Council resolve to not proceed with SRV application
Published on 31 January 2024
Council reconvened a meeting that had been adjourned on Monday night after four hours of discussion and debate about the recommendation to lodge an application with IPART for a proposed SRV in order to break a deadlock and advise staff of a way forward.
The proposed SRV was one of 26 actions advised by independent financial experts, AEC to ensure the ongoing provision of works and services across the city could be sustained and that money would be readily available to respond in an emergency event. Rate rises where not an alternative to the actions contained within the report but part of returning to a more stable financial position.
Council resolved a range of workshops to improve efficiencies, asset management planning practices and increase revenue through immediate sales of underperforming assets, fees and charges as advised by AEC and establish a financial advisory committee to maintain priority over financial sustainability.
“We will continue to implement the actions necessary to improve efficiencies across the business and work with the Council to determine the levels of service,” said Mayor Amanda Findley.
“We know that to reduce expenses will mean less money available to perform works and services and will impact our ability to pay for road and other maintenance,” Cr Findley said.
“The implications of this decision will also require ongoing stringent monitoring of expenditure and the ability to make necessary adjustments to our capital works projects and maintenance programs to reduce our forecast deficit,” she said.
“Councillors will have exercise greater financial discipline in decision making and will be unable to support any requests that attempt to add higher levels of service or infrastructure to an already burgeoning list of requests.”
“Given the large number of assets and extensive road network that Council is responsible for, asset management and planning will be a priority moving forward and consideration will be given to the sustainability measures in the next 12 months. The need for a special rate variation does not go away with this resolution - it merely pushes the issue to the next Council to be elected in September,” she said.
The draft Resourcing Strategy will be reviewed to include the updated financial modelling based on the 2024-25 budget process to be done early this year.