XN000022-1991-11-06 — Page 36

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1991

ON MEMBERS' CONCERN TO THE NEED TO PURSUE PUBLIC SECTOR REFORM, MR BLAKE SAID THE WORKS BRANCH HAD SOME TIME AGO INITIATED ACTION ON A NUMBER OF FRONTS.

EXAMPLE THE

HE CITED AS INTERDEPARTMENTAL CHARGING

FORMAL

ESTABLISHMENT OF IN THE VEHICLE REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE WORKSHOP IN THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT BY APRIL 1, 1992.

"THIS IS AN ESSENTIAL STEP TOWARDS TRADING FUND OPERATIONS BY THAT DEPARTMENT, WHICH WILL BE FORMALISED IN 1993. ASSESSMENT STUDIES AND A BUSINESS PLAN HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT THE SCHEME IS VIABLE.

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IN THE MEANTIME, NEW STAFF INCENTIVES HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED,

MILLION PRODUCTIVITY HAS INCREASED BY 22 PER CENT, AND SAVINGS OF $54 HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED.

"FULLY COMPUTERISED SPARE PARTS INVENTORY CONTROL, AND A NEW ACCOUNTING SYSTEM, HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE, HE ADDED.

IN REPLY TO A SUGGESTION THAT THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT

SAID WAS SUITABLE FOR PRIVATISATION, MR BLAKE

ALL OPTIONS FOR THE DEPARTMENT'S FUTURE OPERATION WAS BEING REVIEWED BY THE DIRECTOR OF

WATER SUPPLIES.

HOWEVER, HE POINTED OUT THAT COMMODITY AND THE CONSUMERS HAD NO. INTEREST MUST THERFORE BE SAFEGUARDED.

AS WATER WAS AN ESSENTIAL VIABLE ALTERNATIVE, PUBLIC

'EXPLORATORY TALKS WERE HELD LAST YEAR, FOLLOWING AN APPROACH BY AN INTERNATIONAL FIRM INTERESTED IN PRIVATISATION. THESE WERE USEFUL BUT INCONCLUSIVE. IT WAS DECIDED NOT TO PURSUE PRIVATISATION FURTHER AT THAT TIME, HE SAID.

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MR BLAKE SAID THREE OTHER DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE WORKS GROUP WERE ALSO CONDUCTING STRATEGIC REVIEWS OF THEIR FUNCTIONS, STRUCTURE AND ESTABLISHMENT.

OF THESE, THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES TERRITORY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT HAD SUBMITTED WHICH WERE BEING EXAMINED BY THE WORKS BRANCH.

DEPARTMENT PRELIMINARY

AND THE REPORTS,

THE CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT HAD JUST STARTED THE

HE SAID.

PROCESS,

TURNING TO THE INFLATIONARY TREND ARISING FROM THE HIGH COST OF CONSULTANTS ON PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS, MR BLAKE ASSURED MEMBERS THAT CONSULTANTS WERE ENGAGED WHEN THE EXPERTISE OR THE REQUIRED STAFF RESOURCES WERE NOT AVAILABLE IN-HOUSE.

"THE WORKLOAD, NUMBER AND LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE OF IN-HOUSE STAFF IS CAREFULLY REVIEWED, BEFORE ANY DECISION IS MADE ΤΟ EMPLOY CONSULTANTS," HE SAID.

/MR BLAKE

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