Council reviews year in report

COFFS Harbour City Council will remember 2010-11 as a period of consolidation, general manager Steve McGrath said.

COFFS Harbour City Council will remember 2010-11 as a period of consolidation, general manager Steve McGrath said.

During the year Coffs Harbour joined councils around NSW in implementing the new Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework.

This requires a more structured approach for the whole local government sector and is aimed at making councils more responsive to strategic priorities identified by the community and more accountable.

"Implementing wide-ranging structural reform is not an overnight affair," said Mr McGrath.

"While we now have all the IPR elements in place, the council has spent much of 2010-11 reviewing and refining the framework, including the Delivery Program and the Operational Plan, which are the focus of the Annual Report.

"A parallel activity is the comprehensive Service Review that was initiated during the year.

"It is a strategic examination of the organisation - effectively auditing every council process and system with a view to identifying opportunities to cut costs and improve outcomes."

Also during 2010-11, the council took part in a Promoting Better Practice Review conducted by the NSW Division of Local Government.

The review is a standard industry process that provides a health check for the organisation.

Coffs Harbour Mayor Keith Rhoades said the year was not spent gazing inwards.

"Major projects included the roll-out of much-needed drainage and flood mitigation works, improvements at the Jetty Foreshore and Park Beach, the start of a new water reservoir at Moonee, new playgrounds, cycleway and walkway upgrades and the refurbishment of the Coffs Harbour War Memorial Olympic Swimming Pool," said Cr Rhoades.

"Elsewhere we facilitated significant community and cultural activities, environmental improvements and economic development opportunities and developed strategic planning systems to help guide Coffs Harbour towards a secure and sustainable future."

The Annual Report is posted on council's website, www.coffsharbour.nsw.gov.au.

Printed copies are available for viewing at the council's Administrative Centre and at the three branches of the City Library.

Originally published as Council reviews year in report