STATUTORY ANNUAL REPORT 2016/2017 STATUTORY ANNUAL REPORT DELIVERY PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION ....................................................................................... 3 COMMUNITY STRATEGIC PLAN IMPLEMENTATION ....................................................................... 4 AUDITED FINANCIAL REPORTS ........................................................................................................ 5 RATES AND CHARGES WRITTEN OFF .............................................................................................. 6 OVERSEAS VISITS ............................................................................................................................. 7 PAYMENT OF EXPENSES AND PROVISION OF FACILITIES TO COUNCILLORS .................................. 8 CONTRACTS AWARDED ................................................................................................................. 10 LEGAL PROCEEDINGS .................................................................................................................... 12 PRIVATE WORKS ............................................................................................................................ 13 CONTRIBUTIONS ........................................................................................................................... 14 EXTERNAL BODIES ......................................................................................................................... 16 CONTROLLING INTERESTS ............................................................................................................. 17 JOINT VENTURES ........................................................................................................................... 18 EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY .......................................................................................... 19 EMPLOYMENT OF SENIOR STAFF .................................................................................................. 20 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT SERVICES ..................................................................................... 22 STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT ........................................................................................ 23 STATEMENT IN COMPLIANCE WITH SPECIAL VARIATIONS APPROVAL CONDITIONS .................. 24 COMPANION ANIMALS ACT AND REGULATION ........................................................................... 25 GOVERNMENT INFORMATION (PUBLIC ACCESS) ACT 2009 ......................................................... 27 PLANNING AGREEMENTS .............................................................................................................. 32 PUBLIC INTEREST DISCLOSURES .................................................................................................... 33 ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY: DUBBO REGIONAL COUNCIL ....................... 34 Statutory Annual Report ‐ Dubbo City Council 2016/2017 2 STATUTORY ANNUAL REPORT Local Government Act Section 428(1) Delivery Program Implementation Within 5 months after the end of each year, a council must prepare a report (its annual report) for that year reporting as to its achievements in implementing its delivery program and the effectiveness of the principal activities undertaken in achieving the objectives at which those principal activities are directed. See Attachment A ‐ Delivery Program Review for 2016/2017. Statutory Annual Report ‐ Dubbo City Council 2016/2017 3 STATUTORY ANNUAL REPORT Local Government Act Section 428(2) Community Strategic Plan Implementation The annual report in the year in which an ordinary election of councillors is to be held must also report as to the council’s achievements in implementing the community strategic plan over the previous 4 years. As per circular No 17‐16 dated 26 June 2017 from the Office of Local Government with regard to transition from Administration to the Integrated Planning and Reporting framework for merged councils, Council is exempt from providing an outline of its achievements in implementing its Community Strategic Plan (CSP). Statutory Annual Report ‐ Dubbo City Council 2016/2017 4 STATUTORY ANNUAL REPORT Local Government Act Section 428(4)(a) Audited Financial Reports A copy of the council’s audited financial reports prepared in accordance with the Local Government Code of Accounting Practice and Financial Reporting published by the Department, as in force from time to time Following a request by Council for an extension of time to submit the 30 June 2017 Financial Statements due to issues surrounding the merging of the former Wellington and Dubbo City Councils, the Acting Chief Executive of the Office of Local Government, Tim Hurst, granted Dubbo Regional Council an extension for its financial statements to be signed and an audit opinion issued by 31 December 2017. Therefore, the 2016/2017 Audited Financial Statements for Dubbo Regional Council have not be provided in this report, however will be available on Council’s website once finalised. Statutory Annual Report ‐ Dubbo City Council 2016/2017 5 STATUTORY ANNUAL REPORT Local Government (General) Regulation 2005 Clause 132 Rates and Charges Written Off The council’s annual report must include the amount of rates and charges written off during the year. Rates and charges written off by Dubbo City Council during 2016/2017: Description Amount Rates ‐ Pension Rebates $1,222,919 (S 583(1) Local Government Act 1993) Rates ‐ Postponed Rates $28,773 (S 595(1) Local Government Act 1993) Rates ‐ Non Rateable Properties $14,368 (S 555(1) Local Government Act 1993) Rates ‐ Levy Adjustments Nil (S 598(1) Local Government Act 1993) Charges ‐ Interest on Postponed Rates $10,151 (S 595(1) Local Government Act 1993) Charges ‐ Amounts which were unrecoverable $26,043 Statutory Annual Report ‐ Dubbo City Council 2016/2017 6 STATUTORY ANNUAL REPORT Local Government Act Section 428(4)(b) Local Government (General) Regulation 2005 Clause 217 (1)(a) Overseas Visits Details (including the purpose) of overseas visits undertaken during the year by councillors, council staff or other persons while representing the council (including visits sponsored by other organisations). There is no overseas travel by the Administrator, Council staff or other persons representing Council to report. Statutory Annual Report ‐ Dubbo City Council 2016/2017 7 STATUTORY ANNUAL REPORT Local Government (General) Regulation Clauses 217 (1(a1)(i‐viii) Payment of Expenses and Provision of Facilities to Councillors Details of the total cost during the year of the payment of the expenses of, and the provision of facilities to, councillors in relation to their civic functions (as paid by the council, reimbursed to the councillor or reconciled with the councillor), including separate details on the total cost of each of the following: (i) The provision during the year of dedicated office equipment allocated to councillors on a personal basis, such as laptop computers, mobile telephones and landline telephones and facsimile machines installed in councillors’ homes (including equipment and line rental costs and internet access costs but not including call costs). (ii) Telephone calls made by councillors, including calls made from mobile telephones provided by the council and from landline telephones and facsimile services installed in councillors’ homes. (iii) The attendance of councillors at conferences and seminars. (iv) The training of councillors and the provision of skill development for councillors. (v) Interstate visits undertaken during the year by councillors while representing the council, including the cost of transport, the cost of accommodation and other out‐of‐pocket travelling expenses. (vi) Overseas visits undertaken during the year by councillors while representing the council, including the cost of transport, the cost of accommodation and other out‐of‐pocket travelling expenses. (vii) The expenses of any spouse, partner (whether of the same or the opposite sex) or other person who accompanied a councillor in the performance of his or her civic functions, being expenses payable in accordance with the Guidelines for the payment of expenses and the provision of facilities for Mayors and Councillors for Local Councils in NSW prepared by the Director‐General from time to time. (viii) Expenses involved in the provision of care for a child of, or an immediate family member of, a councillor, to allow the councillor to undertake his or her civic functions. Following the merger of the former Dubbo City and Wellington councils on 12 May 2016, an Administrator was appointed to govern over the newly formed Dubbo Regional Council. In this regard, the Administrator was paid an annual salary as determined by the NSW Government. The Administrator was also paid for expenses incurred in discharging his function and responsibilities to the Dubbo Regional community. These payments were in accordance with the Council’s “Payment of Expenses and Provision of Facilities to Councillors” Policy. Council’s Policy reflects the requirements of the guidelines issued by the Office of Local Government. The Policy is accessible from Council’s website. The Administrator’s salary for 2016/2017 was $222,317.23. Statutory Annual Report ‐ Dubbo City Council 2016/2017 8 STATUTORY ANNUAL REPORT Description Cost i. Cost of dedicated office equipment allocated to Administrator $19,476.96 ii. Telephone/data charges for Administrator $1,718.28 iii. Attendance of Administrator at conferences and seminars