Motion to examine possibility of hosting meetings at Albany rural halls to be considered by councillors

Albany councillors will consider this week whether to explore the hosting of council meetings at some of the City’s rural community halls each year. Cr Chris Thomson will table the motion, which asks the council to support instructing the chief executive to prepare a report on the matter to be presented to the council by July 31. The report will examine options to host meetings at “one or more of the municipality’s rural community halls” annually. In his reason outlined in the motion, Cr Thomson said while a majority of the City’s residents lived in its “urban core” there was also “a strong farming community and vibrant rural settlements”. He said willingness to host “one or two” meetings at community halls “would send a powerful message that the City cares about country communities”. “In late 2022, Albany city council unanimously agreed to abolish wards within the municipality,” he said. “Informal consultation with rural residents since then by some elected members affirms there are concerns about how rural voices may be better heard in a post-ward environment. “Consultation has also affirmed that rural residents would welcome the opportunity to host and attend council meetings at their local community hall.” The City has annually distributed funding to support the upkeep of 14 rural halls through its Rural Community Hall Grants program since 2020. In the 2022-23 budget, it set aside $196,608 for rural hall upgrades. Cr Thomson said he has seen the resulting renovations at a number of halls and believes they are “excellent community venues . . . more than likely capable of hosting a council meeting”. In a comment attached to the motion, City chief executive Andrew Sharpe said the report would discuss the finer details of staging a meeting at a community hall, including the meeting set-up, catering, transport, advertising the change of venue, and the recently legislated requirement for live streaming. “The Local Government Amendment Bill 2023 passed through Parliament on 12 May 2023,” he said. “Key changes to legislation will be implemented for the October 2023 Ordinary Election for local governments, including mandating live streaming and recording of council meetings.” The motion will be voted on at the City’s ordinary council meeting on Tuesday May 23.