[Andrew Butcher]

Hi Jeanette and Darryl

Had researched Jeanette’s original question and as you both know only land that belongs to or is vested in an Aboriginal Land Council sub qualifies (other conditions apply) for an exemption under the Local Government Act.

This new information that Darryl has changes everything including my initial opinion. I think Darryl is correct and they are exempt. Rates may apply to a tenant if leased for a private purpose.

Regards,
Andrew

[Andrew Butcher]

I am very pleased to announce that training on the 4 reforms assented to and that also have OLG guidelines will be available on the following dates:

18 October 2022 or,
19 October 2022 or,
25 October 2022 or,
26 October 2022

Each 2hour session will cover all four reforms with a modest fee of $75 per person. If you did not receive an invitation to secure your tickets to this on-line event you can do so using this link click here

You can download a copy of the training profile here LGAct amendment training profile

A Teams link to the online session of your choosing will be sent in time for your session and training notes will follow.

Hope you are all well and keeping safe.

Regards,
Andrew

[Andrew Butcher]

Hi Glynes
Pretty sure the ASV is to be treated the same as general variation and you only need it to be entered into cell F14 on schedule 3.
Yes you can claim lost income that has occurred due to an objection for any number of previous years across multiple base dates.
Hope you are doing well.

Regards,
Andrew

[Andrew Butcher]

The IPART has decided to not pursue this matter stating;
‘We have carefully reconsidered our approach moving forward with this review. We agree that, at this time, it is not in the best interests of ratepayers and councils to implement a waste peg.’
‘Instead, we agree and recognise that it is NSW Office of Local Government’s (OLG) role to address many of the issues identified throughout our review. We are supportive of and welcome OLG’s recommended regulatory approach that OLG:
a)provide further guidance to councils by updating its Rating and Revenue Raising Manual
b)identify and investigate ‘outlier’ councils.’
This is good news and I am looking forward to our sector having a say on the OLG’s guidance.
If you have any comments or suggestions please do not hesitate to be in touch or post them in this forum.

Regards,
Andrew

[Andrew Butcher]

Hi Tracey

At Campbelltown we provide month end stats and publish them through a Council ordinary meeting report. Not everything you have mentioned is included some that are not are included.
Generally I provide to my Manager and our Director stats on any anomalies, as I see them. As an example during COVID lockdowns we meticulously tracked hardship and payment plan application stats (Residential v Business) and payments received each month and compared them to previous years.
I know Neil at Camden collects comparative data across many processes and has been able to use to support his teams needs with evidence.
Hope this is helpful.

Regards,
Andrew

[Andrew Butcher]

Hi Matt

I had a look at this a few years ago as we have a legally blind (has virtually no vision) person working at Council.

His advice was that he has tools that allows him to scan complex documents and convert them into something that he can absorb, either visually or audibly. He did suggest we contact Vision Australia, which I haven’t done yet.

Hope this is of some help.

Regards,
Andrew

[Andrew Butcher]

Hi Mick

The RP Executive Committee have been lobbying the OLG to update and issue the work papers and as at yesterday we received the latest version and are now testing it with a view to identify any issues.

You are correct, one of the issues is how to accommodate the population growth factor and also the 10year catch-up.
Will try and get them back to the OLG as soon as possible.

Hope you are well and keeping safe.

Regards,
Andrew

[Andrew Butcher]

Latest correspondence from LGNSW:

Dear Andrew,
As you will all be aware, the Auditor General has followed up her 2021 Local Government Report released last month with a letter to General Managers ‘recommending’ councils “undertake a stocktake of the rural firefighting equipment vested to councils and record the value in the council’s financial statement” – see an example sent to Cabonne Council. We suspect the Auditor General has established this requirement to create a trigger to issue qualified audit opinions to non-conforming councils in 2022.

Notwithstanding the Auditor General’s ‘recommendation’, we note correspondence addressed to the Auditor General from the Secretary of the Department of Planning and Environment dated 7 June 2022 stating: “the State’s position is that it does not control RFS assets. Councils need to assess whether they control any rural firefighting equipment in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards”. The correspondence also makes clear that “The Minister for Local Government (does) not have legal authority to direct councils in this matter”.

You would have received our 24 June Member Message advising you LGNSW immediately wrote to the Auditor General, Treasurer, Minister for Local Government and Minister for Emergency Services expressing the sector’s strong objection to the determination that RFS assets are the property of councils for accounting purposes. We called on the Government to acknowledge rural firefighting equipment is vested in, under the control of, and the property of the RFS, thereby clearing up this mess once and for all. See a copy of our letter to Government here.

Since then, we have been heartened by feedback from a number of councils who have already written to the Auditor General, advising they have determined they do not control any rural firefighting equipment in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards and will not be undertaking a stocktake. If your council has yet to form an opinion on the issue of RFS asset control, we urge you to do so as early as possible and to communicate that to the Auditor General.

We particularly encourage councils on the metropolitan fringe who may not have examined the matter for a number of years to consider whether they are in a position to discontinue recording RFS assets on financial statements. We are aware that the vast majority of rural and regional councils, who are disproportionately affected by the Auditor General’s and Government’s position, would be grateful for this support and solidarity.

We also encourage all councils, including metropolitan councils not directly affected to move Mayoral Minutes in support of their fellow councils who are impacted. To assist, LGNSW has prepared a template Mayoral Minute and accompanying report. This template resolves to write to several members of the Government, Opposition and cross benchers, with contact details located here.

We believe the more Members of Parliament who are made aware of this shameless cost-shift onto local government, the greater the likelihood of affirmative action – and it is our hope that the Auditor General and the Government receive 128 letters (one for each of NSW’s general purpose councils) notifying them that the relevant council has formed the opinion they do not control any firefighting equipment and will not be undertaking a stocktake of RFS assets.

In closing, I would like to acknowledge the considerable efforts and support of Local Government Professionals CEO Vicki Mayo, Secretary/Public Officer of Country Mayors Kent Boyd (his ‘other hat’), Leeton Council General Manager Jackie Kruger and Revenue Professionals NSW Chair Andrew Butcher. Each of these organisations continues to work closely with LGNSW in seeking Government recognition – once and for all – that rural firefighting equipment is vested in, under the control of and the property of the RFS.

Thank you in anticipation for your support. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to call/email.
Kind regards,
Scott Phillips
Chief Executive

[Andrew Butcher]

Hi Karen

Happy to help you with this, there are a number of options I will give you a call soon.

Regards,
Andrew

[Andrew Butcher]

Hi Todd

Campbelltown not applying – I have reasons why but cant disclose them at this stage.

Our peg was 1.2% our LTFP was 2% so a difference of 0.8% which equates to $800,000, we hope to catch this up in a future year.

Regards,
Andrew

• This reply was modified 4 years, 1 month ago by Andrew Butcher.

[Andrew Butcher]

Please find attached our submission to IPART on their draft report.

If you have any concerns or wish to raise anything please do not hesitate to contact any Executive Committee member or me directly.

NSWRP submission to IPART DWMC December 2021

Regards,
Andrew

[Andrew Butcher]

Hi Pete

Current = 6%
Propose = 6%

Hope you are well and keeping safe.

Regards,
Andrew

[Andrew Butcher]

Thank you Glynes, information can be found here on the IPART website;

IPART ASV page

Regards,
Andrew

[Andrew Butcher]

The IPART will have an application form on their website in the next two weeks. This form will assist councils in collating a submission by 29 April 2022.

A copy of the form will be posted on our website once available.

Regards,
Andrew

[Andrew Butcher]

Hi Jason

I agree with Trevor and have used similar resources and would highly recommend sourcing the DA or any building plans from Planning. Depending on the age of the development you might be able to locate an old building application and calculate the floor area/footprint from these too.

Regards,
Andrew

[Author]

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