[Tracey Walker]

Totally agree Ken and that is one of the things I have been asked to look at our next quotation period.

[Tracey Walker]

So leading on from Karen’s question. We have crown land properties that are under Council’s control and we have licence agreements for the land to be used as a child care centres, Council does not run it. Would they not be rateable? I base my decision on the we have privately ran child care centres within the area. So should they be treated differently?

[Tracey Walker]

Hi Susan,
As the rating structure doesn’t come together for at least 4 years only the issue remains is the printing of the base stock.

So down here at Wollongong we have been discussing the possibility of having our base stock printed without the Council Name or Contact Details. If proclamation is made then overlay the Council Name and Contact Details on the base stock at the time of the print run.

The only downside to this is the base stock will be in corporate colours with the exception of the Council Name and Contact Details which will be black.

Tracey

[Tracey Walker]

We run a bulk maintenance update on the 15th of each month which adds the code, then a query is ran in Pathway that selects those accounts and uploads onto the letter template. We then print the letters all at once and hand over to the internal printers to envelope and mail.

have you tried placing a call to Civica or any Council using Civica to see if a similar process can be implemented. Surely its just a field missing from the letter template, and maybe there is something that needs to be switched on in the back end to produce them in bulk.

[Tracey Walker]

Hi Susan,
Here at Wollongong we use Pathway. We have reminder letter template in the system that staff run once a month it populates the amount of the invoice, it has our payment options listed below and we also do follow up phone calls if there is no action from the reminder letter. If the debt remains unpaid we then either cancel the service and remove bin and/or take legal action to recover the amount if needed.

I am sure that Civica would have a similar process where it could produce letter templates.

[Tracey Walker]

Has there been any updates on this? We did receive a letter from WMD Law, which we responded with your request is under determination which we will responded in 28 days.

[Tracey Walker]

Hi Dave,

My delegation is worded as per below.

Write off or reduce interest accrued on rates or charges pursuant to section 564, 567, 575, 582 and 601 of the Local Government Act 1993 (NSW). Note: Wollongong City Council has fixed the amount of $3000 as the amount above which debts, rates and charges owed to the Council may be written off only by resolution of the Council, pursuant to clauses 131(1) and 213(2) of the Local Government (General) Regulation 2005.

Hope this helps

[Tracey Walker]

Hi Amit,

I have recently done my first of three phases of Sale of Land here at Wollongong. I assume you are talking about setting the reserve price for public auction.

Under the Act you are notice required to set a reserve, but here at Wollongong we had a private valuation done on the 6 properties, considered the UCV from the valuer general and most importantly the rates outstanding. As all you are really trying to achieve is to clear the debt.

Hope this helps

[Tracey Walker]

Hi Megan,

At Wollongong our customer service staff take approx 85-90% of the rates calls, process pensioner concession applications, direct debit applications, change of address and most recently arrangements within required guidelines as set by policy.

I meet with the customer services once a year and provide information in regards to the increases in rates whether that be through SRV or Re_Val. We have a online knowledge base system that is updated annually with information on rating subjects

I also meet with the Customer Service Team Leader on a monthly basis to keep communication flowing between the two areas. During the next instalment mailout we are going to be a revenue officer to be available within the call centre and front counter to help with on the job training during when the notices hit the streets and the week of the instalment due date.

Hope this helps.

[Tracey Walker]

Thanks all that is what I have been thinking but we are being asked for it more and more each day from companies that are doing away with cheque payments and would rather EFT into Council’s bank account and we try not to do that for all the reasons that you all have mentioned.

[Tracey Walker]

Hi All,
Now that we know the Carbon Tax has been repealed. What is everyone else doing in regards to the cost adjustment? Are you amending the fee this year and applying a credit or are you reflecting it next year?
Tracey

[Tracey Walker]

Ken,

Our policy states that we use the predominate percentage for Stormwater Charge, whether that is correct I am unsure I have yet to look into this.

Tracey

[Tracey Walker]

Hi Susan,
Wollongong have a dishonour fee and it is an on-charge. So what we get charged by the bank is what we charge the ratepayer.

I consider it a cost recovery, the ratepayer should know whether they have available funds or not.

Tracey

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