Kiama Municipal Council has welcomed five community members onto its new Finance Advisory Committee.
Anna-Leena Risku, Elizabeth Kelly, Graeme Gherashe, James Evan Thomson and Mark Greaves will work with Kiama’s mayor, chief executive officer and chief financial officer on the committee from next month.
Kiama CEO, Jane Stroud said she was excited to meet the group face to face this week, before they get down to business.
“They say many hands, make light work and I’m a firm believer in including community members in the work of their Council to get things done,” Ms Stroud said.
“This advisory committee is designed to do just that: involve the public, give wise advice, and gather quality information and different views on Council’s long term financial plan.”
Ms Stroud said she was also thrilled by the large amount of interest shown in joining the committee, which made it a challenge to select five members from a quality field of candidates.
“Anna-Leena, Elizabeth, Graeme, James and Mark all bring some impressive credentials and experience to the table, which is exactly what we need.”
“This committee has a particularly important job ahead of it, guiding our long term financial plan and the reforms it involves.”
“It’s going to be a big challenge but it’s one I’m passionate about like everyone in this committee,” she said.
Mayor Mark Honey thanked the community members for their commitment to the tasks ahead, and said he was buoyed by the amount of interest in the positions.
“Our council and our community have been through a lot of changes since the amalgamation threat, and we’re in better shape because of those reforms, but there’s still plenty of work to be done,” he said.
Mayor Honey said establishing the Finance Advisory Committee was just one example of greater community involvement, others being the establishment of a Blue Haven Advisory Board and the new Audit Risk and Improvement Committee (ARIC).
The Finance Advisory Committee’s first agenda when it meets next month includes finalising their terms of reference, reviewing our long term financial plan and independent peer review plans of work, and recommending to Council the preferred consultant to undertake this work.
