PLATFORM AND AGENDA

Bega Valley Shire council currently has an acting CEO (General Manager), the new council will make a full time appointment. It’s critical that the new Councillors commit to a CEO/GM that has the experience and vision for Council to transform into an efficient service organisation.

A transformation of council's structure, operations, management and culture is required to make council more efficient, improve Resident and Ratepayer Confidence, improve employee job satisfaction and reduce operating costs which will in turn take the pressure off rates. This will include flattening the structure, removing layers of approvals, Empowering staff and making them accountable and importantly instilling an ethics based business culture. Compare Motor registry with Service NSW. The transformation will reduce operating costs to the extent that it will take the pressure of rates and at the same time make our council a great place to work. Watch Video

Implement a program that mandates values of integrity, trust, service and accountability. One of the world’s most widely printed and quoted statements of business ethics is The Four-Way Test, which was created in 1932 by Rotarian Herbert J. Taylor when he was asked to take charge of a company that was facing bankruptcy. The test for employees to follow in their business and professional lives became the guide for sales, production, advertising, and all relations with dealers and customers, and the survival of the company is credited to this simple philosophy.
With the NSW Dept of Customer Service has been highly successful turning bureaucratic government departments into efficient service organisations with a modern day version of this philosophy, instilling values into every employee. I would propose Council embrace the NSW-DCS Code as a baseline.
The NSW-DCS Code of Ethics and Conduct can be found Here

I will be calling for the rotation of meetings currently 1 open meeting and 3 workshops be altered to 2 open meetings with morning workshops that the public can attend and only 2 closed workshops for training and councillor information purposes and not for decision making as appears to occur at present which leaves the public uninformed. This would also speed up the proper consideration of matters that go to Council for decisions. I also support open forums where the Community is heard.

Audit and evaluate council finances and establish a standard format for transparent communication of Councils Financial position, and performance against budget, including a snapshot view that can be included in rates notices. Removal of “Consolidated View” from Council Communications.

We need a vibrant not depressed local economy which supports local businesses. Tourism is terrific but there is much more we can do to improve the economy of the entire Shire and foster the growth of small businesses within that framework. With a more buoyant economy comes increased employment. This will be achieved by targeted planning for specific objectives.

All purchases made by Council should follow a “Local Supplier Preferred” policy whereby purchases should be prioritised through businesses based in Bega Valley Shire.

Council needs to make those responsible for the delivery of projects accountable for the outcome. Community Consultation plays a big role in meeting the expectations of the Community. Vendor on contractor selection will be subject to the code of Ethics and Conduct.

I would propose an independant person to handle, investigate and resolve complaints objectively.

When members of the community go to Council for advice, they expect the right information and they expect that information to be based on legislation or official policy. If Council Staff are held accountable for making sure the information they provide and the format it is provided in (eg quoting legislation correctly) is accurate and truthful then confidence can be restored in Council.

The Code of Ethics and Conduct mentioned in the Management section is not just to tick a box, everyone in council including suppliers, contractors and consultants will be bound to the code and held accountable for breaches.

Make a formal review of existing committee structures to be more inclusive of community participation to make them more representative of their area and demographic, ensure fresh ideas are accepted and Communities are heard.

Planning should include long term commercial development for job creation

Council needs to enforce its compliance with a consultation strategy that ensures consultation from the community is listened to and acted on, its not enougfh to tick a box and say "consultation completed" I would recommend the following truthful language in operating sessions with the community; A) FORUM = Open discussion with the community, B) CONSULTATION = Council has an issue or project and wants the Communities input on the best way to go, and C) INFORMATION SESSION = Council has decided or is near to a decision and wants to inform the Community of its decision.

one of the aspects of recent bushfires was that a lot of homes that were destroyed had clutter around the house that caught fire when embers landed on the property. Add this ti keeping homes in our Shire looking good and there is a strong case for a yearly “hard rubbish” pickup day.

I believe each ratepayer should be provided with a decal or two for their car(s), this decal provides ratepayers with fee entry to the tip for bootload only to compensate for reduced red bin pickup, and untimed parking privileges in towns in accordance with parking slots paid for under business permits.

Environment issues like climate change at a council level is about continued leadership in renewables and compliance with iPart directives as well as assisting residents to make sustainable and renewable decisions. I will be focused as a Councillor on our Community and I will work with community groups to continue Bega Valley Shires leadership position in renewables including community battery initiatives and renewable energy solutions for councils water & sewer infrastructure.

I am involved with Essential Energy who is developing significant plans for the new world of two way electricity distribution, Council needs to play a role in guiding residents towards the best solutions that will fit in with future sustainable distribution arrangements.

Our Forests, Waterways need to be sustainably managed, reduction of fuel loads especially in critical areas, Indigenous cold burning should be utilised where possible and Council must push back onto State, Federal, Essential Energy and Indigenous owned land to ensure the safety of the Community.

I do not support the Ocean Outfall and commit to working on better solutions.

Resilience needs to be about preparation for any event or natural disaster, this also includes management of bushland and reduction of fuel loads. Council should work in cooperation with other levels of Government to establish APZs for towns and villages - just as we do for houses - that is a preventative measure rather than what we do at present which is provide assistance after the event .

I propose utilizing a Federal Government Grant to stock a warehouse with flat pack tiny homes they can be deployed within hours when natural disasters take away the family home we can give landowners the ability to stay on their own property while they get their lives back together. This has so many positive outcomes in Communities dealing with natural disaster.

this is essential for risk mitigation such as bushfire, a yearly cleanup such as what is done in other Shires would assist the management of clutter around houses

5 Years ago Council failed the “Fit for the Future” test because they were unable to keep their assets in serviceable condition, yet Council applies for Grants to get more assets that they have to manage. I would like to explore Community Groups getting grants and managing assets which would give those Community groups more flexibility while reducing the assets that need to be maintained by Council. Council must prioritize buying properties while the infrastructure backlog ratio is over the threshold.

Council should ensure the expectations of the Community are met, not just with sports centres but with diversity of interests, such as dog parks and basketball courts. I support the Merimbula skate park.

Proactively preserve our heritage, with a policy that embraces Community values. Assets like Cottage Bridge need create solutions to meet community expectations, coupled with a new Community Consultations process.

Our main airport needs a plan that includes aircraft tourism, aircraft maintenance, aircraft parking, correct and appropriate landing fee structure appropriate use of property around the airport and realistic expectations of commercial services and commercial operators. With some focus our airport could be brought in line or even exceed the offerings of airports in other shires.

Review of LEP2013 Land Zoning on Private Property in consultation with property owners. I would be entering a motion that significant changes to property such as rezoning cannot take place without direct consultation with the land owner. I will see it that Council never again remove landowner rights or rezone land based on a memo on the Councils notice board. Consultation is key here.

I would like to transform Councils Development Applications management into the “Approvals Centre” where staff are rewarded for fast processing DA’s and positive responses to customer surveys. Additionally the approvals centre would not rely on a single person being at work to answer questions, but rather have a workflow on computer that allows customer service staff to assist customers during the process. Council must have staff and systems in place for continuity when employees are on holidays or away.

I have been involved in lobbying Council over the last 5 years to fix the minimum lot sizes and building entitlements to allow people to build on their property. Existing subdivided land should be buildable, this has been a contributing factor to the housing crisis and something that needs urgent attention. Additionally Council should work with NSW Govt. for possible crown land releases with terms that keep investors and City buyers out.

Improved management of council property through Area Committees including maintenance, weed, erosion and animal control.