Council Decided – 4 July 2023
Submission - Draft Report on Rate Peg Methodology Review
The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) has recently released its review of the rate peg methodology used in NSW. The rate peg effectively sets a limit on rate increases by NSW Councils, restricting increases to estimated cost changes determined by IPART. Council considered a report from staff including a preliminary submission on the IPART review and endorsed the submission presented. The submission suggests a range of improvements to the current rate peg methodology including amendments to better account for the diversity of councils’ base cost patterns, using a specific Base Cost Change model to measure annual change in costs, making council-specific adjustments for Emergency Services Levy (ESL) contribution changes and making additional adjustments to capture costs driven by external factors.
Notation on Council Rates Notices – Emergency Services Levy
At the June 2023 Council meeting it was requested that consideration be given to adding a line item to Council’s 2023-2024 rate notices informing ratepayers of the impact of the NSW Government’s Emergency Services Levy (ESL). This proposal was subsequently discussed with finance staff from NSROC Councils, with all representatives expressing support for the proposal. In a report presented to Council by staff it was noted that, due to the time required to calculate the actual dollar value of the ESL for each rate assessment, it will only be feasible to implement the necessary notation on second instalment rate notices. Council subsequently endorsed the action necessary for the appropriate notations to be made on second instalment rate notices for the 2023-2024 financial year, together with a general notation advising of the 24% increase in the ESL on the first 2023-2024 rate notice.
Tender – Security Upgrade of Council Sites
Council considered a report on tenders called recently for the upgrade of security access at various Council facilities. It was resolved by Council that Citiguard Services be nominated as the preferred contractor to upgrade and consolidate security systems at these facilities and that, subject to clarifications with Citiguard, a contract be entered into, together with a 5 year maintenance contract for the system and a schedule of rates contract for other security services.
Mosman Toilet Facilities
A report was presented to Council in response to a previous resolution requiring a staff review of the current allocation of public toilets in Mosman parks, including the identification and prioritisation of sites where there is current and unmet need. The report, which was received and noted by Council, concluded that the current provision of public toilets by Mosman Council exceeds neighbouring and comparative councils in nearly all categories and is consistent in others, and that there is no established case to provide additional facilities at this time.
Resident Parking Scheme Review
Council’s current Resident Parking Scheme Policy was last formally reviewed in 2007, with minor amendments made to various schemes since that time. In November 2021 Transport for NSW released further guidelines for the operation of Resident Parking Schemes providing Council with additional flexibility around the operation of schemes. Council considered a report outlining the proposed scope of a review of the Resident Parking Scheme for Areas 1 - 9 having regard to the new guidelines and provided in principle approval for the review, which is to include appropriate and robust community consultation. Notably the largest current scheme – the Balmoral Scheme including McLean Crescent – operates under a different eligibility system to the other schemes and will therefore be reviewed separately in 2024-2025.
Planning Update – Bushland Unmade Road Reserves
The Mosman Local Strategic Planning Statement requires Council to ‘review the zoning of unmade road reserves under Mosman’s LEP for those sites which have achieved an improvement in bushland quality’ by 2023. A report presented to Council on this matter noted that 11 bushland unmade roads were considered for C2 Environmental Conservation Zoning as part of the 2022 Mosman Flora and Fauna Study, and that while none of the sites met the threshold for high conservation value and hence rezoning, five of the sites were assessed as having medium priority for conservation. All 11 sites are included in Council’s Parks and Open Space Asset Management Plan and are actively managed though operational contracts. Having considered the report, Council resolved that it once again re-evaluate the five medium priority sites in conjunction with the next Flora and Fauna Study, due to be undertaken in approximately five years’ time. It was further resolved that staff endeavour to improve the sites’ environmental qualities before the next study and that, if the Nature Repair Market Bill 2023 is passed, Council be advised of its future potential application for local government.
Housing and Productivity Contributions Bill 2023
Council received and noted a report on the Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Housing and Productivity Contributions) Bill 2023, passed by the NSW Parliament on 28 June 2023 and currently awaiting assent. While this Bill provides a new approach to state infrastructure contributions, importantly local contributions collected by councils remain unchanged. There will be an additional contribution required from developers where new dwellings are created or additional floor space is added to retail or commercial development.