Annual Report 10|11 Crea Ting Communities of Choice
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Annual Report 10|11 Crea ting Communities of Choice We believe that people choose the community they live in for its neighbourhood characteristics, style of homes, shopping and business outlets and recreation activities. Our plan aims to improve the features of the community that reflect why people choose to live, work, shop, socialise and recreate in their neighbourhood. VALUES BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY In everything we do, we will seek to adhere to a set of We are committed to making decisions in the interests of values that guides our attitudes and behaviours. both current and future generations. Our approach will be based on the following ideals: Friendly and Helpful Partnerships/Relationships We value our customers and our work colleagues and will assist them in the best way we can. Productive relationships with industry, the State Government and other local governments to deliver Teamwork improved cost effective services. We believe teamwork is essential for improving our Community Centred services and achieving our goals. Meeting the needs of our communities through strong Creativity community consultation, engagement and collaboration. We can improve the way we do business by challenging Sustainability the status quo. Embracing the principles of sustainability in our decision Integrity making to balance the needs of both current and future We will act responsibly, place trust in each other and will generations through environmental protection, social be accountable for our actions. advancement and economic prosperity. Enhanced Services Continued improvement to our services through planning, adaptability and careful management of risks. Contents Mayor’s Report 4 Youth Services 23 Elected Members 7 Bold Park Aquatic Centre 24 Ward Boundaries 8 Facilities 24 Environmental 25 Committees and Working Groups 9 Town Representatives and Delegates 9 Development and Sustainability 26 Ratepayer and Resident Association Presidents 9 Strategic Town Planning 26 Planning Scheme 26 Council Functional Structure 10 Development Approvals 26 Executive and Operational Management 11 Building Services 27 Chief Executive Officer’s Report 12 Compliance Services 27 Governance 14 Environmental Health Services 28 Review of Committee Structure 14 Noise Control and Environmental Protection 28 Ocean Gardens Retirement Village Constitution 14 Ranger Services 30 Review of Ward Boundaries and Representation: Sustainability 32 Local Government Advisory Board 14 TravelSmart 35 Local Laws 14 Infrastructure 36 Policies 14 Works 36 Community Perceptions Survey 14 Engineering 38 Communications and Branding 15 Waste Management 38 Council Meeting Attendance 16 Parks 39 Decisions of Council 16 Treescape Plan 2010-2020 41 Welcoming New Citizens 16 Garden Awards 2010 42 Human Resources 16 Statutory Compliance and Civic Responsibilities 43 Corporate and Strategic 17 Elected Members Conduct 43 Corporate 17 Major Land Transactions 43 Strategic 18 Exempt Land Transactions 43 Customer Services 19 Compliance with State Records Act 43 Information Technology 19 Freedom of Information 43 Good Record Keeping Practice 19 National Competition Policy 43 Freedom of Information Act 1992 19 About the Town of Cambridge 44 Community Development 20 The Logo 44 Festivals and Major Events 20 Town Profile 45 Financial Assistance 21 Independent Auditor’s Report 46 Art and Culture 21 Statement by the Chief Executive Officer 48 Sport and Recreation 21 Volunteer Recognition 22 Statement of Comprehensive Income by Program 49 Disability Services 22 Statement of Comprehensive Income Community Safety 22 by Nature or Type 50 Business Beat 22 Statement of Financial Position 51 Graffiti Reporting and Recording Software 22 Statement of Changes in Equity 52 Juvenile Graffiti Cleanup Referral program 23 Statement of Cash Flows 53 Community Safety and Lighting Audit 23 Rate Setting Statement 55 Senior Services 23 Notes to and forming part of the Financial Report 57 Town of Cambridge Annual Report 10|11 3 Mayor’s Report SIMON WITHERS Mayor Areas F & G Old Nursery Site During the year we put ink on the agreement to end the We have also been in discussions with the state dispute surrounding Areas F & G in Mt Claremont, and government about resolving the dispute regarding development of that site can now proceed. The Town the Old Nursery Site in Salvado Road. Talks are at a expects to receive proceeds in the order of $12 million preliminary stage. once the development has been completed. This dispute has been running since 2000. My thanks Club Leasing Policy and appreciation go the Premier, Colin Barnett, who had On 1 July 2011 we introduced a new lease for all no hesitation in supporting a formal agreement to give the clubs that use our buildings. This has been one effect to the original intent of the agreement, and to of the most significant developments in the Town our CEO Jason Buckley, who worked tirelessly to see the for many years. agreement through to execution. Under the new lease, clubs will not be charged rent but they will contribute to the cost of the long term maintenance of their buildings. Each building will have a long term maintenance fund and each year the Town and the clubs will contribute cash to the fund on a 2:1 basis. The funds will be pooled to create a “bank” which will be able to fund large items of maintenance when they occur. Previously, the rent paid by our clubs was included in our general revenue and there was no sinking fund to maintain our buildings. Consequently, a number of our buildings became run down because it was not clear who had responsibility for maintaining them. Now all our club buildings will be maintained in good condition for their useful lives and the Town will not be exposed to large costs for major repairs. PREMIER BARNETT AND Mayor WITHERS SIGN agreement ON AREAS F & G MT CLAREMONT 4 Town of Cambridge Annual Report 10|11 Housing What we haven’t yet achieved is a major change in behaviour and getting residents to put more effort into It is becoming apparent that one of the biggest separating their recycling is something that will take challenges facing local government is housing strategy. many years to bring about. The trends are positive but we Many local governments have a “housing strategy” on must keep pushing forward. their books but few, if any, have a strategy that can deal with the coming housing issues: more people living in the This time next year, when we will have experienced a same area with different requirements for housing. full year of our new bin service, including the new green waste service, we will have a better idea of how far we The State Government has set a housing density have come and how far we have to go. target which requires a minimum increase in density of 30 per cent and it has indicated that it will also be setting diversity targets. Meeting these targets while preserving Bush and Lakeland Trail the character of our neighbourhoods and retaining the Council has endorsed the creation of a bush and lakeland support of our community will be the greatest challenge trail linking Lake Monger to the coast through a trail facing this council in the coming years. network running through the reserves at Herdsman Lake, the Wembley Golf Course and Bold Park. Most of Waste Management the paths are already in place with the final piece of the network being a path through the golf course, which We have taken a number of large steps in waste we are working on. Then it is a matter of creating maps management over the past four years and now, with the and signage. introduction of a green waste service, we have a waste collection system that can facilitate a major change in The path will be accessible by nearly everyone who waste behaviour. This, in turn, will reduce the volume of lives in the Town (and by many who live outside our waste we send to landfill and reduce our exposure to boundaries). It will be a significant recreational asset. the ever increasing cost of landfill and reprocessing of landfill waste. CHOOSE your BIN system WINNER MARIA RESERA Town of Cambridge Annual Report 10|11 5 Perry Lakes Aquifer Recharge Project Perry Lakes Subdivision Over the last two years an immense amount of work went The first lots in the Perry Lakes Subdivision were sold in into trying to bring the Perry Lakes Aquifer Recharge Project December 2010. Work has continued on the site and in to fruition but, regrettably, it was cancelled in August 2011. August 2011 a ceremony was held to commence the The reasons for the termination included: demolition of the old stadium. • we were unable to get the State Government to agree to provide treated waste water to the project at West Leederville Link no charge over the life of the project; Work has begun on a concept design for an improved, • we were unable to get the State Government to wider footbridge crossing the freeway at Leederville indemnify the Town against regulatory costs imposed Station, linking Leederville to West Leederville and on the project by State Government agencies; creating the nucleus of an enlarged residential, • a number of environmental and health risks commercial and restaurant centre. The potential benefits associated with the project were unresolved and of the bridge are immense but bringing the project to there were insufficient funds available to deal with realisation will take some time. those the risks if they occurred; • the project design could not be guaranteed to deliver Staff the primary object of the project: water in the lakes Our senior staff has been kept very busy during the year, at all times; and working on a large number of diverse projects. • the project was substantially behind the schedule that On behalf of the elected members, I would like to express was set by the terms of the Federal Government grant.