ANNUAL REPORT 2014-15 Glen Innes Severn Council Annual Report 2014-15 COUNCIL CONTACT INFORMATION Council Offices: Phone (02) 6730 2300 Grey Street Administration Office 265 Grey Street, Glen Innes Office Hours: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Health, Building and Infrastructure Office 136 Church Street, Glen Innes Office Hours: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Written Communication: The General Manager Glen Innes Severn Council PO Box 61 GLEN INNES NSW 2370 Electronic Communication: [email protected] Facsimile: (02) 6732 3764 Website: www.gisc.nsw.gov.au Page | 1 Glen Innes Severn Council Annual Report 2014-15 This page has been left blank intentionally. Page | 2 Glen Innes Severn Council Annual Report 2014-15 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR................................................................................... 7 2. GENERAL MANAGER’S OVERVIEW .......................................................................... 8 3. ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES ................................................................................ 11 3.1 Councillor Contact Information .......................................................................... 11 3.2 Delegates to Committees and Other Bodies ..................................................... 13 4. COUNCIL STRUCTURE ............................................................................................. 18 4.1 Council’s Organisational Structure .................................................................... 18 4.2 Council .............................................................................................................. 19 4.2 Councillors ........................................................................................................ 19 4.3 Mayor ................................................................................................................ 20 4.4 General Manager .............................................................................................. 20 4.5 Council Staff ...................................................................................................... 20 4.6 Division of Staff Responsibility .......................................................................... 21 4.7 Staff Positions Approved by Council ................................................................. 21 5. GOVERNING PRINCIPLES ........................................................................................ 26 5.1 Council Vision ................................................................................................... 26 5.2 Council’s Slogan ............................................................................................... 26 5.3 Mission Statement ............................................................................................ 26 5.4 Values ............................................................................................................... 26 5.5 Community Vision ............................................................................................. 26 5.6 Strategic Outcomes .......................................................................................... 26 5.7 Strategic Objectives .......................................................................................... 27 5.8 Strategic Financial Objectives ........................................................................... 28 5.9 Council Charter ................................................................................................. 28 6. REGIONAL INFORMATION ....................................................................................... 30 6.1 Map (Local Government Area) .......................................................................... 30 6.2 Profile ................................................................................................................ 31 6.3 Statistics at a Glance ........................................................................................ 32 7. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR ..................................................................................... 33 7.1 Events ............................................................................................................... 33 7.2 Environment, Planning and Economic Development ........................................ 37 7.3 Financial and Performance Highlights .............................................................. 38 7.4 Glen Innes Aggregates ..................................................................................... 39 Page | 3 Glen Innes Severn Council Annual Report 2014-15 8. LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1993 AND GENERAL REGULATION ........................ 41 8.1 Audited Financial Statements ........................................................................... 41 8.2 Performance of Principal Activities .................................................................... 41 8.3 Rates and Charges Written Off ......................................................................... 41 8.4 Overseas Visits ................................................................................................. 41 8.5 Payment of Expenses of, and the Provision of Facilities to, Councillors ........... 41 8.6 Major Contracts Awarded.................................................................................. 42 8.7 Legal Proceedings Taken By or Against the Council ........................................ 44 8.8 Work Carried Out On Private Land ................................................................... 44 8.9 Contributions Granted Under Section 356 ........................................................ 44 8.10 External Bodies that Exercised Functions Delegated by Council ...................... 46 8.11 Companies in which Council held a Controlling Interest ................................... 46 8.12 Partnerships, Co-operatives and Joint Ventures ............................................... 47 8.13 Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Management Plan ............................... 47 8.14 Senior Staff Remuneration ................................................................................ 49 8.15 Storm Water Management Services ................................................................. 50 8.16 Capital Works Projects ...................................................................................... 50 9. COMPANION ANIMALS MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES ............................................. 53 10. GOVERNMENT INFORMATION (PUBLIC ACCESS) ACT 2009 ............................... 55 10.1 Background ....................................................................................................... 55 10.2 Review of proactive release program ................................................................ 55 10.3 Number of access applications received ........................................................... 56 10.4 Number of refused applications for Schedule 1 information .............................. 56 10.5 Statistical information about access applications .............................................. 56 11. ENVIRONMENT PLANNING AND ASSESSMENT ACT 1979 ................................... 60 11.1 Planning Agreements ........................................................................................ 60 11.2 Programs Undertaken to Preserve, Protect, Restore and Enhance the Environment ...................................................................................................... 60 12. PUBLIC INTEREST DISCLOSURE ACT 1994 AND REGULATION ......................... 63 13. CARER’S (RECOGNITION) ACT 2010 ...................................................................... 63 14. STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT ............................................................... 63 15. CONDITION OF PUBLIC WORKS ............................................................................. 63 16. OTHER LEGISLATIVE INFORMATION ..................................................................... 67 16.1 Bush Fire Hazard Reduction Activities .............................................................. 67 16.2 Business Activities ............................................................................................ 67 Page | 4 Glen Innes Severn Council Annual Report 2014-15 16.3 Code of Conduct ............................................................................................... 68 17. HUMAN RESOURCE ACTIVITIES ............................................................................. 70 17.1 Staff Profile / Workforce Planning ..................................................................... 70 17.2 Staff Consultative Committee ............................................................................ 71 17.3 Recruitment and Selection ................................................................................ 71 17.4 Position Descriptions ........................................................................................ 72 17.5 Employee Remuneration and Job Evaluation ................................................... 72 17.6 Enterprise Bargaining ....................................................................................... 72 17.7 Equal Employment Opportunity ........................................................................ 72 17.8 Staff Development and Training ........................................................................ 72 17.9 Grievance Management .................................................................................... 73 17.10 Work Health and Safety (WHS) .......................................................................