Surplus stronger than expected – Golden Plains Shire council meeting briefs

AT their regular meeting last month, Golden Plains Shire councillors received the municipality’s annual report for the 2020 to 2021 year.

CEO Eric Braslis said the organisation has experienced “an incredible journey” over the last 12 months.

“Throughout COVID the operations and services have continued to all our residents, and the capital works program has been delivered. I’m pleased to look back on the year in reflection,” he said.

“We’ve had one of our most significant capital works programs ever, we’ve been able to secure extremely large amounts of external funding…and most importantly we ended the year on a strong financial account, with an operating surplus of $1.8 million dollars stronger than we had anticipated.

“Overall, it’s been a tremendous year, and it’s pleasing to see that we were able to do what we did throughout the COVID environment.”

Cr Brett Cunningham said significant 2020 to 2021 projects include Victoria Park and Inverleigh lighting, Inverleigh netball courts, and the Golden Plains Youth Hub.

 

Fourth quarter finances

Shire director corporate services Philippa O’Sullivan has given a financial update for the final quarter of the 2020 to 2021 year.

“As of 30th June, 2021, the operating result for the period was $9.1 million in surplus, compared to the original budget of $6.1 million and a revised budget of $9.1 million,” Ms O’Sullivan said.

“This was just a slight unfavourable variance of $62,000 against the revised budget, and mainly negatively impacted due to a building revaluation required every four years.

“A number of buildings treated as council-owned… were identified not to be council-owned. We needed to write off $867,000.”

Ms O’Sullivan said some received capital grants were lower than anticipated, but there was additional income in line with residential growth, and lower operating costs.

“Our employee costs were $1.1 million less mainly due to vacant positions we’ve managed through this year, which are currently being filled.

“The waste management account ended up in a more favourable position than what we’d expected and as a result, that will be carried across into our landfill reserve,” Ms O’Sullivan said.

“Once we takeaway one-off items or one-off capital revenue, our underlying result came in with a small deficit of $78,000, compared to the budget deficit of $1.9 million, and therefore was $1.78 million favourable to the budget.”

Projects worth $14.3 million combined were delivered throughout the year.

 

Arts and culture draft doc accessible

A draft copy of the Golden Plains Shire Arts, Culture and Heritage Strategy 2022-2026 is now available for the community to read, following council’s endorsement.

Acting director community services Steven Sagona said the four-year framework has been developed in partnership with residents.

“It provides a framework for a more coordinated approach between council and the community and its cultural partners, with respect to the advancement of arts, culture and heritage in the Shire,” he said.

The areas of focus of the draft document are celebrating and sharing history and heritage, a creative economy, access and participation, and activating places and spaces.

Cr Gavin Gamble said he liked the document’s strategic directions surrounding “opportunity, celebration… and the history of diverse backgrounds… activating of spaces and resources, and investing in communities.”

“Arts and culture have an extremely important role in mental wellbeing for most people, for individuals’ resilience, for a community’s wellbeing,” Cr Gamble said.

It could be adopted at the November council meeting, following public exhibition.

 

Health and wellbeing plan to public

Endorsed by council, the draft Golden Plains Shire Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Action Plan 2021-2025 is also available to the public for viewing.

Mr Sagona said it’s a “detailed four-year” document, developed with community members and stakeholders.

It touches on the key themes of boosting mental wellbeing, active lives, healthy eating and gender equity, preventing family violence, and addressing climate change and its impacts on the community’s wellness.

Cr Clayton Whitfield was pleased to see mental health as a priority.

“Outcomes are increased awareness, improved access to mental health support services and increased social connection and participation in the community,” he said.

“The plan sets out goals to deliver activities and programs to engage youth, to lobby funding opportunities for mental health support services, to provide activities for all ages and disabilities…and encourage and support volunteering.”

The draft report could be approved at the October council meeting, before the Department of Health submission deadline.