Each year AlburyCity develops an annual plan that highlights the projects and initiatives that we will focus on for the coming financial year. The plan includes how we are going to spend the money we receive from rates and other income sources, the major projects that are earmarked for delivery, and the fees and charges our community will pay for using Council services.
We call this our Operational Plan, or more simply describe it as our annual Budget.
The Budget runs for the financial year July–June, and each quarter a report is produced to keep Councillors and our community up to date on how we are going in delivering the items in the Budget.
At our recent Council meeting I was pleased to be able to report that at the end of the last quarter (October – December) we are very close to being on-track in delivering the items in our Budget this financial year. This is particularly pleasing as Council, like many other organisations in our community, have continued to deliver our services during a challenging period… primarily due to COVID.
The storms that have impacted our region during January and February have also affected our work schedules, with many of our crews having to change focus assisting with storm clean-ups, ensuring community safety, assessing our assets, and looking at future storm mitigation measures.
You, our community, are key to helping us develop the Budget each year. In the coming months we’ll let you know when we have a draft for next financial year, and will ask you to share your thoughts with us. It’s not just this annual check-in that helps build our Budget, we’re listening to our community right throughout the year. Your input helps us focus on the things that are important to you, and ensures we are delivering the needs of our community.
If you would like to see how we’re tracking against our Budget please see below this message. If at any time you would like to share your thoughts please send us an email info@alburycity.nsw.gov.au, call our friendly Customer Service team on 1300 133 391, or contact us through our website alburycity.nsw.gov.au/contact/online.
I look forward to keeping you in the loop on how we are going in delivering the actions within our Budget, and look forward to your continued feedback.
Frank Zaknich
AlburyCity CEO
Council Meeting 3 March, 2022
Purpose of Report
This report presents the AlburyCity 2021/22 Operational Plan progress for the period ended 31 December 2021.
Background
In accordance with the Local Government Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework, Council develops a Four-Year Delivery Program which details the principal activities to be undertaken by AlburyCity to implement the strategies established by the Community Strategic Plan ‘Albury 2030’.
The Local Government Act 1993 requires that progress is reported to Council with respect to the principal activities detailed in its Delivery Program at least every six months.
AlburyCity’s Operational Plan forms year one of its Four Year Delivery Program. AlburyCity’s practice is to report progress to Council on a quarterly basis.
AlburyCity’s target is to deliver 100% of its Operational Plan during the 2021/22 financial year in line with our Service Excellence Corporate Success Pillar.
Issues
Operational Plan
The AlburyCity Operational Plan Quarterly Progress Report (refer Attachment 1) details that overall progress of 49% had been achieved by the end of December 2021.
As indicated by the graph below, Operational Plan progress for each of the Albury 2030 themes reflect a positive result against the quarter target of 50%.
There has been a slight reduction in the number of projects reported under the overall Operational Plan in comparison to the September 2021 quarter.
The following table reflects seven projects that have been removed from the Operational Plan reporting since the September 2021 quarter report.
Project | Comment |
Recycled Water Management Plan | Project has been deferred until 2023/24 to allow development and implementation of internal processes that are required for the development of the Recycled Water Management Plan. |
Albury Airport - Reshape and Strengthen Taxiway Bravo | Regional Airport Program - Round 2 funding approved with the signed Commonwealth agreement received. This project has been deferred to the 2022/23 project schedule in accordance with the agreed milestones contained in the Regional Airports Program Round 2 Agreement. |
Albury Airport - Close Open Drainage | Regional Airport Program - Round 2 funding approved with the signed Commonwealth agreement received. This project has been deferred to the 2022/23 project schedule in accordance with the agreed milestones contained in the Regional Airports Program Round 2 Agreement. |
Albury Airport - Extension of Taxiway C Stage 2 (Turning Node) | Regional Airport Program - Round 2 funding approved with the signed Commonwealth agreement received. This project has been deferred to the 2022/23 project schedule in accordance with the agreed milestones contained in the Regional Airports Program Round 2 Agreement. |
Develop and implement an Early Years Plan | Project has been deferred to the 2022/23 project schedule due to resourcing constraints and COVID-19 impacts across Children’s Services. These factors have impacted the capacity to deliver the project in the 2021/22 financial year. |
Footpath/Bikepath - Accessibility Improvements to meet Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) Requirements | Project has been withdrawn from the 2021/22 project schedule. Due to available resources the design period has been extended, with designs expected to be completed during the second half of the 2021/22 financial year, ready for construction in the 2022/23 financial year. |
Smart Community – Communications Platform | Communications Platform will remain on track to be completed in the 2022/23 financial year. The revised timeframe is due to the project being dependent on the Open Data Policy which experienced timeline delays in 2021. |
These projects have been withdrawn from the 2021/22 project schedule due to a review of priorities or impacts of reduced resourcing across the organisation. The projects will be included in the 2022/23 project schedule.
Works Program
Incorporated within the Operational Plan is AlburyCity’s Works Program. The Works Program reflects overall progress of 40% achieved by the end of December 2021. This result is slightly behind the overall Operational Plan progress of 49%. The Works Program currently reports on 169 projects against 10 sub-programs.
Significant contributing factors outside AlburyCity’s control impacting the progress of the Works Program has been the impact of COVID-19 on the ability to engage suitable contractors and resource materials for the larger scale projects. The other contributing factor impacting project delivery across the organisation is the high number of unfilled approved positions. At the end of December, the status of vacant positions sat at 122, representing near 20% of our total approved positions.
A combination of internal and external resources are used to ensure that the program is completed to standard, within timeframes and in accordance with budget provisions. This project plan is continually monitored to highlight any variations from initial predictions and the determination of any required adjustments.
Risk
- Business Risk – Council continues to be proactive in managing business risk as part of quarterly budget reviews while working to maintain and improve infrastructure within AlburyCity.
- Corporate Risk – It is important that AlburyCity delivers what it sets out to achieve, as detailed within its Operational Plan and Four-Year Delivery Program.
- WHS and Public Risk – No risks identified.
- Environmental Risk – With regards to the Albury 2030 theme, ‘An Enhanced Natural Environment’, the projects under this theme are tracking well, reflecting the highest percentage progress of all four themes – reflecting 55% complete at 31 December 2021.
- Delivery Program Risk – Overall AlburyCity’s Operational Plan was 49% complete at 31 December 2021, with the Works Program reflecting 40% completion.
Community Engagement
AlburyCity’s Operational Plan and Four-Year Delivery Program are placed on public exhibition prior to adoption, and they align with the Community Strategic Plan - Albury 2030. We ensure that our community can have their say on key projects that have significant community impact through community engagement platforms.
Conclusion
The AlburyCity December 2021 Operational Plan progress report details that overall progress of 49% has been achieved, with the Works Program reflecting a progress percentage complete of 40%. The variance between the two progress percentages is largely due to the fact that the Operational Plan encompasses 280 action items compared to the Works Program encompassing 169 action items. It should be noted that the 169 items in the Works Program are also included under the Operational Plan.
Significant contributing factors outside AlburyCity’s control impacting the progress of the Works Program has been the ability to engage suitable contractors and resource materials for the larger scale projects and the high number of unfilled approved positions across the organisation.
The progress percentage of the Operational Plan also reflects a steady achievement of action items under the four themes of Albury 2030. An Enhanced Natural Environment is above the quarter target of 50%, reporting a 55% progress achievement. The remaining three themes are also reporting a healthy percentage complete as at the end of December 2021.