An Extraordinary Meeting of Kiama Council has endorsed a response to the Minister for Local Government, asking her not to issue Performance Improvement Orders or appoint a Financial Adviser [Extraordinary Meeting to consider response to Minister].

All councillors (Steel absent) voted for the motion apart from Councillor Karen Renkema-Lang.

Prior to the meeting she tried, but failed, to get a seconder for a motion to accept the appointment of a Financial Adviser.

“We should take full advantage of this opportunity [of a financial adviser]. It is not the appointment of a financial controller or an administrator,” she said.

“It is an offer to help us avoid being in either of those situations.”

Councillor Larkins warned that, realistically, no other council in this situation has avoided having Performance Orders imposed after an Intention was issued.

In his closing remarks, Mayor Reilly said, “We are not out of the woods. We have a fair way to go. Unfortunately it [Performance Orders] is a step on the way to administration.

“Our performance as a council is going to be measured just as much as our performance as a financial institution.   

“We have four major goals ahead of us: to correct our cashflow; to try and bring in a surplus budget; to make sure we have some type of revenue stream that ensures our rates will be supplemented; and for our community to avoid administration.”