Penrith City Draft 2008-09 Management Plan

Council provides key physical infrastructure and services such as the construction and maintenance of roads, footpaths, and drainage. Do you have any comments about the proposed Roads, Footpaths and Drainage construction and maintenance program for 2008-09?
This topic relates to the following documents in the library:
* Road Resealing/Resheeting Program for 2008-2009 * Footpath Program for 2008-2009 * Roads & Footpath Maintenance Service Plan & Budget * Roads,Footpaths & Drainage Construction Service Plan & Budget  

Council delivers many important projects each year. Do you have any comments on the projects which Council is proposing for 2008-09? Are there any Council projects that should be delivered in a different way?
In 2008-09 a total of $51m in capital works is proposed. 

Council’s rates are proposed to rise by 3.2% in 2008-09 (the maximum amount allowed to all councils) to meet essential costs, maintain and improve services. Council generates the majority of its income from other sources including grants, waste charges and fees. Where do you think Council should focus its efforts to increase income? 

Council delivers a wide range of services each year. Do you have any comments on the services which Council provides? Are there any Council services that should be provided in a different way? 

As a grandparent I have been totally disgusted with the collection of parking fines outside the public schools. Glenmore Park was designed very badly for crowding and lack of thought has gone into safety and ease of parking where needed. The shopping centre parking is far too tight, needs redesigning, people deserve better than the minimium, which has been the case for many years for new developments. Instead of booking people, why not do what is needed and work closely with state government to organise a take over of some of the school grounds to give parents adequate parking and time to attend to their childs needs. Revenue raising by booking people for this is really low and a hinderence rather than effective. 

Aside from money collected via rates, Council must also charge for other services to cover the cost of delivery. Council’s fees and charges are reviewed annually and are based on a number of different pricing approaches including full or partial cost recovery, subsidised and statutory pricing methods. Overall Council’s fees and charges income is proposed to rise by 3.71% in 2008-09. All fees and charges are detailed in Part C of the Draft Management Plan. Do you have any comments on the proposed fees and charges? 

My experience of dealing with Council Staff at Penrith has been appalling. It took 12 months to get a letter responded to. Staff do not return phone calls or emails.
Some may say we need more staff because they are overworked. I suspect what we really need are performance reviews, that check whether the staff follow their customer service charter. Where there is a problem with them doing the fundamentals of their job, training should be offered (eg. in time management), and where they refuse to lift their game, after several warnings, staff should be removed and replaced with those willing to work.