2015-04-28 Planning and Organisation Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                    28 APRIL 2015



16                       FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS PROGRAM
DOCUMENT INFORM AT ION




Author                              Chief Executive Officer, Brett de Chastel
                                    Executive Office

Index                               ECM/ Subject/ State/Federal Government Grants

Attachments                         Nil


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Not applicable.

RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Chief Executive Officer to the Planning & Organisation
Committee Meeting dated 28 April 2015 and:
A.                       Acknowledge the importance of federal funding through the Financial Assistance
                         Grants program for the continued delivery of our Council’s services and infrastructure;
B.                       Note that the Noosa Shire Council will receive a Commonwealth Financial Assistance
                         Grant of $2.12 million in the 2014/15 financial year; and
C.                       Request that the Chief Executive Officer ensures this Federal funding, and other
                         funding provided by the Federal Government under relevant grant programs, is
                         appropriately identified as Commonwealth grant funding in Council publications,
                         including the Annual Report.



REPORT
As Council would be aware, along with all other local governments in Australia, we receive a
Financial Assistance Grant (FAG). Across Australia, more than $2.3 billion is provided by
the Commonwealth Government to Local Governments (via State Grants Commissions).

The Commonwealth Government has frozen indexation of that grant until 2017/18. This is a
net 13% impact on the size of the FAGs provided over that period and will affect all Local
Governments across Australia, including Noosa Shire Council

The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) and Local Government Association of
Queensland (LGAQ) are together working to raise the profile of this issue in local
communities. They are seeking support of Councils in passing a series of resolutions which
will give support to the campaign. They have provided details of suggested resolutions (see
above).

The ALGA and LGAQ and are in the process of lobbying the Commonwealth Government to
reverse its decision made in 2014 to freeze the indexation of the FAGs.

It may also be opportune for our Council to raise this matter with our federal members.




                                                                                                   Page 138 of 211