Children's Services Reference Group

Meeting Date:    Tuesday, 07 February, 2017

Location:            Jervis Bay Rooms, City Administrative Centre, Bridge Road, Nowra

Time:                   4:00pm

Please note: Council’s Code of Meeting Practice permits the electronic recording and broadcast of the proceedings of meetings of the Council which are open to the public. Your attendance at this meeting is taken as consent to the possibility that your image and/or voice may be recorded and broadcast to the public.

Agenda

1.    Apologies

2.    Confirmation of Minutes

Children’s Services Reference Group – Wednesday 11 May 2016

3.    Declarations of Interest

4.    Reports

CS17.1........ Revised Terms of Reference......................................................................... 1                         

5.    General Business

Children's Services Reference Group – Tuesday 07 February 2017 Page ii

Membership

Clr Gartner - Chairperson

All Councillors

Ms Cathy Ryman

Ms Pamela Arnold

Ms Carmen Carter

Ms Kathy Rembisz - (Alternative - Ms Shannon Chessher)

Ms Amelia Collins

Ms Julie Flanagan

Ms Alison Grills

Ms Belinda Hibbert

Ms Kimberlie Johnson

Ms Leisa King

Ms Carol Lymbery

Ms Stacey Plim

Ms Bernadette Pullen

Ms Kim Stouse-Lee

Ms Kim Thompson

Ms Melissa Wicks

Ms Michelle Woszatka

Ms Melinda Wren

Ms Linda Windley

Ms Tanya McGeachie

Quorum – Five (5)

Purpose

To progress the future planning of facilities and services to meet the growth and development needs of the Shoalhaven:

· Advise Council on issues relating to the education and care of children aged 0 – 12 years.

· Act as a channel to advise Council on new issues and developments affecting children 0 – 12 years.

· Share information on issues affecting children, families and their communities.

· Develop and progress new and innovative ideas which enhance all children’s health and wellbeing.

· Advocate for inclusive environments and practices for all children and families in the Shoalhaven.

· Develop and implement a collaborative Child Friendly Cities Plan for the Shoalhaven.

MINUTES OF THE CHILDREN’S SERVICES REFERENCE GROUP MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY 11 MAY 2016, IN JERVIS BAY ROOM 1&3, CITY ADMINISTRATIVE CENTRE, BRIDGE ROAD, NOWRA COMMENCING AT 4.03PM.

The following members were present:

Clr White – Chairperson

Michelle Woszatka

Stacey Plim

Tanya McGeachie

Leisa King

Melissa Wicks

Linda Windley

Tracey Kirk-Downey

Helen Waterhouse

Kim Stouse-Lee

Others Present:

Susan Edwards – Senior Strategic Planner

Alan Blackshaw – Community Development Manager

1. Election of Acting Chairperson

MOTION:                                                                                            Moved: by consent

That Clr White be appointed as the Acting Chairperson for the meeting of Children’s Services Reference Group, held on Wednesday 11 May 2016.

CARRIED

Apologies:

Apologies were received from Clr Tribe, Clr Gash, Kim Thompson, Alison Grills

2. Minutes of Previous Meeting

MOTION:                                                                       Moved: Melissa / Second: Helen

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Children’s Services Reference Group held on Wednesday 2 December 2015 be confirmed.

CARRIED

PRESENTATION

3. Presentation – Public Exhibition Mollymook All Access Play Space Plan
                                                                                                      File 46176E, 50637E

Susan Edwards provided a presentation in relation to the Public Exhibition for the Mollymook All Access Play Space Plan at Mollymook Beach Reserve – Mitchell Parade/Ocean Street, Mollymook.

        #  A Plan showing the Mollymook All Access Play Space within Mollymook Beach Reserve will be placed on public exhibition for comment from Wednesday 27 April 2016 to Friday 20 May 2016.

The plan can be accessed from the below link

http://shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au/my-council/public-exhibition/documents-on-exhibition

The Plan details an all-inclusive play space to replace the existing playground at the Mollymook Beach Reserve.

GENERAL BUSINESS

4. Children’s Services Directory – Planning Day Outcomes                 File 46176E

Helen Waterhouse, displayed other booklets for an example of what the Children’s Services Booklet could look like.

Helen will discuss updating the Internet option for an all inclusive information for Children’s services.

A planning Day for the Directory will need to be organised to discuss the content.

Ideas to be forwarded to Helen Waterhouse via helen.waterhouse@shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au

For example:

· Baby sitting services

· Child psychologists

· Grief Services for Children

· Domestic violence support

· Car fitting restraints fitting

· Services that diagnose disabilities

· Activities for gifted and talented children

· Which schools provided after hours care

Planning Day to discuss the content of the Children’s Services Booklet will be scheduled for Wednesday 3 August 2016 at 1.00pm at the SEC.

5. Additional Items to be noted                                                                    File 46176E

The following additional matters were raised at the meeting:

· Helen Waterhouse advised that the Australian Early Development Census has been released

o Invitations to the presentation will be forthcoming

· Paint the Town Read date will be Friday 20 May 2016 at 1.30pm, Barbie Bates will be at the workshop at Cullunghutti

· Leisa King advised that Noah’s Early Intervention Start Up Program can offer diagnosis for Autism if required.

· Linda Windley advised that the Early Learning Everyone Benefits Campaign has been launched

· Tracey advised that the Minister for Family Services will be coming to Cullunghutti to make an announcement

· Clr White advised that Clr Tribe had attended the Breastfeeding Friendly Launch at the Arts Centre 2 weeks ago and discussed feeding in Workplaces.

· Helen Waterhouse advised that she will be resigning as the Shoalhaven Family Day Care Representative.

MOTION:                                                                                            Moved: by consent

RESOLVED that:

a) At the next meeting the Children’s Services Reference Group discuss becoming an Advisory Committee;

b) The next meeting be scheduled after the next Planning day on Wednesday 3 August 2016.

CARRIED

There being no further business, the meeting concluded, the time being 5.41pm.

Clr White

ACTING CHAIRPERSON

Children's Services Reference Group – Tuesday 07 February 2017 Page 1

CS17.1       Revised Terms of Reference

HPERM Ref: D17/21402

Group:                Corporate & Community Services Group

Section:              Recreation Community & Culture

Attachments:     1. Children's Services Reference Group -  Revised Terms of Reference ⇩

Purpose / Summary

To update the Terms of Reference for the Children’s Services Reference Group

Recommendation

That:

1.    The Children’s Services Reference Group accept the revised Terms of Reference.

2.    Council endorse the revised Terms of Reference of the Children’s Services Reference Group.

Options

1.    Adopt the recommendation.

Implications: The terms of reference are adopted by the Group and forwarded to council for their endorsement.

2.    Make adjustments to the attached terms of reference.

Implications: The adjusted terms of reference are adopted by the Group and forwarded to council for their endorsement.

3.    The Group do not accept the attached Terms of Reference and a working group is formed to draft a new terms of reference.

Implications: A working party will need to be formed and a planning meeting facilitated. Another meeting of the group will need to be scheduled to vote on the new terms of reference.

Background

Below is a brief history of the Children’s services Reference Group:

The first meeting of the Group was held in March 2013. The Initial purpose of the group was to progress the development of facilities for children in the Shoalhaven, specifically the relocation of Noahs Shoalhaven.

In 2015 the Children’s Services Reference Group formally accepted new Terms of Reference as proposed at the March meeting.

Advise Council on issues relating to the education and care of children aged
0 – 12 years.

a)      Act as a channel to advise Council on new issues and developments affecting children 0 – 12 years.

b)      Share information on issues affecting children, families and their communities.

c)      Develop and progress new and innovative ideas which enhance all children’s health and wellbeing.

d)      Advocate for inclusive environments and practices for all children and families in the Shoalhaven.

e)      Develop and implement a collaborative Child Friendly Cities Plan for the Shoalhaven.

Membership of the group increased at this point to include representatives from Health, the group does not have funds to facilitate events and would need to group should be inclusive of all children 0-12 in the Shoalhaven.

Policy Implications

Section 355 of the NSW Local Government Act describes how Councils can administer their functions. Section 377 of the Act outlines the power of Council to delegate to the committee these have been included in the new Terms of Reference.

Adopting a new and in depth Terms of Reference will assist the Group to be clear about it’s function, membership and purpose and be able to report this to Council.

Children's Services Reference Group – Tuesday 07 February 2017 Page 3