Attachment B Operational Plan 2020/21 Operational Plan 2020/21 June 2020 Operational Plan 2020/21 Contents 1. Introduction 3 Achieving a Green, Global, Connected City 3 Sustainable Sydney 2030 4 Resilient Sydney 4 March 2020 Pandemic Response 4 2. About Sydney 7 3. Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Statement 9 4. About the City 10 Legislative Requirements 10 The Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework 10 Making it Happen 13 Corporate Services and Governance 14 Safety in the City of Sydney 18 5. Strategic Directions & Principal Activities 19 Strategic Directions and Sustainable Sydney 2030 19 Strategic Direction 1 – A globally competitive and innovative city 22 Strategic Direction 2 – A leading environmental performer 25 Strategic Direction 3 – Integrated transport for a connected city 33 Strategic Direction 4 – A city for walking and cycling 36 Strategic Direction 5 – A lively and engaging city centre 39 Strategic Direction 6 – Resilient and inclusive local communities 41 Strategic Direction 7 – A cultural and creative city 46 Strategic Direction 8 – Housing for a diverse community 48 Strategic Direction 9 – Sustainable development, renewal and design 51 Strategic Direction 10 – Implementation through effective governance and partnerships 54 6. Annual Budget & Financial Statements 60 Grants and Support Program 79 Rating and Revenue Policy Statement 81 Aggregation of land parcels (lots) for the purposes of ordinary rates 83 Debt Recovery and Financial Hardship 84 Stormwater Management Services Charge 85 Domestic Waste Management Annual Availability Charge (DWMAAC) 85 7. Fees & Charges 87 Revenue Policy 87 Cover image: children playing in Harold Park 2 Operational Plan 2020/21 1. Introduction We are adapting our approach to community engagement (consultation) during the Covid-19 This Operational Plan details the pandemic. This reflects the City’s commitment to individual programs and projects consult community members and stakeholders on decisions that affect them in line with the City’s we will undertake in 2020/21 to Community Engagement Strategy, while taking into account the challenges faced by our communities meet the objectives in our 2017- during the pandemic. 2021 Delivery Program. Decisions will be based on the principles in our plan, community engagement outcomes and in alignment with the NSW and Federal Government’s recovery We have developed this plan with the most current efforts and directives. and best available information but it is subject to change due to the dynamic health and economic crisis created by the global Covid-19 (novel Achieving a Green, Global, coronavirus) pandemic. Connected City It is expected that services, and levels of service will change as we deal with the impacts of the pandemic. Our Delivery Program identifies the actions to deliver We may have to adjust some of our services. Some the long-term goals and outcomes specified under will be enhanced, some will cease, we may create each Strategic Direction in the Sustainable Sydney new ones and scale back others. These changes 2030 plan. From the Delivery Program the may be temporary or permanent according to Operational Plan is derived annually. ongoing community priorities and resources. The Operational Plan includes the detailed budget The City also acknowledges that planned and revenue policy as well as the financial plan for deliverables and actions may be impacted or need to the delivery of the programs and projects. be reprioritised based on the effects of this pandemic. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the State New priorities may also emerge. Government has delayed the local government The City anticipates a significant financial impact from election scheduled for September 2020 by 12 this crisis; the breadth and depth of this impact is months. To align with the extended election cycle, the difficult to assess in this uncertain environment. To City of Sydney’s 2017-2021 Delivery Program has reflect this inherent operational uncertainty, additional been extended by an additional year. financial models have been developed. Despite the impacts of the pandemic, the City’s strong financial management over the past years provides a strong platform to respond to the current crisis. The City will adjust to this crisis to ensure the health and wellbeing of the community is our primary focus. We will engage with the community using the principles outlined in our Community Engagement Strategy to ensure that changing and emerging priorities are identified. 3 Operational Plan 2020/21 (residents) across metropolitan Sydney. Every Sustainable Sydney 2030 council in the metropolitan area has been engaged. During 2007–08 the City undertook the most These inputs are reflected in the strategy and we comprehensive community consultation in its history. sincerely thank every individual and organisation who We spoke to residents, workers, students, business took part in this process. operators, industry associations, community organisations and visitors about their vision, goals and aspiration for the future of the city. March 2020 Pandemic Response The result is Sustainable Sydney 2030 – a comprehensive community strategic plan for the The City of Sydney is the epicentre of the Australian development of the city to 2030 and beyond. The economy and cultural and creative institutions, and plan sets out a series of actions to achieve a green, the Council has a responsibility to the health and global and connected city. wellbeing of our community – to our residents, to business, to artists and creatives living and working in Progress towards our Sustainable Sydney 2030 our city, and to the institutions that support them. We strategic goals is monitored through regular reporting also bear a responsibility to the most vulnerable and to Council. We conduct half yearly, annual and end of marginalised members of our community, and to the each council term performance reporting, and organisations that continue to support them during quarterly and annual financial reporting. this difficult time. Extensive community consultation has taken place The Covid-19 pandemic is an unprecedented public and will inform our new community strategic plan for health crisis which is causing an economic crisis. Sydney through to 2050. Unemployment is forecast to rise, with job losses impacting sectors particularly concentrated in our city community, such as accommodation and food services, retail trade, arts and recreation services, Resilient Sydney construction and professional services. Metropolitan Sydney is one of the most diverse cities In response to this crisis the City of Sydney revised in the world with a population of close to five million the 2019/20 Operational Plan to reflect changes to people from 200 vibrant cultures. Our global city is the 2019/20 budget arising from the City’s support known for the beauty of its natural environment and and stimulus package responding to the Covid-19 outdoor lifestyle, but it is struggling to maintain pandemic. liveability and equity during a time of growth and change. The revised Operational Plan includes the amended budget and grants program for 2019/20. The Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic Sydneysiders were proposed grants programs were supported at an already experiencing a range of chronic stresses extraordinary council meeting on 30 March 2020 and such as lack of affordable housing and transport include immediate and future support for business, congestion, and the need to be prepared for shock our cultural and creative industries and our events such as heatwaves, storms and cyber-attacks. community. The coronavirus has added substantially to these chronic stresses. Small Business, Cultural and Creative Support To become connected, inclusive and resilient is a Packages challenge every organisation and community in The City proposed two phases of measures to metropolitan Sydney must address to create a place support business and the economy. The estimated of opportunity and well-being for everyone. value of the total package of support is $72.5 million. Resilient Sydney – A strategy for city resilience 2018, Our actions are intended to complement the stimulus is the first of its kind for our city, marking a new spirit and support measures of the State and Federal of collaboration and connection in Sydney. Government and to leverage the resources of Council The strategy is the result of two years of effort to ensure the safety and survival of our business, including technical studies and a comprehensive cultural and community sectors. engagement process with more than 1,000 people These measures are designed to enable from business, government and communities organisations and businesses to adapt to a rapidly evolving context, to support their resilience so they 4 Operational Plan 2020/21 are well positioned to bounce back once this is over The City implemented policy changes in addition to and use our own resources to generate employment the financial support (some of which can no longer be and provide relief to those most affected. implemented due to changes in health advice) including: Phase One – working with businesses to facilitate the expansion of their outdoor dining areas to enable The City of Sydney’s initial package put forward on social distancing and enable them to increase or 9 March 2020 and endorsed by Council on 30 March introduce take away food options; 2020 was valued at up to $25 million and supports businesses to reduce the financial impact of – only taking enforcement action for matters that Covid-19. It included the following measures which present an imminent public, environmental, health or were to be in place for an initial period of six months: safety risk; and a. waiving fees for Health and Building compliance – enabling supermarkets and other stores to activities; operate their loading docks 24 hours a day so that essential goods can be delivered. b. reviewing rents in conjunction with tenants in City premises for those tenants that require support on Since these measures were undertaken, the situation a case-by-case basis; has changed significantly. Increased restrictions on public movement and physical distancing guidelines c.