LAKE Macquarie City Council was ‘‘one of the top performing councils in NSW and Australia’’, the council’s general manager, Brian Bell, has proclaimed.
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Mr Bell made the comment in a report that outlined his plan to create a new department.
‘‘We have achieved this position because of the work and dedication of our employees over many years,’’ the report said.
It added that the council had an ‘‘embedded culture of continuously seeking more effective ways of doing business’’.
The report said the council’s library, leisure and cultural services department was divided in two on an interim basis in 2013.
Councillors have now approved a permanent change, with the new departments to be called leisure services and cultural services.
The report said the change would include a manager’s position, costing $170,000 a year.
The Newcastle Herald reported recently that Lake Macquarie council’s bills for wages and salaries had risen by 18 per cent over three years.
In 2011, the council had 885 full-time equivalent employees, which rose to 927 full-time equivalent employees in 2014, financial reports show.
The council defended this, saying its employee costs per resident were low compared with other councils, and the staff figures were simply statistics ‘‘collected at one point in time’’.
Labor councillor Kay Fraser backed the permanent creation of a new department, saying it was ‘‘important that we showcase Lake Macquarie’s culture and leisure’’.
‘‘We have the performing arts centre [at Warners Bay] that needs more attention and the art gallery is a fantastic service to residents,’’ Cr Fraser said.
The new department was justified, but she would be concerned if there was an ‘‘astronomical’’ increase in council bureaucracy.
Liberal councillor Jason Pauling backed the change, but said ‘‘any bureaucracy needs to be mindful of increasing its size without demonstrating due value’’.
‘‘At a time when every council in the state is under pressure to demonstrate its fitness, councils need to be very careful when they make decisions such as this,’’ Cr Pauling said.
‘‘Council staff very rarely come to us saying they want to shrink a council department.’’
The leisure department will be responsible for the council’s six swimming centres, beach lifeguard service and surf clubs.
The cultural department will be responsible for libraries, the art gallery and tourism activities including the visitor information centre.
This article first appeared on The Herald website.
