Community services and facilities

Unique IDFN-0013Description**This function applies to all Councils***
For Councils other than Sydney City Council, absorbed by the City by 1949, see function FUN 29 for details.

Provision and management of municipal facilities for community use, and provision and management of community services. This includes the management and maintenance of playgrounds, sports grounds and ancillary facilities such as clubhouses etc, but does not include responsibility for parks and special open spaces precincts (CF 14).

This function has been taken to commence from 1842 because from an early date Council assumed responsibility for the swimming baths located at the Domain near Woolloomooloo. Details of this need more research. A legislative mandate does not appear before the Prince Alfred Park provisions of the 1902 Act, but this also needs further research, as does the transfer of the Lending Branch of the Public [State] Library of NSW to the Council in 1909. Apart from the Library, Council's provision of community services and facilities was at first largely confined to the baths, to the provision of public toilets, and to sports grounds and playgrounds from about the 1930s onwards especially with the development of Moore Park.

It was not until the post 1945 period that the function became completely distinguishable from CF 14. From the 1950s Council began to build and manage facilities such as child-care centres and aged people's welfare centres, and a number of branch libraries. In more recent years, Council has also become involved in supply of community services such as meals-on-wheels, and on community health programs such as child immunisation. These more recent activities have meant that this function has in effect superseded CF 07 Charitable aid, and become more closely aligned with CF 12 Public Health.CreationSydney Corporation Act 1879, ss 195, 224.
Council given authority to provide public toilets, make by-laws to regulate bathing. Power to provide public toilets had previously been allocated by the Sydney Sewerage Act 1850.

Sydney Corporation Act 1902 s139.
Council authorised to erect buildings in Prince Alfred Park for public recreation or instruction.

For municipalities other than the City of Sydney: Municipalities Act 1858 s75 (power to establish and manage libraries and other public places of recreation. Local Government Act 1919. Refer to the function CF 29.

Local Government Act 1919 (applied to Council from 1949) part XIII.
Council authorised to provide community recreational facilities, for sporting, cultural and other purposes.

Local Government Act 1993 chapter 6 part 1.
Empowers local governments to carry out activities appropriate to current and future community needs.

Activity

Environmental Sustainability Programs

Mother and baby health centres and services

Management of contracts with private service providers

Town hall venue management

Management of Neighbourhood Service Centres

Sex industry regulation

Business and tourism promotion

Community support services

Grants by Council to external bodies

Aid to homeless persons

Architectural and engineering design and drafting

Assisted employment

Provision of public entertainment

Provision and management of child care centres and playgrounds and services

Meals on wheels

Provision and management of aged care and welfare centres and services

Provision and management of public toilets

Management of sports facilities, swimming pools, recreation and community centres

Libraries management

Health education and promotions

Fundraising for charity

Provision of welfare and relief services

Management of Council property

Person

Johnston, Craig Fredric

Description

Start date1st November 1842

Identification

Source system ID13

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Community services and facilities