From the Mayor's Desk - Friday 20 March 2009
Date: 20-Mar-09
Author: Alison Davey
Section 430 Report - Council adopted the Action Plan for the Section 430 Report from the Department of Local Government (DLG), at the Ordinary Council Meeting held on Wednesday 18 March 2009. The Action Plan addresses the 16 recommendations handed down by the DLG to Council on Tuesday 17 February 2009.
Council has 40 days from this date to respond to the recommendations from the DLG. Council has already fully completed four (4) of the recommendations. This leaves Council twelve (12) recommendations to complete. Substantial progress has been made on eight (8) of the recommendations. Only one of the recommendations will not be completed by the end of March 2010. This recommendation relates to the implementation of a new Electronic Document Management System. This project will take 3 years to implement fully. The project will however commence in July 2010. To get the best results the project needs to be managed correctly.
The DLG will conduct a post investigation review sometime after March 2010. This is required under section 434 of the Local Government Act 1993. Council expects the post investigation review to occur between April and June 2010. As stated above fifteen (15) of the sixteen (16) recommendations will have been fully addressed by Council by the time the DLG officers arrive at Council.
Cessnock City Council is committed to continuous improvement and establishing sound governance practices. The implementation of the recommendations contained in the Section 430 report will assist in these endeavours. Council looks forward to working with the community in order to ensure a bright future for the region.
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On a lighter note... congratulations to Natalie Leary, Kathleen Ritchie and Grace Egglit who received their BP Award recently at a ceremony at Cessnock Guide Hall. The BP Award is one of the highest awards available to young people in today's society; it is awarded to girls for distinction in Guiding, character and good citizenship. Natalie, Kathleen and Grace will now go to an Award Presentation in Sydney in May.
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Congratulations to Marjory Wotherspoon and Harold Sternbeck AM as joint winners of the 2009 Senior Citizen of Year award. Both have made an outstanding contribution over many years on a voluntary basis with organisations throughout the community and the Hunter Region. Senior Citizens Week is now over and I have had numerous comments about the outstanding week of events and entertainment that was organised by the Seniors Week Advisory Committee. Well done! We look forward to planning the 2010's activities.
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On Thursday 26 March the winners will be announced for the 12 scholarships for the Mayoral Academic Scholarships, at the Cessnock Community Performing Arts Centre commencing at 7.30 pm...congratulations to all applicants. This year we had over 90 applications for the scholarship and all applicants were of a very high standard. Thank you to valued sponsors, Cessnock Rugby League Supporters Club, Solo Resource Recovery, Hunter Resource Recovery, Regional Land Pty Ltd, Hardie Holdings Pty Ltd, Telstra Country Wide, Cypress Lakes Resort, The Rotary Club of Cessnock Inc, Donaldson Job Creation Trust, Hydro Aluminium Kurri Kurri Pty Ltd and Videoplus Pty Ltd, without your sponsorship the scholarships scheme could not be undertaken.
If love you hold -- no matter how the years go by,
No matter how the birthdays fly -- You are not old!
Alison
