ANNUAL REPORT 2016/2017 Civic Centre 4 Mackay Street, (PO Box 1704) Covers Designed by Multi Print SA Port Augusta, South Australia 5700 Produced by Multi Print SA, Port Augusta Telephone: (08) 8641 0900 Telephone: (08) 8641 9100 Facsimile: (08) 8641 0357 Thank you to: Melanie Jenkins and Cynthia Collins for E-mail: [email protected] proof reading the Annual Report Website: www.portaugusta.sa.gov.au Facebook: www.facebook.com/PortAugustaCityCouncil Photo: Front cover Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden taken by Mr Larry Martin Prepared by Lee Heron, Director - City & Cultural Services Contents Page INTRODUCTION 1‐4 Section One EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW 5 1.1 Mayor’s Report 6 1.2 CEO’s Report 7 Section Two THE COUNCIL, MANAGEMENT AND HUMAN RESOURCE 8 2.1 Elected Members Information 2016/2017 9‐11 2.2 Council and Committee Structure 11‐12 2.3 Council & Key Committees Attendance Record 13 2.4 Other Advisory Committees 13‐17 2.5 Reference Groups/Working Parties 18‐19 2.6 Elector Representation Review & Quota 19‐21 2.7 Elected Members’ Allowances and Benefits 22‐23 2.8 Elected Members’ Training and Development 23‐24 2.9 Management and Staffing including Organisational Structure 24‐26 2.10 Human Resource Management 27‐28 Section Three STRATEGIC PLAN & PERFORMANCE – Community Vision and Strategic Plan 2013‐2017 29 3.1 We Thrive: Through encouraging innovation and supporting entrepreneurs, 30‐39 our investment to the City, by building strong partnerships and embracing change and adopting new technologies. 3.2 We Create: A future filled with possibilities and new opportunities, 40‐47 excellence in education, health, sport, recreation and the arts, and a culture of leadership. 3.3 We Connect: With all of our people with education, training and employment, 48‐55 those in need with services and support, and our City with road and transport infrastructure, energy, water and telecommunications. 3.4 We Care: For our stunning environment, the wellbeing of ourselves and 56‐67 each other, our physical resources and cultural and built heritage. 3.5 We Celebrate: Our top location, rich history, cultural traditions, diversity of our 68‐77 Aboriginal communities, the many special people who make Port Augusta a great place to live, and great events and activities. 3.6 We Achieve: Through strong leadership, professional advice, effective and 78‐88 customer focussed service, trained and skilled staff, good governance, compliance and sustainable financial management. AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENT 89‐137 Section Four COMPLIANCE REPORT – INFORMATION STATEMENT 138 4.1 Functions of the Council and Decision Making Structure 139‐143 4.2 Public Participation 143‐144 4.3 Community Consultation 144‐145 4.4 Confidentiality Provisions 145‐148 4.5 Public Access to Council Documents 148‐151 4.6 Freedom of Information Requests – including Schedule 1 – Committees of 151‐154 Council and External Committees, Boards and Associations Section Five ACCOUNTABILITY REPORT 155 5.1 Rating Policy 2016/2017 156‐168 5.2 Rate Rebates and Remissions 169‐170 5.3 Auditor Independence 170‐171 5.4 National Competition Principles 171 5.5 Competitive Tendering Statement 171 5.6 Fraud and Corruption 171‐172 5.7 Internal Review of Council Actions 172 5.8 Community Land Management Plans 172 Section Six COMMUNITY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 173 6.1 Farewell to long time employees who have retired 174 6.2 Staff Service Awards 175 6.3 Local Government Rural Management Challenge 175 6.4 Australian Institute of Building Surveyors Charter – Building Surveyor of the Year 176 2017 6.5 Christmas Lighting Festival 176 6.6 Rotary Christmas Pageant 176‐177 6.7 Community Christmas Party 177 6.8 Academic Achiever Award 177 6.9 Australian Citizenship 177 6.10 Australia Day Awards 178 Introduction Council is required to prepare and adopt an Annual Report each year, in line with the provisions of Section 131 of the Local Government Act 1999. Schedule 4 of the Local Government Act 1999 specifically outlines information that must be included within the Council’s Annual Report. In addition to the requirements within the Local Government Act 1999, Section 9 of the Freedom of Information Act 1991 provides that at intervals of not more than 12 months, Council must also publish an information statement. The Information Statement is included within Section Four of this report. The preparation and adoption of the 2016/2017 Annual Report ensures compliance with the above legislative provisions. A hardcopy of the Annual Report is available, free of charge, from the Council Office, 4 Mackay Street, Port Augusta, or alternatively can be viewed on Council’s Website www.portaugusta.sa.gov.au under ‘The Council’ – ‘Council Documents’ – ‘Annual Report’. The Annual Report comprises the following: Section One - Executive Overview Section Two - The Council Section Three - Strategic Plan and Performance Section Four - Compliance Report – Information Statement pursuant to Section 9 of the Freedom of Information Act 1991. Section Five - Accountability Report Section Six - Community Acknowledgement Our Mission To create and sustain a safe and vibrant Community where people want to live, work, play and visit. Community Vision 2031 Port Augusta is a thriving, successful, intercultural community where our spirit of innovation and resilience has provided opportunities for all people of all ages to realise their dreams. We have capitalised on our top location to attract business investment, residential growth and tourists from all over the world. Our people have access to excellent health, education, housing and support services that gives them confidence in their future. We lead the way in living sustainably in an arid environment and in developing alternative energy infrastructure. Our strong, united, harmonious yet dynamic and vibrant community makes us proud to call Port Augusta home and enables us to welcome new residents and visitors to share our outstanding quality of life. 1 Our Values The following outlines the qualities that underpin the way we treat each other, the natural and built environment and all of the resources and materials we use in our daily lives. They will shape the ‘Port Augusta’ that we have expressed in our vision (extract from Community Vision and Strategic Plan 2013-2017): Respect and Social Cohesion Respect is fundamental to building a strong, socially cohesive community. It is based on a fundamental belief in the worth and value of all living things. It informs the way we treat people and nature. It also includes the way we protect our built heritage. We demonstrate respect when we include people in our conversations about what matters to us and listen with open hearts and minds to what they tell us. We value cultural diversity and encourage the expression of these different perspectives. We nurture respect when we find ways to work together on particular actions that address our shared concerns. Respect deepens when we take the time to learn more about each other through sharing our culture, our celebrations and our achievements. Optimism and Confidence We will face the future with a positive attitude drawing on our collective strengths and our shared history of struggle and triumph. We are resilient people and Port Augusta is a resilient place. We know that we have succeeded at anything we have believed in. Courage We are not afraid to face the hard issues and work through them together. We are prepared to take calculated risks to move towards a better future. Those who speak up are not silenced. They are invited to contribute to the solutions. Leadership We commit ourselves to nurturing leadership in our children and young people, valuing their contributions as citizens of our City. We develop opportunities for people to provide leadership within their communities, workplaces and places of learning. We actively support those who accept leadership roles in the community, whether these are political, religious, recreational, business or civic. Leaders have a passion and determination to succeed which means they are always prepared to try, to learn from their mistakes and try again. They are motivated by a desire to create a better world rather than the need to satisfy their own egos. We therefore value our leaders and recognise their contribution publicly. 2 Reconciliation Mission Statement Port Augusta City Council acknowledges and pays its respect to the traditional land owners within the Port Augusta area. Council also acknowledges Elders both past and present and their strong ongoing spiritual connection to the land, and reach out to other Aboriginal groups who visit our community and offer positive contributions to the City of Port Augusta. The cultural diversity of our community is valued and Council is committed to building on the process of meaningful reconciliation in partnership with Aboriginal peoples in our community. It is believed that in order to strive for genuine reconciliation it is crucial to acknowledge past hurts and injustices forced upon the First Australians, and we choose to leave behind stereotypes and prejudices of the past and choose to respectfully understand and embrace all people and cultures. The Reconciliation Journey that the Port Augusta City Council is committed to, will ensure that as a community we celebrate our diverse Aboriginal population and cultures, and provide services to Aboriginal people that are culturally appropriate and meet their needs. As an organisation we will provide a welcoming, supportive, inclusive and collaborative environment, where Aboriginal Councillors, workers and customers are treated with equality, care and respect. Together we will work towards a positive shared future built on strong relationships, where the rights, interest and wellbeing of Aboriginal peoples are celebrated and protected along with the broader community and we walk together as one. 3 Council Boundaries The Port Augusta City Council area is 1,153.1km2; surrounds the northern tip of Spencer Gulf; extends to the foothills of the Flinders Ranges in the east and to the Whyalla Council and Lincoln Gap in the west.