Setting up the new council structure in such a way that it works more efficiently than the old four is the first task, but the job involves much more than that.
Those elected need to improve what we already have, secure new opportunities by getting out there and putting our region on the map. Look at what the old Bundaberg Council achieved for Bundaberg. Many operations that were once based here were enticed to set up in Bundaberg, why? Because the council was pro-active in offering incentives not on offer here.
The new council needs to be a driving force for nurturing industries that provide jobs, yet maintain a careful balance between sustainable development and environmental issues. The past mindset of development for development's sake is no longer acceptable to a more informed and environmentally aware electorate. Mindlessly allowing every subdivision application without the developer providing proof of need, ie low housing stocks, and an environmental impact study, must not continue. Passing councillor decision making powers over to unelected council officers must also stop. Councillors are paid to make those decisions by the people who elected them.
The nuts and bolts work of building a unified community, sharing of resources and improved transportation are only the beginning. Youth also needs to have a voice in building a future that encourages them to stay in the region.
The new council needs to look at the reports commissioned by the old Hervey Bay City Council into the operation of Wide Bay Water Corporation and bring it back in house. Doing this would make significant savings by eliminating service duplication. One of those reports, the AEC Group Financial Review of Wide Bay Water Corporation, under the heading Potential Service Duplication the report concluded: "The potential savings from the review and subsequent elimination of service duplication could equate to an annual ongoing saving of between $75 and $150 per ratepayer based on savings of between $2 and $4 million."
I congratulate those who were elected and commiserate with those who did not make it this time around. Ratepayers will be watching and those councillors who don't perform will no doubt answer for that at the next election. The ball is in your court. Let us hope you can show real leadership and deliver a council that surprises even a tired cynic like me.
1 comment:
A very good summary.
There is one major issue missing. The one issue that is contentious in the amalgamation process but which can potentially save a lot of money for the ratepayer is the duplication of senior staff.
Councillor numbers have been reduced significantly and their associated costs also reduced by default.
Apart from 3 less CEOs, there have been no decrease in staff numbers. The government has decreed that everybody must keep their jobs for a period of time. Is 3 years too long? What happens when that time is up? There can be no decrease in the number of real workers such as the staff who mow laws, answer phones and fill potholes. But there must be a reduction in the true upper bureaucracy. Jobs have been created for the 4 lots of senior engineers, corporate managers, HR and PR people, asset managers, community service managers, sports and parks managers etc etc. Are the councillors happy with this?
When senior staff leave will they be automatically replaced? Are the councillors tough enough to address the issue of senior staff redundancies at the end of the allocated time? Or are they going to be baffled by the bureaucrats preserving their nests? Will they allow the bureaucracy to become so entrenched that the status quo cannot be broken?
These questions are probably a bit hard for the “new” councillors and too tough for the local daily news paper, but somebody needs to ask the question of the new council. And the new council needs to give a serious answer.
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