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General Purposes Committee Meeting Agenda |
19 May 2020 |
General Purposes Committee LATE REPORTS
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Item No. |
Item Title |
Page No. |
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14 |
Governance Arrangements for Ipswich Central Redevelopment |
3 |
** Item includes confidential papers
19 May 2020
LATE REPORTS
14. Governance Arrangements for Ipswich Central Redevelopment
This is a report concerning the Ipswich Central Redevelopment Project. The Ipswich City Council is currently expending significant funds for the redevelopment of the Ipswich Central Business District. This redevelopment involves the construction of a new Council administration building, library, civic space and the redevelopment of various retail and commercial assets.
With the election of the new Council, it is timely for Council to consider its option in relation to the appropriate governance structure for the Ipswich Central Redevelopment Project.
This paper provides Council with two options for establishing an appropriate and effective governance structure that will ensure Council appropriately manages the risks associated with this major project.
RECOMMENDATION
That Council determine the appropriate Council governance structure for the Ipswich Central Redevelopment Project.
** Item includes confidential papers
and any other items as considered necessary.
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General Purposes Committee Meeting Agenda |
19 May 2020 |
The Chairperson has determined this matter is of real urgency and approval has been given to refer this report to the General Purposes Committee as a late item.
ITEM: 14
SUBJECT: Governance Arrangements for Ipswich Central Redevelopment
AUTHOR: General Manager - Coordination and Performance
DATE: 14 May 2020
This is a report concerning the Ipswich Central Redevelopment Project. The Ipswich City Council is currently expending significant funds for the redevelopment of the Ipswich Central Business District. This redevelopment involves the construction of a new Council administration building, library, civic space and the redevelopment of various retail and commercial assets.
With the election of the new Council, it is timely for Council to consider its option in relation to the appropriate governance structure for the Ipswich Central Redevelopment Project.
This paper provides Council with two options for establishing an appropriate and effective governance structure that will ensure Council appropriately manages the risks associated with this major project.
That Council determine the appropriate Council governance structure for the Ipswich Central Redevelopment Project
Councillor Fechner may have a potential conflict of interest in relation to this matter.
Councillor Madsen may have a potential conflict of interest in relation to this matter.
Strengthening our local economy and building prosperity
This report is seeking a decision from Council in relation to the governance structure it would like to put in place to ensure that the risks associated with the project are managed and that the Council has an appropriate level of oversight on the project.
The project was previously governed by a Project Steering Committee consisting of Mr Steve Greenwood in the role of independent chair, the Interim Administrator, the Ipswich City Council Chief Executive Officer and the General Manager Corporate Services.
Following the election of the Council, there are two options recommended to Council to consider to establish an appropriate governance structure for the project.
Option 1: Council has the ability to create a standing committee with its sole focus being the Ipswich Central Redevelopment Project. The standing committee can be made up of Councillors appointed by the Council and can have responsibility for the oversight and management of the project within the constraints of the project budget approved by the whole Council. In the event that Council determines to create a standing committee for the project, Council officers will develop and appropriate terms of reference for the Council to endorse at a future Council meeting.
Option 2: Council can delegate responsibility for the management and oversight of the project to the Ipswich City Council Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer would then establish an advisory panel consisting of Councillors and Council employees to provide appropriate governance of the project. The Chief Executive Officer would be delegated to make decisions in relation to the project within the constraints of the budget approved by the Council.
This report is completed to provide Council the opportunity to consider Options 1 and 2 and to provide direction to officers in relation to the preferred governance structure for the Ipswich Central Redevelopment Project.
Once Council provides this direction, Council officers will present a report to a future Council meeting detailing the actions taken and decision required by Council to fully implement the preferred option.
This report and its recommendations are consistent with the following legislative provisions:
Local Government Act 2009
An appropriate governance structure for the Ipswich Central Redevelopment Project is essential to ensure that Council is adequately managing all risks associated with the project, especially given the significant investment of public funds in this project.
Council is investing significant funds in the Ipswich Central Redevelopment, however there are no specific financial implications associated with the decision being sought from Council in relation to this report.
There has been no community consultation in relation to this report.
Given the significance of the Ipswich Central Redevelopment Project, it is imperative that Council has an appropriate governance structure in place to manage all of the risks associated with the project and to have appropriate oversight of all aspects of the development.
Sean Madigan
General Manager - Coordination and Performance
I concur with the recommendations contained in this report.
David Farmer
Chief Executive Officer
“Together, we proudly enhance the quality of life for our community”