We have the financial auditors giving a presentation prior to the start of this month's meeting. 

Quite a sombre mood. Shortfalls in Federal fundings this year have left their impact on Council's finances. 

Auditor: you can see the impact of the FAG grant prepayment has taken the operating income down substantally... this is just one sombre statement from his presentation.

Auditor: seventy five per cent of cash and investments is externally restricted. ie 'hands are tied'

Auditor: Council has just been through a fairly major capital works project. 

Auditor: Cowra is not alone in facing some of these figures.

Auditor: big improvement in regards to rates and annual charges outstanding ratio.

Auditor: all reporting and disclosure obligations have been satisfied.

Auditor: ratios are something of a mixed bag with some better than industry averages and others not so.

Auditor: cash result was a (technical) net outflow of $365K. Overall cash and investments grew by $1.6M. 

Councillor comment: good management doesn't neccessarily mean having a lot of cash in the bank. its about managing our liabilies/reponsibilites. We need to get that message out there.

The auditor's presentation is now wrapped up and council has moved into the presentation of awards from its recent Tidy Towns awards win.

Representatives from the various committees have now had the official presentation of their awards from the Nundle ceremony, with congratulatory words from the Mayor.  

Council has now moved into its official meeting agenda and is moving fast. 

Topics have included the donations policy, donation to the Drug and Alcohol team, funding applications.

Cr: must be proactive in light of media reports that drug - esp ice use - is on the rise in rural areas. 

Cr: Cultural plan to go on display and we welcome comments.

Cr: Festivalof International Understanding 2015 will host South Korea.

Meeting now confirming the minutes from a number of committees. ie Youth Council, Cowra Regional Art Gallery Friends, Tidy Towns and Urban Landcare, Sports Council. 

Now they are on to Development Applications, a verandah on Elizabeth St, which was just approved. 

We are up to the CBD redevelopment monthly update report. 

Cr: Concerned at State Member's recent press release and times listed. 

Cr: Vaux St detour will only be for a short time. 

Cr talking about the Cowra Guardian's two page interview with mayor Bill West that featured in Friday's issue: It is very difficult for us to get out all information [that featured in that interview] out there to the public. We have reports regarding this issue over two years, its hard for us to convey all of this information to the public. Can we get that interview on our website? We need to ramp up our communication. 

Cr: We need to show B Doubles can negotiate the bridge. We have footage of this. We need to show people this important fact, that this was done.

Mayor: interview in paper was the Cowra Guadian's initiative. I thank them for that.

Cr: it provided important information not just for people who have a problem with this [the Kendal Steet redevelopment] but important information for everyone to understand what is going on.

Councillors have now moved on from that topic and are on to Fit for the Future.

Mayor: went to Sydney last week for a workshop regarding JOs. 

Mayor is now sharing his thoughts and experiences with the chamber regarding that visit to Sydney and JO workshop. 

Councillors have been presented with a report from the General manager providing an update on the NSW Government's Fit for the Future reform; hence discusion.  

For your information if you're wondering...JO means Joint Organisations. 

There is great general discussion now about Fit For the Future in the Chamber and what it means for councils such as Cowra's. 

Subject has now shifted back to budget discussions, with the quarterly review next on the agenda. This has spilled in further talk about about the auditor's earlier presentation. 

Saleyards report is now up: "good result with stocknumbers". 

Cr: "Its a result of the cooperation between councils, producers and buyers, and they recieve very good values for them as against other saleyards."

Ok, on to DAs again, including that of a swimming pool and St Raphael's. Cr Ray Walsh and Jack Mallon have declared an interest in the St Raphael's DA. 

St Raphel's DA has now passed with the full support of the voting council.

Now on to motions without notice - that sounds like the meeting is drawing to a conclusion.

Please remember again - this blog is not intended to be complete coverage of the meeting in full detail.  

Full details are on the Council's meeting agenda,which is on their website. 

Yes, that certainly is it. Council has now gone into the closed section of their meeting.

We hope you have enjoyed our blog this evening. 

Good night.