Council Briefing - 13 Oct 2026 6:00 PM

Topics

• Council approves three-year Artsource lease for Halvorsen Hall and Lee Hops Cottage
  City-owned buildings at 176 Fitzgerald Street will become an artist-studio site under a three-year lease with a possible two-year option.
  The decision sets the future use of two City properties, including a heritage-listed cottage, and includes a $4,000 annual rent plus GST.
• North Perth-Mt Lawley and Leederville underground-power timelines pushed into longer-term regulatory process
  Council noted Western Power's revised delivery profile and will seek another update after the regulator's final decision in March 2028.
  Residents and businesses in the two project areas may have to wait for clearer delivery dates for underground power works.
• City records $7.22 million in August payments
  Council received the August accounts report recording total payments of $7,218,337.34.
  The monthly expenditure figure gives residents a concrete view of City payments, including payroll, EFT transactions, direct debits and credit cards.

Decisions

• Artsource lease approved
  Council approved a three-year lease, with a possible two-year option, for Halvorsen Hall and Lee Hops Cottage at 176 Fitzgerald Street, Perth, to The Artists' Foundation of Western Australia Limited trading as Artsource. Rent is $4,000 per year plus GST, with annual CPI review.
  The agreement supports artist studios at a City-owned site while requiring the heritage-listed Lee Hops Cottage to remain substantially in its current condition.
• Council member allowances policy amended
  Council adopted the amended Council Member Allowances, Fees and Reimbursement of Expenses Policy by absolute majority. The policy provides that the cost of a City-supplied device is deducted from the annual ICT allowance; an iPad Pro package was estimated at approximately $2,700, and the proposed ICT allowance was discussed as $3,500.
  The policy changes how City-funded devices and councillor technology expenses are accounted for.
• Property Management Policy amended
  Council adopted the amended Property Management Policy and associated list of Council-approved leases and licences.
  The policy governs how City property leases and licences are managed, including arrangements such as the Artsource lease.
• Meeting procedures policies repealed
  Council repealed the Meeting Procedures Policy and Council Proceedings Guidelines. Consequential updates to the Governance Framework are to be considered after the October 2027 local government election.
  Council meeting governance will operate without these two documents until related framework updates are considered.
• 2027 council meeting dates adopted
  Council adopted the 2027 monthly schedule of Council Briefings and Ordinary Meetings, commencing at 6:00pm at the City of Vincent Council Chambers, 244 Vincent Street, Leederville, and agreed to provide public notice.
  Residents have an advance schedule of public council meetings for 2027.
• Underground-power timeline update noted
  Council noted Western Power's revised delivery timeline for underground power projects 347 North Perth-Mt Lawley and 406 Leederville. A further update is requested after the Economic Regulation Authority's final decision at the end of March 2028.
  Residents in the affected project areas may face changed expectations about when underground power works will be delivered.

Discussion

• Artsource lease and heritage property use
  Halvorsen Hall and Lee Hops Cottage at 176 Fitzgerald Street will be leased to Artsource for artist studios, subject to City approval of non-structural fit-out works and heritage-protection requirements.
  The decision affects the future use and management of two City-controlled buildings.
• Underground power project delivery
  Western Power provided an updated delivery profile for projects 347 North Perth-Mt Lawley and 406 Leederville.
  Project timing may change for households and businesses in the named areas.
• August 2026 City finances
  Council received the August financial statements and investment report. It also recorded August payments totalling $7,218,337.34, including $6,224,463.44 in EFT payments and payroll and $993,873.90 in direct debits and credit cards.
  The figures provide public information about the City's monthly expenditure and financial position.
• Governance and councillor expense rules
  Council repealed two meeting-procedure documents and adopted amended rules for councillor allowances, fees and expense reimbursements.
  These decisions change internal governance arrangements and the treatment of councillor ICT costs.

Impacts

• Artist studios will be supported at Halvorsen Hall, while heritage protections apply to Lee Hops Cottage.
• Residents and businesses in North Perth, Mount Lawley and Leederville may be affected by revised underground-power project timing.
• The 2027 public council meeting calendar is now set, with meetings scheduled at 6:00pm in Leederville.
• The adopted councillor-allowance policy changes how City-supplied technology is offset against ICT allowances.

Places

• 176 Fitzgerald Street, Perth (City-owned property)
  Location of Halvorsen Hall and Lee Hops Cottage, approved for lease to Artsource.
• Halvorsen Hall (facility)
  City-controlled facility included in the Artsource lease and intended for artist studios.
• Lee Hops Cottage (heritage-listed building)
  Included in the Artsource lease and required to remain substantially in its current condition.
• North Perth-Mt Lawley (underground-power project area)
  Project 347, with delivery timing subject to Western Power's revised profile.
• Leederville (suburb and project area)
  Project 406 underground-power area and location of the City of Vincent Council Chambers.
• City of Vincent Council Chambers, 244 Vincent Street, Leederville (civic facility)
  Venue for the adopted 2027 Council Briefings and Ordinary Meetings.

Next

• The City will commence the Artsource lease after completion of City works at Halvorsen Hall.
  After the Halvorsen Hall works are completed.
• The Chief Executive Officer will provide a further update on underground-power projects 347 and 406 after the Economic Regulation Authority's final decision.
  Following the decision expected at the end of March 2028.
• The City will publicly advertise the adopted 2027 Council Briefing and Ordinary Meeting dates.
  Before the 2027 meeting cycle.
• Consequential Governance Framework updates will be considered following the October 2027 local government election.
  After the October 2027 election.

Extract

NOTES Council Briefing 13 October 2026 COUNCIL BRIEFING NOTES 13 OCTOBER 2026 Table of Contents 1 Declaration of Opening / Acknowledgement of Country .................................................................... 3 2 Apologies / Members on Approved Leave of Absence ...................................................................... 3 3 Public Question Time and Receiving of Public Statements .............................................................. 3 4 Declarations of Interest ......................................................................................................................... 3 Reports with Discussion ...........................................................