Das Double-quick, And Not Just Its Own
Sydney Morning Herald
Tuesday November 27, 2007
DEVELOPMENT applications: who said they could not be done?
Councils that process them too slowly should give Bankstown City Council a call, It does the job in half the average time taken by councils in NSW - and for other councils as well as itself. Bankstown's Civic Services Group pioneered resource-sharing long before it became fashionable in local government. The group's planning arm processes development applications in about 26 days, compared with a state average of 50 days. Some councils take more than 100 days. Bankstown makes no complaint about a shortage of planners and pays standard rates to its staff, plus a bonus if profit is earned. It is because it has excess planning and engineering staff that it can serve outside clients. The group was created by a former general manager of the council, Mark Fitzgibbon, more than 10 years ago. His aim was to commercialise its internal services - the council itself is a "client" - and so streamline the council's administration and make a profit for ratepayers. The group employs 350 people, about half the council's staff, and is split into five business units: outside clients, development assessment, engineering design, parks and waste. It has consulted the Independent Commission Against Corruption and national competition policy principles to avoid potential conflicts of interest and maintain an open system. About 10 per cent of the group's annual income of $45 million comes from outside clients. In the past month it has done work for 13 other Sydney councils, five government departments and two large businesses. Its sister city, Broken Hill, is also a client. Bankstown's general manager, Wayne Carter, said the business model provided alternatives to councils that did not have enough resources or could not get planners. "Another benefit is that the [Civic Services Group] provides arm's-length assessment services for our clients - and indeed to our own council," Mr Carter said. "Having an accredited commercial arm with design and approvals expertise means as a council Bankstown is always able to meet the needs of its own city despite an industry-wide shortage of designers, planners and engineers. "When we have vacancies we are able to cut back on the external work without interfering with internal services."Bankstown's political machinery also runs smoothly. The recently retired general manager, Richard Colley, said council meetings rarely lasted much longer than an hour - a far cry from the fiery marathons of some councils, which can extend past midnight. hgrennan@mail.fairfax.com.au
© 2007 Sydney Morning Herald