CITY OF UNLEY 2018-19 Annual Report Location: 4 kilometres south east of Adelaide CBD Population: 39,145 Rateable properties: 18,843 (as at 30 June 2019) Area: 14.4 square kilometres Operating Income: $50.9m Operating Expenditure: $46.1m Staff: 168.33 (FTE) We are pleased to present the City of Unley’s Annual Report for 2018–19. This report describes the City of Unley’s performance over the 2018–19 financial year against the objectives of the 2018–19 Business Plan and Budget, 4 Year Plan, and City of Unley Community Plan 2033. This report is designed to meet our obligations under Section 131 of the Local Government Act 1999. Our website at unley.sa.gov.au provides more information about City of Unley activities, policies and plans for the future. If you would like more information about any item in this report, please visit unley.sa.gov.au or phone 8372 5111. The City of Unley recognises that the Kaurna people are the traditional owners and occupiers of the land that now comprises the City of Unley, and we respect their spiritual relationship with their country. We also acknowledge the Kaurna people as the custodians of the Adelaide region and that their cultural and heritage beliefs are still as important to the living Kaurna people today. CONTENTS Message from the Mayor ...........................................................................................1 Message from the CEO .............................................................................................3 Strategic Management Framework ............................................................................5 Our Vision ..................................................................................................................5 Key Outcomes: Goal 1 - Community Living ...............................................................7 Key Outcomes: Goal 2 - Environmental Stewardship .............................................. 16 Key Outcomes: Goal 3 - Economic Prosperity ......................................................... 18 Key Outcomes: Goal 4 - Civic Leadership ............................................................... 20 Annual Business Plan Reporting ............................................................................. 22 Our Organisation ..................................................................................................... 32 Our Council .............................................................................................................. 35 Decision Making Structure ....................................................................................... 41 Confidentiality .......................................................................................................... 48 Council Reporting .................................................................................................... 56 Application of Competition Principles ...................................................................... 56 Community Land Management Plans ...................................................................... 56 Competitive Tendering Arrangements ..................................................................... 57 Rating Policy ............................................................................................................ 58 Income ..................................................................................................................... 58 Subsidiary – Centennial Park Cemetery Authority ................................................... 59 Subsidiary – Brown Hill & Keswick Creeks Stormwater Board ................................ 60 List of Registers & Codes ........................................................................................ 61 APPENDICES Appendix 1: Financial Statements Appendix 2: Centennial Park Cemetery Authority Annual Report 2018-19 Appendix 3: Brown Hill and Keswick Creeks Stormwater Board, Annual Report 2018- 2019 MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR Looking back over the past year is a process of reflection and self-examination. Being elected to the office of Mayor has opened new opportunities for me to continue learning about the local government sector and the needs of our community. I consider myself privileged to have been elected to this role, with the opportunity to guide and influence decisions about this wonderful city, to seek improvements in Council performance and, ultimately, to maintain the functions and high standard of service expected by residents and businesses in this thriving part of Adelaide. During the year, we have seen a changing of the guard amongst our Council, and I wish to thank our outgoing elected members for their achievements whilst on Council. I’m truly delighted to welcome our seven new female members to Council. Since being elected to office I’ve been impressed by the level of commitment they have demonstrated and their genuine passion for representing their constituents. I’m also proud of the fact that the makeup of our Council now makes the City of Unley a leader in recognising the significant contribution women make. At a time when we, as a society, are remembering a century of suffrage I’m pleased that our Council recognises the significant contribution women make which provides a diversity of voices in our City. As with any new team there is a period of acclimatisation and learning how to work together. I believe it’s important to have a Council where opinions differ and where everyone has a right to disagree. I am proud of the way our elected members have worked to resolve differences in their agendas and genuinely focussed on delivering value for our community. Our dedicated Council staff also deserve praise for their commitment and professionalism across the range of fields which are crucial to a high functioning Council; community support and wellbeing, planning, environment, infrastructure maintenance, governance, finance and administration. Beyond our Civic Centre, Unley’s Community Centres, Libraries and the Museum continue to excel in the delivery of services to our community. The work achieved by our employees and their teams of volunteers is exemplary and deserves special mention. Our hardworking people are an essential element in a system that functions to ensure the City of Unley remains a beautiful place to live, work and play, and a thriving region in which to do business. I am really pleased that Council delivered rates within 1% of CPI, which supports and maintains our financially diverse socioeconomic community. I’m also gratified that the Unley Walking and Cycling Plan has been adopted and begun implementation. I have nine grandchildren growing up in Unley and I would like them, and all children in this city, to be able to walk or ride a bike to school, independently and safely. Completing this Plan will be a key element in achieving that outcome. There is greater community awareness of climate change and preserving our green spaces and heritage buildings. The community voice for maintaining canopy cover and Annual Report 2018/19 1 our historic character throughout the City is one I support wholeheartedly, and much work has been progressed in response to both these issues throughout the year. As part of the plans for redevelopment of the King William Road precinct, I’m delighted with the inclusion of 80 trees and four water fountains for public use. Council is also starting to tackle another environmental concern with waste management strategies targeting plastic, and I am confident we will continue to make progress and be leaders on this issue. I’m proud of what we’ve delivered for 2018/19. Again, I wish to acknowledge and sincerely thank our committed elected members, staff and volunteers, our business owners and residents who regularly engage with us to share their vision for our City to ensure it remains a special place for all of us here now - and for generations to come. Michael Hewitson Mayor 2 MESSAGE FROM THE CEO This year’s Annual Report outlines the diversity of works and initiatives the City of Unley has undertaken to ensure this is an accessible, inclusive and diverse place to live. We cannot achieve great outcomes for our communities and businesses without good planning, effective community engagement, and active partnerships with excellent people and organisations to realise current opportunities and address future challenges. Much of the critical thinking for the vision for the City was first outlined in the City of Unley’s Community Plan 2033, which enunciated long-term aspirations for the community. From this, Council established a Four Year Delivery Plan 2017-2021, which set clear goals and objectives to ensure our City’s continued development across four key themes: Community Living, Environmental Stewardship, Economic Prosperity and Civic Leadership. This document informs our annual work plan priorities, and I’m pleased to present our 2018/19 Annual Report of achievements. A key issue impacting Council is the impending change to our State’s planning system, a huge reform which promises to standardise development regulations and make planning decisions more consistent across council areas, in both rural and urban settings. Many councils and residents are concerned that new planning rules will erode heritage and environmental protections and pave the way for unrestricted building. We are contributing to consultation processes, seeking to ensure the right balance between quality development which will stimulate our local economy while safeguarding the character and lifestyle