Ken Bakon
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No fee at Canterbury-Bankstown……………………….yet!
Hey,
Finally got an answer to my 5 question, which were:
1. Are we free to add certain information such as our Council banner, rate account number and information regarding the additional rebate this Council provides to all eligible pensioners?
2. Can we eliminate the reference to a rebate on water charges, as we are not the authority for those charges? (I don’t believe any Sydney Council is).
3. Can you clarify the need for all eligible pensioners on the property to complete an individual form, even if it is a “spouse” relationship?
4. There is only one area on the form for a signature now. And this one area also states that the pensioner gives Council consent. If a pensioner wants a rebate, but does not want to give consent (we do have some who apply annually but don’t want to give consent), are we to delete the paragraphs relating to consent?
5. Are we obliged to include all the foreign languages information? Or include other pertinent foreign languages?AND they answered:
Dear Mr BakonThank you for your email of 10 January 2018 about the new pensioner application form.
The Office of Local Government updated the pensioner concession forms, as well as developing new verbal and electronic forms for councils. A number of councils and Centrelink were instrumental in this process. Further feedback from councils has been received in relation to the new forms that were distributed in December 2017.
The additional feedback and questions have been helpful and the Office of Local Government is incorporating that into the forms. Revised application forms will be distributed in the near future and councils will be notified.
Thank you once again for feedback.
Nothing like giving specific answers to specific questions eh!
Cherie,
I have put a number of questions to the OLG (the “one form per occupant” being one).
The questions were emailed to them over two weeks ago…………still waiting!I will publish their answers on this site when (or if) they reply
Ken
Trev,
We include the following clause:
“Pensioner concessions shown on this certificate are subject to write-back upon sale of the property or cessation of pensioner’s eligibility. The entitlement ceases on the last day of the quarterly instalment period during which those circumstances occur.”Cheers
KenHi Kelly,
We at Canterbury-Bankstown are openKen
Mick,
Our new Canterbury-Bankstown policy states:
• Council will, in accordance with Sections 548A and 531B of the Act allow the aggregation of the rateable values of separately titled car and/or storage lots to enable a single rate to be levied. Council will aggregate only where:
>the lots are used in conjunction with the unit, by the occupier of the unit;
>the ownership of each lot noted on the certificate of title is exactly the same for each;
>all lots are within the same strata plan, or strata scheme, or the strata plan notes that the lots are used in conjunction with; and
>the lots are not leased out separately.
We have applicants submit a statutory declaration verifying they meet the above conditions.Ken
Hi All,
Well here we go again……..another audit (the second this year) will happen. As they say
“The Department of Human Services is advising of its intention to conduct a review with City Of Canterbury Bankstown, in accordance with clause 8 of the Centrelink Confirmation eServices (CCeS) Terms, in the coming months. The department will contact City Of Canterbury Bankstown closer to the review with more specific details. Please note that other contracts you may hold with the department may be reviewed at the same time.”Our previous audit in February THIS YEAR ended with an email from “Frederica” which thanked us for our co-operation and passed us with no further action.
Musn’t have much to do in at Centrelink if they see the need to audit a Council twice in one year – particularly if that Council passed its previous audit.
Be interested if anyone else is in our situation
We at Canterbury-Bankstown operate the same as Mid-Western – and have for a number of years
Cheers
Marilyn,
For the former Bankstown Council, we use a percentage calculation.
Residential pay 69% of the total ordinary rates, and business pay 31% of the total ordinary rates.Ken
Just when we thought it was safe to go back in the water, treasury’s email last Friday at 5.18pm. resuscitated the FESL “shark” for the time being!
Jeanette,
It becomes a dominant use issue.
You have to determine what factors(such as area, intensity of use, rental returns, etc) are to be used.
MUAF could also assist in your determination.
Also be aware of your Council’s policies in encouraging these types of developments to exist in your area and where they should be located.Ken
Maybe this rushed process being deferred will bring about commonsense legislation change that allows Councils to use improved values. Only then can this levy be calculated on true ability to pay. The only Sydney “winners” as it stood were a majority of strata owners. The rating at improved values for ALL separate lots (whether strata or DP) is the only fair way of implementing the levy.
Deferred not cancelled – hallelujah
Probably one line at Canterbury-Bankstown
Ken
Hi Sue,
Just returned from leave – hence my late reply.
Canterbury-Bankstown have 10 staff for 120000 assessments. (The BIGGEST in the state until Blacktown open up some more land)
We are still operating two databases under the Rate freeze.Ken
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