Council Seeks Community Feedback on draft IP&R Plans
Published on 29 April 2019
Snowy Valleys Council has endorsed its draft Integrated Planning and Reporting (IP&R) plans and is calling for community feedback on the documents, which have been placed on public exhibition.
Mayor Cr James Hayes said the integrated plans outlined the strategies, resources and actions, including time, money, assets and people, required to implement the long-term community aspirations contained within the Community Strategic Plan, Snowy Valleys 2028.
“Together, these draft documents comprise our annual Operational Plan, the 2019/20 Fees and Charges Schedule and our draft Resourcing Strategy,” he said.
Under the NSW Government’s IP&R Framework, all councils in NSW are required to develop a Resourcing Strategy, comprising three inter-related documents covering long-term financial planning, asset management planning and workforce planning.
The focus of Council’s draft Resourcing Strategy is financial sustainability and a key sustainability action is the draft one page amendment to the Delivery Program which details Council’s intention to develop an application for a Special Rate Variation (SRV).
Within the draft Resourcing Strategy the Long Term Financial Plan sets out two scenarios in Council’s General Fund, a planned scenario which aims to have Council achieving an operating surplus within five years and an unsustainable scenario which assumes rate revenues will decrease by $650,000 per annum when the current Tumut region SRV expires in 2020.
“Our community told us they want us to maintain the current service levels we are providing and so we need to look at avenues to fund this sustainably, one being applying for an SRV,” Cr Hayes said.
“It is also important to note that the addendum is an intention to apply only and that the application process will require robust community consultation and decisions of Council in multiple stages.” Cr Hayes went on to explain.
The draft Operational Plan is a checklist on what Council will deliver in the next financial year and includes the Revenue Policy and the 2019/20 Operational Budget.
“There is a lot of good work being carried out by Council staff to ensure we deliver the services and facilities required and expected by our community and these documents outline all of Council’s activities for the coming financial year and the resources to achieve them,” said Cr Hayes.
Along with more than $5.7 million allocated to refurbishing and maintaining local roads and bridges and an increased focus on the delivery of over $25 million in major infrastructure projects, Council will also deliver another significant Capital Works program with over $9.2 million being allocated for works to be undertaken across the region.
The draft 2019/20 Schedule of Fees and Charges includes proposed increases in childcare fees that reflect changes in government funding, and the harmonisation of fees across key areas including Cemeteries and Waste.
“By harmonising the waste fees now we position ourselves to be able to implement new initiatives that will be identified in the upcoming Waste Strategy, like the introduction of green and organic waste bins and increases in recycling capabilities,” said Council’s Acting General Manager Robyn Harvey.
“As a maturing organization, we are improving how we plan and deliver each year. We now have a clearer idea of what is achievable and where we can deliver the best value”, Ms Harvey said.
Council encourages all residents to provide feedback on the 2019/20 Operational Plan, Operational Budget, and the Fees and Charges Schedule, as well as the Financial Sustainability update to the Delivery Program and the draft Resourcing Strategy (which includes the Long Term Financial Plan, Workforce Management Plan and Strategic Asset Management Plan).
“We will also be reconvening our Community Sounding Board and throughout the public exhibition period we will be out in the community answering questions and taking on board feedback regarding the documents,” Ms Harvey said.
Community members can view the documents and provide feedback online at Council’s engagement website www.yourvoice.svc.nsw.gov.au/IPandR or in writing to the General Manager, PO Box 61, Tumbarumba 2653 or General Manager 76 Capper St, Tumut 2720. The consultation period closes on Saturday 18 May 2019.