Council audit proposes new management structure

Gosford Council will get a new management structure with seven "functional units" and a total of 34 senior management positions.
The seven units are corporate development, environmental planning, community services, development and health, engineering operations, water and sewerage, and finance and corporate services.
The units would each have a director or "head" and between three and five other management positions each.
KPMG spelt out the purpose of each unit and the management positions in each.
The corporate development unit would be " working with the community to shape the long-term direction of Council while involving staff in continuously improving the organisation's management practices.
Four management positions would be available: strategic planning, corporate relations, organisation development and internal auditor.
The environmental planning unit would "provide planning frameworks and policies that protect and enhance the natural, physical and social environments of Gosford City, balancing the needs of the community with the principles of sustainable development".
Four management positions would cover environmental policy and promotion, environmental planning, environmental protection and natural resources.
The community services unit would "provide services and facilities which meet the social, cultural and recreational needs of the community and contribute to enhancing the community’s quality of life".
With five positions, the unit would have the greatest number of managers. Their responsibilities would be library services, performing and visual arts, community services, recreation services and customer services.
The purpose of the development and health unit would be to "ensure that the City’s development conforms to established standards and occurs within a sustained planning framework and that Gosford continues to maintain a high standard of public health".
Three managers would be responsible for health, for planning and development and for the development assessment unit.
The engineering operations unit would "ensure well constructed, maintained and functional roads, drains, public buildings and associated engineering structures".
Three managers would be assigned to maintenance, construction operations and "asset maintenance advisory".
Mechanical workshops and design services would come within this unit, but without management positions.
The water and sewerage unit would "provide the community with high quality water and sewerage services which reflect recognised standards and are delivered in an environmentally sustainable manner".
Three management positions would cover asset provision, regulatory services and plant.
A finance strategy reporting function would also be provided in this unit.
The plant section would be divided into sewerage treatment, water and sewerage, electrical and mechanical, and bulk water.
The role of the financial and corporate services unit would be to "support the effective and efficient management of Council in the delivery of services to the community by providing systems, processes management services and information to enable sound financial decision making and to promote accountability".
Management positions would be provided for finance, fleet stores and supply, and information management and technology.
Legal, contract management, property, the grants officer and the secretariat would also come within this unit.