Tonight’s online Lismore City Council meeting heralds a new way for councillors to meet remotely – and for the public to watch.

In a new world of Covid-19 social distancing, everyone is adapting. 

Councillors have already been trialling the online meeting software (Zoom) in workshops, from the comfort of their own homes.

Cr Neil Marks said they getting familiar with new electronic ways to put their hands up, or to let the Mayor know when they wish to speak.

So, tonight, if you log onto the Council weblink to view the meeting, you’ll still get to see the faces of the councillors broadcast on the screen, and any slides or information they share with the group.

“The community will see what we see,” Cr Marks said. “We have 11 councillors and several staff who’ll be in the meeting.

“Any member of the public who has already booked in to ask questions during the meeting will be able to dial in and speak too. As councillors, we’ll only be able to hear them, not see them.”

“We’ll also be discussing whether or not council meetings should start earlier in the day than 6pm,” Cr Marks said. 

“We need to discuss how it will affect councillors who have other jobs if we make the meeting earlier in the day.

“Ultimately, we could save staff costs if we didn’t have night meetings – and avoid paying staff overtime to have them here in the evening.

“We’ll be looking at setting new guidelines for council meetings past September and we need to offer flexibility for those that work other jobs.”

Cr Marks said he expected there to be plenty of public input at tonight’s meeting, from concerned Monaltrie residents, over a Development Consent application to modify an existing quarry to increase its life for another 25 years. 

At tonight’s meeting are also two notices of motion being proposed by Crs Bird and Lloyd.

Cr Edie Lloyd is proposing Council holds a workshop on the impact of cost shifting on council and on NSW regional councils.

Cr Elly Bird will be proposing a motion that Council needs to put pressure on the Federal and State Governments to direct economic stimulus packages to local governments through the Covid-19 crisis.

Councils rely on residents paying rates to keep the cash flowing, and if the Covid-19 restrictions and closures forced on towns means rates don’t get paid, Councils will all be in the same boat when it comes to a lack of cash flow to keep operations running.

In short, while the 2019 Special Rates Variation (SRV) to increase rates to help pay for road works has been stopped already, it is possible that Lismore City Council could have to apply for another SRV in the next 12 months, along with many other councils.

If you want to watch the Council meeting live and online tonight, starting at 6pm, you can find the link here: http://webcast.lismore.nsw.gov.au

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