Brimbank council’s coffers missed out on $1.1 million last
financial year, in part due to unpaid fines and a delayed parking
enforcement program.
With $600,000 in outstanding fines written off, the council also
missed out on a projected booty of $200,000 in parking fines because of
delayed inspections at Watergardens town centre.
The council’s annual financial statement, presented to
administrators last week, revealed a $300,000 decline in building
compliance fees due to a “general slump” in the industry, and a $50,000 decline in animal registrations.
The council wrote off $699,000 in uncollectable debts, mostly
parking infringements that had been outstanding for more than 120 days.
“Council has a policy that all debts [excluding rates] aged over 120 days are to be provided for as doubtful,” the report said.
But with an improved surplus of $12.8 million, up from $3.1
million the previous year, administrator Peter Lewinsky said the report
revealed a “clean bill of health”.
“There are no matters of concern, which is unusual,” he said.
“It’s a good surplus but not a substantial one. It can change very
quickly with a change in circumstance.”
The council saved $263,000 on its final payout in June to a
discontinued super scheme, paying $16.9 million instead of an estimated
$17.2 million and reducing its total expenses by 6.7 per cent. However,
employee costs were up 7 per cent.
The report also revealed the council met 32 of 50 performance measures for the year, including a 23 per cent increase in the planting of trees (3996), 98
per cent of offensive graffiti being removed within two working days of
notification and a 55 per cent increase in patronage at local libraries
with 1.9 million visits.
But council was unable to meet targets of consulting government
ministers or MPs about school renewal projects in Brimbank. There was
also a 14 per cent drop in regular visits to Brimbank parks and council was unable to publish a district-based events calendar.
