The Delivery Program sets out the work that Council will undertake over the next four years, to deliver on the community outcomes and goals of the Community Strategic Plan. The first year of the Delivery Program is the Operational Plan.

The Delivery Program is updated annually, and includes:

• background on the community’s long term needs and aspirations
• our priorities for the next four years in meeting community needs and aspirations
• details of what our 16 key services provide, their budget, and how service performance is measured
• projects to be delivered by each service in the next four years

This year it also highlights the services affected by COVID-19 and the support packages on offer.

An overview of the 2020/21 budget is shown on pages 28-31, showing the Council’s income sources and how the funds will be spent.

The income is used to deliver services (operational budget) as well as manage and maintain our infrastructure assets (capital budget) such as roads, footpaths, buildings, parks, wharves, stormwater system etc. The capital budget funds both new works and maintenance works, which are planned in line with our Asset Management Strategy and Plans. Each of the 16 key services also sets out its income and expenditure for the next four years.

The Budget chapter provides more detail on the consolidated budget for 2020/21, including the effect of COVID-19 support measures. It also projects our financial position for the next four years, and is planned to ensure financial sustainability.

The Fees and Charges document details how much Council will charge for a range of services in the financial year. These are usually services provided on a user-pays basis, which not all ratepayers will use e.g. hiring halls, childcare, theatre tickets. Fees and charges are set annually.

Fees generally rise by a modest percentage each year. This year there will be a delay in fees rises until October 2020, as part of our support during COVID-19. See the COVID-19 fact sheet for other temporary fee reductions.

Council prepares these as part of its integrated planning and reporting obligations under the Local Government Act, 1993 (as amended). All NSW councils are required to prepare these documents to ensure their plans are in tune with their community’s needs, can be resourced, and their implementation is reported back to the community.

The Delivery Program, Operational Plan (including the Fees and Charges) are part of this framework, presented on our website as the Strategic Framework.

Council events and some services and beaches have been closed or restricted to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus. This is a changing situation as Council, State and Federal Governments announce protective actions we all need to undertake - the community, business and all organisations. Keep updated on the latest changes on our webpage

A range of support packages for our community and economy have commenced. These packages extend into 2020/21 and additional support is also provided in the budget.

The financial impact is anticipated to be $12.3 million in 2020/21. Of this, $6.6 million is for support packages, and a further $5.7 million are losses from closed and impacted services. The overall expected result is an operating deficit of $6.8 million (before capital grants and contributions).

The NSW Government calculates the increased cost on councils of materials, services and labour.

This is measured by a price index, like a CPI for local government, and is used to set the maximum percentage increase for rates across the State (‘rate peg’ set by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART).

Though the rate peg for 2020/21 has been set at 2.6%, Council proposes to only charge ratepayers half of this i.e. 1.3%. See the IPART Fact sheetIPART Fact sheet for more information on the rate peg.

In 2017/2018 Council engaged with the community to develop its first delivery program.

The top community priorities were captured as:

• environment and sustainability
• planning for the future
• health and recreation
• community and creativity
• vibrant centres and business
• connected transport

The proposed Delivery Program rolls forward the plan, setting out how Council will address these priorities, the community’s goals in the Community Strategic Plan, This is further shaped by more recent community feedback on a wide range of projects, strategies and actions plans that have been developed together with the community, business, non-profit organisations, grant bodies and Government.

All projects are set out under each service, and a map of local capital projects is provided

View a map of proposed works for 2020/21

Our Long Term Financial Plan 2018-2028 is available under the Publications page, under the Strategic Framework section.

View the documents on exhibition (identified above), including the series of fact sheets on what is planned for local areas, and a map of proposed capital projects.

Watch any of the webinars and short videos made available on this project page during the exhibition, or regular updates from the Mayor on Facebook

• Online via the Submission form on this project page
• Or email: council@northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au

• Or write: Marked 'Budget and Delivery Program 2020-2024', Northern Beaches Council, PO Box 82, Manly NSW 1655.

Submissions close Sun 7 Jun

At the close of the engagement period, staff will review and analyse all submissions received and prepare a report to Council. The report will address each issue raised and the basis for any recommended changes.

The final documents and engagement report will be presented to Council on Tuesday 23 June 2020 with the report being available on the agenda papers for the meeting.

The Agenda will be available by Thursday 18 June 2020.

Progress is reported to Council every quarter, year and at the end of the elected Council’s term.

Local capital projects on the online map also display brief monthly updates on progress.