New advisory committees format

Council’s non-statutory committees have been reduced down to three, in a strategy aimed at both streamling and widening community consultation channels.

“The new Advisory Committee structure will create greater alignment of Committees with Council’s organisational structure and with Council’s existing strategies including the Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework,” says Jessica Rippon, Director Planning, Environment and Communities.

“This is to create efficiencies, through clear allocation of responsibilities.

“It is also to align the actions and projects of committees, with the actions and commitments that have already been determined by Council and the community through our Delivery Program.

“The intent is to create a sharper focus on the key priorities of the organisation.”

Prior to the restructure, there were a number of committees operating under different types of names and formats, some of which met irregularly, yet they were seen as the primary way of engaging with Council.

These included bodies as diverse as the Arts & Cultural Committee, the Companion Animals Management Advisory Committee, and the Catchment and Flood Risk Management Committee.

The three advisory committees are now:

• Destination Kiama Committee, now also responsible for economic development generally

• Infrastructure and Liveability Committee, discussing playgrounds,