2016-11-14 General Committee Meeting Notes

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                            14 NOVEMBER 2016


1.   Operating Budget Adjustments

There have been a number of adjustments to the operating budget proposed, as outlined in
Attachment 1, with an overall improvement in the operating position of $189k. Requests for
additional expenditure have been fully funded with savings or additional revenue. New initiatives
or significant funding requests have been reviewed by the Leadership Team prior to inclusion in
the budget review.

Key items include:
•    Fees & charges revenue – recognition of additional revenue from development
     applications received.
•    Interest revenue – recognition of higher than anticipated revenue received to date.
•    Sales revenue – accounting for revenue received from Library author events not originally
     budgeted.
•    Other recurrent income – account for insurance settlement from fleet asset.
•    Operating grants and subsidies – recognition of additional grant revenue received (offset
     by expenditure) for traineeships undertaken, and from additional State Library grant
     revenue received.
•    Employee Costs – minor adjustments to recognise the reallocation of budgets from
     contract services for facility maintenance; wages attributable to the new trainee positions;
     backfill of a position in planning administration to prepare for new Planning legislation; and
     the employment of a Flying Fox management officer.
•    Materials and services – provision of materials for Community Bushland Care program;
     the engagement of a consultant to undertake a review of Noosa Community Support
     operations; provision for increased contract tree management services due to increases in
     customer requests; adjustments to holding tank charges to be managed through waste;
     expenditure of additional grants received; and savings in insurance costs and Council of
     Mayors membership.

2.   Capital Works Program Adjustments

There have been a number of adjustments to the capital works program to reflect emergent
works undertaken and variations across different programs. Details for changes to each program
are outlined in Attachment 2. The total program has decreased by $1,571,265 with a focus on
the ability to deliver the current program.

Previous Council Consideration

The budget was amended in August 2016 to account for the carryover of projects from 2015/16
into the current year.

Finance & Risk

There has been an increase to the operating result following the budget review, and overall
Council is forecasting a surplus of $384k.

Changes to the capital program include a marginal reduction in renewal works of $137k, and a
reduction in expansion and upgrade projects of $1,423k. Capital program changes do not impact
the operating position, though the forecast cash position is marginally improved.

All financial sustainability ratios remain within (or exceed) target ranges, as outlined in the
attached Budget Financial Statements.

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