2025-2026 Community Grants Program – Community Project Grants (Program/projects)

Frank Wilkie101:18

Thank you Councillor Phillips. Now we have a move from seconded by the committee of recommendation. Moved by Councillor Stockwell. Seconded by Councillor Wegener. Any discussion? All in favour? That's carried unanimously. May we have Councillor Phillips back in the meeting please. 11.3.3 Is the community grants program, community program grants program and projects. 11.3.4 grants program, community grants program, community project grants infrastructure. 11.3.5 community grants program, community project grants equipment. Councillor Wegener, do you have a comment? Conflict you'd like to declare?

Frank Wilkie100:17

Councillor Finzel. I'll second. Councillor Wilson. Any discussion? None. All in favour? That's unanimous. 11.3.1 was community grants program summary, community project grants, three-year community alliance agreements and three-year signature community events. 11.3.2, community grants program, community program grants events and Councillor Phillips has a conflict of interest.

Jessica Phillips100:45

Thank you. In accordance with Chapter 5B of the Local Government Act 2009, I inform the meeting that I have a prescribed conflict of interest in relation to item 8.2, 2025-26 community grants program, community project grants events on this agenda because. Relation to the funding recommendation to the Hastings Street Association, as my sister-in-law Joanne Phillips is on the committee of the Hastings Street Association, as a result of my conflict of interest I will now leave the meeting room while the matter is considered and voted on.

Monthly finance afternoon Councillors. So year to date May reporting shows operating revenues continuing to outperform forecast and operating expenditures are under forecast year to date. Operating revenue is 2.2 dollars worth of budget which is being driven by interest income, 2.5 million dollars, sales of goods and services of 531,000 dollars, other revenue of 422,000 dollars and 171,000 dollars from grant programs. This has been offset by lower than forecast revenue from rates and Fees and Charges of 916,000 dollars. The below budget Fees and Charges relate predominantly to development assessment which is about 696 dollars. You should note,000. That development assessments may fluctuate depending on the volume and timing of applications. So that can explain why there's such a large variance at different times. We also have local losses down on about $230,000. And building and plumbing compliance fees are down $184,000. Some of that relates to some of the protected action and we look to try and regain some of that revenue through to the end of financial year as those staff come back online. Operating expenditure is $1 million underspent with employee costs $1.2 million under budget due to staff vacancies, savings and work cover premiums and forecast salary increases that were to commence in March not taking effect due to the ongoing negotiations of Council certified agreement. Once the agreement is finalised, back pay will occur and that saving will be used to fund those back payments. Materials and services expenditure is $436,000 over budget with the largest amount relating to civil operations which is $725,000. Noting that $120,000 of that relates to disasters and finance are under budget due to the referral of waste capital program of $240,000 overall council's year-to-date operating position at May is $3.2 million above budget which will be used to fund operations. Council should note that we have not yet received advice from the Federal government relating to our financial assistance grant for 25/26 which is usually paid in advance. I'm only noting this as it will have an impact on our financial statements if we are to receive that prepayment early again as we did actually receive the 24/25 payment late which could compound our financial position in a positive way this financial year but potentially have a negative impact next financial year but just noting it's a time issue only. Capital revenue is 12.1 million dollars above budget due to the timing of receiving SEQ CSP grant funds, bridge renewal program funds, SEQ liveability grant and QRA funding. Capital expenditure is behind budget 48.1 million dollars year-to-date with 16.6 million relating to council's base capital program and the remainder relating to disaster projects. The variance year-to-date is driven by budget profiling and the timing of project delivery. Any projects that remain outstanding at the end of financial year will be carried over into the next financial year for them to be completed. Council's cash holdings at the end of May with were $111 million $25 million of these funds invested in high yielding term deposits. Cash holdings continue to be higher than forecast with the delay in the delivery of council's capital program making up a large component of that. Cash balances will continue to decline as operation expenditure occurs through to 30 June and as the capital works program is delivered. Overall council's financial performance continues to be favourable with 11 minutes of the year complete. We are forecasting that Council will end the year with a net operating surplus pending any end of year adjustment.