Governance Committee Meetings - 5 May 2026

Topics

• Council seeks changes to planning agreement policy and VPA oversight
  Governance Committee backed a wording change to the updated Planning Agreement Policy and asked staff to revisit monitoring of negotiations.
  Could affect transparency, negotiation oversight, and how developer contributions are handled across future projects.
• Liverpool 2050 strategy advances
  Council received a progress update on Liverpool 2050, its long-term city vision to 2050.
  The strategy will shape future planning, investment attraction and city positioning.
• Council considers unsolicited commercial proposals involving community land
  Councillors were told a workshop should be held to review unsolicited proposals, including possible sale or lease of community land and assets and potential loss of greenspace.
  Any movement on land or asset disposal could have direct consequences for open space and future development.

Decisions

• Contributions Planning Framework reform and reporting
  The committee noted the report on Council’s Contributions Planning Framework. Comments requested staff advise councillors of funds in the Contributions Plan and provide a list of outstanding capital works from the 2009 plan.
  Affects how developer contributions are managed and how infrastructure funding is tracked for growing communities.
• Planning Agreement Policy update
  The committee noted the report and recommended rewording Item 9.1, ‘Role Separation and Prohibition on Undue Influence’, in the updated Planning Agreement Policy. Staff were also asked to review external monitoring of negotiations and provide an updated VPA listing.
  Impacts planning negotiations, transparency, and how voluntary planning agreements are handled.
• Liverpool 2050 strategic vision update
  The committee received and noted the status update on Liverpool 2050, Council’s long-term strategic vision document to 2050.
  Shapes long-term planning, investment attraction, and city development priorities.
• Media policy and campaign moderation review
  The committee noted the presentation on draft Social Media and Media Policies and asked for a report analysing whether users engaging with Council content are residents of the Liverpool LGA or outside it.
  Could affect how Council communicates with residents online and moderates public comments.
• Unsolicited proposals for commercial offerings
  The committee received and noted a verbal update and recommended arranging a councillor workshop to review proposals, discuss sale or lease of community land and assets, and consider removal of greenspace in its current form.
  Could affect community land use, open space, and future commercial development options.
• Public exhibition process improvements
  The committee noted the need for 28-day public exhibition periods and suggested adding an information session in the first week. Staff were asked to report back with ideas such as pop-up sessions at a local shopping centre.
  May improve community participation in planning and policy consultation.

Discussion

• Financial position and rates arrears
  The meeting noted Council held $453.8 million in cash and cash investments at 31 March 2026, with $56.2 million in rates outstanding. Staff were asked to update the final cost of the by-election to include in-house staff costs and related fees.
  Relevant to ratepayers, budgeting, and Council’s financial management.

Impacts

• Potential changes to how developer contributions fund local infrastructure and services.
• Possible revisions to planning agreement policy and oversight of voluntary planning agreements.
• Long-term city planning through Liverpool 2050 may influence future investment and development priorities.
• Council’s online communication and moderation approach may change.
• Public exhibition and consultation processes may become more accessible to residents.

Places

• Liverpool Local Government Area (local government area)
  Area affected by Council communications, planning policy, and community consultation.
• Liverpool (city)
  Subject of the Liverpool 2050 strategic vision.
• local shopping centre (community location)
  Suggested venue for possible pop-up information sessions during public exhibition periods.

Next

• Provide councillors with funds in the Contributions Plan and a list of outstanding capital works from the 2009 plan
  Before the next update/reporting cycle
• Review and reword Item 9.1 of the updated Planning Agreement Policy
  Before Council consideration
• Provide an updated VPA listing and consider external monitoring of negotiations
  Before the next relevant committee discussion
• Table an analysis of social media users by residency inside or outside the Liverpool LGA
  At a future committee meeting
• Arrange a councillor workshop on unsolicited proposals, community land, asset leasing/sale, and greenspace impacts
  As soon as practicable
• Provide a report to the June Governance Committee meeting on public exhibition ideas, including pop-up sessions and community engagement approaches
  June 2026

Extract

1 Minutes of the Governance Committee Meeting held on Tuesday, 5 May 2026 and confirmed on Tuesday, 2 June 2026 ........................................... Chairperson MINUTES OF THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON 5 MAY 2026 PRESENT: Mayor Ned Mannoun Deputy Mayor Harle (joined online at 3.10pm) Councillor Adjei (online) Councillor Ammoun (online) Councillor Macnaught Councillor Harte (joined online at 2.26pm – 2.46pm) Mr Jason Breton, Chief Executive Officer Mr Farooq Portelli, Director Corporate Support Ms Tina Bono, Director Community & Lifestyle Ms Lina Kakish, Director Planning & Compliance Mr Peter Scicluna, Director Operations Mr Vishwa Nadan, Chief Financial Officer Ms M’Leigh...