Your Council

Forums & Committees

Standing Committees

Policy Committee Comprises all Councillors, with a quorum of five (5).
Terms of Reference for this Committee are to:-

· Guide the Council in the formulation of its City Vision and Integrated Planning and Reporting objectives and priorities, and for this purpose to recommend to Council such forward programs and other steps as may be necessary to achieve these objectives, either in whole or in part, during specific time spans. The Committee considers the broad social and economic needs of the Council and matters of comprehensive importance to the area, including the implication of planning schemes. It advises the Council generally on its financial and economic policies.

· To submit to Council concurrent reports with the other Committees on new policies or changes in policy formulated by such Committees, particularly those which may have a significant impact upon the corporate plan or the resources of Council.

· To ensure that the organisation and management processes of the Council are designed to make the most effective contribution to the achievement of the Council's objectives. Keeps current processes under review in light of changing circumstances. Makes recommendations for change in either the Committee or Directorate structure, or changes to the distribution of functions and responsibilities.

· Without prejudice to the duties and responsibilities of the other Committees, the Policy Committee reviews the effectiveness of all the Council's work and the standard and levels of service provided and identifies the need for new services whilst keeping under review the necessity for existing services.

Works & Finance Committee Comprises the Mayor and four (4) Councillors, with a quorum of three (3).
Terms of Reference This committee deals with all public works and financial/commercial matters submitted to the Committee and reports, making recommendations to Council. It considers and reports on any matters referred to it by Council or the General Manager and may exercise any powers delegated to it under Section 377 of the Local Government Act, 1993.

Planning & Development Committee Comprises the Mayor and five (5) Councillors with a quorum of three (3).
Terms of Reference This Committee deals with Development Applications, Local Environmental Plans, Development Control Plans, planning strategies and master plans, other strategic planning matters and development and community-based regulatory matters, other than those delegated to staff, and laneway closure and reserve naming proposals reporting thereon and making recommendations to Council. The Committee considers and reports on any other matters referred to it by Council or the General Manager and may exercise any powers delegated to it under Section 377 of the Local Government Act, 1993.

Community Services Committee Comprises of the Mayor and five (5) Councillors with a quorum of three (3).
Terms of Reference This Committee deals with matters other than those delegated to staff, relating to environmental management, community halls, childrens services, recreation, waste management services, welfare and civic events, arts and cultural development, health services, libraries, community development and companion animal management issues. It considers and reports on any other matters referred to it by the Council or the General Manager, and may exercise any powers delegated to it under Section 377 of the Local Government Act, 1993.

Staff Committee Comprises of the Mayor and four (4) Councillors with a quorum of three (3).
Terms of Reference This Committee considers reports relating to any changes in industrial provisions for staff, and considers any matter referred to the Committee by the General Manager and considered to be a relevant staff matter. It may exercise any powers that are delegated to it by Council under Section 377 of the Local Government Act, 1993.

Recommendations from each of the Standing Committees are then considered by Council at its Ordinary Meeting.

Special Committees


Other special committees meet from time to time and include the following:-

Tourism Liaison Committee Comprised of the Mayor and five (5) Councillors plus advisory community representatives with a quorum of three (3). Terms of Reference are to deal with matters to further the potential development of tourism in the City and to report thereon and make recommendations to Council.

Showground Committee - Comprised of the same membership as Community Services Committee, plus advisory representatives of the Blacktown A. H. & I. Society with a quorum of three (3). Terms of Reference are to deal with all matters relating to the use and operation of Blacktown Showground and to report thereon and make recommendations to Council.

Historical Committee - Comprised of the same membership as Planning & Development Committee, plus advisory representatives of local historical societies, the Prospect Heritage Trust Inc. and an advisory representative of the Saint Bartholomew's Guides, with a quorum of three (3). Terms of Reference are to deal with all matters relating to heritage sites issues and buildings which may be referred to the Committee from time to time and to report thereon and make recommendations to Council.

Greening of Blacktown Committee - Comprised of the same membership as Community Services Committee, plus advisory representatives of the Blacktown City Garden Club, Greening Western Sydney, Blacktown & District Environment Group Inc. and the Parramatta River Catchment Group, with a quorum of three (3). Terms of Reference are to deal with matters relating to major tree planting schemes and the beautification and greening of the City of Blacktown and to make recommendations thereon to Council.

Special Estimates Committee - Comprised of all Councillors, with a quorum of five (5). Terms of Reference are to investigate Operational Program and budget submissions by the General Manager and Directors and to make recommendations to the Council on rates structure, estimates of income and expenditure and the Operational Plan.

City Festival Committee - Comprised of the Mayor and five (5) Councillors plus advisory community representatives, with a quorum of three (3). Terms of reference are to oversee the organisation of the Blacktown City Festival.

Enterprise Agreement Committee - Comprised of the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Chairperson of Staff Committee, plus the General Manager and/or his nominee, with a quorum of three (3). Terms of Reference are to review and update the Enterprise Agreement and negotiations thereon and to make recommendations to Council on the final form of the Enterprise Agreement.

Sister Cities Committee - Comprised of the Mayor and six (6) Councillors plus advisory community representatives and Youth Ambassadors, with a quorum of three (3).

Internal Audit Committee Comprised of the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and one (1) other Councillor plus two (2) independent community representatives, with a quorum of three (3) [following appointment of community representatives]. Terms of Reference are - The Committee shall convene no less than four (4) times per year for the purpose of reviewing audit reports and system improvement recommendations.

Sub-Committees

Central Business District Advisory Sub-Committee - Present membership comprises the Mayor and Ward 3 Councillors and Chairperson of the Planning & Development Committee plus the following community representatives:-1 from Blacktown Police 1 from Access Advisory Sub-Committee 1 from Senior Citizens Advisory Sub-Committee 2 representing CBD traders 2 from Blacktown Regional Business Association 1 from Youth Advisory Sub-Committee 1 from Chamber of Commerce and 1 from Westpoint. Minutes of meetings are forwarded to Council through the Planning & Development Committee.

Mount Druitt Town Centre Advisory Sub-Committee - Present membership comprises the Mayor and Wards 4 and 5 Councillors and 3 agencies being the Department of Housing, Mount Druitt Police and City Rail and 3 local commercial and business representatives, being Mount Druitt Chamber of Commerce, Westfields and Shop Smart, Mount Druitt. Terms of Reference are to deal with matters relating to the Mount Druitt CBD which may be referred to the Sub-Committee and to make recommendations to Council. Minutes of meetings are forwarded to Council through the Community Services Committee.

Nurragingy Reserve Sub-Committee - Present membership comprises the Mayor and six (6) Councillors. Terms of Reference are to deal with issues relating to Nurragingy Reserve which may be referred to the Sub-Committee and to make recommendations to Council. Minutes of the meetings are forwarded to Council through Community Services Committee.

Senior Citizens Advisory Sub-Committee - Present membership comprises two (2) Councillors plus community representatives from each Senior Citizens Centre following calling for nominations for community representative positions for the ensuing year, with a quorum of five (5). Terms of Reference are to deal with issues relating to senior citizens within the City. A summary of the minutes of the meetings are forwarded to Council through the Community Services Committee.

Warrick Lane Development Sub-Committee - Membership comprises of all Councillors, with a quorum of five (5). Recommendations of the Sub-Committee are forwarded to Council through the Works & Finance Committee. Terms of Reference are to investigate, consider options and make recommendations to Council in respect of the proposed development of the Warrick Lane site in Blacktown. Recommendations of the Sub-Committee are forwarded to Council through the Works and Finance Committee.

Youth Advisory Sub-Committee - One (1) Councillor to be ex-officio plus youth representatives to be appointed. Youth representatives to include a minimum five (5) and maximum twenty (20) young people between the ages of 12 and 24 years residing in the Blacktown LGA plus peer members. A summary of the minutes of the meetings are forwarded to Council through the Community Services Committee.

Access Advisory Sub-Committee - Present membership one (1) Councillor to be appointed as Chairperson and staff nominee plus twelve (12) community representatives. Terms of Reference are to raise community issues and awareness relating to community access needs especially in relation to people with disability and culturally & linguistically diverse (CALD) communities and make recommendations to Council in respect of access and community development. A summary of the minutes of the meetings are forwarded to Council through the Community Services Committee.

Community Safety Advisory Sub-Committee - Present membership comprises the Mayor and two (2) Councillors, plus community representatives. Terms of Reference are to engage a wide range of relevant local agencies and groups to address safety issues within the City and make recommendations to Council. A summary of the minutes of the meetings are forwarded to Council through the Community Services Committee.

Western Sydney Airport Sub-Committee - Present membership comprises all Councillors plus three (3) community representatives. It is suggested this sub-committee continue in existence pending a final decision on the Badgerys Creek Airport site. Terms of Reference are to monitor and report to Council on any developments associated with the proposal to establish a second Sydney Airport at Badgerys Creek.

Blacktown Showground & Francis Park Re-development Sub-Committee - Membership comprises the Mayor and Chairperson of Community Services Committee and five (5) Councillors and Secretary and President of the Blacktown AH&I Society. Terms of Reference are to deal with all matters relating to the re-development of Blacktown Showground and make recommendations to Council. Minutes of the meetings are to be forwarded to Council through the Works and Finance Committee.

Combined Historical Societies Sub-Committee - Membership comprises two (2) Councillors plus representatives from -The Local Historical Societies; The Prospect Heritage Trust Inc.; The Guides of St. Bartholomews; The indigenous community in Blacktown (to be nominated by Council's Aboriginal Advisory Sub-Committee);Rouse Hill House and Farm at Rouse Hill; The Cultural Development Officer WSROC (ex officio);The NSW Heritage Office (ex officio);Mr Jack Brook (ex officio); and Mr Jim Kohen (ex officio)

Terms of Reference are to advise on issues of history and heritage, to foster positive relations and act as an information exchange between the local historical societies and to make recommendations to Council. Minutes of the meetings are forwarded to Council through the Historical Committee.

Blacktown City Aboriginal Advisory Sub-Committee - Membership comprises the Mayor and one (1) Councillor as delegates with a community representative Chairperson and twelve (12) Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) community representatives who live or work within the Blacktown LGA. Terms of Reference are to address the needs of the Aboriginal communities within the City and provide input to Council on development of services and facilities. A summary of the minutes of the meetings are forwarded to Council through the Community Services Committee

Arts Centre Programming Advisory Group Sub-Committee - Membership comprises the Mayor, two (2) Councillors and up to eight (8) professionals from the arts industry sector directly appointed by Council, and four (4) community representatives one (1) nominated by each of Council's Arts Reference Group, Aboriginal Advisory Sub-Committee, Youth Advisory Sub-Committee and Sydwest Multicultural Services Inc.

Arts Reference Advisory Sub-Committee - Membership comprises the Mayor, two (2) Councillors and up to eighteen (18) community representatives, which may include representatives of local organisations.

Blacktown City Council Urban Companion Animal Management Advisory Sub-Committee - Membership comprises the Mayor, two (2) Councillors, a minimum of one (1) and a maximum of two (2) representatives from Animal Health, from industry, animal welfare groups, community and animal clubs and associations. Membership has been appointed for the current term of Council. Terms of Reference are to consider key animal issues, provide input to Council with respect to the development of urban companion animals programs and make recommendations to Council. A summary of the minutes of the meetings are forwarded through the Community Services Committee.

Skate Park Sub-Committee - Membership comprises the Mayor, three (3) Ward 4 Councillors, Council's Youth Planner, Council's Administration Officer Parks, Mount Druitt Police Youth Liaison Officer, two (2) members of Council's Youth Advisory Sub-Committee, four (4) Community Representatives [2 residents, 2 skaters], one (1) representative from the local shopping centre, two (2) youth services providers. Terms of Reference are to consider the ongoing development and operation of the Skate Park and make recommendations to Council. A summary of the minutes of the meetings are forwarded to Council through the Community Services Committee.