audit, risk and improvement committee annual report

2020/21

Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee Annual Report

We acknowledge the Darug people as the original custodians of the land on which Blacktown City is built.

We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and acknowledge the Aboriginal people for their custodianship of this land.

We will work together for a united City that respects this land and values the contribution to our community and culture of all people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage.

THE WELCOME OF LEANNE MULGO WATSON

Warami

Budyari Ngami Darug Nurawa

Bayangun budyari Darug Yurawin

Yarabirang Nura

Bayangun budyari ganuningang yura gurugal yagu barrabugu yura

Walama ngyini budbud dali Darug Nura

Yana muday nurawa diyi nangamili

Walk softly on country our dreaming is forever.

Didyarigura

Hello

It is great to see you on Darug Country

We speak well of the Darug people

The people who belong to country

We pay respect to their elders past present and emerging.

Open your heart to Darug country

Walk softly on country our dreaming is forever.

Thank you.

Leanne Mulgo Watson

Leanne Watson is a Darug woman commonly known in the Aboriginal community as Mulgo, meaning Black Swan. The daughter of Aunty Edna Watson and Uncle Allan Watson, elders of the Darug community, Leanne was born and raised in Sydney. She is now a mother and grandmother and has spent her life living, promoting and protecting Darug culture, people and places.

An award-winning artist, educator and book illustrator, she started painting at a young age, taught by her mother Aunty Edna Watson and her brother Bundeluk Watson. Leanne’s artwork is inspired by her family, Darug country, the environment and life experiences.

Aunty Edna Watson

Meetings is a story of travelling long distances to meet our sister mob in central Australia it shows the places and mobs we see on our way.

Meetings is featured on the front and back covers, page 1 and pages 6–9.

ContentsAbout the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee Annual Report 02

Blacktown City Council 02

Organisational chart 04

Values, leadership, and guiding principles 05

The Blacktown City Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee (ARIC) 06

Committee profiles 07

Committee activity 10

Internal audit 12

Enterprise Risk Management 17

Business Improvement 18

External audit 21

Committee performance 22

Committee Charter 23

About the artists 24

01BLACKTOWN CITY COUNCIL | AUDIT, RISK AND IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE ANNUAL REPORT 2020/21

About the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee Annual ReportThis annual report documents the operation and activities of the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee (ARIC) for Blacktown City Council from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021.

Blacktown City Council’s ARIC provides Council with independent assurance and assistance on its control framework, risk management, governance, and external reporting responsibilities.

There are 4 independent members on the committee and 2 councillors who are nominated by Council.

During 2020/21, 2 independent member positions of the committee became available, with the end of Peter Jackson’s term of appointment (February 2021) and the resignation of Dennis Banicevic (May 2021).

Interviews for replacement members were completed with appointments to be made in July 2021.

You will find committee member profiles on page 7 of this report.

VisionOur vision for the City of Blacktown is ‘City of Excellence – diverse, dynamic and progressive’.

MissionTo provide our community with the best living and working environment through commitment to services.

Blacktown City is responsible for a wide range of functions and activities. We deliver services and provide facilities needed by our expanding, dynamic and diverse City.

Functions are split across 5 directorates and the Chief Executive Officer’s unit: • City Architect and Transformational Design • City Assets • City Living • Corporate Services• City Planning and Development.

Blacktown City Council

AUDIT, RISK AND IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE ANNUAL REPORT 2020/21 | BLACKTOWN CITY COUNCIL02

Travelling Colony, Brook Andrew – part of the Blacktown City Council Art Collection.

‘Travelling Colony’ is inspired by the artist’s Wiradjuri heritage, the circus and popular culture. Originally commissioned for the Sydney Festival, the work is a series of hand-painted caravans that provide a stage for community actions and storytelling. Artist biography available on page 24.

Organisational chartChief Executive

Officer

Director Corporate

Services

Manager Procurement and

Governance

Manager Access and Transport Management

Manager Arts and Cultural

Development

Manager Asset Design

Manager Strategic Planning

Chief Safety Officer

Manager Asset Construction

Manager Environment City Architect

TeamManager

Development Assessment

Executive Manager People

and Culture

Manager Asset Planning and

SupportManager Library

ServicesTransformational Projects Program

TeamManager

Building and Engineering Assessment

Chief Property Officer

Manager Open Space Maintenance

Manager Community Law Enforcement and

Waste

Chief Financial Officer

Manager Plant and Energy

Manager Community

Development

Manager Recreational Planning and

Design

Manager Development

Policy and Regulation

Manager Corporate

Strategy and Economic

Development

Manager Civil Asset

Maintenance

Manager Key Venues

Manager Events and Sister Cities

Manager Building

Construction and Maintenance

Manager Kids’ Early Learning Project Director

International Training Centre

of Excellence

Chief Digital Officer Manager S.711

Projects

Manager Animal Rehoming Centre

Manager Developer

Contributions

Director City Planning and Development

Director City Assets

Director City Living

City Architect and Director

Transformational Design

Executive Secretariat

Executive Corporate Counsel

Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee

Executive Manager Communications and Marketing

04 AUDIT, RISK AND IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE ANNUAL REPORT 2020/21 | BLACKTOWN CITY COUNCIL

Values, leadership, and guiding principlesBlacktown City Council is committed to ensuring our operations, service delivery and strategic planning show integrity. We strive at all times to be equitable, transparent, and accountable. Our organisational values are teamwork, customer focus, innovation, and safety.

Our community has respect for, and takes great pride in, their City. We advocate for our community’s interests and provide opportunities to involve them in creating a dynamic City. We support our community’s diversity by building relationships based on tolerance, fairness, and respect.

TEAMWORK CUSTOMER FOCUSED

COMMITMENT TO SAFETY

INNOVATION


The Blacktown City Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee (ARIC)Council’s ARIC was established under section 428A of the Local Government Amendment (Governance and Planning) Act 2016 as an advisory committee of Council. The committee provides independent assurance on risk management, control, governance, and external accountability.

Council’s Internal Audit Section reports to the Committee. The Committee’s charter requires the Chair to report to the governing body (Blacktown City Council) at least annually.

Artwork: Meetings, Aunty Edna Watson.


Mr Stephen Horne Committee ChairJoining the Committee in February 2017, Mr Horne is an independent member of 9 audit risk and improvement committees, covering councils in NSW and Victoria, and large NSW Government bodies. After a 38 year career in the NSW Government, Mr Horne established himself as a professional director, consultant, and trainer in 2015. His last 2 government roles were Chief Executive of the NSW Internal Audit Bureau, and the NSW Assistant Auditor-General (Performance Audit).

Mr Horne is also a recent National President and Chairman of the board of the Institute of Internal Auditors (Australia), Chair of the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) Global Public Sector Internal Audit Guidance Committee, Independent Director for the Global Board of the IIA, and Chair of the National Public Sector Governance Committee of the Governance Institute of Australia.

A qualified company director, company secretary and internal auditor, Mr Horne holds a Bachelor of Business Studies, Graduate Certificate in Management Communication, Graduate Certificate in Fraud Control, and a Certificate in Public Administration.

Mr Robert Lagaida PSM

As a senior executive with over 26 years’ experience, Mr Lagaida has provided strategic advice and managed recurrent budgets of over $1.5 billion. He has managed capital projects of over $300 million per annum, as well as state-wide contracts with a total annual spend of $600 million. In recognition of his financial management contributions to the NSW public hospital system, Mr Lagaida was awarded a Public Service Medal (PSM) in the Australia Day 2018 Honours List.

Before retiring in 2017, he served for 5 years as Director, Finance, Commercial and Corporate Services at HealthShare NSW. This followed 18 years with NSW Health in various financial, clinical, and corporate management roles. Mr Lagaida has a Master of Commerce, a Bachelor of Economics, and a Graduate Diploma in Information Systems. He is also a graduate and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and a Fellow of the Certified Practising Accountants (FCPA).

Mr Lagaida was admitted to the NSW Government pre‑qualified panel for Member of Audit and Risk Committee through the NSW Department of Finance. He is a current board director of Arthritis NSW and NSW Local Government Procurement.

Committee profiles


Mr Dennis Banicevic A local government specialist for over 40 years, Mr Banicevic has provided audit and financial services at over 50 councils including the Cities of Sydney, Blacktown, Parramatta, Bankstown, Penrith, Wollongong, and The Hills, Hornsby, Sutherland and Wyong Shire councils. He has also worked with the Office of Local Government, Local Government NSW and the Institute of Municipal Management. Projects included the development of a code of accounting practice, financial training for councillors, and performance indicators and benchmarks.

With his deep understanding of local government from both the management and political perspective, Mr Banicevic has reviewed depot operations and controls, asset management practices and rating structures, and financial sustainability. He has also developed alternative income streams to relieve rating base burden. Mr Banicevic was actively involved in advising councils and government on the NSW Government’s Fit for the Future initiative to make councils more sustainable. He also provides a Financial Issues in Local Government course for elected representatives to help them better understand their responsibilities and opportunities in areas such as annual reporting, budgeting, and strategic planning.

Mr Banicevic holds a Bachelor of Economics and is a Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Mr Banicevic resigned from the ARIC in May 2021.

Mr Peter Jackson Independent member of the Committee, Mr Jackson has had 44 years’ local government experience including 9 years as General Manager at Hawkesbury City Council. He also served for 20 years as Director at Hurstville City and Hawkesbury City Councils. Previously he held roles with the NSW Ombudsman’s Office and the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).

Mr Jackson holds a Local Government Town Clerks Certificate, an Associate Diploma in Local Government Administration, and a Bachelor of Business (Local Government).

Mr Jackson’s term of appointment to the ARIC was completed in February 2021.



Councillor Kevin GilliesHaving lived in Blacktown City for more than 40 years, Councillor Gillies was elected to Council in 2017. Councillor Gillies has a background in senior management and advocacy in the private and public sectors. He has also worked in the printing and entertainment industries, the NSW Health sector as well as in employer and employee organisations.

Roles include Printing and Kindred Industries Union Executive, a federal industrial relations advocate, and a human resources, risk and organisation consultant. At Western Sydney Area Health Service, Councillor Gillies was Director of Human Resources and Risk as well as Director of Workforce. This role was part of the management team responsible for the public hospitals and related health services in Auburn, Westmead, Cumberland, Blacktown, Mount Druitt, Nepean, Blue Mountains and Lithgow. He was also responsible for mental health, multicultural health, and drug and alcohol services.

For the past 42 years, Councillor Gillies has been actively involved with, and served on, executive committees for local sporting clubs, including rugby, rugby league and Little Athletics.

Councillor Brad BuntingFirst elected to Blacktown City Council in September 2016, Councillor Bunting has served the Blacktown local community for many years. A Life Member and former President of Tallawong Park Little Athletics Centre in Blacktown, he is also a coach for Town Rangers Soccer Club. Councillor Bunting is the Chair of the Blacktown City Sport and Recreation Committee and the Senior Citizens Advisory Committee. He has served on several other Blacktown City committees including Planning and Resources, Blacktown City and Inter Government Advisory, and the International Links and Sister Cities Advisory.

Councillor Bunting has been a delegate to Floodplain Management Australia and the Western Sydney Academy of Sports Advisory Forum. He is a Councillor on the Hawkesbury River County Council. A board member with Blacktown Venue Management and the Western Sydney Sports Academy, Councillor Bunting works for the Honourable Ed Husic MP, Federal Member for Chifley.


Committee activityIn 2020/21 the ARIC met 6 times to review internal audit reports, the internal audit program, audited financial statements for Blacktown City Council and an update of the impact of COVID-19 on Council operations.

The committee also met twice as advisers to analyse and comment on the Better Practice Review (BPR) method, findings, and recommendations.

ARIC 2020/21 summary of activities


Committee report card Committee charter Compliance

Committee meetings A quorum was maintained at every meeting.

An invitation to attend meetings was extended to the Chief Executive Officer and all managers who were subject to an audit review or Better Practice Review.

Composition 4 independent members

2 Councillors

Broad range of skills and experience

Committee members are diverse with strong local government and commercial experience.

Functional separation ARIC has no executive powers but forms a key part of the governance for Council’s Better Practice Reviews Program.

Sufficient time allocated to tasks The meeting agenda allowed equal time to discuss all audit reviews, the strategic audit plan, and the status of implementation of audit recommendations. Often, dedicated meetings are held to consider and discuss Better Practice Review reports.

Consultation The Chair invited directors and managers to address audit reports. The Chief Executive Officer, Director Corporate Services, External Audit and Council internal audit officers attend meetings as advisers. The ARIC is consulted by the Business Improvement team to test the application of their methodology for Better Practice Reviews by service.

Probity Members declared conflicts of interest if they arose.

Risk management Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) framework review, including planning, implementation, policy and procedures, are reported to the committee.

Control framework Controls and policies and procedures are effectively reviewed through audit reports and briefings received.

External accountability The committee provides input and feedback on the financial statements and control issues identified by the external auditor.

Compliance Compliance with legislative requirements is considered (where relevant) in every audit included in the 4-year strategic internal audit plan. Corporate Counsel maintains a register of Council’s legislative compliance requirements.

Internal audit Delivery of the internal audit program.

External audit Financial statements are reviewed for compliance with local government regulatory requirements and resolution of audit findings.

Service delivery Performance reviews provide independent insights into Blacktown City’s Better Practice Reviews method.


Internal audit Internal auditing is a systematic, disciplined approach that provides independent, objective assurance designed to add value to Blacktown City’s operations. Internal auditing helps us achieve our objectives by evaluating our risk management, control and governance.

Our structureAudit and Risk is located within the Procurement and Governance section of Corporate Services. The Coordinator Audit and Risk is responsible for internal audit and risk management activities. While administratively reporting to the Manager Procurement and Governance, the coordinator’s independence is assured through a direct reporting relationship to the committee and, through the committee, to the Chief Executive Officer.

Our charterA charter governs the internal audit function at Blacktown City. The charter, which is reviewed every 3 years, outlines the purpose, authority and responsibility of management and the Internal Audit team. Auditors present their findings and recommendations to ARIC in an audit report. To monitor the effectiveness of the control environment, the Committee reviews the reports. Directors and managers are also invited to discuss improvement opportunities.

To achieve Council’s business objectives, Internal Audit is authorised to direct a comprehensive program of reviews, previews, consultancy advice, evaluations, appraisals, assessments. They also conduct investigations of functions, processes, controls and governance frameworks. Unless there is a restriction imposed by legislative requirements such as the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013, all Internal Audit members have authority for full, free and unrestricted access to all functions, property, personnel, records, information, accounts, files, monies and other documentation that are needed to do their work.

Our standardsAudits are completed in accordance with the International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing (Standards) issued by the Institute of Internal Auditors.

Our audit programInternal Audit works to a 4-year Strategic Audit Plan (SAP). Strategic risks are identified by the Council executive in meetings with the Audit and Enterprise Risk Management Officer (AERMO). Audits are then planned to verify the effectiveness of internal controls over those strategic risks.

Other reviews performed include:• audits of core business processes• continuous assurance and compliance• benchmarking and continuous improvement• quality auditing• management requests and investigations.


In 2020/21 Internal Audit reported the following reviews to the ARIC:

1. Development assessments and applications

2. Continuous assurance and compliance testing (x2)

3. Major event or natural disaster impacting on delivery of Council services – COVID-19

4. Transformational projects

5. Workplace health and safety (WHS) culture and systems

6. Ageing infrastructure and asset renewal strategy and processes

7. Payroll

8. Transport for NSW (formerly RMS) DRIVES system compliance

9. Findings from Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) Operation Dasha (Canterbury City Council)

10. Asbestos management at Blue Mountains City Council.

In addition, 6 management requests were performed in the period.

Quality internal auditingCouncil maintains certification to the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems – Requirements Standard for Asset Design Services (ADS). This enables ADS to tender for any government design project works. Audit and Risk performs monthly quality audits of ADS business procedures to ensure compliance with their Business Profile (Quality Manual) and help identify any areas for process improvements.

Audit and Risk also participated in the most recent surveillance audit by the accredited external service provider in January 2021. This audit found ADS’s continuing compliance with the ISO 9001 standard to be generally effective.

Management actionsBlacktown City uses the Communique system to complete audit recommendations to management. Once loaded into the system, auditees receive automated email notifications to remind them of outstanding audit actions and their due date. Each month open management recommendations are reported to the relevant Director for their attention. Outstanding actions are regularly reported to the Executive Management Committee for oversight.

Acting on Internal Audit report recommendations is a critical element of an effective internal control framework. Based on internal audit reports provided to the committee during 2020/21, the committee made 81 audit recommendations to Council. At each committee meeting, committee members monitor the status of action items.

You can view the minutes from our ARIC meetings on Council’s website: www.blacktown.nsw.gov.au/About-Council/How-we-work/Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee


http://www.blacktown.nsw.gov.au/About-Council/How-we-work/Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee



Internal audit Audit action status 2020/21

Directorate Completed On targetDeferred

target Overdue Total On target

City Assets 0 1 5 0 6 100%

Planning and Development 7 0 1 0 8 100%

Corporate Services 25 36 0 0 61 100%

City Architect and Transformation and Design

4 0 0 0 4 100%

City Living 2 0 0 0 2 100%

Totals 38 37 6 0 81

The above table shows action items for audits completed in 2020/21 and whether items are on target. An audit is considered to be completed when a final report is accepted by the ARIC.

Definitions Completed: Actions completed.

1st target: Actions completed within original target timeframes.

Deferred target: Actions extended past their original target date but completed within deferred target date timeframe.

Overdue: Actions not completed within the agreed timeframe but subsequently completed.

Wiannamatta (South Creek) Story Artists: Leanne Tobin, Abbas Makrab and Joanne Saad Location: Mount Druitt Swimming Centre Photo: Adam Hollingworth

Drawing inspiration from Wiannamatta (‘mother place’), the Darug name for South Creek, local artist Leanne Tobin developed the artwork’s design and concept. Project artists Joanne Saad and Abbas Makrab worked with students from Colyton Public School and Chifley College Senior Campus for design input to create the mosaic on the feature wall.


Water in the Landscape Artists: Donna Brown and Jamie Eastwood Location: Blacktown International Sportspark Sydney

Local artists Donna Brown and Jamie Eastwood have painted large murals on the water storage tanks at Blacktown International Sportspark. The tanks were built as part of the Angus Creek Stormwater Harvesting and Reuse Scheme, and revealed in 2016.


Risk management at Council is established at both an enterprise level and an operational level.

Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) is the holistic management of all risks appropriate to Council’s operations and is aligned to our Community Strategic Plan, Delivery Program and Operational Plan. The ERM function is located within Audit and Risk, Procurement and Governance and identifies strategic risks to Council. In conjunction with Internal Audit, it oversees the effective management of strategic risks to an appropriate level.

Individual managers across Council are responsible for the day-to-day management of operational risk. As part of Council’s Integrated Planning and Reporting (IP&R) system, Audit and Risk helps managers identify their top 5 operational risks for inclusion in their annual business plans.

Our standardsRisk management at Council is based on the principles of ISO 31000:2018. Key elements include a Council approved:• risk management framework• risk management policy• risk appetite statement• risk registers.

Our systemsAudit and Risk’s corporate Enterprise Risk Management database KnowRisk is administered by the Audit and Enterprise Risk Management Officer. The system is used to input emerging risks and refine existing risks. Manual risk registers have been automated using a customisable report writer. The system also provides risk heat maps of inherent and residual risks to ensure that implemented controls have reduced risk ratings.

Risk registers have been developed for 32 locations across Council and are being progressively loaded into KnowRisk to support better integration of both strategic and operational risk management activities.

The Coordinator Audit and Risk is responsible for managing the Enterprise Risk Management database.

Risk management programApproximately twice a year, we assess strategic risks at an enterprise level. This is a key input to developing and maintaining the Strategic Audit Plan, as well as reporting to the ARIC. A risk register to identify operational risks, controls and opportunities for improvement may also be produced as part of an internal audit.

Achievements in 2020/21• Continued to automate our risk registers and heat map

reporting in the KnowRisk database• Won the CivicRisk Mutual Enterprise Wide Risk award

for 2020, which included a trophy and prize of $3,500• Completed enterprise risk management (ERM)

training for all directors and managers• Included ERM in the position descriptions for

all managers• Required managers to list their Top 5 risks in

their business plans for Integrated Planning and Reporting (IP&R)

• Developed risk registers for all managers and provide regular reporting of our top strategic and operational to the Executive and the ARIC.

Enterprise Risk Management


Business ImprovementOur business improvement approach is industry leading and includes 2 core programs:1. Better Practice Reviews (BPR) – a rolling service

delivery review program backed by an industry leading methodology.

2. Business Process Management – the capture of business processes to create a consistent approach and inform opportunities for improvement, customer service excellence and innovation.

Better Practice ReviewsBPR is a whole-of-organisation commitment to reviewing Council’s existing services. The focus of BPRs is on: • identifying opportunities for more efficient, effective

and customer-centric service delivery• documenting and determining our service levels• recommending improvements to respond to future

service requirements and the identified needs of our community.

The BPR method was adapted to Blacktown City Council in partnership with the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) from its service delivery review methodology. It is rigorous, evidence-based, consistent and enables ongoing monitoring of outcomes over time.

The ARIC adds significant value to the program and tests that the methodology has been rigorously applied by the Business Improvement team. The ARIC keeps up to date with the implementation progress made across Council through quarterly reports to the Committee.

The reviews are led by a small team of specialist staff. These staff often support industry, sharing information and presentations to aid other councils. In 2020, Blacktown City’s CEO, Mr Kerry Robinson OAM was invited by the Institute of Internal Auditors Australia to present Council’s unique BPR initiative. The Institute represents auditors from both the government and private sectors.


Key BPR progress statistics 59% of current implementation actions completed with 22% in progress.

Completed852

In progressbut needsupport

2

Not yetstarted 94

Inprogress 310

Not dueto start 180

Notupdated 2

Service reviews reported through the ARIC in 2020/21 were: • Open Space Maintenance Services• Blacktown International Sportspark

Grounds Maintenance • Financial Management Services• Rates and Accounts Services.

Business Process Management (BPM)The Business Improvement team leads a strategy that uses Council’s business process management tool to improve process capture and communication. This enables efficiency gains and innovation.

To enhance our Business Process Management, we increased efforts in staff training, communications and engagement undertaking more projects in 2020/21.

This increased focus was made possible through support from the ARIC, executive management and Council, who supported the addition of a resource to support BPR implementations, and reviewing and publishing processes.

2020/21 achievements: • BPR implementation actions completed between

30 June 2020 and 15 June 2021: 504 actions• Staff training in business process mapping:

150 staff across 30 sections • Process maps published: 244 • Increase in the number of processes in development:

491 in progress.


External audit The committee receives an annual report from the external auditor, the Audit Office of New South Wales (Audit Office) on the status of Council’s financial statements. Representatives from the Audit Office attend committee meetings as advisers.

In October 2020, the committee considered a report from the Audit Office of New South Wales and discussed the audited financial statements and audit coverage. The committee also received and endorsed actions on control matters identified during the annual financial audit.

Pemulwuy country, Jamie Eastwood – part of the Blacktown City Council Art Collection.

Pemulwuy Country relates to Blacktown’s early colonial history and relationships to the Darug people of the area. Artist biography available on page 24.


Committee performance Committee members’ participation in 2020/21 meetings

Name Role Eligible Attended

Stephen Horne Chair 6 6

Robert Lagaida Independent 6 6

Dennis Banicevic Independent 6 5

Peter Jackson Independent 4 4

Tony Bleasdale OAM Councillor 6 5

Kevin Gillies Councillor 6 4

Brad Bunting Councillor 6 6

Committee business and standing reports Date Number of audit reports received Follow-up reports received Standing reports received

2 July 2020 2 0 4

31 August 2020 2 0 4

2 October 2020* 1 0 0

18 November 2020 2 0 4

13 April 2021 3 0 4

15 June 2021 4 0 4

The committee reviewed 3 BPR reports:

1. Open space maintenance (21 October 2020)

2. BISP grounds maintenance (21 October 2020)

3. Financial Management, Rates and Accounts services (29 June 2021).

* External Audit Report received for financial statements

Follow-up report: Where the committee sought additional information on a particular audit report or process.

Standing report: Information presented to the committee at each meeting (e.g. audit progress report, status of the current audit plan, update on risk management and status and risk assessment of major Council projects).

AUDIT, RISK AND IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE ANNUAL REPORT 2020/21 | BLACKTOWN CITY COUNCIL22

Committee CharterThe ARIC Charter outlines committee:• objectives• authorities• composition• roles and responsibilities• reporting• administrative arrangements.

ObjectivesThe objective of the ARIC is to provide independent assurance and assistance to Blacktown City Council on risk management, control, governance, and external accountability responsibilities and any matters the Committee considers relevant to ensure effective service delivery.

AuthorityCouncil authorises the ARIC, within the scope of its role and responsibilities and in compliance with Council’s Code of Conduct and Code of Meeting Practice to: • obtain any information it needs from any employee

or external party (subject to their legal obligations to protect information)

• discuss any matters with the external auditor or other external parties (subject to confidential consideration)

• request the attendance of any employee or councillor, through the Chief Executive Officer, at Committee meetings

• request external legal or other professional advice, through the Chief Executive Officer, when considered necessary to meet its responsibilities.

CompositionThe ARIC consists of:

Members (voting): 4 independent external members and at least 2 councillors are nominated by Council to be ARIC members.

Advisors: the Chief Executive Officer and members of the executive team may attend the ARIC as advisors when required. Other advisors may include the Chief Finance Officer, Chief Safety Officer, Manager Procurement and Governance, and representatives from the NSW Audit Office.

Invitees: ARIC agenda items may require the presence of specific invitees to address the committee.

Secretary: the Coordinator Audit & Risk acts as the meeting secretary and may also advise the committee.

Roles and responsibilitiesThe Committee has no executive powers, except those expressly provided by the Council. In carrying out its responsibilities, the Committee must at all times recognise that primary responsibility for management of Council rests with the Council and the Chief Executive Officer as defined by the Local Government Act.

The Committee’s key responsibilities are overseeing the effectiveness of:• risk management• internal control framework• external accountability• legislative compliance• internal audit• external audit• Better Practice Reviews

Transformational projectsDuring 2020/21, the committee continued to receive standing reports on transformational project risks and the status of mitigation strategies.

Transformational projects are breakthrough areas identified in Council’s community strategic plan, Our Blacktown 2036.

There are 10 transformational projects: 1. Blacktown International Sportspark (BISP)

Masterplan – completed2. International Centre of Training Excellence (ICTE)3. Warrick Lane redevelopment 4. CBD University5. Blacktown Brain and Spinal Institute (BBSI)6. Health Precinct7. Council accommodation 8. Riverstone Town Centre Masterplan9. Blacktown Animal Rehoming Centre (BARC)10. St Bartholomew’s Cemetery.


About the artists

Aunty Edna Watson See artwork Meetings on the front and back cover, page 1 and pages 6–9.

Aunty Edna Watson, a Darug Elder, is an artist, activist and storyteller who has made significant contributions to preserving the Darug language and contributing to the wellbeing of her community. She is a knowledge holder of the Darug language and culture and has been active within the communities of greater Sydney for decades. She is a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who has instilled the love of her traditional language to all the generations of her family and promoted its revitalisation to all Darug.

Jamie Eastwood See artwork Pemulwuy country on the page 20

Jamie is connected to the Ngamba tribe from his grandmother and his mother is a descendent of King Bungaree of the Hawkesbury Kuring-gai Darug people. Jamie spent most of his youth growing up in Blacktown; it is here that his connection to his Aboriginality, passion for art, and local Aboriginal cultural histories was able to grow. Jamie utilises both traditional Aboriginal techniques such as ‘dots’ but also incorporates unorthodox non-traditional techniques with the use of imagery, colour, and contemporary narratives. His art is a fusion of the past, present, and the future.

Brook Andrew See artwork Travelling Colony on the page 3.

Brook Andrew is an interdisciplinary artist and scholar who is driven by the collisions of intertwined narratives, often emerging from the mess of the “Colonial Hole”. His matriarchal kinship is from the kalar midday (land of the three rivers) of Wiradjuri, and Ngunnawal on his mother’s father’s line, both Aboriginal nations of Australia, and paternally he is Celtic. He was Artistic Director of NIRIN, the 22nd Biennale of Sydney, 2020, and is currently Enterprise Professor, Interdisciplinary Practice at the University of Melbourne, Associate Professor, Fine Art at Monash University and Associate Researcher at the Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford. Brook Andrew is represented by Tolarno Galleries, Melbourne, Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney and Galerie Nathalie Obadia, Paris and Brussels.


Garu Badu (Deep Water) Artists: Leanne Tobin, Leanne Watson and Abbas Makrab Location: Rooty Hill Railway Station Photo: Adam Hollingworth

The theme for this artwork is the 3 local waterways of South Creek, Eastern Creek and Prospect Creek and the local Indigenous communities who were connected to the creeks and the local flora and fauna representing Country. The creeks represent a traditional north-south crossing of Country before the European east-west rail crossing. The theme encourages commuters and the local community to understand the natural landscape and Indigenous history.


62 Flushcombe Road Blacktown NSW 2148

PO Box 63 Blacktown NSW 2148

Ph: 02 9839 6000 Fax: 02 9831 1961

Email: [email protected] Website: www.blacktown.nsw.gov.au

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audit, risk and improvement committee annual report

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