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By John Richardson, secretary
Bega Valley Shire Residents and Ratepayers Association
THE Bega Valley Shire Residents and Ratepayers Association (BVSRRA) will always support real investment by Bega Valley Shire Council (BVSC) in the development of its people (staff, management and elected councillors), provided that nominated training, education and development activities are relevant to the individual’s responsibilities and will strengthen the organisation’s overall capabilities moving forward.
Having said that, the BVSRRA openly questions the value to residents/ratepayers of being asked to fund the attendance of senior council management and an unspecified number of councillors at the inaugural NSW Local Government Conference, scheduled to be held in Coffs Harbour in October, at an estimated cost of $2000 per person (BDN, 14/7).
The BVSRRA has reviewed the content of what amounts to a two-day conference program and frankly, it struggled to find more than two hours of time allocated for discussion around the alleged key focus areas of the conference, namely industrial relations and employment, economic and environmental issues, social policy and governance/civic leadership.
Indeed, it would seem that more time has been allocated for speeches from various NSW politicians, including the Premier, than anything else over the two days.
While the BVSRRA is prepared to concede that conference attendees might derive some personal benefit through “networking” with their peers, it could see nothing that would directly translate into value for Bega Valley Shire residents/ratepayers, which surely should be the critical consideration in determining whether attendance is warranted?
The fact that at least one councillor referred to the conference as a “junket” and of “questionable value” will do little to reassure residents/ratepayers that it represents genuine value for the shire.
Given recent public utterances by BVSC management regarding the future financial challenges that will be faced by council as a result of changes to the federal budget, the BVSRRA wholeheartedly endorses calls by Crs Allen and Fitzpatrick that BVSC should not be over-represented at the conference.
The BVSRRA would be delighted to see the funds saved directed to the “targeted” development of individual councillors in key strategic areas such as governance, leadership and change management.