Central Coast Council’s Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee, which is due to get a new member this month, has not yet made public its 2021 annual report.
The 2019 report was tabled in February 2020.
There was no date on when the 2020 report was tabled.
Some other NSW councils have changed their annual reports from calendar year to financial year but Central Coast Council has not explained if its committee has done likewise.
One of the three external independent members of the committee, John Gordon, finishes up on April 27.
A total of 20 people applied to Council to replace him.
Expressions of interest closed on March 5 and the new person starts on April 28.
An interview panel of the CEO, the administrator, and three Council directors, was to interview a short list from the 20 candidates.
Independent external members get paid $2,092 (ex GST) per meeting and the chair gets $20,920 (ex GST) per annum.
Each external member is appointed for three to five years.
The new person will join a committee which meets four or five times a year and discusses mainly confidential items such as legal updates, risk management reports and Council’s insurance arrangements.
The first administrator Ian Reynolds established the ARIC in 2017.
At the time he said: “The community can be assured there is true independent overview of audit processes and internal controls to ensure our financial management is second to none.”
The three Independent External Members, in aggregate, will have recent and relevant knowledge and experience of such things as accounting or financial management, auditing in the public sector, and the local government framework.
ARIC provides Council with independent oversight, objective assurance and monitoring of Council’s audit processes, internal controls, external reporting, risk management activities, compliance of and with Council’s policies and procedures, and performance improvement activities.
Gordon’s contribution to the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee was recognised at the March meeting where he was thanked for being a pillar of support.
“John’s knowledge and experience is immeasurable and he was a consistent and reliable asset to the organisation,” the minutes state.
The Administrator also thanked John for his help and advice over the many years.
Gordon declared a standing list of disclosure of interests at each Central Coast ARIC meeting which showed he was a member of ARIC committees for Camden Council; Inner West Council; Liverpool City Council; Shoalhaven Council, Sutherland Shire Council; Waverley Council and Woollahra Council.
Merilyn Vale
The ARIC appears to be a complete waste of the ratepayers money – we should demand a refund of their fees and sack the whole committee! The Inquiry into the Council’s financial management showed that ARIC failed to give adequate warning about the Council’s cash flow problems or the use of restricted funds. We ratepayers are being punished by a massive increase in rates because of the incompetence of the NSW Minister for Local Government and her department and their appointment of their old mates to the ARIC.