COVID-19 has had a significant impact on our community. While it is recognised that Council only has a small part it can play in response to the financial hardship facing the community, it has considered a range of measures that may assist.

At the August 2021 Ordinary meeting, Council considered a report which set out a range of relief measures to support our community. The Council resolved that:

• Council activate and reaffirm the emergency event provisions detailed in the Community Grants and Events Sponsorship Policy and other financial assistance outlined in this Mayoral Minute.
• The General Manager be authorised to enact the necessary policy and legislative requirements to provide the financial assistance outlined in this Mayoral Minute.

To comply with Section 356 of the Local Government Act 1993 we are now seeking feedback from the community on the proposed relief measures to be introduced.

The following measures were proposed at the 24 August 2021 Council Meeting and we are now seeking feedback from the local community.

That Council:

• Re-affirm its commitment to scrapping of the footway dining fees for the duration of the Public Health Orders (PHO);
• Re-affirm its commitment to offer an extra red bin service to residential single unit dwelling during the lockdown period;
• Re-affirm its commitment to families who opt out of sending their children to our childcare facilities during the stay at home orders by absorbing their financial gap for the duration of the PHO;
• As a result of the closure, or suspension of any Council facility or service, that Council hold in credit any fees and charges paid for the use of any facility and/or service. Where a specific user is experiencing financial hardship, then a full refund be provided;
• Waive the seasonal ground hire fee for member clubs and their Associations for the use of their venues and/or use of our sporting fields;
• Lease and/or license Council owned properties –that any lessee and/or licensee who has received Government support should have their rent reduced by 50% for the period commencing 1 July 2021 until the lockdown financial support ends. The relevant Government support programs applicable in providing the reduction are: −
  • Commonwealth COVID-19 Disaster Payment;
  • NSW COVID-19 Micro-Business Grant; and
  • NSW JobSaver Payment.
• Activate the Emergency Event provisions outlined in its Rates and Charges, Debt Recovery and Hardship Assistance Policy - and support the following eligible Ratepayers:
  • Residential Ratepayers – those individuals that can substantiate that they are receiving support under the Commonwealth COVID-19 Disaster Payment; and
  • Business Ratepayers – those entities that can substantiate that they are receiving support under the NSW COVID-19 Micro-Business Grant or the NSW JobSaver Payment.

• Subject to meeting the above criteria and completing the relevant application, Ratepayers will be able to:
  • Defer and/or vary instalment payments until 1 March 2022;
  • To waive any accrued interest applicable from 1 July 2021 until 1 March 2022, though this would be subject to the Ratepayers account being brought up to-date by 30 June 2022; and
  • Debt recovery action be suspended for eligible Ratepayers until 1 March 2022.