27 February 2007 - Ordinary Meeting of Council (pdf. 14MB)

Ordinary Meeting of Council - 27 February 2007 11 / 9
Item 11
S04708
19 February 2007
‣ Built Environment
Council has adopted the programs for the 2006/07 for roads, footpaths, traffic facilities, drainage
and building maintenance. Works are currently underway and progressing well and the majority of
capital works are expected to be completed by June 2007.
Traffic studies have been completed for each of the town centres with some minor modifications to
be evaluated in accordance with Council’s resolutions.
A draft report was tabled to the Finance Committee and the Councillor’s workshop on the
methodology and allocation of funding to capital works with the final report to be presented to
Council in March 2007.
Negotiations are continuing with the sale of the existing depot site and it is expected that this will
be resolved in March 2007. Preparation on the construction certificate plans and tender documents
are to commence in March 2007 and are expected to be finalised for tender by May 2007.
A strategy and policy direction on vandalism and removal of graffiti is scheduled for discussion at
the next Policy Committee meeting.
Maintain outstanding DA numbers below 550 - As at December 2006, the number of outstanding
applications (DA, S96 and S82A reviews) had reduced to 339. This represents a further reduction
from the 371 applications reported for the first quarter and is significantly (38.4%) below the
desired threshold of 550 applications. This is a continuing and very pleasing trend which is
paralleled by an ongoing reduction in median processing times for all application types.
Continue case reporting on Land and Environment Court appeal outcomes - Regular case reporting
on appeal outcomes by Council's solicitors and Corporate Lawyer has been in place since June
2005. This indicates a relatively sound success rate for Council in Class One appeals over recent
years and in the second quarter of 2006/07. The number of appeals continued to reduce during the
first and second quarters of 2006/07. Legal costs also reduced significantly to $382,100 or $417,900
below the combined first and second quarter budget of $800,000.
Implement the Compliance Policy - The draft Compliance Policy has taken considerable time and
resources to complete. The draft Policy will be presented to Councillors at the March 2007 Planning
Committee meeting.
Establish electronic DA tracking facility for customers - The Proclaim applications data base went
live on 5 February 2007. The electronic DA tracking capabilities of the Proclaim system will be
operational by July/August 2007.
‣ Financial Sustainability
Council’s 10 year Financial Model was adopted in December 2006. The Model provides the
framework for the development of Council's 2007/08 budget. Its overall aim is to ensure Council's
financial sustainability as measured by the Model's key outputs:
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