Ratepayers, residents and businesses are encouraged to have their say, as to what is needed for Council's long term financial sustainability with plans on public exhibition until this Friday 21 January.
 
There are three scenarios outlined in Council’s draft Revised Community Strategic Plan, Draft Delivery Program and Operational Plan, Draft Fees and Charges, Draft Long Term Financial Plan, Draft Workforce Management Strategy, and Draft Revised Asset Management Strategy for the community to consider with the potential impacts of each scenario also outlined in the strategic documents.
 
This is a step required by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) should Council make a submission to IPART for a Special Variation.
 
Administrator Rik Hart said a Special Variation submission was one of the last steps for Council in its planned financial recovery.
 
“Council’s financial recovery plan put in place over a year ago is working and we are meeting all major milestones and targets,” Mr Hart said.
 
“The draft Delivery Program that is on public exhibition includes actions and projects that Council will deliver over the next three financial years and incorporates Council’s continued actions to reduce expenditure through efficiency gains and moderate adjustments to service levels.
 
“Our focus remains on being able to support this community with services they deserve and need by having a financially sustainable Council,” Mr Hart said.
 
Council will consider community submissions from the public exhibition of the plans in an Extraordinary Council Meeting on 3 February 2022 before adopting these plans and programs. Council will also formally decide at that meeting if it will make a submission to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) for the current 15% Special Variation (including rate peg) to be maintained in the rate base for an additional seven years, or ten years in total.
 
The plans plus information materials about the impacts to rates and services are available at yourvoiceourcoast.com. The plans will be open for public submissions until Friday 21 January 2022.