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8 OCT 2022
Council committee structure overhaul
The September Meeting of Council endorsed the exhibition of a new Committees’ Policy and Framework that proposes sweeping reforms to the existing structure and the amount of information considered by Council Meetings. “Council has operated with numerous committees for some time and while these committees have provided valuable input into Council’s operations, the feedback we have received is that it was time for a review,” says Jessica Rippon, Director Environ-
mental Services. “A review of committees also needs to occur as part of a new Council being formed. Staff therefore took the opportunity to rethink the number and purpose of our committees to ensure they were operating efficiently and supported Council’s strategic direction.” Community members involved with various committees and organisations The Bugle spoke to were reluctant to comment publicly on the new structure as they are still trying to work
Council is hoping Jamberoo Mountain Road will be open by Christmas, but the timing is reliant on factors outside of its control. Due to the complex nature of the damage, which includes undermining of the tarmac, it has taken since early July for the design for the repair to be decided on. Safety concerns have prevented even one way traffic on the road during this time. The design has now been approved by Transport NSW, and Council has again
secured State funding for the extensive repairs as it did for the previous closure. “Our designer is now finalising the design documentation to enable us to go to tender later this month/early November,” says Director Engineering & Works, Mike Dowd. “If we can secure the resources we need, such as equipment and crews, and have good weather, we might be able to have the road open in time for Christmas.
out what is involved and the implications for community participation. After analysing what other councils do, staff strongly recommended just five Advisory Committees, with standard formats, in addition to the legislated Audit, Risk & Improvement Committee and Traffic Committee, and two Committees of Council. “Creating a committee structure that supports the delivery of the Community Strategic Plan is seen as a positive new approach which could more broadly align
Council’s strategic direction with opportunities for community input and advice,” says Ms Rippon. The recommendation is for one of these Committees of Council, made up of all councillors and able to make decisions, to be a new Planning and Development Committee. This Committee would meet monthly and solely deal with planning and development matters. This would include the determination of significant development applications, the endorse-
J’roo Mountain Rd may be open for Christmas
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ment of recommendations to the Southern Regional Planning Panel and the endorsement of strategies and planning instruments. Its meetings will be open to the public except when there is a need to be confidential. The other Committee of Council would be the Performance Review Committee, which would deal with senior staff employment arrangements in closed session. The five Advisory Committees would bring together a number of longstanding committees (such as the Cultural Board and the Kiama Walking Tracks and Cycleways Committee) under their umbrella: • Community and Culture Advisory Committee • Environmental Management and Sustainability Advisory Committee • Tourism & Economic Development Advisory Committee • Connected and Liveable Community Advisory Committee • Finance Advisory Committee. For example, the proposed purpose of the Community and Cultural Committee is to ‘provide expert advice on the development, implementation, and monitoring of the following’ (through project reference groups if deemed necessary): • arts & culture strategy
• youth engagement strategy and action plan • open space and recreation strategy • companion animals management strategy • First Nations cultural heritage strategy • heritage review projects. The meetings of all the Advisory Committees would generally be open to the public, and any recommendations would need to be reported to an Ordinary Council meeting for formal decision making/ ratification. Membership of each Advisory Committee is outlined in detail in the draft document, and generally include councillors, community representatives (including special mention of youth and Aboriginal representatives), community and government organisations and other specialist input. The reforms also extend to the existing Precinct structure, including that they are no longer referred to as advisory committees and that councillors are excluded from being able to vote at the meetings. It is proposed that the Minutes of the Precincts no longer be included in Council’s Business Papers, and that any recommendations should be made to the appropriate decision making body. Resident/ratepayer associ-
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