosman’s Friendship City agreements, Mosman Art Gallery’s win at the prestigious MAGNA awards and the appointment of new wardens for the Cairn.

Council considered a detailed report on Fit for the Future, including an analysis of the community consultation that had been undertaken between February and April this year.

The Mayor presented a Mayoral Minute outlining some of the topline results from Council’s recent consultation on four independence and amalgamation options.

The Mayor presented a minute commemorating the life and contribution of Mosman’s longest serving Mayor, the Hon Barry Stanley John O’Keefe AM QC, who passed away on 24 April 2014.

Mayor Abelson delivered a Mayoral Minute on Independence, Amalgamation and the approach to the NSW Government’s Fit for the Future initiative.

Mayor Abelson delivered a Mayoral Minute outlining Mosman’s Australia Day celebrations, where citizenship was conferred on 45 new Australians and Mosman’s 2015 Citizen of the Year was announced.

Mayor Peter Abelson delivered a Mayoral Minute advising of the State Government’s Fit for the Future reforms and outlining action taken by Council to date in addressing these reforms.

The recommendation on the proposed Special Rate Variation for 2015-16 is now on public exhibition for a period of six weeks until 18 January 2015.

Council adopted the Mosman Access Strategy which sets the framework for providing improved accessibility to, within and around public infrastructure in Mosman in the years ahead.