By Jeremy Sollars
Southern Downs councillors have left the door open for a possible further review of the due date for current water and sewerage rates following a special council meeting earlier today, Friday 15 May.
Councillors met at the Warwick Town Hall – with the meeting live-streamed on Facebook – to discuss more than a dozen financial measures related to COVID-19, which were voted through in full and relating mostly to suspension or waiving of various fees and charges.
At the top of the list was an extension of the payment period for the current water and sewerage rates for the last six months.
Councillors voted to extend the due date from 26 June to 30 June, with community members having commented the extension is only by several days. Mayor Vic Pennisi encouraged public feedback on that and the other measures adopted today saying “everything is open to review and is on the table”, and there would be a second stage of COVID-19 measures to come.
Council officers said the water and sewerage rates extension was designed to “round out the current financial year”.
Councillors also voted to waive interest charges on any water and sewerage rates – and general rates – remaining overdue as at Tuesday 30 June and suspend any debt recovery proceedings related to rates and charges.
Cr Jo McNally asked that a document circulated to councillors outlining the costs to the council of the COVID-19 financial measures adopted today be made public. Acting CEO Jane Stroud said officers would take the suggestion “on notice” and make the document publicly available but did not specify a timeframe. She also said it was an “internal spreadsheet” not in a form that could be publicly released straight away but would be released when ready. The Free Times has asked for a copy of the document.
Today’s meeting also voted to freeze the Invasive Pest Control Scheme next financial year, 2020-2021. The scheme was highly controversial during the previous council administration and included financial penalties for non-compliance with pest weed and animal control, in the form of ‘supplementary rates notices’.
Council officers are still working on the draft 2020-2021 budget expected to be handed down by councillors by the end of June and to include a ‘stage 2’ of COVID-19 financial measures (see below).
The council will open COVID-19 ‘Recovery Hubs’ next week in Warwick and Stanthorpe to take public feedback on council’s measures – more details are expected either later today or on Monday.
The council is also asking community members and businesses to complete a brief survey on COVID-19 assistance – here’s the link – www.surveymonkey.com/r/LZCFG7Q
FULL LIST OF ‘STAGE 1’ MEASURES ADOPTED AT TODAY’S SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING –
• Extend the payment period for water and sewerage levies issued in April 2020 up until the end of June 2020
• Waive interest on overdue rates and charges calculated at 30 June 2020
• Suspension of debt recovery activities for all outstanding rates and charges
• Refund of fees and charges for forward bookings for community events which are cancelled as a result of COVID-19
• Waiving of fees for temporary event permits up until 31 December 2020
• Suspension of charging of interest on outstanding rates and charges
• Extension of the period of time that can be entered into for existing payment arrangements
• Accelerate the processing of payment of all invoices, wherever possible meeting a fourteen day timeframe
• Waiving of food license fees for 2020/2021
• 50% reduction in all development assessment fees for any new applications, extensions to existing applications and operational works applications fees for 2020/2021
• Moratorium on the application of the Invasive Pest Control levy for 2020/21
• Refocus the community grants program on COVID-19 recovery actions arising from the recovery plan for 2020/21
• Waive the rental accommodation license fees and caravan park permit fees for 2020/2021
Potential ‘stage 2’ measures – (expected to be covered in the 2020-2021 budget due by the end of June) –
• Reductions in pedestal charges
• Early release of refocused Community Grants Program
• Accelerating capital works program
• Partnerships to enhance community wellbeing. Special Council Meeting – 15 May 2020 4
• Consideration of extended payment terms for 2020/21 rates and levies.
