Operational Plan 2012-2013 - Coffs Harbour City Council - NSW ...

Application for Special Variation to General Income 2012/2013Early in 2012, Council applied to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) for approval to continue the CBD Special Rate for a furtherten-year period from 2012/2013. The Special Rate was introduced in 2000 to fund an ongoing program to revitalise Coffs Harbour's City Centre as avibrant commercial and community precinct. The initiative has delivered outstanding results, however the Special Rate was due to expire in June2012. The application was developed - with the support of the local business community - to extend the program with a scope of new works tofacilitate the future growth of the City Centre.The application process required Council to finalise its 2012/2013 budget by 1 June 2012. In adopting its Delivery Program/Operational Plan (andassociated budget documents) on 24 May 2012, Council adopted two budget options (Option 1 incorporating the special rate variation; Option 2incorporating only the approved ‘rate pegging’ allowance for 2012/2013) and agreed to rescind the redundant option on receipt of IPART’s decision.On 4 June 2012, Council was advised by IPART of the approval of the application for the 2012/2013 financial year only.On 28 June 2012, Council rescinded budget option 2. Council also resolved to incorporate a special variation application (to extend the CBD SpecialRate for a further nine-year period) in the development of the 2013/2017 Delivery Program.Consultation ProcessCouncil has taken a staged approach to its community consultation process. It was initiated with the establishment of a business sector CBD SpecialRate steering committee to undertake a review of the outcomes from the existing CBD special Rate.The steering committee has worked closely with Council since June 2011 and has assisted Council in formulating a consultation process which hasresulted in a clear direction for Council to follow in regards to planning a new CBD works program.The consultation process was simplified by the fact that the proposed special variation will apply only to the 323 business properties within the CBD –with this being the continuation of a CBD Special Rate that has been in place since 2000/2001. Consultation was extended with:• a presentation by Council’s General Manager to Coffs Harbour Chamber of Commerce;• a detailed mail-out to business property owners who currently pay the Special Rate as well as those business property owners within the widerCity Centre LEP boundary who do not currently pay a Special Rate. All stakeholders were invited to provide feedback (via a dedicated e-mailaddress or in writing) to the various proposals;• an external local research organisation was commissioned to conduct a random telephone survey of business property owners. The surveycanvassed opinion towards a proposed continuation of the Special Rate for CBD business owners, and the introduction of such a rate to businessproperty owners in the wider City Centre LEP boundary• a series of business forums facilitated by Council’s General Manager and Director of Corporate Business. All business property owners within theCBD and the wider City Centre LEP area were invited to attend to discuss the future growth of business in the City and the possible extension ofthe CBD Special Rate. A dedicated e-mail address was again provided for feedback for those stakeholders not attending the forums.Submissions of support have clearly indicated satisfaction with the level of consultation and with the rigour and fairness of the process.Coffs Harbour City Council – 2012/2013 Operational Plan 28 June 2012 Page 10