2020-10-12 General Committee Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                            12 OCTOBER 2020


   involvement in future Council budgets. Respondents on average had the least preference for
   no community involvement and leaving Councillors to continue to make budget decisions as
   elected community representatives.




   Given there are a number of available online budget engagement tools available, it is
   recommended that staff review options and report back to a future Council meeting.

   Previous Council Consideration
   Ordinary Meeting Minutes, 18 June 2020, Item 6, Page 10
   That Council note the report by the Director Corporate Services to the Services &
   Organisation Committee Meeting dated 9 June 2020 and:
   A.      Following Council’s adoption of the 2020/21 Budget, agree to engage with the
           community via Your Say Noosa on:
           1.   How the allocation of any additional funding should be prioritised if it becomes
                available through the financial year; and
           2.   Where services/expenditure should be reduced if further budget reductions are
                required.
   B.      Agree to engage with the community on their preferred public consultation model for
           the 2021/22 budget process; and
   C.      Request the Chief Executive Officer to provide a report to Council on the outcomes of
           both public consultation processes for Council’s consideration before it meets to
           consider its scheduled Budget Review 2 in November 2020.
   Finance
   The likely upfront and ongoing cost of software and staff resources required to deliver an
   online budget engagement tool and process will be reported back to Council - provided
   Council resolves to request staff to report back to a future Council meeting with options.

   Risks & Opportunities
   Risks
   Reputational – Council has progressed down the path towards consultation on future Council
   budgets. Community trust will likely be eroded should this process not result in an outcome
   whereby a consultation process is not established and implemented.

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