The report also says council allocated $92,129 to 54 community groups during the 2019/20 financial year.

A recommendation was carried at council's November meeting to approve the upload of the annual report, for the year ended June 30, 2020, to council's website.

IN OTHER NEWS:

According to corporate services director Lynette Safranek's report to councillors, councils must, within five months of the end of each financial year, prepare a report for that year on achievements in implementing their delivery program.

The 2019-20 audited financial statements for Oberon Council produced a net operating result of $1.3 million with revenue of $19.3 million and expenses of $18 million.

The reduction in operating result between 2018-19 and 2019-20 is predominantly related to a decrease in Roads and Maritime Services works, according to council, as well as the introduction of "new accounting standards for revenue recognition".

The report said the total costs associated with mayor and councillor expenses for 2019/20 were $143,604.

Councillor expenses were down by $26,000 in 2019-20 as a result of COVID restrictions.

The mayor fee (excluding councillor fee) was $24,631, councillor fees were $101,607 and councillor expenses (excluding fees above) were $17,366.

For the year ended June 30, 2020, council had incurred $320,964 in legal fees for proceedings taken by or against council. By comparison, council expended $215,000 in 2018/19.

The breakdown for legal fees for 2019-20 was planning matters, $232,091.88; debt recovery, $68,740.54; other matters, $14,361.14; and crown land, $5770.13.

Council's organisation structure provides for the employment of the general manager as the only senior staff position. The contract is performance based for five years. The remuneration package totalled $240,533.