Strategic tools
Council’s ‘Strategic Community Plan’ stands as the organisation's highest-level strategic document, encapsulating Barunga West Council's vision to be ‘a progressive, sustainable, and connected community’.
It helps to align the organisation's efforts, communicate its purpose and direction, and provide a high-level framework for decision-making and performance measurement.
The vision and mission are meant to inspire and guide the organisation, while goals and strategic objectives define the concrete steps required to realise the vision and fulfill the mission.
Council’s other Strategic Management Plans such as the Long-Term Financial Plan, Annual Business Plan and Asset Management Plans, provide the roadmap for how Council intends to deliver its vision, mission, goals and objectives outlined in the ‘Strategic Community Plan’. Additionally, other plans and initiatives undertaken by the council, such as master plans, research, land use, and demand reports, contribute to and inform Council's Strategic Management Plans.
Council’s Annual Report ultimately reports on its achievements against Council’s strategic management plans.
Operational tools
The Council’s Annual Business Plan and Budget is the key annual operational document and identifies over the year, the revenue (e.g. rates) the Council will receive and the initiatives, projects, services that Council will deliver during the year, including their costs.
Asset Management Plans
Asset Management plans are currently being updated and in some cases developed to:
- Show how assets will meet the service delivery needs of the community into the future
- Ensure the integration of Council’s asset management needs within annual reviews of Council’s Long Term Financial Plan
- Ensure Council assets are managed in the most cost effective manner
- Identify assets that are no longer of value to the community and could be disposed of.
Council already has a significant portfolio of community infrastructure assets under its care and control, and we renew existing assets (e.g. road maintenance) and acquire new assets through purchases (e.g. plant and equipment).
Council also acquires new assets by way of developer contribution (e.g. Fisherman Bay), in addition to building new assets (e.g. footpaths).
The condition and longevity of assets can be difficult to determine. The costs associated with asset management can be large and require planning for peaks and troughs in required expenditure.
As a Council we are responsible to ensure these assets (current and future) meet the required level of service in the most cost effective manner for our community.