Reporter Joseph Hinchliffe will be tweeting and posting a live video on Periscope of the council meeting from 6pm. Follow him on @joe_hinchliffe or watch the live stream here.
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8pm: That’s it for the coverage tonight. More stories from tonight’s meeting to come.
7.30pm: All councillors except Cr Chapman vote to change the way council deals with future disputes.
Cr Williams speaks strongly in favour of the reform.
“I welcome this, I think it gives us another option rather than just running off to the panel all the time,” he says.
Councillors voted to implement an internal dispute resolution process to comply with changes to the Local Government Act aimed to both prevent “vindictive” and “vexatious” allegations of misconduct and beef-up powers to reprimand councillors found to have breached their code of conduct.
More on this story: Panel weighs in on councillor dispute
7.20pm: Cr Cox is found guilty of misconduct by independent council conduct panel and is ordered to provide a written apology to councillors Chapman and Helen Leach.
7.18pm: Item carried with only Cr Chapman voting against.
7.16pm: Cr Chapman speaks against, saying it goes beyond council’s “core business”.
“I don’t agree council should be collecting payments of anyone else’s debts,” she says.
7.15pm: Cr Campbell speaks in favour saying there will be critics as it goes beyond a “roads and rubbish” agenda.
“[But we want out municipality to be progressive,” he says.
7.12pm: Meeting has resumed as councillors move onto a proposal to trial Environmental Upgrade Agreements (EUAs).
The two year trial would see Bendigo enter into an agreement with Sustainable Melbourne Fund for $5,000 p.a. for a 2 year period for administration of the agreements.
7.10pm: Item carried unanimously.
7.05pm: Councillor James Williams says the body will be independent of council.
“It will be minimal risk to council… but the potential benefits council can glean could be enormous.”
7.04pm: Next item: council endorsement for the formation of the Ulumbarra Foundation, an incorporated association established with the sole purpose of raising charitable donations and distributing funds for the furtherance of the performing arts in central Victoria.
7.01pm: Item carried unanimously, Cr Chapman declares it: “win, win, win”.
7pm: Councillor Barry Lyons says these kind of scheme will become common as Bendigo expands.
“This is the future I think, we’ll see plenty of special charge schemes to come – especially in my area out at Maiden Gully.”
6.56pm: Councillors now discuss Special Charge Scheme in Guys Hill Road and parts of Tannery Lane.
This plan initially caused outrage among residents – but councillors now say all landholders are on board.
6.55pm: Item carried unanimously.
6.50pm: Now discussing a proposal that the Greater Bendigo City Council resolve to endorse the submission to the Managing Residential Development Advisory Committee established by the Minister for Planning.
6.48pm: All councillors vote to reject the proposal to demolish the Lily St property except Cr Chapman.
6.48pm: Councillor Elise Chapman: “I am going to be the party pooper here.”
Cr Chapman argues that with a nearby vacant block there will be changes to the neighbourhood anyway.
6.40pm: Next item is a proposal to demolish an existing dwelling and construct two new dwellings on Lily Street – councililors are being advised to vote against the proposal due to concerns about neighbourhood character.
Councillor Rod Campbell speaks against the proposal, saying it “laughs in the face” of the neighbouring properties.
6.38pm: Item carried unanimously. Planning Scheme Amendment C213 - Eaglehawk Structure Plan will go to the minster for approval.
6.32pm: Cr Cox says plan will bring commercial and residential development to Eaglehawk.
“You’ve got to look at the Eaglehawk CBD a little differently – it has the character of a village and has many historic properties,” he says.
“Eaglehawk has looked like it has for many, many years but it’s going to change… so it’s really important that we get it right.”
Cr Cox touched on the theme of new development in Eaglehawk last week:
6.30pm: Next item on agenda: Planning Scheme Amendment C213 - Eaglehawk Structure Plan.
Council is being asked to send the plan to seek Ministerial Authorisation.
6.28pm: Councillors vote unanimously that “the petition be received and a response be prepared within two (2) meetings.”
6.25pm: First item on agenda relates to petition to address severe problems with dust on Nevinson and McKinnons roads in Lockwood.
More on this story: Lockwood residents call on Bendigo council to fix their dusty roads
6.19pm: Fifth question comes from Julie Hoskin – who has spearheaded the legal campaign against the proposed Bendigo mosque.
Dressed in yellow with a witch’s hat, Ms Hoskins asks how many findings of bullying were made in the councillor conduct panel against councillor Peter Cox. The finding will be tabled at tonight’s meeting.
More on that story: Panel weighs in on councillor dispute
6.17pm: Question three and four come from candidates to run at this year’s council election: Andrea Metcalf and Colin Carrington. Ms Metcalf asks about council’s organic waste trial: were councillors aware of a tunnel composting facility proposed for Epsom? Mr Carrington makes a statement that the acting CEO’s response is not good enough.
6.14pm: Question two about Chinese archway removed in 2014 and question three about community engagement process.
6.08pm: First question relates to cracks in footpath around High Street in Kangaroo Flat due to trees and promises made last year to address them.
Councillor Barry Lyons concedes: “The trees are passed their life span and [removing them] has been all too slow.”
Mayor Rod Fyffe says area was inspected today and councillors promise action.
6.05pm: Absent from tonight’s meeting are councillors Helen Leach and Lisa Ruffell.