Council’s non-statutory committees have been reduced down to three, in a strategy aimed at both streamling and widening community consultation channels.

“The new Advisory Committee structure will create greater alignment of Committees with Council’s organisational structure and with Council’s existing strategies including the Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework,” says Jessica Rippon, Director Planning, Environment and Communities.

“This is to create efficiencies, through clear allocation of responsibilities.

“It is also to align the actions and projects of committees, with the actions and commitments that have already been determined by Council and the community through our Delivery Program.

“The intent is to create a sharper focus on the key priorities of the organisation.”

Prior to the restructure, there were a number of committees operating under different types of names and formats, some of which met irregularly, yet they were seen as the primary way of engaging with Council.

These included bodies as diverse as the Arts & Cultural Committee, the Companion Animals Management Advisory Committee, and the Catchment and Flood Risk Management Committee.

The three advisory committees are now:

• Destination Kiama Committee, now also responsible for economic development generally
• Infrastructure and Liveability Committee, discussing playgrounds, plans of management, transport, access, etc.
• Sustainable Communities Committee, discussing planning, environment, housing, growth and other community issues.

The two new committees mirror the portfolios of the new directors – Planning Environment and Communities; and Infrastructure and Livability.

Each of the committees will include councillor, community and staff representation, and will be able to draw upon expert input as required.

Councillors Draisma and Reilly were elected to the Sustainable Communities Advisory Committee at the April Meeting; and Councillors Croxford and Larkins to the Infrastructure and Liveability Committee.

A proposal to require the membership of youth and First Nation representatives did not end up in the endorsed framework, with specific engagement on issues preferred.

While the existing membership of the Destination Kiama Committee will remain, despite its enlarged ambit, an EOI process for three community members for both of the new committees will be advertised shortly.

“The EOI will include some questions about the individuals, including qualifications, experience and why they have applied,” says Ms Rippon.

“We are seeking community members who may have professional experience in areas of planning, community and engineering, who have time to commit to attending meetings and contributing to discussions about the items presented by staff through reports.”

She says that the Destination Kiama Advisory Committee includes members with a background in economic development, and additional reports will be provided when necessary, eg. about the changes to employment zones and updates about the economic development strategy.

“Our Economic Development Coordinator will also attend the meeting to assist,” she says.

It is expected the new committees will meet on a bi-monthly basis to enable business papers to be prepared and considered along with the Council Meeting cycle.

Council’s statutory committees – the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee and the Kiama Local Traffic Committee – are not affected by the restructure.

The Finance Advisory Committee, established to assist Council out of its financial difficulties, will continue under current membership.

The new structure will be trialled for a year to allow for its effectiveness to be assessed.