Willoughby City Council has decided to outsource or consolidate some community services to ensure these services remain viable, and continue to operate in a way that meets community needs and expectations.
At its meeting on 23 May, the Council unanimously made decisions on:
- Food services at the Dougherty Community Centre at Chatswood
- The Devonshire Street Child care centre at Chatswood; and
- The Bales Park Out of School Hours (OOSH) centre at North Willoughby.
These decisions followed a review that has sought to identify under-utilised, loss-making or non-core services provided by the Council which can best be delivered by other organisations.
The decision on these services has not been an easy one but represents a responsible decision which is in the best interests of service users, residents and ratepayers.
Consolidation of Council's Out of School Hours (OOSH) services
Our OOSH services are operated at Bales Park Pavilion at North Willoughby, Artarmon Kids Cottage and Chatswood Oval.
Current capacity across all centres is sitting at just 40%, with just 73 out of 180 places filled. The centres will collectively record a deficit of $49K in 2021/22.
This relatively low demand reflects the fact that more people are now working from home and the fact there has been an increase in the number of competing services located on school grounds.
Following this review, the Artarmon and Chatswood services will be retained with improvements to reduce costs and share resources across the services. Demand for these services is expected to increase in the next financial year.
The Bales Park service will cease operation on 30 June 2022.
This decision has been taken because:
- Bales Park currently only has a low (35%) utilisation rate with an average of 16 children attending per day – this is in part because it is some distance (1km) from Willoughby Public School
- There are a number of other OOSH providers that have adequate vacancies to accommodate children currently attending Bales Park OOSH
- It is considered unlikely that demand for the service will return to a level that is financially sustainable
- The Bales Park staff can be redeployed at alternate OOSH sites
Council is supporting families currently using the Bales Park OOSH to transition to alternative after school care services in the local area including:
- Willoughby Kids House - 31 Penshurst Street, Willoughby,
Director - Jody Rose, 9958 0913
- Helping Hands Network - Willoughby Public School,
Operations Manager - Gabby Ferro 0429 016 6444 or 1300 612 462
- Inspire Program Australia - 15 Warrane Rd, Willoughby,
Head office: 1300 665 265, 0415 156 280 or 9634 4644
Devonshire Street Childcare Centre
The Devonshire Street Long Day Care Centre provides education and long day care for children aged 0-6 years.
The Council has decided to outsource the centre's operation to a reputable child care provider.
As Devonshire Street is currently the only child care service operated by the Council, it requires a resource intense approach to ensuring adequate specialist operating and policy knowledge is maintained.
Given this, the Council has decided that, going forward, a specialist provider with a broader operating base would be better placed to ensure community expectations, customer experience and social benefits are considered and maintained.
Council will continue as the provider until such time as this other provider is secured.
Importantly, we are absolutely committed to ensuring an affordable child care service continues for the centre's families, through another suitably-qualified provider.
This means the centre can continue to operate to the same standard and philosophy of care as is currently does, with families importantly retaining access to government subsidies.
Food services
Council operates a food services business from the Dougherty Centre in Chatswood. The service includes the Blend Café and a catering service. A review has found the current operating deficit is $97k per annum.
In its current operating model this function is not financially viable, while at the same time having the capacity to be delivered by another provider.
Council has resolved to outsource the food services business via a leasing model to ensure the café remains available to the public and the Centre's users.
Importantly, under this model, Meals on Wheels will continue operations at the Dougherty Centre, while the separate in-house kitchen which supplies meals to residents of the Dougherty Apartments will of course remain in place.
The Dougherty Community Centre enjoys visitation of 4,200 people per month, and has recently been refurbished, making it an attractive offer for a licensed café and catering operator with the expertise to operate a vibrant and viable business.
Conclusion
In conclusion:
- The Council has made a number of difficult but prudent decisions about certain under-utilised and/or loss-making services, including the decisions above and the decision to cease the Council's Loop Bus services
- These decisions are designed to support the Council's ongoing financial sustainability as it heads into 2022/23, while at the same time protecting and supporting current users of the services
- The Council has been careful to ensure all of the services subject to these decisions can, and will, be provided by another high-quality provider
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