Council appoints KPMG for audit
Gosford Council has resolved unanimously to employ KPMG to conduct its wide-ranging audit into the council's management and structure.
Six councillors took part in the interviewing process and chose KPMG because of its emphasis on involving the staff and the community as well as councillors and senior management.
KPMG will interview staff at all levels in the organisation and will issue newsletters and leaflets to make sure employees are fully informed."
Cr Lynne Bockholt said: "Council is determined to ensure wide community involvement in the audit and was impressed with KPMGs plans to hold "Peoples Panels", public meetings and focus groups to garner community attitudes to Councils service delivery.
"Everyone will have the opportunity to participate in these sessions and I encourage all ratepayers to come along and have your say in the future of your Council."
"There is concern amongst most councillors that management is not as focussed on customer service to ratepayers as it should be," she said.
"One of the aims of the management audit is to examine service delivery to ratepayers to ascertain if services are being delivered as efficiently as possible.
"KPMG will look at the best way of delivering council services and then examine the way these services are delivered at present.
"If there is a quicker and more efficient service delivery method, they will recommend to Council that these new methods be adopted.
"Bureaucracy which has driven ratepayers mad for years will be identified and swept away.
"I believe council management and administrative staff have too many internal meetings and concentrate on process rather then outcomes, and I am confident that this management audit will point the way forward to more responsive council.
"This exercise is not about cutting staff numbers, but rather is designed to get a better result from the officers who do not always have to deal face to face with ratepayers, and therefore do not believe good customer service is part of their job description.
"I want to stress that the audit will not result in cuts in services to the local community, but I am confident it will enhance the way council does business with ratepayers.
"I expect the audit to get underway in late October or early November."
September 18