[Robert Hay]

Hi Everyone

The below has just been released:
On 22 August 2016, IPART released its Draft Report for the Review of the Local Government Rating System. The Draft Report explains our analysis, and lists our draft recommendations and findings.

• Draft Report – http://www.ipart.nsw.gov.au/files/sharedassets/website/shared_files/investigation_-_section_9_-_legislative_-_review_of_the_local_government_rating_system/draft_report_-_review_of_the_local_government_rating_system_-_august_2016.pdf

• Fact Sheet – http://www.ipart.nsw.gov.au/files/sharedassets/website/shared_files/investigation_-_section_9_-_legislative_-_review_of_the_local_government_rating_system/fact_sheet_-_review_of_local_government_rating_system_-_22_august_2016.pdf

These and other documents related to the review are also available on IPART’s website:
http://www.ipart.nsw.gov.au/Home/Industries/Local_Govt/Reviews/Review_of_Local_Government_Rating_System

We invite stakeholders to lodge a submission to the Draft report by Friday 14 October 2016. Submissions can be lodged electronically via our online submission form – http://www.ipart.nsw.gov.au/Home/For_Consumers/Having_your_say/Lodge_a_submission?versionId=3abbbbac-1eb5-494f-ad56-6d7d06763a1f&name=Draft%20Report%20-%20Review%20of%20the%20Local%20Government%20Rating%20System%20-%20August%202016

We will also conduct two public forums in:
 Sydney, on Monday 19 September 2016 from 9.30am (registration at 9.00am). The venue for the hearing is SMC Conference & Function Centre, 66, Goulburn Street, Sydney NSW 2000 Register here; and
 Dubbo, on Monday 10 October 2016 from 9.30am (registration at 9.00am). The venue for the hearing is Dubbo RSL Club Event Centre, Corner Brisbane Street & Wingewarra Street, Dubbo NSW 2830 – Register here
A copy of the agenda for the hearings will be made available closer to the dates of the hearings on IPART’s website.
For those unable to attend the Sydney forum, we will be holding a webcast of the event. You can register for the webcast here.
In accordance with our terms of reference we will submit our Final Report to the Minister for Local Government in December 2016.
If you have any queries, please contact Anthony Rush, Principal Analyst Local Government on anthony_rush@ipart.nsw.gov.au or (02) 9113 7790.

[Robert Hay]

Hi Everyone

The Revenue professionals will be lodging a submission to the Draft report.

Robert

[Amit Anand]

Hi Robert,

Will the submission be shared with other members before it is submitted by RP.

[Robert Hay]

Hi

The draft submission will be posted on the NSWRP website prior to lodging with IPART.

Robert

[Robert Hay]

Good Morning

Please click on the link below to view the Revenue Professionals Draft submission

Draft Submission

[Cherie Muir]

Tops submission NSWRP, well done to all involved!

[Robert Hay]

Hi Everyone

Please note in Question 27, is being reviewed and the current response in the Draft should be ignored an amended response will be posted later today

Thanks
Robert

[Robert Hay]

Hi Everyone

Please find amended response to Question 27.

We do not support this recommendation. Most Councils’ have adopted hardship policies and debt recovery policies which give consideration to ratepayers suffering genuine hardship with legal action being taken as an option of last resort to recover outstanding rates.

The use of the State Debt Recovery Office in the recovery of rates and charges and the options for recovery that they could provide as mentioned in the report would not add any new recovery options that are not already available to Councils through the use of debt recovery agents.

The report also notes that the SDRO has a recovery rate of 75%. Rates and charges are a debt on the land and therefore result in a 100% recovery rate for Councils.

A survey conducted by The NSW Revenue Professionals indicated that of the 72 councils who responded, 24,000 Statement of Liquidated Claims (SLC) were lodged (most lodged electronically) in 2015/2016. Of those 24,000 SLC’s lodged less than a quarter went to default judgement. Therefore we fail to understand how the draft report suggests that Councils recovery actions are placing a burden on the local court system. The figure of 24,000 SLC’s represents less than 1% of total ratepayers. This again shows that the current system is working well.

Councils’ should have a moral obligation in relation to recovering rates and charges as they are obligatory charges, not optional. Currently rates reminder notices and demand letters are issued to ratepayers free of charge. To add fines and fees to ratepayers who are already in financial hardship would go against these moral obligations.

We would question why IPART would consider taking such a prescriptive approach to debt recovery when the purpose of the reform is to give flexibility to councils’ operational tasks. Councils should have the control and the discretion to initiate legal action.

Placing debt recovery at a State level will take away the community aspect of Councils as most ratepayers wish to deal directly with their Council when making arrangements or negotiating rates payments.

Thanks
Robert

[Author]

Posts