Ryan Palmer will seek the support from his fellow Port Stephens councillors at Tuesday's ordinary council meeting to pass a number of actions aimed at easing financial hardship in the community caused by COVID-19.
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Cr Palmer will table three COVID-19 related Mayoral Minutes at the meeting, which for the first time will be conducted via video conference rather than in person at the Raymond Terrace council chambers.
"Through technology, we will continue to deliver our usual services and provide the community with access to council meetings," Cr Palmer said.
"Moving meetings online also allows council to adhere to government measures in place preventing public gatherings to help stop the spread of COVID-19 while ensuring we continue to deliver our usual services for our community.
"This is a first for Port Stephens. We are living in unprecedented times and the health and well-being of all people should be everyone's priority at this time."
Cr Palmer COVID-19 Port Stephens Recovery Response Mayoral Minute seeks to acknowledge "the profound affect the COVID-19 is having and will continue to have on the Port Stephens community" and to act by adjusting, extending and expanding current council services and policies.
Some of the measures Cr Palmer outlines in the recovery response mayoral minute include:
- Provide an easy to use online platform for individuals and businesses to register their intent to claim financial hardship on rates, licences, fees and leases
- Provide a 12 month interest free period for outstanding rates in Q4 2020 and Q1 2021 where hardship arrangements have been claimed with no debt recovery during this period
- Investigate the provision of 1 additional free kerbside pickup for green waste, between 14 April 2020 to 30 June 2021
- Realign Port Stephens Council grants program to fund programs that support individuals and organisations through the COVID-19 crisis.
- Investigate the expansion of E-Library services through our partners at Newcastle Library
- Not charge library late fees until 30 June 2021
- The annual rent for the Tomaree Neighbourhood Centre Inc. of $11,300 be waived for 12 months, to be funded by Library Services operations
- Support the introduction of dedicated public car parking spaces at Port Stephens pharmacies and medical facilities
- Support the easing of restrictions to allow cafes and restaurants to trade now through take away and delivery only
- Reaffirm support for the closures of public spaces across Port Stephens to slow the spread of COVID-19
Councillors will further discuss debt and hardships measures at Tuesday's meeting after west ward councillor Giacomo Arnott lodged a notice of motion seeking the council to "suspend all internal debt recovery action arising from unpaid rate notices" and "allow ratepayers to defer rate payment in case of hardship, by up to 12 months, without interest accruing during the deferral period".
"I want to make sure that, if you're unable to pay your rates as a result of hardship in these difficult times, you won't be pursued for that debt by council, you will be able to defer your debt for 12 months, and you will not accrue interest over that time period," Cr Arnott said.
A second Mayoral Minute seeks that the council call on the state and federal governments to "urgently deliver comprehensive and multifaceted financial support and stimulus packages to local government to enable them to continue to operate effectively and provide essential services during the COVID-19 pandemic".
Cr Palmer's third Mayoral Minute is to seek approval for the council's to formally apply for an overdraft increase "to an amount between $5 million to $10 million pending formal acceptance from the Commonwealth Bank of Australia".
The community will be able to watch Tuesday's council meeting through the webcast. The meeting begins at 5.30pm.
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Ellie-Marie Watts
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
