Council Meeting (Ordinary and Special) - 20 Oct 2026 6:00 PM

Topics

• Mount Hawthorn intersection petition wins unanimous council backing for safety report
  Council unanimously agreed to receive a petition calling for a traffic and safety assessment at Woodstock Street and Edinboro Street.
  The intersection has attracted 151 petition signatures and residents are seeking concrete measures to protect pedestrians, cyclists, children and motorists.
• City to review maintenance and funding of eight sporting reserves before 2027/28 budget decisions
  A formal review will examine operating and capital spending, maintenance standards, utilisation and resourcing across major reserves and parks.
  The findings may shape future service levels, maintenance contracts and capital funding for local sports grounds.
• Artsource approved to lease Halvorsen Hall and heritage Lee Hops Cottage for artist studios
  Council approved a new lease of two City-owned facilities at 176 Fitzgerald Street to Artsource.
  The agreement affects the future use of a heritage-listed cottage and provides space for artist studios in a City property.

Decisions

• Mount Hawthorn road-safety petition referred for a report
  Council unanimously received a petition, supported by eight physical signatures and 143 online signatures, requesting a traffic and safety assessment of the Woodstock Street and Edinboro Street intersection and consideration of traffic-calming and pedestrian-safety measures.
  Residents will receive a formal assessment before any engineering or traffic changes are considered.
• Councillor allowances and expenses policy adopted
  Council adopted the amended Council Member Allowances, Fees and Reimbursement of Expenses Policy by absolute majority. A proposed amendment to change the ICT allowance structure was defeated 1–6; Cr Con Poulios opposed the final policy.
  The policy determines how ratepayer-funded ICT, expense and reimbursement payments to elected members are managed.
• Lease approved for Artsource
  Council approved a new lease of Halvorsen Hall and Lee Hops Cottage at part of 176 Fitzgerald Street, Perth, to The Artists' Foundation of Western Australia Limited, trading as Artsource. The heritage significance of Lee Hops Cottage must be protected under the proposed tenancy arrangements.
  The lease supports artist studios and continued use of two City-owned facilities, including a heritage-listed building.
• Active sporting reserves and parks review requested
  The Chief Executive Officer was requested to present a report to a Council Workshop no later than the first budget workshop for the 2027/28 Annual Budget. The review is to cover maintenance, utilisation and resourcing at Britannia Reserve, Menzies Park, Charles Veryard Reserve, Birdwood Square, Beatty Park Reserve, Les Lilleyman Reserve, Forrest Park and Woodville Reserve.
  The review could influence future maintenance standards, capital works and budget priorities for local sporting fields and parks.
• 2027 council meeting calendar adopted
  Council adopted the 2027 cycle of monthly Council Briefings and Ordinary Meetings, generally commencing at 6:00pm at the City of Vincent Council Chambers, 244 Vincent Street, Leederville, and agreed to provide public notice.
  Residents can plan attendance and submissions around the published 2027 meeting dates.
• Property management policy amended
  Council adopted the amended Property Management Policy following public advertising.
  The policy governs the management and leasing of City property, including community and cultural facilities.
• Meeting procedures policy and guidelines repealed
  Council repealed the Meeting Procedures Policy and Council Proceedings Guidelines. Consequential Governance Framework updates are to be considered after the October 2027 local government election.
  Council meeting procedures will operate without these documents until the broader governance framework is reviewed.

Discussion

• Potential future redevelopment and public parking
  Public speakers questioned the possible disposal or redevelopment of a City car-park site, including how many bays would remain available for public use and how parking charges would be controlled. The supplied extract does not state the final decision on that item.
  Any change could affect public parking availability, development outcomes and access to a local town centre.
• Bike Plan implementation reporting
  A written question asked how actions from the 2013 Bike Plan were completed, carried forward or discontinued and challenged reported progress on the 2023–2028 Bike Plan. Administration’s responses were to be provided for the 17 November 2026 Ordinary Council Meeting.
  The response may clarify which cycling improvements remain planned and how delivery is being tracked.
• Public investment in sporting facilities
  Questions addressed the cost of works at the Robertson Park Tennis Centre and surrounding Robertson Park, reported as $4.5 million in total, including $3.1 million funded by the City and $1.4 million externally funded. Questions also raised the need for toilets and changerooms at Beatty Park Reserve.
  Residents may be affected by future facility upgrades, renewal priorities and spending decisions for sports and recreation assets.
• Council ICT allowance debate
  Public submissions criticised the level and structure of elected-member ICT allowances, including the relationship between allowances and City-provided devices. Council retained the officer-recommended policy after rejecting an alternative amendment.
  The issue concerns transparency and value for money in ratepayer-funded council-member expenses.

Impacts

• A traffic and safety report will be prepared for the Woodstock Street and Edinboro Street intersection in Mount Hawthorn.
• Future budget and service-level decisions may be informed by a review of maintenance and resourcing across eight active reserves and parks.
• Artsource will be able to use Halvorsen Hall and Lee Hops Cottage for artist studios, subject to City approval and heritage-protection requirements.
• The adopted councillor-expenses policy continues to regulate ICT allowances and other reimbursements funded by the City.
• The 2027 council meeting schedule is set, with meetings generally held at 6:00pm at the Leederville council chambers.

Places

• Woodstock Street and Edinboro Street intersection, Mount Hawthorn (intersection)
  Subject of a petition seeking a traffic and safety assessment and possible traffic-calming measures.
• Halvorsen Hall (facility)
  Part of the leased area approved for Artsource artist studios.
• Lee Hops Cottage (heritage facility)
  Part of the Artsource lease; the tenant must protect its heritage significance.
• 176 Fitzgerald Street, Perth (City property)
  Location of Halvorsen Hall and Lee Hops Cottage.
• Beatty Park Reserve (sporting reserve)
  Included in the requested maintenance and resourcing review; public questions also concerned toilets and changerooms.
• Britannia Reserve (sporting reserve)
  Included in the requested maintenance and resourcing review.
• Menzies Park (park)
  Included in the requested maintenance and resourcing review.
• Robertson Park (park and sporting facility)
  Questions referred to City-funded works at the Robertson Park Tennis Centre and surrounding park.

Next

• Prepare a report on the Woodstock Street and Edinboro Street intersection petition and requested safety options.
  Following the 20 October 2026 council decision; no specific reporting date stated.
• Present the active sporting reserves and parks maintenance, utilisation and resourcing review to a Council Workshop.
  No later than the first budget workshop associated with the 2027/28 Annual Budget.
• Provide responses to written questions about the Bike Plan and related matters.
  Agenda for the 17 November 2026 Ordinary Council Meeting.
• Provide public notice of the adopted 2027 Council Briefing and Ordinary Meeting dates.
  Before the 2027 meeting cycle.
• Consider consequential Governance Framework updates following repeal of the meeting-procedure documents.
  After the October 2027 ordinary local government election.

Extract

MINUTES Ordinary Council Meeting 20 October 2026 ORDINARY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES 20 OCTOBER 2026 Table of Contents 1 Declaration of Opening / Acknowledgement of Country .................................................................... 3 2 Apologies / Members on Leave of Absence ........................................................................................ 3 3 (A) Public Question Time and Receiving of Public Statements ........................................................ 3 (B) Response to Previous Public Questions Taken On Notice ........................................................ 10 4 Applications for Leave of Absence .....................................................