Gerroa the place to be
Council listens to local youth p3
Local at Paralympics p3
Another group in election race p6
Sights now on Paris 2024
p7
p9
21 AUGUST 2021
Council: new approach From to finances needed the editor Kiama Council’s process for setting and monitoring its budget is to undergo a major overhaul, to introduce greater public scrutiny and transparency. Her fresh set of eyes and experience with other council budgets and processes has led to Council’s new CEO, Jane Stroud, being surprised by some weaknesses in processes, reporting and engagement with staff. These issues are in addition to the impact of COVID-19 and very low interest rates on Council’s income. In a bold move, the August Meeting of Council unanimously endorsed her recommendations for Council
to open its books and work side-by-side with experts, community members and councillors to create better plans and clear actions. There was no public discussion by the councillors, who had been briefed ahead of the meeting by the CEO. “Councillors were not aware of the situation earlier because they relied on the information provided to them,” says Mayor Mark Honey. “I’m grateful for the extension of the life of this Council because it gives us an opportunity to get things in order for a new Council to come in. “The preparedness of the new CEO to share informa-
Council’s financial situation
and is not sustainable without clear action”. • As of the end of June, Council had available cash She knows there are many reserves of $13.2 million to pay for Council’s ongoing rumours and misconceptions operational and capital budgets. It also had restricted about Council’s finances, and cash assets of $32.9 million, which are tied to a legislaplans to change that by being tive or contractual obligation. more open. • While Kiama Council only met three of the GovernTough decisions will have ment’s six required performance ratios in 2019/20, it is to be made across the board, expected to have met four in 2020/21 (not yet finalised) particularly to reduce operaand forecast to meet the same four in 2021/22. tional costs. • Draft Operational Plan for 2021/22 shows an operating “There needs to be converloss of $2.74 million and a cash surplus of $5.6m, station around what is the following an operating loss of $6.6 million operational appropriate service level and loss and a $20.2 million cash surplus in 2020/21. are we sufficiently resourced to deliver on that service tion, good and bad, has really sure how the current system level. That is the critical changed the focus of Council.” works. question.” Ms Stroud believes there “I have recommended an On the income side, hisare systemic issues that independent review into how torically Kiama Council has need to change, freely admit- the financial processes and relied on land sales to prop ting that she is not entirely decision making worked up its operational budget, yet before,” she says. the substantial land holding “The budget was held very it has in the CBD has been in tightly at a very senior level. limbo for years. “We are such a big organ“We need a review of the isation that more managers land Council owns, what it is need to be involved. for, and really consider what “I think the whole budget we need right now. needs rebuilding from the “If Council resolves to sell ground up. off parcels, our staff need “We need to understand dedicated focus on this job,” the processes that occur says Ms Stroud. so that we can move forIn developing the plan of ward with more trust in the attack, she is keen to benefit budget, more accountability from the expertise of comin the budget and a plan to munity members with senior correct the operational deficit experience in finance and and improve our perforbusiness strategy. mance ratios.” The call will soon go out While Ms Stroud admits to for people to volunteer to join losing sleep over the budget a new Community Working difficulties, she wants to Group to advise on the new reassure ratepayers that the initiative of a Financial Sussituation isn’t dire (see box) tainability Plan, which will – but “requires intervention, lead into the development careful thought and diligence, continued on p12
S’haven ends L’Etape The L’Etape Australia cycling event has been cancelled and the location of the event for 2022 and beyond will now be reviewed, following a decision by Shoalhaven City Council to ‘discourage’ the event from being held on public roads in the Shoalhaven. Lateral Event Management, the event’s organiser, says Shoalhaven City Council’s withdrawal of support has left them with no other option but to cancel the event, due to be held on the last weekend in November. Race Director Florent Malézieux said the decision
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I am sending this paper to the printer on the night of Wednesday 18 August, at a time when it is still uncertain whether the one week lockdown will be lifted or extended. Please keep this in mind when reading this paper over the next fortnight, as the rules are changing on a regular basis. It is a great example of why we have developed The Bugle App as an additional service for our region. We were able to send a notification to alert people to the snap lockdown, offer guidance on what the stay at home rules meant practically in our LGA, and provide updates as they happened. Our sole focus on just our LGA has never been so important. We’ve had nothing but great feedback from people who have downloaded the App. If you haven’t done so yet, open the camera app on your smart phone which will read this QR code and take you directly to the app store.. Stay safe at home. Cathy Law
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