[Lee Howard]

We have prepared the Delivery Program & Draft Operational Plan it has not gone on exhibition yet. But we have used the rating structure in our Special Variation application which has been lodged. Now due to supplementary entries it looks like we may go over the 50% allowed in base amounts in one of our categories.

As we have used the figures in the SV application are we allowed to make the change to the plan before it goes on exhibition or can we wait until the exhibition period is finished and make a small adjustment to the base amount then?

[Laurie McGuiness]

Hi Lee
I don’t think you have a problem either way.
When we applied for a special variation some years ago, the figures on the Draft Operational Plan differed slightly to the SV application due to supps etc, and we had no problems. As long as you are not making significant changes to the structure there is no issue, otherwise you would not be able to process any supps, changes of category etc. after the SV application was made.

The other option you could take would be include the SV rating structure in the Draft Operational Plan and take one of the following two approaches:
1. Include a note in the Draft Operational Plan (Revenue Policy) to the effect that as Council will continue to process adjustments to its rating records until the time the Operational Plan is adopted, minor changes to the amounts shown will occur.
We include this statement each year and amend the figures shown in the Draft Operational Plan when we adopt the Operational Plan.
2 The other option would be for Council to make a submission to the Draft Operational Plan, in accordance with Section 405 (3&5), detailing the changes required, and then adpting the
Operational Plan incorporating these changes.

A similar issue arose some years ago and there is an archived Forum topic “SOC & Rate Pegging » Deviating from the Draft Management Plan” you might want to look at.

Regards
Laurie

[John Towers]

Hi Lee

The SV application is purely as ‘snapshot’ of what was applicable as the time the application was made.

I would suggest that prior to Council exhibiting &/or adopting the R&C’s for the year you redo the structure taking into account ALL of the changes that have occurred since the application was lodged ensuring that the adopted structure is compliant.

This has been our practice for many years.

You have to remember that any number of factors can affect the structure proposed for or an SV or advertised.

JT

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