Town of Port Hedland media release: PORT HEDLAND COUNCIL FOCUS ON IMPROVING EFFICIENCY AND ACHIEVING STRATEGIC VISION Last night, the Town of Port Hedland Council adopted a balanced budget which has a more strategic focus for the 2013/14 financial year, with a shift from delivering capital projects to consolidation and planning for the next phase of growth. The development of the $190 million budget has been guided by the Strategic Community Plan 2012-2022, along with the Corporate Business Plan and Workforce Development Plan. Mayor Kelly Howlett said the previous budgets were focused on delivering major infrastructure projects to cater for anticipated growth. “Over the past four years, the Council’s position has been to grow for growth. Now that much of the built infrastructure is in place, this period will allow Council and the Town to grow with growth,” she said. “Looking forward, the next 12 months will be about strategic planning to achieve the vision and objectives identified in the Strategic Community Plan. “During the 2013/14 financial year, Council will be developing a rating strategy for future rating forecasts and concentrating on further developing and enhancing the 10 year Long-Term Financial Plan. “This is a new process for the Town of Port Hedland and is directly derived from the recent Local Government Reform process which includes a mandatory requirement for the development of an Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework by all WA Local Governments.” She added that one of Council’s long-term priorities was improving its communication and information processes with the community and ratepayers about the rating system, to ensure that everyone was suitably informed over the coming years about long-term rate growth and what it meant for Port Hedland and its people. Some of the highlights of the 2013/14 budget include the construction of the South Hedland Youth Space, upgrade of the South Hedland Bowls and Tennis Club facility, the floodwater pump refurbishment and upgrade of the JD Hardie Youth Zone including roof repairs and installation of security screens. CEO Mal Osborne said the organisation will be analysing its internal processes and operational costs, as well as reviewing its current level of services to the community. “Feedback from residents has been that their top priority is ensuring the level of basic services remains at a high standard and this budget is all about meeting this community expectation. "One of the key focus areas for the organisation is achieving an efficiency dividend of $1.93 million over the next 12 months. “The Town will also start a process of looking at how we will create capacity to allocate more funds to maintaining our assets in the long-term. “We are challenging our staff to find ways they can improve their own internal processes and increase overall organisational efficiency so the Town can provide better services to the community.” The adopted 2013/14 budget is available for download from the Town’s website at porthedland.wa.gov.au/council/budget. The previous fees and charges for 2013/14 which were effective from 1 July 2013 will remain the same.
Posted on: Thu, 01 Aug 2013 03:11:12 +0000
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