Motion: (Byrne/York)
THAT Council:
1.
Notes that
the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) statutory
process for processing an application for a minimum rate requires 28 days
public exhibition and 3 weeks community consultation and that the March 1
date for submission of applications is not a statutory requirement;
2.
Writes to
the Premier, Treasurer, the Minister for Local Government
and the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal
(IPART) informing them that Council is not able to implement their
directive to implement their new rates system at this time as:
a) The Local Government Amendment
(Rating) Bill 2021 has yet to be tabled by the NSW Government or passed
by the Parliament and due diligence requires Council be informed of the
legislation prior to harmonising rates;
b) The Premier and relevant Ministers
have failed to respond to representations from Council
regarding the fact that Council was improperly prevented from applying
for the NSW Government’s Stronger Communities Fund - Tied Grants
program; and
c) Council requires a response and a
hearing about what avenues are available for us to access funding for
community infrastructure, noting that the $24 million we would have received
had the $252 million fund been distributed fairly to amalgamated Councils on
a per capita basis, constitutes an enormous budgetary impact.
3.
Include in
the correspondence to IPART a request for an extension to allow Council to
submit the application after the Government’s Bill is tabled in the
Parliament, the Council’s community engagement report on rates
harmonisation as well as our indicative preference for the minimum rates
tabled in point 3 of the Council officers’ recommendation, should the
rates harmonisation proceed. Further, that Council request from IPART and the
Local Government Minister a specific timeline for when the legislative
changes to the rating system will be tabled in the Parliament;
4.
Notes that
the NSW Government is yet to adopt key recommendations of a 2016 IPART Local
Government Rating System report which put forward a detailed review
of the local government rating system and how to make the system fairer
and more efficient;
5.
Responds
in writing to everyone who made a submission to Council about to proposed
changes to the rating structure, advising them of this resolution;
6.
Ensures all
future communications to residents about rates harmonisation
include reference to Council’s opposition to the NSW
Government’s council rate harmonisation process and our campaign
to get access to the Stronger Communities fund for community infrastructure;
and
7.
Receive an
update at the March 9 Ordinary meeting on the response from the NSW
Government to Council’s correspondence and the status of the Local
Government Amendment (Rating) Bill 2021.
Motion Lost
For Motion: Crs Byrne, Drury, Iskandar, Kiat, Lockie, McKenna OAM and York
Against Motion: Crs Da Cruz, Hesse, Macri, Passas, Porteous, Raciti, Stamolis and
Steer
Foreshadowed Motion (Porteous/Hesse)
THAT Council:
1.
Notes the significant community opposition to the proposal for
rates “harmonisation";
2.
Notes that Community Consultation overwhelmingly rejects the
minimum rates tabled in point 3 of the Council officer’s recommendation
(Minimum rates $850 residential/$820 business);
3.
Recognises that the inherent unfairness of this “rates
harmonization” process which results in the benefit of lower rates to
some residents being at the cost of higher rates to others;
4.
Notes
that the only fair way to proceed is to remove winners and losers in this
rates recalculation process and retain the existing rate structures of the
three councils : Ashfield, Marrickville and Leichhardt Councils;
5.
Therefore
immediately writes to the NSW Minister for Local Government seeking permanent
retention of the pre-amalgamation rating structures for the three councils;
6.
Recognises
that the “rates harmonisation” is the direct result of the forced
amalgamation of the three councils: Ashfield, Marrickville and Leichhardt;
7.
Therefore immediately writes to the NSW Minister for Local
Government to request that a referendum be authorised at the forthcoming
local government elections set for September 2021 to answer the question
“do you wish Inner West Council to revert to its previous local
government areas of Ashfield, Leichhardt and Marrickville
8.
Writes to the Premier, Treasurer, Minister for Local Government
and the Independence Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) informing them
that Council is not able to implement their directive to implement the new
rating system due to its inherent unfairness to the citizens and businesses
of the Inner West.
Motion Lost
For Motion: Crs Da Cruz, Hesse, Porteous and Steer
Against Motion: Crs Byrne, Drury, Iskandar, Kiat, Lockie, Macri, McKenna OAM,
Passas, Raciti, Stamolis and York
Foreshadowed Motion (Stamolis)
THAT Council
immediately commence demerger discussions with State Government. These
discussions will cover the lack of financial benefits and outcomes for our
community, reduced service standards from the merger, much worse
representation of residents and ongoing financial stress.
This Foreshadowed Motion lapsed for want
of Seconder.
Councillor Iskandar retired from the
Meeting at 8:25 pm.
Foreshadowed Motion (Macri/Raciti)
THAT Council request a deferral from
IPART until mid-March 2021.
Motion Tied
For Motion: Crs Drury, Lockie, Macri, McKenna OAM, Passas, Raciti and York
Against Motion: Crs Byrne, Da Cruz, Hesse, Kiat, Porteous, Stamolis and Steer
The Chairperson used his Casting Vote
against the MOTION and the MOTION was lost.
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