Low standards for planning and roads
By Yvette Brand Performance indicators in key council service areas have revealed Baw Baw Shire needs to resolve planning applications quicker and put greater focus on roads.
However, council’s financial performance and decision making in open council has improved in the past 12 months.
The state government’s Know Your Council website has been updated with information from the 2016-17 financial year.
The website provides an opportunity for community members to access information and compare results across a range of performance indicators of all 79 councils in the state.
Performance indicators include aquatic services and facilities, animal management, food safety, governance, libraries, maternal and child health services, sealed roads, statutory planning, waste collection, financial performance, sustainable capacity and a governance and management checklist.
The results indicated a drop in performance for council’s sealed road maintenance, with standards dropping two per cent to 91 per cent, compared to 96 per cent for all other councils.
Council acknowledged the result was slightly lower than the previous year.
“Although the actual length of road below the intervention level has not changed, the total road network has increased by 30km which has affected the result,” council said.
Council received a total of 392 requests in relation to sealed local roads, which is equivalent to about 36.6 requests per 100km, compared to 22 for similar councils.
Community satisfaction with local roads was 42/100, compared to 43 for similar councils and 54 for all councils.
In planning, council was well above similar sized councils in the time it takes to decide on planning applications.
A planning application with Baw Baw takes about 88 days compared to 59 days for similar councils and 72 days for all councils.
Sixty seven per cent of applications are decided within the required time frame compared to 76 per cent for similar councils. However, this was a significant 30 per cent improvement for Baw Baw.
“There has been a significant improvement in processing of planning applications due to improved internal processes.
“There has been an improvement in the time taken to decide planning applications, from a median 96 days in 2015/16 to 88 days in 2016/17 due to funding assistance received to process the backlog of old permits,” council said.
The average rates payable for each residential property for 2016/17 was $1846, compared to $1571 for all councils.
The cost to deliver council services to the community is $1551 per person compared to $2060 in similar councils.
The value of the shire’s infrastructure was $11,270 per head of population. Council increased investment in the annual capital works program by 1.7 per cent, however population increased by three per cent resulting in a minor reduction from the previous year. The value of infrastructure in similar councils was $16,303.
Staff turnover at Baw Baw was significantly higher than the state, with a 17 per cent turnover compared to 12 per cent.
Fifty-six of Council’s permanent staff resigned during the year out of a total average of 327 permanent staff. This was consistent with the previous year result.
Council improved its transparency, making less decisions in confidential council meetings. But at 17.8 per cent, it was still significantly higher than the all councils figure of nine per cent.
Of the matters considered in closed meetings, 81 per cent were then released to the public and published in the minutes of that meeting. A total of 27 decisions were made in confidential meetings compared to 41 the previous year.
Community members rated council’s engagement with the community at 48, compared to 52 for similar councils and 55 for all councils.
In animal management, council was better than the state figures for the time taken to respond to animal management requests at 1.35 days compared to two days across the state.
There also was a significant decrease in the percentage of impounded domestic animals which were returned to their owners. Out of a total of 531 animals collected, 292 were reclaimed, representing 55 per cent compared to 50 per cent for similar councils.
Council’s library standards and kerbside waste collection services were rated above other councils.
Mayor Joe Gauci encouraged community members to visit the site and find out more about the overall results.
“The community has clearly said they want greater transparency from council. The Know Your Council report is a great way to review authoritative, independently assessed data and results about our performance as a council.
“Baw Baw Shire Council’s indicators have improved in several areas over the past year, particularly in fast action and turnover of animal management requests, increased transparency with more decisions made in open meetings and a strong and sustainable financial position.
“While we are pleased to see some positive results, we also acknowledge that there are some key performance areas with room for improvement.
“Planning application processing times for Baw Baw Shire are below the state average at 88 days. Whilst these timeframes are gradually improving, it is important that we continue to increase our focus on strengthening the quality and timeliness of our planning services.
“Similarly, Baw Baw Shire’s community satisfaction score on council’s performance in managing the condition of sealed local roads is below the Melbourne average and this will need to be addressed as a priority in 2018,” he said.