Tom Sharp's
Blog
11-03-2021
SHARP COMMENT 14 - The Scenic Rim Council Ordinary Meeting on 23 February
The Scenic Rim Council Ordinary Meeting on 23 February addressed the 2020-2021 Infrastructure Capital Works Program, Quarter Two Update.
During question time it was revealed by Cr Swanborough that of the total $43.3 million capital works program, only $8.3 million had been spent in the six months to 31 December 2020.
This accounts for only 19 per cent of the program, leaving more than 80 per cent of the capital works to be delivered in only six months, with some $35 million yet to be spent.
When asked if the program was achievable in the timeframe, the council officer concerned gave very little clarity to the situation outside of they were “doing their best”.
He did go on to suggest that the program was heavily geared towards the back end of the financial year and that a number of the major programs would be carried over into the new financial year. As to how much and for how long, this was not forthcoming.
When asked by the Mayor what were some of the variables that could have an impact on delivery, the officer cited a great number of issues that had plagued various projects, including:
· Re-design work
· Stakeholders coming too late to the party, advising council with their concerns over the direction council has taken, asking for alternative measures
· Weather (note weather would not have had an impact in the six months leading up to 31 December)
· Water availability
· Availability of human resources
· Availability of raw materials such as gravel
· Services availability.
The officer provided a long list of variables but not the whys or hows. Does this call competency into question?
This is council’s core business competency, their bread and butter, something they should be able to deliver day in and day out, on their ear.
The first question that immediately needs to be asked is why heavily back end the projects if you cannot deliver on time?
If COVID-19 was truly a concern in their budget deliberations, then surely such should have been taken into account and adjusted accordingly.
Why did the councillors not request detailed specifics for each project that has been someway negatively impacted or is likely to be impacted, and undertake a full detailed review at the next council Ordinary Meeting?
As of today, the SRRC now has less than four months to deliver a $43.3 million program, and as Cr Swanborough pointed out, it now requires four times the effort in the six months to June 2021 to complete.
I would like to point out that in the “real world” anything less than 8 per cent of the budget not being delivered and completing that in roughly six weeks after June, barring “an act of God”, is acceptable and anything beyond that calls for a major competency review.
Anything beyond that will have major impacts on the 2021-22 budget and what projects can be put up under that time period.
Should such a circumstance occur, councillors would be well advised to aggressively curtail the budget spend and alleviate the ratepayer until confidence can be fully restored in council’s capability.
Sadly, council spent a grand total of 30 minutes on this matter, which is of the highest importance to the people of this region, for what was a meeting that ran for more than four hours. Of that 30 minutes, some five minutes or more was taken up with arguing over meeting process and stymying Cr Swanborough from delivering his most revealing question.
Dear reader, ask yourself: Would you operate this way in your job or run your business in such a manner?
During question time it was revealed by Cr Swanborough that of the total $43.3 million capital works program, only $8.3 million had been spent in the six months to 31 December 2020.
This accounts for only 19 per cent of the program, leaving more than 80 per cent of the capital works to be delivered in only six months, with some $35 million yet to be spent.
When asked if the program was achievable in the timeframe, the council officer concerned gave very little clarity to the situation outside of they were “doing their best”.
He did go on to suggest that the program was heavily geared towards the back end of the financial year and that a number of the major programs would be carried over into the new financial year. As to how much and for how long, this was not forthcoming.
When asked by the Mayor what were some of the variables that could have an impact on delivery, the officer cited a great number of issues that had plagued various projects, including:
· Re-design work
· Stakeholders coming too late to the party, advising council with their concerns over the direction council has taken, asking for alternative measures
· Weather (note weather would not have had an impact in the six months leading up to 31 December)
· Water availability
· Availability of human resources
· Availability of raw materials such as gravel
· Services availability.
The officer provided a long list of variables but not the whys or hows. Does this call competency into question?
This is council’s core business competency, their bread and butter, something they should be able to deliver day in and day out, on their ear.
The first question that immediately needs to be asked is why heavily back end the projects if you cannot deliver on time?
If COVID-19 was truly a concern in their budget deliberations, then surely such should have been taken into account and adjusted accordingly.
Why did the councillors not request detailed specifics for each project that has been someway negatively impacted or is likely to be impacted, and undertake a full detailed review at the next council Ordinary Meeting?
As of today, the SRRC now has less than four months to deliver a $43.3 million program, and as Cr Swanborough pointed out, it now requires four times the effort in the six months to June 2021 to complete.
I would like to point out that in the “real world” anything less than 8 per cent of the budget not being delivered and completing that in roughly six weeks after June, barring “an act of God”, is acceptable and anything beyond that calls for a major competency review.
Anything beyond that will have major impacts on the 2021-22 budget and what projects can be put up under that time period.
Should such a circumstance occur, councillors would be well advised to aggressively curtail the budget spend and alleviate the ratepayer until confidence can be fully restored in council’s capability.
Sadly, council spent a grand total of 30 minutes on this matter, which is of the highest importance to the people of this region, for what was a meeting that ran for more than four hours. Of that 30 minutes, some five minutes or more was taken up with arguing over meeting process and stymying Cr Swanborough from delivering his most revealing question.
Dear reader, ask yourself: Would you operate this way in your job or run your business in such a manner?