December 2014
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SIX-MONTH REPORT 2014-2015 AND QUARTER 2 BUDGET REVIEW STATEMENT December 2014 Reporting on the Implementation of the 2014-2015 Operational Plan (Year 2 of the Council’s 2013-2017 Delivery Program) Contents ABOUT THIS REPORT ................................................................................................................................... 1 SUMMARY OF PERFORMANCE ................................................................................................................... 2 SERVICES DELIVERED BY COUNCIL ............................................................................................................. 3 SERVICE HIGHLIGHTS .................................................................................................................................. 4 ADVOCACY / ISSUES TO NOTE .................................................................................................................. 10 MAJOR PROJECTS ..................................................................................................................................... 13 ASSET WORKS PROGRAM ......................................................................................................................... 15 OTHER OPERATIONAL PLAN ACTIONS....................................................................................................... 19 SPECIAL RATE VARIATION FUNDED PROJECTS .......................................................................................... 23 ENVIRONMENT LEVY REPORT ................................................................................................................... 24 QUARTERLY BUDGET REVIEW STATEMENT BY THE RESPONSIBLE ACCOUNTING OFFICER ....................... 30 KEY TERMS USED IN THIS REPORT ...................................................................................................................... 41 About this report The Council provides progress reports on implementing the Delivery Program and Operational Plan as follows: • Budget review statement (quarterly); • Delivery Program progress report (6-monthly); and • Annual report including audited financial reports (within 5 months of the end of each financial year). This report provides the legislatively required Delivery Program six monthly progress report and quarterly budget review statement for Quarter 2 of 2014-2015 (as at 31 December 2014), in accordance with Integrated and Reporting requirements under the Local Government Act, 1993. The Purpose of Quarterly / Six-Monthly Reports Quarterly and Six-Monthly Reports are designed: • To meet legislative requirements (transparency and accountability); • To provide a practical assessment of how the Council is tracking overall – whether we are delivering against our commitments on time and within budget; and • To demonstrate results / achievements and to formally document any issues that arise that impact on service delivery commitments. How the Council will be assessing progress in 2014-2015 Budget Review Statement The budget review statement must include details on the general financial position of the Council and if this position is regarded as unsatisfactory, also include recommendations for remedial action. The budget review statement will be provided to the Council as follows: . Quarter 1 (as at 30 September 2014) – reported in November 2014 . Quarter 2 (as at 31 December 2014) – reported in February 2015 . Quarter 3 (as at 31 March 2015) – reported in May 2015 Delivery Program and Operational Plan progress report The method for assessing progress in implementing the Council’s Delivery Program and Operational Plan includes: . Action / project progress – tracking whether actions / projects are being delivered as planned on time and within budget (reported every six months) . Other service measures – used to measure whether specific outputs or standards are achieved by different services (reported at the end of the financial year) . Quantitative Organisational Sustainability Performance (Quadruple Bottom Line) measures – used to measure Council’s environmental, social, financial and governance performance against the Key Direction of Civic Leadership (reported at the end of the financial year) . Qualitative Community Survey – used to measure perceptions of key stakeholders on service performance results (reported at the end of every second financial year) . Quantitative asset based measures – used to measure actual improvement in built asset condition e.g. roads, footpaths, pools (reported at the end of the council term) Progress on the implementation of the 2013-2017 Delivery Program and 2014-2015 Operational Plan will be provided to the Council as follows: . First six months (July to December 2013) – reported in February 2015 . Final six months (January to June 2014) – reported in September 2015 1 Six-Month Report 2014-2015 Summary of Performance Major Project Milestones Major Projects are those one-off projects that a have a significant capital component and / or requires significant financial / staff resources / community consultation usually over more than one financial year. As at 31 December 2014: • 100% of Major Project milestones for 2014-2015 were On Target (refer to page 13). Asset Works Projects Asset projects are those projects that involve the planning and construction of new built assets or the improvement of existing built assets, such as footpaths, signage, roads and community halls. As at 31 December 2014: • 100% of Asset Works Program projects were On Target / Completed (excluding Major Project milestones with a capital component) (refer to page 15). Other Operational Plan Actions The Council has committed to delivering a wide range of actions and projects through its service delivery commitments. As at 31 December 2014: • 95% of other Operational Plan actions were On Target / Completed (refer to page 19). 2 Six-Month Report 2014-2015 Services Delivered by Council 3 Six-Month Report 2014-2015 Service Highlights October to December 2014 Awards Blue Mountains City Council has received top honours in three separate awards in recognition of outstanding achievements for the successful Bushfire Rebuild service, a national first in environmental restoration, and the best national Sister Cities program. • 2014 Premier’s Public Sector Awards: Strengthening the environment and communities – Finalist – Blue Mountains Bushfire Rebuild Service: the Rebuild Service was a joint initiative with the RFS established in response to the devastating October 2013 bush fires. • 2014 Local Government NSW Environment Awards - Recognising outstanding achievements by Local Government in managing and protecting the environment – Weed Management Award – Highly Commended: a successful seven-year restoration program involving the local community, has seen the removal of 3 aquatic Weeds of National Significance from Glenbrook Lagoon. • 2014 Sister Cities Australia National Awards - Best Single Project & Overall Winner: The long-running Blue Mountains Sister Cities volunteer Committee was awarded the prestigious Sister Cities Australia National Award for Best Single Project, being the creation of the Sister Cities Garden in Buttenshaw Park, Springwood, and Overall Winner for the best Sister Cities program 2013-2014. Blue Mountains Cultural Centre • The major exhibition 'Brett Whiteley; West of the Divide' continued into the quarter, and resulted in a major influx of visitors and activity to the Centre. A range of specialist programs has further encouraged patronage and engagement. • The Cultural Centre has been working in partnership with the new Blue Mountains Theatre and Community Hub to ensure that any opportunities for co-branding and program sharing are maximised. Blue Mountains Theatre and Community Hub The construction of the Blue Mountains Theatre and Community Hub is on track and is scheduled for completion by March 2015, subject to any prolonged adverse weather conditions. The new Manager and support staff have been appointed, and the proposed fees for the hire of the various meeting room spaces and the new Blue Mountains Theatre were placed on public exhibition. 4 Six-Month Report 2014-2015 Bushfire Anniversary Commemoration The October 2013 bushfires resulted in the loss of 197 houses with many more sustaining damage. The 12 month anniversary of what was the worst natural disaster to impact our region in recent years, was held in October. During the past 12 months the community has shown great resilience and the anniversary was marked in a number of ways as follows: • Official Civic Event: an official civic and media event was held on the 17 October. • Winmalee, Yellow Rock, Springwood: Numerous smaller commemorative ceremonies on Friday 17 October, the anniversary date of the Linksview Road bushfire. These activities included private events at Winmalee High School, St Thomas Aquinas, St Columbus, Rainbow Preschool, Ellison Public School as well as numerous private street gatherings. • On Saturday 18 October a "Family Fun Day" was held at Winmalee High School. This event is the result of collaboration between a range of entities including the school, Winmalee RFS, Winmalee Neighbourhood Centre, the Lions Club, Catholic Care, Uniting Church, Salvation Army and local community members. The Presbyterian Church and Jericho Road held a joint thanksgiving service on Sunday 19th October 2014 between 9am and 10am. • Mt Victoria: The Mt York bushfire was commemorated in Mt Victoria on the 17 October with the unveiling of a plaque on the corner of St Georges Parade