2014-08-19 Infrastructure and Services Committee Agenda

INFRASTRUCTURE & SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                           19 AUGUST 2014


COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT REPORTS
4                          COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENTAL UPDATE
DOCUMENT IN FOR MATI ON




Author                              Director Community Services, Alan (Fox) Rogers
                                    Community Services Department

Index                               Status Update Report

Attachments                         Nil


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Not applicable

RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Director Community Services to the Infrastructure & Services
Committee Meeting dated 19 August 2014 providing an update on the operations of the
Community Services Department.


REPORT
The Community Services Department consists of the following sections and teams:

•                         Community Development and Community Grants
•                         Community Facilities (including Community Care (Respite and Home Assist), The J, The
                          Bicentennial Centre, The Noosa Aquatic Centre, and The Noosa Leisure Centre);
•                         Disaster Management and Public Order;
•                         Libraries and Galleries; and
•                         Waste, Environmental Health and Cemeteries.

A status report from each of these teams outlining recent achievements, upcoming priorities and
issues is contained in Attachment 1.

In reviewing the Department’s operations for the past three months the following observations
are pertinent:
•     In difficult and challenging times staff are to be commended for their continued focus on
      providing quality customer service;
•     The finalisation of the organisational structure was welcomed by staff;
•     The appointment of key managers to permanent positions has given stability to the new
      department;
•     The development of the 2014/15 budget from a zero base was a major focus for all
      branches during this quarter;
•     The separation of the Noosa libraries from the Sunshine Coast Council in April finalised the
      de-amalgamation process from a departmental perspective; and
•     The successful completion of a number of internal service reviews for Libraries, the Noosa
      Regional Gallery, the Butter Factory, Community Grants and Community Development
Doc
      teams was another major departmental achievement.




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