[John Towers]

Hi Rob,

Business at NSC, the few that remain rateable.

Tell them you can’t compare rates between Councils because different structures, values, Base Dates, Income levels etc etc.

JT

[John Towers]

Hi Simone,

My first question is why do you want to change the name of your ordinary rate? You are required to have an ordinary rate, no matter as you need something for properties to default into. My suggestion would be to leave it as “Residential Ordinary” & that will mean everything but the sub-category/s.

Changing the name of the sub-category for clarity I understand.

Because it’s a name change, technically you have to notify the ratepayers so that they have the right to object etc. Otherwise some smarty might look at their notice & say we were never told this is our category & go to court & your structure then may be subject to litigation.

I know that’s not the answer you wanted but it’s the rules.

JT

[John Towers]

Hi Susan,

NSC does similar to Kuringgai. It is a cost of providing the service when customers fail to honour their end of the agreement.

JT

[John Towers]

Hi Diane,

In answer to your questions, my understanding is that you can close the exhibition period at any time in order to recommence the exhibition period of the revenue policy, so in effect you needn’t wait until 16th & then start again.

I’m not sure that exhibiting more than 1 option in this situation is allowed as people may need to make 3 submissions in order to cover all bases. I am guessing that the proposals will be fairly different. You can exhibit 2 options if you are applying for an SV i.e. the structure if the SV is approved & the structure if it isn’t approved.

You can just exhibit the Revenue Policy if you desire as long as it doesn’t affect the Operational Plan & LTFM etc. Obviously if there is a flow on effect to other documents then they also need to be readvertised.

Yes you can adopt everything but the Revenue Policy & adopt the Revenue Policy at a later date. Some Councils do this when they have made an SV application & are awaiting the response from IPART etc.

I’m sure you know that Council doesn’t have to act on submissions & can still adopt the advertised structure as long as they “show they have considered the submissions”. Although given some of the history in the area I do understand why the Council might be a bit gun shy.

JT

[John Towers]

Ken,

I take it to mean that you have the option to do something similar to what Rob says or charge $5 each. I guess it depends upon your Councils policy regarding SWMC for business properties.

We are introducing a SWMC this year & as usual taking the ‘soft’ option & charging $25 & $5 for business.

I don’t see the reasoning behind the difference between the two charging regimes but obviously someone with greater intelligence than me/us does.

From somewhere in my distant memory I recall that MDAF’s were ignored originally cause they were square pegs in round holes, so OLG said for the Council to choose the ‘preferred’ category & use that for the whole property.

JT

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