Article: Quirk stamps authority on council structure

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Quirk stamps authority on council structure

Quirk stamps authority on council structure
Tony Moore
May 10, 2011 - 3:00AM

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk will today stamp his authority over a new Brisbane City Council management structure that will reduce council's six divisions to five.

Any redundancies as part of the process will come out of the $10 million package announced by finance chairman Adrian Schrinner last week.

Cr Schrinner last night said the restructure was part of longer-term reforms foreshadowed in 2009's AT Kearney review of how the council could operate more efficiently.

It is also influenced by loss of water business staff from the old City Business area, who have gone across to Queensland Urban Utilities, and traffic staff who have gone to Translink.

AT Kearney estimated $750 million in savings could be found by 2026, with more than $159 million found in former lord mayor Campbell Newman's first term.

Cr Schrinner said the new restructure was part of that long-term review.

"Over the years we've seen a number of departments swap and change and this is about bringing them all back into line to cut red tape and ensure we're delivering front line services as efficiently as possible," he said.

"It's also part of our plan to reduce council's operating costs and layers of bureaucracy so we can spend more time and money on things like better roads, footpaths and public transport while also keeping rates low."

Council Opposition Leader Shayne Sutton however said last week's budget review had revealed the cost of the restructure had already increased from $23 million to $33 million.

Cr Sutton said the restructure would not produce savings.

"This is a costly organisational restructure that will do nothing to bring down Brisbane City Council's debt or put key projects back on line that have been cancelled because of the administration's mismanagement," she said.

"In fact, it is costing more money."

As part of the changes, Brisbane Infrastructure will grow to include a new City Projects Office, which will include the former Major Infrastructure Projects Office.

This group manages big projects like the Legacy Way tunnel and planning for Kingsford Smith Drive.

All the council's work areas - the old Local Asset Services, City Fleet Maintenance, City Building and Maintenance areas, City Works and City Waste areas - will now be known as 'Field Services'.

There will be a new 'Brisbane Lifestyle' division, to replace the old Families and Community Services, which will also now look after Brisbane's venues and cemeteries.

The Office of the Lord Mayor will include the council's Legal Practice.

In a message to council staff, chief executive Colin Jensen said the changes were directed at council's bureaucracy.

"These changes are targeted at the management level of the organisation to improve accountability and reduce management costs," he said.

The changes will come into effect by the end of the financial year.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/quirk-stamps-authority-on-council-structure-20110509-1efn3.html#ixzz1LtUe3fKQ