Sunday, November 29, 2020

1890s Maps of Annandale

See maps under Leichhardt and Camperdown at https://search.sl.nsw.gov.au/permalink/f/lg5tom/SLNSW_ALMA2193462470002626

The part of Camperdown on the northern side of Parramatta Road became Annandale in 1995...A brief History, Camperdown on the Web http://ramin.com.au/camperdown/history.shtml

1895 - part of Camperdown - collections of the State Library of New South Wales
Title: City of Sydney section [...] ...Call number: M Ser 4 811.17/1 IE number: IE4377951 File number: FL4377973 http://digital.sl.nsw.gov.au/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?embedded=true&toolbar=false&dps_pid=IE4377951

 The borough of Annandale seceded from Leichhardt Council in 1893 - https://ramin.com.au/annandale/annandale-borough.shtml

 Annandale-1893



 1893 Map of Annandale - from the Collections of the State Library of NSW - Call number:
M Ser 4 811.17/1 IE number:IE4377951 File number: FL4377973 http://digital.sl.nsw.gov.au/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?embedded=true&toolbar=false&dps_pid=IE4377951



Wednesday, November 25, 2020

Cost of Amalgamation of Leichhardt, Ashfield and Marrickville Councils

Last night, in the light of the Officer's comments (below) regarding the ongoing process of Amalgamation, I withdrew my motion for a report on the cost. 

Council Meeting

24 November 2020

Item No:         C1120(2) Item 9
Subject:         Notice of Motion: Cost of Amalgamation
From:             Councillor Marghanita Da Cruz
Motion:
THAT Council receive a report on the cost of the amalgamation.
 
Officer’s Comments:
 
Comment from Chief Operating Officer, Director Development and Recreation
 
Council does not have compiled costs or savings as a result of the amalgamation. Given the considerable period of time which has lapsed since the amalgamation, this is an extensive project in its own right which is expected to take several (up to 6) months to complete.  It should be recognised that in the early part of 2021, Council’s Finance team will heavily focused on Rates Harmonisation and FY21/22 budget development from which staff resources are unable to be diverted. 
 

Thursday, November 12, 2020

Inner West Council Administrator, General Managers and Councillors


May 2016
: Inner West Council was proclaimed on 12th day of May 2016 amalgamating Leichhardt, Marrickville and Ashfield Councils. Richard Pearson was appointed as the Administrator during initial period. Vanessa Chan (former GM Ashfield Council) was appointed Interim general manager and Peter Head (former GM Leichhardt Council) and Brian Barrett (former GM Marrickville Council) deputy general managers of the new council. Proclamation at https://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/.../asmade/sl-2016-242

Nov 2016: "The commencement of Interim General Manager, Rik Hart, in early September has resulted in some changes to the direction and timing of key strategic areas, including organisational redesign, systems integration and services integration..." Agenda Implementation Advisory Group, 10 November 2016 http://innerwest.infocouncil.biz/.../IAG_10112016_AGN_AT.htm
 
December 2016:  Organisation re-design: Appointment of L3 Group Managers On 2 December 2016, Council’s Level 3 structure was implemented with the appointment of Group Managers. 15 roles were internal appointments, reflecting the depth of talent and expertise within Council. Implementation Advisory Group, 9 February 2017 http://innerwest.infocouncil.biz/Open/2017/02/IAG_09022017_AGN_AT.htm
 
September 2017: Oath or Affirmation of Office for Councillors,  Panel of Code of Conduct Reviewers - Extraordinary Council Meeting, 21 September 2017 Agenda http://innerwest.infocouncil.biz/Open/2017/09/C_21092017_AGN_AT.htm
 
Clrs DaCruz, Kiat, Hesse, Porteous, Steer, Mckenna, Raciti, Stamolis, Byrne, Lockie, Drury, York, Passas, Iskander, Macri took the Oath or Affirmation of Office. Clr Byrne elected Mayor and Clr Passas deputy Mayor. - Minutes of Meeting https://innerwest.infocouncil.biz/Open/2017/09/C_21092017_MIN_WEB.htm

 August 2018 Recruitment Process for a General Manager          Council at its meeting on 14 August 2018 deferred this item to the meeting to be held on 21 August 2018. Agenda Extraordinary Council Meeting http://innerwest.infocouncil.biz/Open/2018/08/C_21082018_AGN_EXTRA.htm

 

February 2019: Offer a contract of employment to Mr Michael Deegan for the position of CEO of the Inner West Council for a period of 3 years including a total annual remuneration package of between $420 000 and $450 000.
Minutes of Extraordinary Council Meeting held on 19 February 2019 http://innerwest.infocouncil.biz/Open/2019/02/C_19022019_MIN_3712_EXTRA.htm 

February 2019: Thank You to Outgoing INTERIM General Manager Rik Hart - Supplementary Agenda Council Meeting, 26 February 2019 http://innerwest.infocouncil.biz/Open/2019/02/C_26022019_AGN_3669_AT_SUP.htm

25 March 2020: Local Government Elections Postponed from September 2020 to September 2021 due to COVID-19 https://www.olg.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/ministerial-releases/local-government-elections/

29 September 2020: Elizabeth Richardson appointed Acting General Manager "To facilitate the timely and effective negotiations referred to in 1 above, the Mayor shall advise the General Manager that pursuant to sub-clause 9.8 of the contract of employment, the General Manager shall be on paid special leave for the duration of the negotiations. While on paid special leave the General Manager shall: a. assign all the delegations of the position of General Manager to the person appointed to Act in the role of Inner West Council General Manager; b. not enter any areas within council buildings that are closed to the general public, except with prior approval of the Mayor or the Acting General
Manager; c. co-operate with Inner West Council, including but not limited to providing relevant information and responding to inquiries from the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Acting General Manager and/or other senior officers of Council;
d. only access Council’s internal computer system (e.g. intranet and email) for
the purposes of co-operating with the Council or as otherwise directed or
approved by the Mayor or the Acting General Manager; and
e. shall maintain the confidentiality of the negotiations...4. A request be made to the Chief Operating officer to act in the position of General
Manager
during the period that the General Manager is on special leave."...  Minutes Extraordinary Council Meeting 29 September 2020 https://innerwest.infocouncil.biz/Open/2020/09/C_29092020_MIN_3823_EXTRA.PDF

October 2020: " Mr Michael Deegan, General Manager of the Inner West Council, has informed the Council of his resignation from his employment, and the Council has accepted that resignation. The resignation will be effective from close of business on Tuesday 20 October 2020." - Statement on General Manager's resignation

 27 October 2020: Appointment of Brian Barrett as Acting General Manager of Inner West Council effective from the date on which a contract of employment has been signed by Brian Barrett and the Mayor; Terminates the appointment of Elizabeth Richardson as Acting Chief Executive Officer from the date of the appointment of Brian Barrett as Acting General Manager; Minutes Council Meeting 27 October http://innerwest.infocouncil.biz/Open/2020/10/C_27102020_MIN_3758.htm

10 November 2020: Establishment of Selection Panel forPermanent General Manager Recruitment, Council Meeting, 10 November 2020 Supplementary Agenda https://innerwest.infocouncil.biz/Open/2020/11/C_10112020_AGN_3759_AT_SUP_WEB.htm 

Appointment of the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Clrs Hesse and Raciti to Selection sub-committee  Minutes: yet to be published

12 November 2020: Inner West Council employs over 1,250 staff, organised into various sections with different responsibilities.  Senior staff: Brian Barrett – Acting General Manager; Elizabeth Richardson - Chief Operating Officer, Director Development and Recreation; Michael Daly/Caroline Mcleod (acting) - Director City Living; Cathy Edwards-Davis - Director Infrastructure; Marcia Doheny - General Counsel https://www.innerwest.nsw.gov.au/about/the-council/general-manager-and-senior-staff viewed 12 November 2020

Tuesday, November 10, 2020

Inner West Bushland

Shinrin-yoku (Forest Bathing)

Rose St remnant bushland - photo marghanita

Park BJ, Tsunetsugu Y, Kasetani T, Kagawa T, Miyazaki Y. The physiological effects of Shinrin-yoku (taking in the forest atmosphere or forest bathing): evidence from field experiments in 24 forests across Japan. Environ Health Prev Med. 2010 Jan;15(1):18-26. doi: 10.1007/s12199-009-0086-9. PMID: 19568835; PMCID: PMC2793346.
 

Bushcare groups in the Inner West https://www.innerwest.nsw.gov.au/live/environment-and-sustainability/in-your-neighbourhood/bushland-parks-and-verges/bushcare-programs

 Pyrmont-Ultimo Landcare https://pyrmontultimolandcare.org.au/


Sunday, November 1, 2020

Financial Statements Amalgamation Costs

Financial Statements 2019/20

badge icon
The state government sets benchmarks for councils - from the financial report. Note rates are not the only source of revenue for councils

 

Leichhardt Council Submission on Amalgamation

"the Panel must recognise that this last minute change to the FFF submission process has given no time whatsoever for Councils to

prepare detailed JO business cases.
Therefore it is submitted that any JO proposals should be treated on their merits when first assessing scale and capacity, notwithstanding the absence of a detailed business plan at this stage." - https://www.ipart.nsw.gov.au/files/sharedassets/website/trimholdingbay/online_submission_-_leichhardt_council_-_p._head_-_22_may_2015_143330786.pdf
 

Size of the LGA

the IPART review was based on 2011 populations (census)
Ashfield 8sqkm pop 43,550
Leichhardt 10sqkm pop: 55,650
marrickville: 16sqkm pop: 81,100
Total Population (2011 figures): 180,300
Inner West Council Population is now closer to 200,000 across 5 wards
 
2016 Census Data: Population 182,043 (51.3% Female; 48.7% Male - https://quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2016/quickstat/LGA14170

Marrickville and Ashfield Rate Variations 15-16

"INNER WEST LOCAL COUNCIL SPECIAL RATE VARIATIONS APPROVED
The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) has approved applications from Ashfield and Marrickville councils to increase general income by more than the rate peg amount of 2.4% from 1 July 2015.
Ashfield Council applied for 4 consecutive increases of 7.5% in 2015-16, 8.2% in 2016-17, 8.9% in 2017-18 and 9.3% in 2018-19, all including the annual rate peg, to be retained permanently in its rates base.
Marrickville Council applied for a permanent increase of 5.4% from 1 July 2015, including the rate peg.
In approving the councils’ applications, IPART has imposed conditions requiring that the additional income be used for the purposes outlined in the applications, and that the councils report to their communities in their annual reports each year until 2024-25 on the
outcomes achieved." - Media Release,
19 May 2015, https://www.ipart.nsw.gov.au/Home/Industries/Local-Government/Reviews/Special-Variations-Minimum-Rates/Special-Variations-Minimum-Rates-2015-16

SMH: 'Rates will have to rise': Council mergers in crisis as losses mount, SMH,October 31, 2020 — 12.01am

 "Bayside spent nearly $7 million of a government grant on astroturf in two neighbourhood parks, and Inner West Council[Administrator], [budgetted] $10 million on an IT project [out of $15million amalgamation funding] without going to tender. SMH,October 31, 2020  https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/rates-will-have-to-rise-council-mergers-in-crisis-as-losses-mount-20201027-p56926.html?

2003 change in boundary where the Annandale Foreshore along with Glebe were moved to the City of Sydney

"Schedule A – Land Transferred from the Area of Leichhardt to the City of Sydney
Area about 2.22 square kilometres. Commencing at the intersection of the north-western prolongation of Wattle Street and the Mean Low Water Mark of the generally southern shore of Port Jackson at Blackwattle Bay: and bounded thence by that shore generally westerly to the generally western boundary of Bicentennial Park; by that boundary southerly to Chapman Road; by that road westerly and The Crescent generally southerly to Johnstons Creek Stormwater Channel; by that stormwater channel upwards to Wigram Road; by that road south-westerly and Booth St south-easterly to Johnstons Creek Stormwater Channel, aforesaid; by that stormwater channel downwards and Orphan School Creek Stormwater Channel upwards to Foss Street; by that street north-easterly, Cross Street south-easterly and Bridge Road south-westerly to.." source: 2174, SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT, Government Gazette 19 February 2003 https://resources.reglii.com/NSWGG.2003.2.19.G47.pdf

NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into Ability of local governments to fund infrastructure and services

Councils receive grants from Federal and State Governments as well as Charging Fees (e.g. for School Swimming Carnivals and Domestic Wast...