Pittwater Council Annual Report - Pittwater Council - NSW ...

Section 2 - Statutory StatementsHuman Resources cont.• Eight focus groups conducted on performance system including revised scoring, performancedescriptors and reduced criteria• Recruitment guidelines reviewed• EEO guidelines reviewed• Leave Without Pay guidelines reviewed• Workplace Bullying and Harassment (Respectful Workplace) procedures reviewed• Induction process reviewed and new quarterly familiarisation implemented• Overtime costs advised on request• Turnover calculated annually• Participation in Northern Beaches Careers Expo at Terrey Hills May 2009• Participation in National Careers Expo with SHOROC at Sydney Exhibition Centre May 2009• SHOROC team participation in LGMA Management Challenge NSW• SHOROC Leadership networking activities held• Expansion of the Joint Consultative Committee to include Senior Management, Business UnitManagers and elected Union representatives and members of the Agreement ConsultativeCommittee• Redesign and associated resultant staff changes, including a large recruitment program• PittTrends newsletter issued (6 issues) to keep up to date with employment matters• Superannuation seminars held• Benchmarking and statistical reporting framework completed. Reporting dimensionscompleted• Contract Safety Management Guidelines developed• Position descriptions reviewed and developed• Hazard reporting system developed for Merit software• Employee Assistance Program – use of program encouraged, group of referral agenciesexpanded• Expanded benchmarking survey conducted and trend data analysed• Staff Recognition Awards – presentations conducted 6 times per year• Hazardous Substances Assessment Register developed• 2 Customer Service Traineeships successfully completed• 1 Childcare Traineeship successfully completed• Business Unit Training Plans implemented• Improved Leadership Program (Pittwater Aspiring Leaders) launched in February 2009National Competition Policy - Section 428 (2) (r)The National Competition Policy is about delivering benefits to the Australian community. It has beenimplemented to improve the wellbeing of all Australians through growth, innovation and rising productivity,by promoting competition that is in the public interest. The National Competition Policy has undertakenreforms that are designed to enable and encourage competition and promote long term sustainability ofAustralian industries.Such reforms include:• The extension of the provisions of the Trade Practices Act 1974 prohibiting anti-competitive activities(such as the abuse of market power and market fixing) to all businesses. (Previously, most governmentowned and some private businesses were exempt)• The introduction of competitive neutrality so privately owned businesses can compete with thoseowned by Government on an equal footing• The review and reform of all laws that restrict competition unless it can be demonstrated that therestrictions are in the public interest• The development of a national access regime to enable competing businesses to use nationallysignificant infrastructure (such as airports, electricity cables, gas pipelines and railway lines); and• Specific reforms to the gas, electricity, water and road transport industries.Pittwater Council, in terms of National Competition Policy, undertakes the following activities:Category 1 Business ActivitiesThe operations of Sydney Lakeside, Narrabeen are a Category 1 Business Activity. The Caravan Park isoperated by a Management Company under a management agreement. A Special Purpose FinancialReport for the year ended 30 June 2009 has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of theapplicable Accounting Standards and form part of Council’s Annual Financial Reports as shown in thisAnnual Report.Category 2 Business ActivitiesCouncil does not conduct any business activities that are contained under Category 2 of the NationalCompetition Policy Principles.Competitive Neutrality Complaints HandlingCouncil has adopted a policy for handling complaints made in regard to competitive neutrality issues. ThePolicy is available for public perusal on Council’s web page on the internet at www.pittwater.nsw.gov.au. Nocomplaints have been received in 2008/09.51