ORANGE CITY COUNCIL
Finance Policy Committee
Agenda
4 August 2015
Notice is hereby given, in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Act 1993 that a Finance Policy Committee meeting of ORANGE CITY COUNCIL will be held in the Council Chamber, Civic Centre, Byng Street, Orange on Tuesday, 4 August 2015.
Garry Styles
General Manager
For apologies please contact Michelle Catlin on 6393 8246.
Finance Policy Committee 4 August 2015
1.1 Apologies and Leave of Absence
2.1 Statement of Bank Balances as at 21 July 2015
2.2 Combined Rates and Charges Interim Reconciliation as at 21 July 2015
2.3 Request for Financial Assistance
1.1 Apologies and Leave of Absence
The provisions of Chapter 14 of the Local Government Act, 1993 (the Act) regulate the way in which Councillors and designated staff of Council conduct themselves to ensure that there is no conflict between their private interests and their public role.
The Act prescribes that where a member of Council (or a Committee of Council) has a direct or indirect financial (pecuniary) interest in a matter to be considered at a meeting of the Council (or Committee), that interest must be disclosed as soon as practicable after the start of the meeting and the reasons given for declaring such interest.
As members are aware, the provisions of the Local Government Act restrict any member who has declared a pecuniary interest in any matter from participating in the discussion or voting on that matter, and requires that member to vacate the Chamber.
Council’s Code of Conduct provides that if members have a non-pecuniary conflict of interest, the nature of the conflict must be disclosed. The Code of Conduct also provides for a number of ways in which a member may manage non pecuniary conflicts of interest.
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Recommendation It is recommended that Committee Members now disclose any conflicts of interest in matters under consideration by the Finance Policy Committee at this meeting.
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TRIM REFERENCE: 2015/1875
AUTHOR: Geoffrey Hamilton, Cost Clerk
EXECUTIVE Summary
Council operates one Bank Account and is required to carry out a Bank Reconciliation at the end of each month. As at 21 July 2015 the Cash Book Balance was $17,560.13.
Link To Delivery/OPerational Plan
The recommendation in this report relates to the Delivery/Operational Plan strategy “1.2 Our City - Information and advice provided for the decision-making process will be succinct, reasoned, accurate, timely and balanced”.
Financial Implications
Nil
Policy and Governance Implications
Nil
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That the information provided in the report by the Cost Clerk on Statement of Bank Balances as at 21 July 2015 be acknowledged. |
further considerations
Consideration has been given to the recommendation’s impact on Council’s service delivery; image and reputation; political; environmental; health and safety; employees; stakeholders and project management; and no further implications or risks have been identified.
SUPPORTING INFORMATION
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STATEMENT OF GENERAL FUND BANK BALANCES AS AT 21 JULY 2015 |
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Ticketek |
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General |
Suspense |
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Opening Cash Book Balance 23/6/15 Debit/(Credit) |
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244,816.19 |
1,671.00 |
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Add Deposits |
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15,927,517.37 |
19,943.01 |
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Less Payments |
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-20,515,773.43 |
-20,442.38 |
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Add/(Less) Money Market at Call Account Movement |
4,361,000.00 |
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Closing Cash Book Balance 21/7/15 Debit/(Credit) |
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17,560.13 |
1,171.63 |
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Balance as per Bank Statement |
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245,574.64 |
1,171.63 |
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Add Outstanding Deposits |
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-149,740.79 |
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Less Outstanding Cheques |
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-78,273.72 |
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Add/(Less) Bank Adjustments |
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Balance as per Closing Cash Book Balance above Debit/(O'drawn) |
17,560.13 |
1,171.63 |
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Legal Overdraft limit all Funds = $20,673,000 |
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Overdraft arranged at bank all funds $ 1,000,000 |
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TRIM REFERENCE: 2015/1881
AUTHOR: John Kennedy, Senior Revenue Officer - Rates
EXECUTIVE Summary
The following tables and graphs provide details of Rates, Water, Sewer and Garbage Charges raised and collected up to the 1st quarter of the 2015/16 rating year.
Link To Delivery/OPerational Plan
The recommendation in this report relates to the Delivery/Operational Plan strategy “1.2 Our City - Information and advice provided for the decision-making process will be succinct, reasoned, accurate, timely and balanced”.
Financial Implications
Nil
Policy and Governance Implications
Nil
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That the information provided in the report by the Senior Revenue Officer Rates on Combined Rates and Charges Interim Reconciliation as at 21 July 2015 be acknowledged. |
further considerations
Consideration has been given to the recommendation’s impact on Council’s service delivery; image and reputation; political; environmental; health and safety; employees; stakeholders and project management; and no further implications or risks have been identified.
SUPPORTING INFORMATION
The following report gives details of the combined rates and charges reconciliation as at 21 July 2015. As at that date $12,125,036.33 or 83.38% remains outstanding. As at 24 July 2014, 82.80% of the amount payable remained outstanding.
Debt Collection - Rates
Debt recovery for overdue rates for the 2014/15 year resulted in a total of 1,266 accounts with a value of $1,911,057.32 being referred to Council’s Collection Agents to be issued with 7 day letters of demand for rates accounts with two or more instalments overdue and/or arrears balances greater than $800.00.
As at 21 June 2015, 958 accounts with payments totalling $1,349,978.68 have been finalised after being issued with 7 day letters in 2014/15. The remaining 308 accounts with a debt value of $561,078.64 have current action. Of those accounts, 229 have been placed on hold and/or payment arrangements negotiated for arrears balances.
A further 66 accounts with a debt balance of $172,194.93 have progressed in the debt recovery process. The remaining 13 accounts with a debt balance of $22,063.52 are being reviewed for the issue of a Statement of Liquidated Claim following non-payment of the 7 Day Letters of Demand issued on 17 June 2015.
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General Rates |
Ordinary Rates YTD 1st Quarter |
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2014/2015 |
2015/2016 |
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$ |
$ |
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Balance Outstanding |
7,908,881.25 |
7,914,745.85 |
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Sewer Charges |
Sewer Charges YTD 1st Quarter |
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2014/2015 |
2015/2016 |
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$ |
$ |
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Balance Outstanding |
1,827,260.80 |
1,932,436.65 |
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Water Charges |
Water Charges YTD 1st Quarter |
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2014/2015 |
2015/2016 |
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$ |
$ |
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Balance Outstanding |
1,026,153.86 |
1,100,578.19 |
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Garbage and Recycling Charges |
Garbage Charges YTD 1st Quarter |
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2014/2015 |
2015/2016 |
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$ |
$ |
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Balance Outstanding |
1,175,608.81 |
1,177,275.64 |
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TRIM REFERENCE: 2015/1878
AUTHOR: Josie Sanders, Management Accountant
EXECUTIVE Summary
Council is in receipt of a number of requests for financial assistance under section 356 of the Local Government Act 1993.
Link To Delivery/OPerational Plan
The recommendation in this report relates to the Delivery/Operational Plan strategy “3.3 Our City – Recognise that members of the community will take different leadership pathways, the Council will support this growth and development through appropriate activities, initiatives and assistance”.
Financial Implications
If Council resolves as per recommendations of this report, the following balances remain from the 2015/2016 budget.
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Program |
Adopted Budget |
Actual and committed |
Remaining balance |
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General Donations |
108,305 |
108,3051 |
Nil |
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Major Promotions |
30,900 |
23,000 |
7,9002 |
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Sports Participant |
13,900 |
5,200 |
8,700 |
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Sports Facility |
50,000 |
50,000 |
Nil |
1NB: This includes 20 x $100 reserved for school prize giving
2NB: This remaining balance does not include that sponsorship of the No Limit Management boxing event, as the amount is yet to be specified.
Policy and Governance Implications
Nil
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1 That Council decline the request for financial assistance from Orange Push for Palliative, on the basis that the General Donations budget has been fully expended, and they have already received an in-kind donation this financial year. 2 That Council place on public exhibition its intention to approve the request for sponsorship of the SEGRA Conference Study Tour to Orange to the value of $1,000, and that this is funded from the Major Promotions budget. 3 That Council approve the requests from Tristan Harrison and Stephanie Harrison, to be funded from the Sports Participant budget.
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further considerations
Consideration has been given to the recommendation’s impact on Council’s service delivery; image and reputation; political; environmental; health and safety; employees; stakeholders and project management; and no further implications or risks have been identified.
SUPPORTING INFORMATION
Council advertised the availability of its donations program and wrote to past recipients of donations early in 2015 in order to have donations advertised in the exhibition of the Delivery/Operational Plan. As a result of this process, the general donations budget of $108,305 has been fully allocated. A further $23,000 out of a budgeted $30,900 has been donated in response to submissions through the major promotions and sponsorship allocations. The sports facility donations budget of $50,000 has also been fully allocated. These three donation programs total $180,305 being provided to financially assist other entities.
If Council wishes to fund the requests that have no remaining applicable budget, a consideration of funding sources will be undertaken and advice provided back to Council.
The SEGRA Conference is being held in Bathurst. The initial request to sponsor the conference was not supported but in conversation with CSU the related study tour which will occur in Orange was identified and as this has a direct advantage for the Orange community it is recommended to Council.
1 Donation Table, D15/23917⇩
2 Orange Push for Palliative, IC15/10519⇩
3 CSU - SEGRA Conference, IC15/9407⇩
4 Tristan Harrison, IC15/9460⇩
5 Stephanie Harrison, IC15/9462⇩
Finance Policy Committee 4 August 2015
2.3 Request for Financial Assistance
Attachment 1 Donation Table
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Applicant |
Amount Sought |
Policy Position |
Purpose |
Comment |
Recommendation |
To be advertised |
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A.1 |
Orange Push for Palliative |
$1,000 |
Category 5 miscellaneous request up to a maximum of $500. Policy states that an entity is limited to one donation in any financial year, and Orange Push for Palliative have already received in-kind support for the printing of coloured brochures. Estimated costs $80 |
To make the local community aware of the need for improved services, and to enlist their support to lobby government departments. |
Budget fully Expended, and has already received in-kind support this year. |
Nil |
No |
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No |
Applicant |
Amount Sought |
Policy Position |
Purpose |
Comment |
Recommendation |
To be advertised |
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B.1
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Charles Sturt University |
$5,000 |
Sponsorship to a max of $5,000 per organisation/event. |
Sponsorship of the 2015 SEGRA Study Tour to Orange. (Sustainable Economic Growth for Regional Australia) Conference
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Policy has been applied. |
$1,000
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Yes |
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No |
Applicant |
Amount Sought |
Policy Position |
Purpose |
Comment |
Recommendation |
To be advertised |
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C.1
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Tristan Harrison |
$250 |
National/International representation - Individual |
To compete at the Triathlon World Age Group Championships, held in September 2015 in Chicago, USA |
Policy has been applied. |
$250 |
No |
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C.2 |
Stephanie Harrison |
$250 |
National/International representation - Individual |
To compete at the Triathlon World Age Group Championships, held in September 2015 in Chicago, USA |
Policy has been applied. |
$250 |
No |
2.3 Request for Financial Assistance
Attachment 2 Orange Push for Palliative
2.3 Request for Financial Assistance
Attachment 3 CSU - SEGRA Conference
2.3 Request for Financial Assistance
Attachment 4 Tristan Harrison
