The NSW government is looking to make major changes to the arrangements for developrs to help fund community infrastructre. Willoughby Mayor and CEO are very concerned about the likely impact on residents.

READ ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT’S PLANS.

An Angophora Costata tree in the grounds of Chatswood High School threatened by the expansion of the school has been saved. Plans have been withdrawn and the building will be relocated. The tree provided roosting to a pair of Powerful Owls.

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Some years ago when the school was expanding, a threatened species tree also led to redrawing of plans at the school.

Proposal to amend height and floor space. Available for comment on HaveYourSayWillougby between 5 July and 2 August

In it’s latest budget the NSW government has made provision for a new school in Chatswood. It is believed this is for a new primary school. The site that was being investigated is the Metro ‘Dive’ site on the corner of Pacific Highway and Mowbray Rd.

CEO (GM) salaries review:

An independent body would set the salaries of hundreds of general managers at local councils across NSW, in response to concerns some are too richly paid, under reforms being considered by the Berejiklian government. Ratepayers forked out between $205,000 and $633,852 for general managers at country and metropolitan local councils in the 2019-20 financial year, according to a consultation paper prepared for the NSW government. Local Government Minister Shelley Hancock said the review was aimed at tackling concerns incomes were too high, and had big disparities across the state, and that there was a widening gap over other worker salaries. The report says maintaining the status quo in NSW will allow councils to remain competitive with other sectors and to attract the “best possible” applicants. But it would not allay concerns there was a lack of consistency in salaries across the state, or address criticism managers were overpaid as many councils in NSW faced financial pressures.

In a recent ‘census’ Five people (four male and one female) were observed sleeping rough in three

locations. Four of the Five people were known to and in ongoing contact with local housing

providers. Two of the camp sites had been in situ for more than 12 months.

Of the five people counted:

One person had permanent housing in North Sydney.

One person had been offered temporary accommodation but had declined.

One person has the resources to secure their own housing but chooses to sleep rough.

One person is a foreign national and is ineligible for housing assistance.

One person’s housing status was unknown.

The new Willoughby DCP went to Council on 15^th June seeking approval to be submitted to DPIE prior to public exhibition alongside the new WLEP. It is important that people familiarise themselves with the content as it refines clauses of the LEP.

The Local Government Remuneration Tribunal has determined an increase of 2% to mayoral and councillor fees for the 2021-22 financial year, with effect from 1 July 2021.

Response from Councilregarding post-COVID service levels

[One thing that members have trouble understanding is that how with staff and resource reductions post COVID that Council can return to pre-COVID service levels?

Council’s services continued to be delivered at or close to normal service standards during COVID-19, except services forced to close due to health orders made by the NSW Government. Council’s 2021-22 Operational Plan and Budget provides for Council services to operate at pre-COVID-19 levels. The tables below show financial and human resources available to support Council services and projects.

A comprehensive community perception survey conducted in November 2020 showed very high levels of satisfaction with Council services during the 12 months prior to the survey.

In the spirit of transparency, members would like summary evidence of the service categories where staff and resources cuts have been made and an indication of pre-COVID service levels in a form that can be monitored going forward.

Neither cuts to staffing nor resources have occurred, and none are planned. Please refer to the tables below, which contain comparative financial information and staffing numbers to support this response.

Can Council assure the community that they will not use COVID induced financial responses as an opportunity to cut services and service levels?

Council has not used the need to exercise fiscal responsibility in response to COVID-19 to justify recommending reduced service levels and this is reflected in the 2021/22 draft budget and operational plan which is currently on public exhibition.

Can Council provide pre and post COVID (say 2 years either side)  budgets, categeorised by service levels. If not, why not?

The tables below summarise two years of actual and two years of planned expenditure. The first table shows expenditure by Community Strategic Plan (CSP) outcome, the second table shows expenditure by expenditure type, while the third table shows budgeted full time equivalent (FTE) staff.

As you can see, there is no planned reduction of the total resources applied to achieve our outcomes. However, you may notice in the second table a change in budgeted expenditure for employee costs from 2020/21 to 2021/22. This is because Council’s budget for next financial year incorporates a more refined forecast of vacant staff positions, compared to previous years. The third table shows that although employee expenses will reduce next financial year to better reflect vacant positions, there is no intent to reduce the number of full time equivalent staff included in Council’s budget.

Basically, if a council officer happens to notice something, action MIGHT be taken.

What audits are carried out on the contractors engaged by Council for garden maintenance and street speed traffic calmer gardens? Please include the frequency and manner that the audits occur so that an understanding of what is occurring can be obtained if audits do occur.

Auditing for the maintenance of gardens in our Local Area Traffic Management (LATM’s) devices is by visual inspection. The contract is supervised by Council’s Recreation Assets Officer and whilst driving around the LGA undertaking park inspections and triaging customer service requests, he sees the majority of LATM’s. Targeted visits are made to LATM’s in less regularly travelled back streets.

Each inspection checks the condition of plants, weed growth and litter. Where necessary, work is referred to the contractors for attention in line with maintenance standards or if a site appeared to have been missed in the contractor’s program of work.

Unfortunately, landscape works are sometimes vandalised, in particular through the theft of new plantings for what appears to be private use. Some incidents are reported as Customer Service Requests. Mostly, they are noticed and rectified by Council staff as part of their normal duties.

Anyone wishing to report concerns about the condition of gardens in our LATM’s can contact Council on 9777-1000 or by email at email@willoughby.nsw.gov.au