Corporate services

Toowoomba Regional Council’s Corporate Services Department will continue to focus on gains in efficiency in this year’s budget.

“We are sticking to a course of responsible yet innovative corporate management. This budgets demonstrates that TRC is a substantial regional organisation that is evolving and adapting to the pressures facing it,” Corporate Services portfolio leader Cr John McVeigh said.

“We will continue to provide a steady hand in managing the most diverse service provider in the region.

“Corporate Services’ six functional areas - governance and administration, information management, human resources, procurement and trade services, corporate communication and legal services - are integral to the smooth operation of council business and the delivery of council services.

Governance and administration

“Council is a significant property holder in the region, with over 1600 freehold properties valued at $156 million. We control a further 730 reserves, totalling almost 14,000 hectares in area.

“As a result of last year’s strategic property review, council will release 18 properties for residential development in 2010/11. We will continue to review our land holdings in light of current and future operational needs, with further lots likely to be developed before sale.

“Work will also continue on city precinct proposals, including exploring the medium and long term options for the old TAFE site upon departure of the Queensland Fire Service. Leasing the old TAFE site to the Queensland Fire Service as a temporary headquarters has been a good, practical outcome, benefitting both public safety and ratepayer coffers.

“Also under discussion will be a new library facility, rationalisation of council facilities and other property projects from Millmerran to Yarraman.

“As part of the main business of council, we will be pursuing a number of acquisitions to allow for widening of roads, creating intersections and location of services such as sewer mains.

“Council hosts a number of annual and special civic events such as the Mayoral Prayer Breakfast, the Over 80s Christmas Party, volunteers’ end-of-year Thankyou function, Australia Day citizenship ceremonies and secondary schools morning teas. While some of these functions play a vital role in contributing to important local charities, others support and enhance the social networks of our community.”

Cr McVeigh said council’s Internal Audit section would continue to test the integrity of existing and new systems and data as a key accountability and transparency mechanism.

“Our Audit Committee consists of leading professionals from the community who are keeping an eye on us and providing guidance. In addition, council’s Governance section continues to support councillors and the CEO by ensuring compliance with new legislation and conducting internal reviews and workplace investigations as required.

“Our Business Coordination unit, by producing agendas and minutes of council and committee meetings and maintaining necessary registers, keeps the wheels of council turning.

Information Management

“This financial year, council continues its significant investment in information management with a capital and operating allocation of over $8.3 million. It is important we continue to improve our telecommunications network so we operate as a single consistent and professional entity across the region.

“Improvements to information management systems have continued in the district service centres through standardising computer systems infrastructure and desktop computers providing more reliable and responsive computing facilities for all district staff.

“Over $2 million has been allocated to the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Development Fund to support initiatives identified in the ICT strategic plan. These initiatives include implementing customer service software, streamlining business information and reporting, improving human resource management and training processes and managing the assets of council.

Human Resources

“As one of the major employers in the region, council provides opportunities for local youth. This financial year, council has placed bids for 52 apprentices and trainees and 12 school-based trainees.

“Funding assistance will allow us to employ fulltime apprentices and trainees under the First Start program while the Youth Training Incentives program provides funding to assist school students undertaking school-based qualifications.

“The First Start program particularly focuses on providing training and employment opportunities for specific target groups that have been identified as being disadvantaged in the labour market. These groups are young people from school leavers to 24 years, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, people with a disability, people from a non-English speaking background and women.

“Council will also be recruiting 40% of their full-time trainees into Green Army traineeships at Certificate II and III levels in areas such as conservation, horticulture, and land, water and waste management.

“Council is unrolling graduate development programs to attract graduates in areas of skill shortages and is already offering study scholarships in some professional university courses.

Procurement and Trade Services

“Our Procurement and Trade Services branch plays an important role in local communities. This area of council meets the service needs of ratepayers while injecting money into the local economy and keeping ratepayer dollars within the region.

“Over this financial year, council will continue to make inroads in the area of fleet efficiencies. Council will spend $10 million updating and modernising the fleet. This is particularly important given that fleet and plant items retained beyond a certain age become less reliable and more costly to maintain.

“A modern, well maintained fleet ensures that services are delivered at the lowest possible cost. Council continues to focus on purchasing vehicles and plants items that are more fuel efficient and ‘greener’. Our combined exhaust emissions are constantly being monitored and where possible reduced, to meet international standards.

“As council moves to a functional structure, we have moved to direct charging for our trade services. This will identify areas of most use and help streamline how we provide these services,” Cr McVeigh said.

Corporate Communication

The TRC Corporate Communication team is constantly reviewing the most effective means of ensuring all residents are kept informed of council activities and key community issues throughout the region.

A review of council advertising undertaken this year has already produced savings and staff will continue to monitor advertising expenditure.

For the first time this year, an Annual Report Card will be produced in advance of the full Annual Report to give timely reporting of council’s activities. The Annual Report, incorporating the audited financial statements, will follow later in the year.

Legal Services

Council is well served by a dedicated internal team of legal professionals who work with local lawyers as required, to ensure the best interests of our residents are always being pursued.