AGENDA AND BUSINESS PAPER
Extraordinary Meeting of Council
To be held on
Wednesday
22 April 2020
AT 5:00pm
The Council meeting will
be held remotely using
video-conferencing and livestreamed on
Council’s website
Phone: 1300 292 442
Fax: 02 6926 9199
Website: www.wagga.nsw.gov.au
NOTICE OF MEETING
In pursuance of the provisions of the Local Government Act, 1993 and the Regulations there under, notice is hereby given that an Extraordinary Meeting of the Council of the City of Wagga Wagga will be held remotely using video-conferencing and livestreamed on Council’s website, on Wednesday 22 April 2020 at 5:00pm.
Council live streams video and audio of Council meetings. Members of the public who provide a public address (via remote access) are advised that their voice and/or image may form part of the webcast.
Mr Peter Thompson
General Manager
WAGGA WAGGA CITY COUNCILLORS
Mayor Councillor Greg Conkey OAM |
Deputy Mayor Councillor Dallas Tout |
Councillor Yvonne Braid |
Councillor Paul Funnell |
Councillor Dan Hayes |
Councillor Vanessa Keenan |
Councillor Rod Kendall |
Councillor Tim Koschel |
Councillor Kerry Pascoe |
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QUORUM
The quorum for a meeting of the Council is a majority of the Councillors of the Council who hold office for the time being who are eligible to vote at the meeting.
COUNCIL MEETING ROOM
Reports submitted to the Extraordinary Meeting of Council to be held on Wednesday 22 April 2020.
Extraordinary Meeting of Council AGENDA AND BUSINESS PAPER
Wednesday 22 April 2020
CLAUSE PRECIS PAGE
PRAYER 2
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY 2
APOLOGIES 2
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST 2
Notices of Motions of Rescission
NOR-1 NOTICE OF RESCISSION - SISTER CITY RELATIONSHIPS 3
Councillor Report
CR-1 COUNCILLOR REPORT - APOLOGY TO OUR SISTER CITY AND FRIENDS IN CHINA 6
QUESTIONS/BUSINESS WITH NOTICE 9
PRAYER
Report submitted to the Extraordinary Meeting of Council on Wednesday 22 April 2020 |
NOR-1 |
Notice of Motions of Rescission
NOR-1 NOTICE OF RESCISSION - SISTER CITY RELATIONSHIPS
Councillor: The Mayor , Councillor Greg Conkey OAM
Councillor Dan Hayes
Councillor Rod Kendall
Summary: |
The purpose of this notice of rescission is to rescind a resolution of Council from the 14 April 2020 Ordinary meeting to repeal and sever, any and all Sister City agreements associated with China. |
That Council rescinds Resolution No. 20/125 from the 14 April 2020 Ordinary Council Meeting, which reads as follows: That Council: a repeal and sever, any and all Sister City agreements, Friendship programmes and arrangements, and Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) associated with the People’s Republic of China b notify our Sister City Committee of this decision of Council |
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Report
A rescission motion signed by the Mayor, Councillor Greg Conkey OAM, Councillor Dan Hayes and Councillor Rod Kendall has been received by Council to rescind the abovementioned resolution.
A copy of the rescission motion is attached.
Financial Implications
N/A
Policy and Legislation
Wagga Wagga City Council Code of Meeting Practice
Link to Strategic Plan
Community Leadership and Collaboration
Objective: We have strong leadership
Outcome: We have leaders that represent us
Risk Management Issues for Council
N/A
Internal / External Consultation
N/A
1⇩. |
Notice of Rescission - Sister City Relationships |
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Report submitted to the Extraordinary Meeting of Council on Wednesday 22 April 2020 |
CR-1 |
CR-1 COUNCILLOR REPORT - APOLOGY TO OUR SISTER CITY AND FRIENDS IN CHINA
Author: The Mayor, Councillor Greg Conkey OAM
That Council: a authorise the Mayor to write a letter of apology and recommitment to our sister city and friends in China b apologise to the community for the harm and reputational damage the previous resolution has caused |
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Report
Earlier this year, our Council celebrated that it had been making decisions for 150 years.
Over that time, there have been 268 elected members who have sat in the Chamber and did what they thought was right for the city and the region. There have been 44 Mayors during that time.
I doubt any Mayor has needed to write a report such as the report I bring to you now.
On Tuesday night, with the support of just three Councillors, a resolution was passed by Wagga Wagga City to:
a repeal and sever, any and all Sister City agreements, Friendship programmes and arrangements, and Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) associated with the People’s Republic of China
b notify our Sister City Committee of this decision of Council
This act has been overwhelmingly condemned by our own Councillors, our own
community and by people across the country.
The procedures were immediately put in place to correct this wrong. I am confident that the Extraordinary Meeting which will consider this report, will also rescind the resolution passed by three Councillors on Tuesday 14 April 2020.
Sadly, when poor decisions are made there is often harm that can’t be undone. This may well be one of those times. We must never-the-less endeavour as best we can to right these wrongs.
The purpose of this report is to seek the endorsement of Council to write a letter to Mr Wang Xiliang, Mayor of Kunming on behalf of the city. This letter will confirm the commitment of our city to the relationships we have with our friends in China. In the letter I will express our regret for any concern the resolution on Tuesday night might have caused. I will circulate a draft letter prior to the meeting.
Over 30 years ago, the elected members of Council sought to form a Sister City relationship with our friends in China.
Over the next three decades, elected members and Mayors of this Council have built trust, good will and respect with our friends in China.
There is much to share from these relationships. We are the food bowl of our Country and a leading agricultural producer. China imports these commodities. We also consume the products and technology that China excels in delivering. These circumstances alone support the hand of friendship which was extended by elected members of our city so many years ago.
But our relationship with our friends in China is so much more than exports and about markets and the economy.
It is about sharing our respective cultures. Recognising and applauding the differences between us. Our relationship is about sitting at the same table and building respect, trust and admiration in our mutual engagements.
This environment was created by all these elected Mayors and elected members who have served on the Council and I applaud their astute leadership and the sincerity in which they have built a foundation for this relationship with many cultures in our own city.
It is in this context that I formally acknowledge the overwhelming regret expressed by an outstanding majority of our community at the resolution passed last Tuesday night. That three elected members could shake the very foundation of goodwill which the reputation of this city is built upon is a lesson for us all about the significant decisions we make and the impact they have on the people we represent, the broader community and, most importantly, our friends.
It is appropriate that we extend our hand to our friends in China and assure them that it is a hand which will always be extended to them with sincerity, humility and trust.
A very few people made the decision on Tuesday which I am sure will be overturned. The overwhelming message from our community which has been clearly and loudly articulated is that we are an inclusive community offering safety and friendship to all people. I have no doubt a large number of our community have grieved with the appreciation of the harm caused by the decision of last Tuesday.
I am confident that tonight’s meeting will correct the embarrassing decision of last Tuesday.
As a Council and as a community, lets show the world that we haven’t changed – we are the same community with a proud history of leading regional initiatives.
A letter to our friends in China is a start towards reclaiming the reputation and confidence in the compassion and inclusiveness of our city.
Financial Implications
N/A
Policy and Legislation
N/A
Link to Strategic Plan
Community Leadership and Collaboration
Objective: We have strong leadership
Outcome: We have leaders that represent us
Risk Management Issues for Council
N/A
Internal / External Consultation
N/A
Reports submitted to the Extraordinary Meeting of Council to be held on Wednesday 22 April 2020.