NOTICE OF Extraordinary Council  MEETING

PUBLIC AGENDA

An Extraordinary Council Meeting of City of Parramatta Council will be held in the COUNCIL CHAMBER AT 5 PARRAMATTA SQUARE, PARRAMATTA on Monday, 22 May 2023 at 5:30PM.

Gail Connolly

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

STATEMENT OF ETHICAL OBLIGATIONS:

In accordance with clause 3.23 of the Model Code of Meeting Practice, Council is obligated to remind Councillors of the oath or affirmation of office made under section 233A of the Local Government Act 1993, and of their obligations under Council’s Code of Conduct to disclose and appropriately manage conflicts of interest – the ethical obligations of which are outlined below:

Obligations
Oath [Affirmation] of Office by Councillors	I swear [solemnly and sincerely declare and affirm] that I will undertake the duties of the office of Councillor in the best interests of the people of the City of Parramatta Council and the City of Parramatta Council that I will faithfully and impartially carry out the functions, powers, authorities and discretions vested in me under the Local Government Act 1993 or any other Act to the best of my ability and judgement.
Code of Conduct Conflict of Interests
Pecuniary Interests	A Councillor who has a pecuniary interest in any matter with which the Council is concerned, and who is present at a meeting of the Council at which the matter is being considered, must disclose the nature of the interest to the meeting. The Councillor must not be present at, or in sight of, the meeting: a) At any time during which the matter is being considered or discussed, or b) At any time during which the Council is voting on any question in relation to the matter.
Non-Pecuniary Conflict of Interests	A Councillor who has a non-pecuniary conflict of interest in a matter, must disclose the relevant private interest in relation to the matter fully and on each occasion on which the non-pecuniary conflict of interest arises in relation to the matter.
Significant Non-Pecuniary Conflict of Interests	A Councillor who has a significant non-pecuniary conflict of interest in relation to a matter under consideration at a Council meeting, must manage the conflict of interest as if they had a pecuniary interest in the matter.
Non-Significant Non-Pecuniary Interests	A Councillor who determines that they have a non-pecuniary conflict of interest in a matter that is not significant and does not require further action, when disclosing the interest must also explain why conflict of interest is not significant and does not require further action in the circumstances.

Extraordinary Council                                                                                     22 May 2023

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ITEM                                                         SUBJECT                                               PAGE NO

1       OPENING MEETING

2       ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF TRADITIONAL OWNERS OF LAND

3       WEBCASTING ANNOUNCEMENT

4       GENERAL RECORDING OF MEETING ANOUNCEMENT

5       APOLOGIES AND APPLICATIONS FOR LEAVE OF ABSENCE OR ATTENDANCE BY AUDIO-VISUAL LINK BY COUNCILLORS

6       DISCLOSURES OF INTEREST

7 Reports to Council - For Council Decision

7.1             Election of the Lord Mayor....................................................................... 8

8       CONCLUSION OF MEETING

After the conclusion of the Council Meeting, and if time permits, Councillors will be provided an opportunity to ask questions of staff.

Reports to Council - For Council Decision

22 May 2023

7.1              Election of the Lord Mayor................................................................................ 8

Extraordinary Council 22 May 2023                                                                                     Item 7.1

REPORTS TO COUNCIL - FOR COUNCIL DECISION

ITEM NUMBER         7.1

SUBJECT                  Election of the Lord Mayor

REFERENCE            F2022/03176 - D08976562

REPORT OF Executive Director Finance & Information

CSP THEME: FAIR

workshop/briefing date: Nil

PURPOSE:

To determine the voting method for the election of the Lord Mayor in accordance with Schedule 7 of the Local Government (General) Regulation 2021.

RECOMMENDATION

(a)     That Council determine the method of voting for the election of the Lord Mayor.

(b)     That the Chief Executive Officer, as Returning Officer, undertake the election of the Lord Mayor for the period 22 May 2023 to 25 September 2023 inclusive, by announcing the nominations and then conducting the election.

(c)     Further that, correspondence be forwarded to the Office of Local Government and the Chief Executive of LGNSW advising of the result of the election of the Lord Mayor.

BACKGROUND

1.      The Local Government Act 1993 (the Act) and the Local Government (General) Regulation 2021 (the Regulation) determine the requirements and procedures for the election of the Lord Mayor by Councillors.

2.      A Lord Mayor elected by the Councillors holds the office of Lord Mayor for two years, subject to the Act. The period of office commences on the day the Councillor is declared to be elected as Lord Mayor until such time as the mayoral term concludes or a casual vacancy arises.

3.      At the 10 January 2022 Ordinary Meeting of Council, the then Chief Executive Officer declared Councillor Donna Davis duly elected Lord Mayor from January 2022 to September 2023.

4.      Following the Lord Mayor’s announcement on Monday, 8 May 2023 that she intends to resign as Lord Mayor effective from 5.30pm on 22 May 2023, Council is now required to elect a Lord Mayor from that date, up to and including 25 September 2023.

ISSUES/OPTIONS/CONSEQUENCES

5.      The Chief Executive Officer is nominated as Returning Officer for the election of the Lord Mayor.

6.      Traditionally, Council has conducted the election of the Lord Mayor by open means.  However, Council may determine an alternative method of voting as follows:

a.      Open voting (ie by show of hands);

b.      Ordinary ballot (ie a secret ballot (place an “x” against the candidate of their choice);

c.       Preferential ballot (ie place 1, 2, 3 etc against each candidate).

7.      The election of the Lord Mayor will be conducted in accordance with Schedule 7 of the Regulations.

8.      The Returning Officer will carry out the election in accordance with the method of voting determined by Council.

9.      The result of the election will be announced at the meeting by the Returning Officer and the Returning Officer will notify the Office of Local Government and the Chief Executive of LGNSW of the result of the election.

CONSULTATION & TIMING

Stakeholder Consultation

10.    Not required.

LEGAL IMPLICATIONS FOR COUNCIL

11.    There are no legal implications for Council associated with this report.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS FOR COUNCIL

12.    There are no unbudgeted financial implications associated with the election of the Lord Mayor, other than those allocated for the conduct of extraordinary Council meetings.  These costs are provided for within Council’s current adopted budget.

13.    The current remuneration payable to the Lord Mayor in the conduct of their duties is $114,770 (in accordance with the Local Government Remuneration Tribunal Annual Report and Determination dated 20 April 2022) for the 2022/23 financial year.

14.    The renumeration for the Lord Mayor and Councillors for the 2023/24 financial year will be brought to Council for determination in accordance with the Local Government Remuneration Tribunal Annual Report and Determination dated 27 April 2023.

15.    The Lord Mayor and Councillors’ remuneration is provided for within Council’s adopted 2022/23 budget.

John Angilley

Executive Director Finance & Information

Gail Connolly

Chief Executive Officer

Attachments:

1⇩	Office of Local Government Fact Sheet - Mayoral Elections	6 Pages
2⇩	Nomination Sheet - Lord Mayor	1 Page

REFERENCE MATERIAL

Item 7.1 - Attachment 1

Office of Local Government Fact Sheet - Mayoral Elections

Item 7.1 - Attachment 2

Nomination Sheet - Lord Mayor