Public Exhibition of Draft Community Strategic Plan 2017-2027, Draft Delivery Program 2018-2022 and Resourcing Strategy 2020-21
Consultation has concluded
Council has placed its Draft Community Strategic Plan 2017-2027, Draft Delivery Program 2018-2022 and Resourcing Strategy 2020-21, on public exhibition for a period of 28 days, to:
- align to extend legislative timelines for Integrated Planning and Reporting (IP&R);
- adopt previously exhibited Delivery Program 2018-2021 changes; and
- meet the requirements of Council’s Special Rate Variation application to IPART.
The review of the Community Strategic Plan 2017-2027, Delivery Program 2018-2021 and Resourcing Strategy 2020-2021 is in response to legislative time-frame adjustments and regulatory compliance, and in preparation for Council’s Special Rate Variation (SRV) application in 2021.
In response to COVID-19, the NSW Government extended a number legislative time-frames. These changes included postponing the Council Elections that were due to be contested in 2020 to the new date of 4 September 2021. Accordingly, the Council’s current Delivery Program will apply for a further 12 months and any proposed additional activities, that are significantly different to those in the existing document, are required to be placed on public exhibition.
It has also come to Council’s attention that a series of minor changes to the Delivery Program 2018-2021 were placed on public exhibition, but not included in the suite of Integrated Planning and Reporting documents adopted on 26 June 2019. Those changes are included in the Draft Delivery Program 2018-2022 attached to this report and are recommended for public exhibition.
Additionally, at the Ordinary Council Meeting on 28 October 2020, Council resolved to commence community engagement on a proposed Special Rate Variation application and to formally notify IPART that Council intends to submit a Special Rates Variation. In order to comply with the expectations of IPART, Council must review the Community Strategic Plan 2017-2027, Delivery Program 2018-2021 and Resourcing Strategy 2020-2021 to include reference to its intention to apply.
The rating impacts of SRV scenarios have been communicated to the community and the following SRV options have been proposed:
- A permanent SRV of 18.5% plus 2.0% rate peg (total 20.5%) commencing in 2021-22;
- A permanent SRV of 8.5% plus 2.0% rate peg (total 10.5%) commencing in 2021-22; and
- Discontinuation of the temporary SRV of 10% (above the rate peg) applied by the former Armidale Dumaresq Council and ending on 30 June 2021.
Submissions are invited and must be addressed to the Acting General Manager, Armidale Regional Council, PO Box 75A, Armidale NSW 2350 or sent by e-mail to council@armidale.nsw.gov.au
Submissions must be received by Council no later than 5pm on Thursday, 7 January 2021.
