Raft of council plans on show ahead of rate rise move

A raft of council plans and strategies will be on public exhibition and available for community submissions until Friday, January 21, as part of the requirement for requesting a special rates variation.

On exhibition are Central Coast Council's draft revised Community Strategic Plan, draft Delivery Program and Operational Plan, draft fees and charges, draft Long Term Financial Plan, draft Workforce Management Strategy and draft revised Asset Management Strategy

"This is a step required by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal should Council make a submission for a special variation," said administrator Mr Rik Hart.

"The documents reflect Council's situation, identify the need to apply for a special variation and outline scenarios that are available."

He said Council had considered five scenarios and included three scenarios in the Long Term Financial Plan for the community to review and comment on the implications outlined for each scenario.

"I encourage ratepayers and residents to review the materials and consider what is required for their Council's long-term path to financial sustainability," Mr Hart said.

"Through our community consultation about options for services, 82 per cent of survey respondents want Council's overall service investment to remain the same or more and 73 per cent would like to see investment in new assets remain the same or increase.

"The consultation also shows that the community's view is split on whether to extend the existing special variation or reduce services.

"Many have also made comment that Council should be held responsible for its financial situation and I have further explained the actions taken by Council in an explanatory video," Mr Hart said.

He said Council would consider community submissions from the public exhibition of the plans in a Council Meeting on February 3 before adopting the plans and programs.

Council will also formally decide at that meeting if it will make a submission for the current 15 per cent special variation to be maintained in the rate base for an additional seven years.

SOURCE:

Media release, 20 Dec 2021

Rik Hart, Central Coast Council