Plate not filled up

PLATE up Ballarat, a month-long festival celebrating Ballarat’s diverse foods, beers and wines and whose inaugural event was held in May 2018 was on the agenda at the City of Ballarat council meeting on Wednesday, 30 January.

The group sought a strategic partnership with the municipality of $60,000 per year for three years.

With no questions raised by the councillors, Cr Mark Harris moved, and Cr Des Hudson seconded, a recommendation of one year of $35,000, with funding provided with the conditions relevant to councils Strategic Partnership Grant Program.

Cr Hudson requested information of Plate up Ballarat’s approved performance each year-on-year and a certain amount of the $35,000 be held until the acquittal provides this performance information.

Cr Belinda Coats requested the economic benefit to the local food and hospitality sector to be monitored.
The motion was carried unanimously.

Debate over ACTFA grant

Australian Controlled Traffic Farming Association Incorporated applied for a Business Event and Festivals Grant of $10,000 for assistance with its third international conference to be held at Federation University mid-February.

The funding is intended to cover the costs of bus hire for conference field tours and hiring and catering costs at the university’s Mount Helen campus.

Council’s development and planning division recommended approval of $3000.

Cr Grant Tillett moved an alternative recommendation of $10,000, seconded by mayor Cr Samantha McIntosh, saying, “This is a scientific organisation of global importance and I think $3000 was too little.”

The motion was defeated.

Cr Hudson put forward the motion to accept the council recommendation of $3000, seconded by Cr Harris.

Motion was carried.

Officers’ trips approved

Approval for overseas travel for two council officers was recommended by the development and planning department
All travel expenses for both officers’ trips, one to United Arab Emirates and one to New Zealand, are covered by the host organisations.

In line with the amendment to the Councillor Expense and Entitlements Policy implemented in December, which requires any councillor or officer seeking approval for any international travel is to be approved by Council, the travel plans were given the OK.

No rate cap variation

Council will not seek a variation to the municipal rate cap of 2.5 per cent for the 2019-2020 financial year.
Cr Hudson said, “It disappoints me that the state gov thinks they know what the council should to do, we run a significant organisation and we know we have to organise what the rate payer expects.”

The proposal that council advises the Essential Services Commission it does not intend to seek a variation to the rate cap was approved by all councillors.

Licenced area and hours extended

An application by the North Ballarat Sports Club to issue an amended planning permit for the land located at 725 Creswick Road, Wendouree was approved.

The variation included an extension to the licensed area and specification of operational hours in associated with the full club licence and an increase in patron numbers.

No objections were received from the public after the application was advertised.

In response to Cr Coates question if there are any proposed changes to the smoking deck, the business services director advised there was not.

The business services director also advised that the AFL requires the club to provide low alcohol beverages on match days.