Despite massive rate hikes, Central Coast Council has proposed further reductions in performance targets across a range of key services, including kilometres of road resurfacing and drainage, response times for customer queries, determination times for development applications, numbers of public health inspections and maintenance of parks, reserves and sports facilities (Draft Operational Plan cops criticism, CCN 385).
Council explanations for this are as feeble as the targets themselves.
Administrator Rik Hart complains that last year’s targets were “unrealistic.”
If this is the case, perhaps Mr Hart can explain why he approved such “unrealistic” targets himself just 12 months ago?
Council Director for Environment and Planning Alice Howe told the Council meeting targets are being reduced because 40 per cent of them weren’t achieved last year.
Presumably, it never occurred to her that so many missed targets might suggest a need to improve performance?
Speaking on CCN’s YouTube channel, Mr Hart offered yet another explanation: “We’ve got to rebuild confidence internally,” he said.
Does he really think the best way to build confidence among his managers is to pat them on the back for achieving Mickey Mouse targets?
Once again, Mr Hart appears to be putting the interests of the Council bureaucracy above those of the local community.
This is what happens when you suspend local democracy and impose taxation without representation.
Council executives are not accountable to the community for their performance or their higher salaries and perks.
There is no incentive for them to improve performance, productivity, culture, or efficiency.
Instead of addressing these problems, Mr Hart told the community during last year’s rates “consultation” it must choose between higher rates or further service reductions.
In reality, he has delivered both.
Email, Apr 18
Kevin Brooks, Bensville
so true Mr hart has been in the state government system for a long time and imposes all that is wrong about inefficient government. He does not understand how to impove services with productivity.
Productivity is actually a core responsibility of the CEO through his appointed directors .. not the Administrator whose role is akin to that of elected Councillors.
Not at all surprised by this. We have been handed an administrator who simply follows guidelines set out by Government puppets with no care or concern for the needs of this area or the people. Kevin Brooks, thanks for keeping us informed on the inept runnings of the CC Council, I long for the day this whole procedure is seen as farcical and a
waste of tax payers money. It is crucial we keep speaking out and fighting for justice!