4 May 2017 – Media Release
Cumberland Council has resolved to bring the management of all parks and facilities in house from 30 June 2017, following an independent audit of the practices of Committees managing some of Council’s parks and facilities.
Cumberland Council Administrator Viv May said the NSW Office of Local Government had requested all Councils to review the operations of Committees as there had been several reported cases of them failing to meet basic governance and accountability standards, which presented significant risks.
“An independent audit into the Committees that Cumberland Council inherited upon proclamation revealed significant variances between the ways in which Committees were managing their finances and highlighted significant governance failures,” Mr May said.
“Where Council’s delegate functions to s355 Committees, including the expenditure of council funds, it is important that the activities of these Committees remain transparent and subject to critical oversight.
“It is apparent from the independent audit that the former Councils had not actively monitored and enforced the requirements of the constitution governing committees that manage parks and facilities. I would also question the legitimacy of some of the delegations.
“Given the findings of this independent audit, and Council’s increased capacity as a larger organisation, we have resolved to bring the remaining parks and facilities being managed by s355 Committees in house, relieving volunteers of this considerable responsibility.
“Bringing management of these facilities under the one Cumberland Council umbrella is a great result because it means everyone across the Cumberland area will be treated equally when it comes to booking, paying for and ultimately enjoying these public facilities.
“I would like to recognise and thank the committee and interagency network members who have dedicated considerable time and good will to the running of these facilities. We will also consult with these former committee members to ensure that the money they have worked hard to raise stays with the parks and facilities they previously managed.
“Council will put additional resources in place to resource the transition process and ensure service levels remain continuous to the community.
“Another positive outcome is the development of a modern system that improves the governance and accountability framework for all future and continuing committees in Cumberland, including network groups, specialist panels and project reference groups.”
