Council Meeting 25 June 2009 Part 2

In a bizarre move at the Council meeting, Cr Boyd and other conservatives have made a Council grant to three environmental organisations conditional on being consistent with Council economic and tourism strategy but refused to include Council's environmental management plan.

MOTION: (Councillors B Cook/G Boyd)Grants and subsidies (page 10)

Hunter Valley Research Foundation – option 3

Hunter Region Botanic Gardens – new words – (option 3) Funding up to $10,000 to be provided subject to provision of a project application supported by a business plan relating to Council’s economic and tourism strategy’. Any future requests for funding to be made to Council’s Community Grants Program”.

Kooragang Wetlands – new words – (option 3) Funding of up to $80,000 to be provided subject to Kooragang Wetlands preparing a project based Memorandum of Understanding for up to 3 years consistent with Council’s economic and tourism strategy”. Any future requests for funding to be made to Council’s Community Grants Program”.

Hunter Wetlands – new words – (option 3) Funding of up to $10,000 to be provided subject to provision of a project application supported by a business plan relating to Council’s economic and tourism strategy. Any future requests for funding to be made to Council’s Community Grants Program”.

Councillor Osborne asked the mover and seconder if they would include Council's Environmental Management Plan in the conditional funding given the three organisations were environmentally based.

Councillor Cook indicated that he would accept Councillor Osborne's proposal.

Councillor Boyd indicated that he would not accept Councillor Osborne's proposal and outlined the reasons for his rejection.

AMENDMENT: (COUNCILLORS M OSBORNE/N NELMES)
Grants and subsidies (page 10)

Hunter Valley Research Foundation – option 3

Hunter Region Botanic Gardens – new words – (option 3) Funding up to $10,000 to be provided subject to provision of a project application supported by a business plan relating to Council’s Environmental Management Plan and economic and tourism strategy’. Any future requests for funding to be made to Council’s Community Grants Program”.

Kooragang Wetlands – new words – (option 3) Funding of up to $80,000 to be provided subject to Kooragang Wetlands preparing a project based Memorandum of Understanding for up to 3 years consistent with Council's Environmental Management Plan and economic and tourism strategy”. Any future requests for funding to be made to Council’s Community Grants Program”.

Hunter Wetlands – new words – (option 3) Funding of up to $10,000 to be provided subject to provision of a project application supported by a business plan relating to Council's Environmental Management Plan and economic and tourism strategy. Any future requests for funding to be made to Council’s Community Grants Program”.

The amendment was put to the meeting and Councillor Osborne called for a division which results as follows:

For the amendment: Councillors S Connell, S Claydon, Crakanthorp, M Jackson, N Nelmes and M Osborne.
Against the amendment: The Lord Mayor, Councillors G Boyd, A Buman, B Cook, M King, B Luke and S Sharpe.

The amendment was declared defeated on the division of six votes to seven votes.

The motion was then put to the meeting and declared carried.