2015-08-18 Planning and Organisation Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                 18 AUGUST 2015


     EDV
       Council formalised its position in relation to the proposal by the EDV Association to
       have the boundary between Noosa and SCRC moved to include the Eumundi, Doonan
       and Verrierdale area within Noosa Shire.
     Electrician
       After undertaking a business case, the Council employed its own electrician to make
       savings on electrical planning (e.g. depot generator) and operational costs.
     Planning Scheme
       Council staff worked through the process to seek Ministerial approval to make
       amendments to the existing Planning Scheme. This process was delayed due to the
       change of State Government but approval to undertake public advertising has now
       been received. At the same time, background studies to enable the development of a
       new town plan have begun.
     Tender savings
       Through a close affiliation with Local Buy, Council has been able to achieve some
       significant savings with its procurement practices in 2014/15. This was particularly
       evident with electricity pricing resulting in significant savings for ratepayers.


REFLECTIONS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Clearly, 2014/15 was a busy year and there is every possibility that I have missed some key
activities in this “year in review”. The list is long nonetheless and doesn’t include all of the
day to day services provided like lending library books, cleaning drainage, learn to swim
classes, issuing rates notices etc.

The finalisation of the separation from SCRC was achieved as well as a major focus on
service delivery and establishing new policies and strategies. It was while preparing this
report that it became evident exactly how much we have achieved in the past 12 months.
We have certainly taken major steps towards our key priority areas as set out in the
Corporate Plan.

This could not have been achieved without an incredible amount of hard work and
commitment by Councillors and all of our staff. We should all look back on 2014/15 with a
sense of pride of what we have achieved.

However, it would also be fair to say that not everything went perfectly in 2014/15. Nothing
is ever perfect and we will need to focus on some key areas in 2015/16 to continue our
journey. The key areas of focus in 2015/16 include:
 Asset Management Plans;
 Delivery of the Capital Works Program including unfinished projects from 2014/15;
 Ongoing development of our organisational capability and Council organisational culture;
 Delivery of high profile projects (e.g. Electric Bus trial, Rufous Street project, second
    Community Jury etc); and
 Finalisation of a number of key strategies (e.g. Social Plan, Local Economic Plan and
    Library Strategy).


Previous Council Consideration

Nil.



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