ordinary meeting of council to be held on tuesday, 26 april 2005 at ...

• Proclaim
• Chris 21 Payroll
• Spydus Library System
These systems have all <strong>be</strong>en implemented successfully. Council has process-mapped many <strong>of</strong> its
functions in conjunction with this implementation, <strong>to</strong> maximise structural/operational efficiency.
Improvements include:
• More detailed and meaningful asset data collection and reporting.
• Streamlined financial ledgers and reporting
• Electronic document management system which has removed the need for physical file
maintenance.
• Development <strong>of</strong> electronic database for all applications, which allows for accurate
tracking and reporting <strong>of</strong> applications. This will <strong>be</strong> further progressed over the next
twelve months <strong>to</strong> enable remote tracking <strong>of</strong> applications by Council’s constituents.
• Processing <strong>of</strong> credi<strong>to</strong>rs by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT).
The challenge for Council over the coming twelve months will involve tightening the interaction
<strong>be</strong>tween systems, developing a centralised booking system and continuing enhancement <strong>of</strong> asset
reporting capability
Obligations under The Threatened Species Conservation Act 1997require the preparation and
implementation <strong>of</strong> recovery plans for threatened species and endangered ecological communities.
These requirements have direct impacts on planning, operational and regula<strong>to</strong>ry activities at Council.
Most recently this is evidenced by the approval <strong>of</strong> the darwinia Biflora recovery plan affecting
significant areas <strong>of</strong> Council bushland.
• Activity associated with the implementation <strong>of</strong> Internet and Web based technologies <strong>to</strong>
service community demand for access <strong>to</strong> information.
• Increasing focus on risk management in response <strong>to</strong> legislative requirements, cost <strong>of</strong>
insurance and litigation and changes required by the amendments <strong>to</strong> the Occupational Health
& Safety Act.
• The introduction within our Library Services <strong>of</strong> an indigenous collection and a specialist
technical library service for Council staff <strong>to</strong> assist in overall organisational service delivery.
• Continuing growth and sophistication in consultative mechanisms used throughout Council ..
Establishing / Negotiating Alternative means <strong>of</strong> Achieving sought Outcomes
Ku-ring-gai Council has sought opportunities <strong>to</strong> use alternate methods <strong>to</strong> achieve the desired service
and operational standards.
Examples <strong>of</strong> changes <strong>to</strong> service delivery include:
• Increases <strong>to</strong> the use <strong>of</strong> landscape contrac<strong>to</strong>rs for the construction <strong>of</strong> Open Space
em<strong>be</strong>llishments.
• Complementing work teams with casual or external suppliers <strong>to</strong> meet seasonal spikes or
labour demand on specific projects. This has produced a multiple <strong>be</strong>nefit <strong>of</strong> allowing work
teams <strong>to</strong> continue a focus on programmed work schedules with additional costs <strong>be</strong>ing
incurred only when specific tasks or projects are required <strong>to</strong> <strong>be</strong> undertaken.
• Recruitment <strong>of</strong> specialist contrac<strong>to</strong>rs within our trade and fleet areas <strong>to</strong> address specialist
programme needs.
• Council has established a taskforce <strong>to</strong> identify ways <strong>to</strong> use the Web and technology <strong>to</strong> more
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