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I was recently asked what would be the main issues that a new council would need to address in the year ahead. While I am sure there are numerous matters, I believe one of the most important is for the council to ensure you get value for money and that the effect of the present world financial situation is minimised for our rate payers. It is therefore imperative that we minimise any increases in rates, fees or charge but at the same time ensure that the level of our services are maintained. A big ask! Which begs a question, just how many dollars do we have to pay and just what level of services are council expected by the public to supply or deliver? The first issue is to ensure council provides what we need rather than what we want. There is a major difference between both of these. Getting the balance right is a fine line and this is bound to bring on considerable discussion.
The process of local government amalgamation certainly has introduced some additional challenges into the mix. Honestly it has been a lot harder than most would have thought. I believe that balancing the region's desirability and affordability will be the key challenge for policymakers. The past 4 years has seen a rise in the rates, charges & fees and the big question is ''is it legitimate?'' Rates are a tax and under the present situation provides substantial funding to ensure that the council's operations continues. With the reduction from state government of subsidies, grants, while simultaneously increasing the burden on our region with cost recovery of state government mandated services e.g. waste management, this has placed a huge responsibility on council to remain sustainable.
While it is council's responsibility to deliver improved and more efficient services to residents, it is also council's responsibility to mitigate any price impacts on residents beyond the CPI. With 28 years in financial planning, it has taught me that nothing that is worth having is ever achieved without hard work.
One of the revolving issues arising out of the amalgamation is whether the equalisation of rates across the region provided value for money for all those in the region. Those in the country would argue that they require less services but they would agree that some of their standards and service levels are not as high as they are in Toowoomba. I know, however, they are very appreciative of the aged care, health, school, sporting facilities, shopping and the entertainment precinct within the Toowoomba City. At the same time, those in the city do appreciate the peaceful surroundings, open spaces, fewer safety concerns and clean air of our surrounding rural towns and districts but are aware because of the amalgamation there is an opportunity to improve services in some of the areas of the region.
Personally I believe the TRC has a three tier economy. The first tier involves the mining industry, we are reaping some benefit and I believe this will continue. The second tier relates to those who are on fixed wages and have seen their savings devalued as prices have risen faster than CPI. The third tier relates to the fact we have well over 28% of rate payers on some form of social security well above the state average.
While I acknowledge that it has not historically been the role or responsibility of Council to provide human services, Council still undertakes a significant range of activities for other spheres of government on a fee-for-service basis, where revenue provided does not meet costs involved. Compliance costs for a number of key activities such as Waste Management/Landfill, Accounting Standards, or Workplace Health & Safety must be in our upper most thoughts when we sit down and deliberate on the rates, charges & fees. The amalgamation experience has clearly shown that each region had different degrees and methods of service delivery. Therefore, in the first 12 months of the new council we must review the decisions of the past 4 years and take a closer examination at our core business, our service standards and our statutory and legal obligations.
Joining forces with one another is one thing, but the most important type of alliance Council can make, is with our residents.
As I have seen, on most issues governing urban liveability, residents expect their Council to take most of the burden. But encouraging residents — even those who ordinarily disparage Council approaches to management — to take more control in running their region is not an easy task. A fair proportion of local residents I meet are prepared to see responsibility for at least some aspects of liveability pass to the community and volunteer sector. The success of resident-centred initiatives often comes from the fact that they are driven from the ground up.
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[Toowoomba 2012 Election] Ensuring Better Communicationby camelot197226 views
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