Newsletter 68 – Community Strategic Plan

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Is Council seeking to change its Community Strategic Plan without the endorsement of the Community?

The Local Government Act mandates that each Council must have a Community Strategic Plan (CSP). The CSP is important because it is the foundation stone for all decision-making and actions.

Put simply, if it is not in the Community Strategic Plan, the Council cannot pursue it.

Following extensive community consultation throughout 2021 and 2022, North Sydney Council, under Mayor Baker, adopted a new CSP – the “North Sydney Vision 2040”.

Significantly the CSP was fully funded through Council’s Long-Term Financial Plan.

In:

• 2023, the CSP was assessed against key services; the community expressed a high degree of satisfaction.
• 2024, Mayor Baker reported that in June 2024, 60% of the targeted KPIs had been achieved.

Astonishingly, during 2024 council commenced development of a new CSP. In consultation with the community, it developed what is called eight “informing strategies”. This is a “wish list” of things that would be “nice to have”. The “wish list” was compiled with no reference to resources. So, in November council decided seek IPART’s approval for a Special Rate Variation (SRV) to increase rates by 87% largely to fund this “wish list” by raising an additional $500m from ratepayers over the next 10 years.

I don’t get it.
a) Council has a CSP, fully funded and supported by the community. Why replace it?
b) What has changed to justify a whole new plan?
c) What is fundamentally wrong with the current CSP?
d) If necessary, why not just revise/update it?
e) The community has advised it wishes council to complete outstanding projects before new projects are considered. Why is council ignoring the community?
f) Why spend council resources on a new CSP which appears premature and a misuse of council’s resources.

I am not alone in not getting it.

Lavender Bay Precinct at its meeting on 27 March unanimously resolved:
i) To advise Council NOT to proceed with the “Community Strategic Plan 2025- 2035” until the IPART decision concerning the SRV is known.
ii) When the decision on the SRV is known Council, if it then wishes to proceed with the “Community Strategic Plan 2025- 2035”, actively involves the community in developing the plan, ensuring it reflects community needs and priorities.
Are you concerned? Do you think Council should stay with its 2024 CSP, the “North Sydney Vision 2040”? If so
• Write to Councillors
• Submit your views to council
• Email or
• Council’s form https://yoursay.northsydney.nsw.gov.au/draft-csp-2025/surveys/vision-2040
The closing date for submissions is Weds 9 April, so please act now

Yours faithfully

Ian Mutton
www.ianmutton.com