Council committees are amalgamated

Gosford Council has amalgamated over 60 committees into 32 in an attempt to streamline the council's operation.

Under the new committee structure, approved at Councils meeting on May 11 a number of disbanded committees have been taken off the books, some have been amalgamated and some new cultural committees created.'

Thirteen committees covering issues such as regional vegetation, COSS, lagoon management, floodplain management, marine taskforce and wetlands have been combined into four committees.

These are Environmental Planning and Sustainability, Environmental Performance, Floodplain Management, and Coastal and Estuary Management.

Seven childcare centre committees, including Umina Childcare centre committee and a strategic safety committee have been deleted from the Council register and no longer require councillor representation.

Council staff reported to the Council meeting that these childcare centre committees should not be confused with parent committees or "Section 355 Committees", which no longer existed and were merely being deleted off the books.

Cr Terri Latella also proposed another committee for childcare centres as a whole. A report on the proposal will be prepared for the council.

Three new committees were also created as part of the council's Cultural Plan.

These are a Gosford Regional Art Gallery group, a Fusion group and a Performing Arts group that will hold monthly meetings with Woy Woy Little Theatre Company and Gosford Musical Society.

Twelve other committees that have disbanded were also deleted from the council register including the Peninsula Recreation and Leisure Centre Building Committee and the beach safety liaison committee.

The Director of Community Services was also to provide further information about the Peninsula Women's Health Centre, but this did not occur.

Council agenda SF.008, May 13