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Economic and Industry Development Committee — 2020-09-17
1. Council of Mayors South East Queensland 2020-2021 Membership
Doc ID No: A6443935
ITEM: 1
SUBJECT: Council of Mayors South East Queensland 2020-2021 Membership
AUTHOR: Executive Support Officer
DATE: 25 August 2020
Executive Summary
This is a report concerning Council’s membership of the Council of Mayors South East Queensland for the 2020-2021 financial year at a cost of $117,188.14 and the appointment of a Councillor representative and proxy to the Economic Development Working Group.
Recommendation/s
A. That Council endorse membership of the Council of Mayors South East Queensland for the 2020-2021 financial year at a cost of $117,188.14.
B. That Council advise the Council of Mayors South East Queensland of the Councillor Representative to the Economic Development Working Group.
RELATED PARTIES
Brisbane, Lockyer Valley, Logan, Moreton Bay, Redland, Scenic Rim, Somerset, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast and Toowoomba member Councils and shareholders.
Scott Smith as Council of Mayors South East Queensland Chief Executive Officer.
There are no conflicts of interest identified or declared in relation to the contents of this report and its attachments.
Advance Ipswich Theme
Listening, leading and financial management
Purpose of Report/Background
The Council of Mayors (SEQ) was established in September 2005 as an ‘independent political advocacy organisation to represent the interests of one of the nation’s fastest growing regions – South East Queensland’.
The Council of Mayors (SEQ) Annual Report 2018-2019 is provided as Attachment 1 below for reference.
The City of Ipswich has been a member of the Council of Mayors (SEQ) since its inception in 2005.
The membership of the Council of Mayors (SEQ) consists of the 11 South East Queensland Councils: Brisbane, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Logan, Moreton Bay, Redland, Scenic Rim, Somerset, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast and Toowoomba Councils.
The Council of Mayors (SEQ) is Australia’s largest regional advocacy organisation, representing 11 Councils and more than three and a half million residents. Using the collective influence of councils to shape government policy and funding outcomes.
The Council of Mayors (SEQ) has also established itself as the coordinator and driver of three regionally significant initiatives:
• SEQ People Mass Movement Study
• SEQ City Deal
• SEQ 2032 Olympic Games Bid
The membership fee or levy for each Council is calculated with a $10,000 base fee and the remainder a pro rata calculation applied to local government area populations. The member levy is issued in accordance with the adopted annual budget as approved by the Board of Directors at the 1 May 2020 Board Meeting and the Shareholder Members at the 1 May General Meeting.
The Council of Mayors (SEQ) Board of Directors consists of the Mayor from each of the member Councils, as such Mayor Teresa Harding will be recognised as the Ipswich Director on the Board.
The Council of Mayors (SEQ) Economic Working Group is a sub-group of elected representatives and officers from each of the member Councils focused on key challenges and opportunities influencing the South East Queensland economy. The Economic Working Group meets quarterly.
It is for Council to nominate one elected representative member and an elected representative proxy member. The elected Councillor will be supported by a Council officer member also.
Legal/Policy Basis
This report and its recommendations are consistent with the following legislative provisions:
Not Applicable
RISK MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS
Risks associated with not approving the recommendations of this report relate primarily to Ipswich City Council’s engagement and influence within the South East Queensland government ecosystem. These risks could be reasonably mitigated through Council increasing its own advocacy activity, resourcing and budget.
The City of Gold Coast spent many years without membership of the Council of Mayors (SEQ) – though they have re-joined in 2020-2021.
There are no discernable risk management implications associated with approving the recommendations of this report.
Financial/RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS
Council’s membership of the Council of Mayors South East Queensland for the 2020-2021 financial year at a cost of $117,188.14 (inc GST) has been budgeted within the Corporate Services Department operational budget.
COMMUNITY and OTHER CONSULTATION
The Mayor and Councillors received an introductory briefing by Council of Mayors (SEQ) CEO Scott Smith on Tuesday, 2 June 2020 (Attachment 2).
Conclusion
Council is due to renew its membership of the Council of Mayors (SEQ) for 2020-2021 at a cost of $117,188.14.
The Council of Mayors (SEQ) is Australia’s largest regional advocacy organisation and is currently leading three regionally significant projects: SEQ People Mass Movement Study, SEQ City Deal and SEQ 2032 Olympic Games Bid.
Council’s membership of the Council of Mayors (SEQ) improves its ability to engage and influence South East Queensland outcomes on behalf of the City of Ipswich.
Attachments and Confidential Background Papers
1.
Council of Mayors South East Queensland Annual Report 2018-2019 ⇩
2.
Council of Mayors South East Queensland - Introduction ⇩
Alisha Coyne
Executive Support Officer
I concur with the recommendations contained in this report.
Ben Pole
General Manager - Community, Cultural and Economic Development
“Together, we proudly enhance the quality of life for our community”
Economic and Industry Development Committee
Meeting Agenda
17 September
2020
Item 1 / Attachment 1.
Economic and Industry Development Committee
Meeting Agenda
17 September
2020
Item 1 / Attachment 2.
Economic and Industry Development Committee
Meeting Agenda
17 September
2020
Mentions: Ipswich
2. Small Business Funding Program
Doc ID No: A6450322
ITEM: 2
SUBJECT: Small Business Funding Program
AUTHOR: Coordinator - Local Business and Investment
DATE: 27 August 2020
Executive Summary
This is a report concerning Council’s COVID-19 Recovery – Small Business Funding Program which was available to local businesses from 14 July to 14 August 2020, and the recommendation for Council to deploy a second round of the program to continue to support local small businesses.
RECOMMENDATION/S
A. That Council receive and note the report summarising the outcomes of the COVID-19 Recovery – Small Business Funding Program initiated on 14 July 2020.
B. That Council endorse the extension of the Small Business Funding Program into a second round to be initiated on 1 October 2020.
RELATED PARTIES
Ipswich Region Chamber of Commerce – assisted in the Program development and promotion.
Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce – assisted in the Program development and promotion.
There are no conflicts of interest identified or declared in relation to the contents of this report.
Advance Ipswich Theme
Strengthening our local economy and building prosperity
Purpose of Report/Background
The Small Business Funding Program was developed and deployed by Council as a quick response COVID-19 support initiative for the small businesses of Ipswich.
A total of $200,000 was made available to provide individual grants of up to $1,000 per business for payment of expenses such as inventory costs, professional services and professional memberships.
The Small Business Funding Program was open for applications from 14 July to 14 August 2020, during that period 111 applications were submitted.
Council officers actively engaged with many of the applicants during their submission process to assist and amend applications through to completion.
Of the 111 applications, 76 were assessed as eligible against the stated criteria and requirements for funding at a total of $68,513.
The 76 applications which were assessed to be eligible were generally defined by the following components:
• for professional services and inventory
• seeking on average $900
• retail, food and beverage, health and fitness, business support and trade sectors
Eligible applications are currently being processed and payments to local small businesses are underway.
The 35 applications which were assessed to be ineligible generally failed to meet criteria and requirements relating to:
• was not based in the Ipswich LGA
• was unable to demonstrate financial downturn
• did not produce financial statements to support the application
• applied for ineligible expenses
• did not provide a quote or proof of expenses
Round Two Extension
Council concurred on 20 August 2020 to progress with a second round of the Small Business Funding Program utilising the unallocated $131,487 of the original $200,000 budget.
Based on learnings from the first round, a number of amendments to the criteria and process will be considered and potentially implemented for the second round, these include:
• expand the range of eligible expenses
• process applications for payment and approval as they are received
• leave the Program open for six months or until funds are exhausted
• increase promotional activity and Chambers of Commerce distribution
Officers will review and reconfigure the Small Business Funding Program throughout September for a scheduled release of round two on Thursday 1 October 2020.
Legal/Policy Basis
This report and its recommendations are consistent with the following legislative provisions:
Not Applicable
RISK MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS
There is a risk that applicants may falsify application and acquittal information or not use the funds for the purposes they are prescribed.
Council is not practically able to forensically investigate every application and acquittal to the extent required to absolutely mitigate that risk.
Officers are applying a high level of quality assurance and critical assessment throughout the process to qualify the applications and acquittals as satisfactorily as practical.
The Program guidelines and documentation requires applicants to agree to terms and conditions which include the provision of correct information and the appropriate use of funds including prohibiting the use of funds for unlicensed or unlawful activities.
Financial/RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS
The total $200,000 for the Small Business Funding Program is allocated in Council’s adopted 2020-20 Operational Budget.
There are no considerable additional financial or resource implications associated with the adoption of this report and its recommendations.
COMMUNITY and OTHER CONSULTATION
The Ipswich Region Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce have been consulted as part of the development of the Small Business Funding Program round one and round two.
A variety of local small businesses have been consulted as part of the development of the Small Business Funding Program round one and round two.
Successful and unsuccessful applicants from round one of the Small Business Funding Program have been consulted in the development of round two.
Council’s Legal and Governance Branch, Finance Branch and Community Funding and Support Team have been consulted in the development of the Small Business Funding Program round one and round two.
ConclusioN
Round one of Council’s Small Business Funding Program has supported 76 local small businesses cover important inventory costs, professional services and professional memberships as they endeavour to trade and employ local workers during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.
Council intends to continue to support local small businesses in this way by extending the Small Business Funding Program into a second round.
Ralph Breaden
Coordinator - Local Business and Investment
I concur with the recommendations contained in this report.
Cat Matson
Manager, Economic and Community Development
I concur with the recommendations contained in this report.
Ben Pole
General Manager - Community, Cultural and Economic Development
“Together, we proudly enhance the quality of life for our community”
Mentions: Ipswich · Springfield
Source: Ipswich City Council meeting agenda (CC BY 4.0).