2014-03-31 General Committee Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING REPORT                                                  31 MARCH 2014


Five Areas for Further Review

The final structure identifies five areas that have been identified for further consideration. This
means that these areas have not yet been fully reviewed. Rather than wait until every single
area has been fully reviewed, it is suggested that these areas be reviewed during the budget
process and a determination made on structural issues at that time. This will enable the balance
of the organisation to move forward.

Areas identified for further review are as follows:

    Transport function – to be determined following consideration of the Transport Levy, funding
     levels and Transport Strategy;
    Environment function – to be determined following consideration of the Environment Levy,
     service delivery model and funding levels. In the meantime, the Pest Management function is
     to be transferred to the Waste and Environmental Health area. Also, the Natural Areas
     function to be transferred to Civil Operations as part of the Parks and Natural Areas section.
     Finally, all Environment Officers are to operate within the Environment Section;
    Community Engagement and Biosphere - pending consideration of the Biosphere and
     Community Engagement issues, the current Biosphere, Sustainability and Economic
     Development staff be transferred to this area and the structure be finalised once those issues
     are determined by Council.          In the meantime due to its importance, the role of
     Communications Manager will be advertised;
    Community Development and Sport and Recreation - the Council has not yet resolved its
     community funding or community support models. The structure of this area can be reviewed
     once the level of direct and indirect support has been determined; and
    Libraries and Art Galleries - the Council has not yet reviewed these areas or determined
     appropriate service levels. This will be finalised during the budget process.


5.     Staffing implications

In relation to staff matters, it is noted as follows:
 There are no redundancies proposed as part of the adoption of this report;
 Like any Council in Queensland, it is not possible to rule out future redundancies but as can
    be seen from the benchmarking exercise, the Council cannot be said to be overstaffed.
    Changes to service levels, funding sources or changes to strategy are likely to be future
    drivers of any change in EFT’s;
 Quite a number of vacant positions are being abolished. These are primarily administration
    and management positions which are not required;
 Three new positions are being created. These are all front line service positions including
    two new Parks Workers and a new Customer Service Officer; and
 The ongoing net saving for the Council budget is approximately $680,000 per year (plus
    oncosts).
Details of the individual positions being abolished and created are contained in Attachment 2.




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