Agenda of Special Meeting

Buloke Shire Council Special Meeting Agenda Wednesday, 18 June 2014

ORDER OF BUSINESS

1. COUNCIL prayer AND WELCOME

The Mayor Cr Reid Mather will read the Council Prayer and welcome members of the gallery.

2. RECEIPT OF APOLOGIES

3. REQUESTS FOR LEAVE OF ABSENCE

4. DECLARATION of PECUNIARY AND conflictS of interest

In accordance with Sections 77A, 77B and 78 of the Local Government Act Councillors are required to disclose an "interest" in a decision if they would receive, or could be reasonably perceived as receiving a direct or indirect financial or non-financial benefit or detriment (other than as a voter, resident or ratepayer) from the decision.

Disclosure must occur immediately before the matter is considered or discussed.

5....... OTHER BUSINESS

5.1 Petitions 3

5.1.1 PETITION- SUBMISSIONS FOR THE BULOKE SHIRE COUNCIL DRAFT BUDGET 2014-2015 PETITION SUBMISSION 3

5.2 Urgent Business 70

5.2.1 SUBMISSIONS FOR THE BULOKE SHIRE COUNCIL DRAFT BUDGET 2014-2015 70

6....... ANY OTHER BUSINESS

7....... MEETING CLOSE

NEXT MEETING

The next Ordinary Meeting of Council will be held in Wycheproof Supper Room, 367 Broadway, Wycheproof on Wednesday, 9 July 2014 at 7.00pm.

JOHN HICKS

ACTING CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Buloke Shire Council Special Meeting Agenda Wednesday, 18 June 2014

5. OTHER BUSINESS

5.1 Petitions

5.1.1 PETITION- SUBMISSIONS FOR THE BULOKE SHIRE COUNCIL DRAFT BUDGET 2014-2015 PETITION SUBMISSION

Author’s Title: Relief Governance Officer

Department: Office of the CEO File No: FM/05/02

Attachments:

1 ViewPetition Submission Part 1- Donald Community- Buloke Shire Council Draft Budget 2014-2015

2 ViewPetition Submission Part 2- Donald Community- Buloke Shire Council Draft Budget 2014-2015

Relevance to Council Plan 2013 - 2017

Objective: An organisation that is responsibly governed with a strong emphasis on sustainable financial and risk management.

Strategy: Ensuring Council is well governed and its finances and risks are managed sustainably and responsibly.

Priority: Review and renew the Council’s financial plans to improve financial sustainability as measured by indicators of local government financial sustainability developed by the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office.

RECOMMENDATION

That Council:

1. Accept a petition from residents and ratepayers requesting Council “keep the Donald Council Office open to the public”. The petition references the Council’s Draft 2014-2015 Budget.

1. Executive Summary

A Petition supported by 384 signatures was received by Council on 11 June 2014. The petition references the Buloke Shire Budget 2014/2015 and requests “Council keep the Donald Office open to the public.”

2. Discussion

The petition arises at the same time as Council has exhibited its draft budget for public comment. The draft budget advocates the closure of face-to-face customer services at four Council offices including Donald.

3. Financial Implications

In the draft budget the closure of face-to-face customer services at four Council offices is expected to realise a cost saving in 2015-2016 of $380,000.

4. Community Consultation

Community Consultation on the draft budget is underway with submissions being received at today’s Special Council Meeting.

5. Internal Consultation

Extensive internal consultation was undertaken in the preparation of the draft budget including a Service Review to identify cost savings.

6. Legislative/ Policy Implications

Nil

7. Environmental Sustainability

Nil

8. Conflict of Interest Considerations

There are no conflict of interest considerations associated with this report.

9. Conclusion

Council can consider the petition as part of its assessment of submissions on the 2014/15 draft budget

Buloke Shire Council Special Meeting Agenda Wednesday, 18 June 2014

5.1.1 PETITION- SUBMISSIONS FOR THE BULOKE SHIRE COUNCIL DRAFT BUDGET 2014-2015

Attachment 1 Petition Submission Part 1- Donald Community- Buloke Shire Council Draft Budget 2014-2015

Buloke Shire Council Special Meeting Agenda Wednesday, 18 June 2014

5.2 Urgent Business

5.2.1 SUBMISSIONS FOR THE BULOKE SHIRE COUNCIL DRAFT BUDGET 2014-2015

Author’s Title: Relief Governance Officer

Department: Office of the CEO File No: FM/05/02

Attachments:

1 ViewSubmission- Advance Sea Lake Inc- Buloke Shire Council Draft Budget 2014-2015

2 ViewSubmission- Allison Cashin- Buloke Shire Council Draft Budget 2014-2015

3 ViewSubmission- Charlton Forum Inc- Buloke Shire Council Draft Budget 2014-2015

4 ViewSubmission- Donald 2000 Inc- Buloke Shire Council Draft Budget 2014-2015

5 ViewSubmission- Graeme Harris- Buloke Shire Council Draft Budget 2014-2015

6 ViewSubmission- Ian Green- Buloke Shire Council Draft Budget 2014-2015

7 ViewSubmission- Sandra Baron - Buloke Shire Council Draft Budget 2014-2015

8 ViewSubmission- Sandra Baron- Buloke Shire Council Draft Budget 2014-2015

9 ViewSubmission- Watchem Progress- Buloke Shire Council Draft Budget 2014-2015

Relevance to Council Plan 2013 - 2017

Objective: An organisation that is responsibly governed with a strong emphasis on sustainable financial and risk management.

Strategy: Ensuring Council is well governed and its finances and risks are managed sustainably and responsibly.

RECOMMENDATION

That Council receive submissions in respect of the Draft Budget 2014-2015 adopted for public exhibition on 14 May 2014 in accordance with Section 223 of the Local Government Act 1989.

1. Executive Summary

At the Ordinary Meeting of Council 14 May 2014, Council adopted a draft budget for public exhibition. Written submissions were received until 13 June 2014 and the public were invited to present their submissions to Council at its Special Council Meeting of 18 June 2014. Council will then adopt a 2014/15 budget at the Special Council Meeting on 25 June 2014, after considering these submissions.

2. Financial Implications

The information received will inform Council’s deliberations on the budget for 2014-15

3. Community Consultation

Public meetings were held in ten towns on 26 and 27 May 2014 to provide information to the public on the proposed budget.

4. Internal Consultation

All parts of the organisation have been involved in the preparation of the draft budget.

5. Legislative / Policy Implications

This process is an integral part of the requirements of the Local Government Act 1989

6. Environmental Sustainability

Environmental matters were considered as part of the Council services to be delivered under the proposed budget.

7. Conflict of Interest Considerations

There are no conflict of interest considerations associated with this report.

8. Conclusion

Submissions received and presentations provided will form part of Council’s consideration in respect of the budget to be adopted for 2014-15

Buloke Shire Council Special Meeting Agenda Wednesday, 18 June 2014

5.2.1 SUBMISSIONS FOR THE BULOKE SHIRE COUNCIL DRAFT BUDGET 2014-2015

Attachment 5 Submission- Graeme Harris- Buloke Shire Council Draft Budget 2014-2015

From: Kookas [mailto:admin@kookas.com.au]
Sent: Tuesday, 10 June 2014 2:45 PM
To: Records
Subject: Buloke Shire Budget Submission.
Importance: High

buloke@buloke.net.au

Submission to Buloke Shire

Re: Budget 2014 – 2015 Borrow 7 million dollars.

The current proposal is to borrow 7 million dollars and not use the overdraft and reduce the interest costs by 5%

Comparison: An interest only loan we continue to pay interest at the whole period of the loan where overdraft, you only pay interest on the amount drawn on the overdraft.

Alternative is to use a cocktail of loan funds and overdraft facility.

Or, an off set facility where when the account is in credit there is no interest charged and when in debit you pay the interest, this facility is available on interest only loans.

As was stated at the budget information session sometime around Feb, March, April the Shire overdraft is not in use.

Over and above this on my calculations Buloke Shire would not require a 7 million dollar loan. Lets try a bit more hard nose negotiation, banks and financiers want our business.

Closing the Customer Services.

· Estimated savings $380,000.00

· Prove where are the savings, when no staff will be retrenched, natural attrition will happen anyway. So use natural attrition as a method off reducing staff.

· The Buloke Shire customer services officers are rated in the best sector in the Buloke Shire – local government customer surveys. Why get rid of something that is working?

· Why not close the Office over lunchtime, saving of 5 staff x 1hr x 50 weeks per year = 1300 hours per year x $30.00 per head = $39,000.00

Buloke Shire cars are a costly item. Many employees take them home and back again, the next morning even as far as Bendigo. Middle management SHOULD NOT have a car. The car should be picked up when they arrive at work. Implementation of this is for the council to make policy on this action.

The question is often asked: What do we get for our shire rates?

It is important to reduce the numbers in administration. Service providers generate the genuine service and corporate knowledge.

· Customer Service providers are not busy all the time, allow them other duties.

· Management in silos is an obsolete practice.

· Savings can be found in Capital Works by applying for grant funding to assist with many of the proposed projects.

· Remove Community Funds that do not return a positive outcome.

· Re apply to the Uniting Church or Wimmera Uniting Care for their funding for youth workers.

· The rate payers are contributing to costs in the council budget with full cost recovery of waste services and a 6% rate rise. Rate payers need some visibility of having services available. I.e.: Customer Service.

· Identify non performing essential staff.

· Borrow money for redundancies.

· Put back unnecessary capital works by 1 or 2 years.

Other savings –

· Expenditure on I.T Services page 65

· Cap expenditure on Furniture and I.T. equipment page 65

· Staff in procurement reduce to 1.5

I suggest the council listen to the ratepayers, scrutinise the financial reports, ask questions at open council meetings, where the press can report information to the public.

The rate payers of Buloke Shire and Donald demand and deserve a 5 day a week service (not a 1 day a week) to provide ratepayers with tangle able evidence of a return on the rates paid to the shire.

Regards

Graeme Harris

0419 547 897

Buloke Shire Council Special Meeting Agenda Wednesday, 18 June 2014

5.2.1 SUBMISSIONS FOR THE BULOKE SHIRE COUNCIL DRAFT BUDGET 2014-2015

Attachment 6 Submission- Ian Green- Buloke Shire Council Draft Budget 2014-2015

PDF Creator