GOLDEN Plains Shire councillors adopted new differential rating categories for the next four years at last month\u2019s regular meeting, but not everyone was in favour of the change.<\/p>\n
The move included a 10 per cent increase for Bannockburn businesses, a five per cent rise for intensive farming and 2.5 per cent more on the broadacre farming rate, as well as $60.60 drop in the municipal charge, which is the base payment all ratepayers make each year regardless of property value.<\/p>\n
The change was supported by all councillors apart from Cr Owen Sharkey and Cr Les Rowe.<\/p>\n
As a result, Cr Sharkey has said he\u2019ll be putting forward a motion to wind back the outcome of the vote and said he doesn\u2019t \u201ctake rescinding a motion lightly\u201d but had \u201cexpressed disappointment with the group.\u201d<\/p>\n
This was particularly around the handling of rating strategy community consultation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve absolutely failed community consultation on this one. Even since the decision was made to go with strategy option five, I\u2019ve had several residents ask me to look at it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe went out to community with option one and two, and ended up going with option five. I\u2019ve got the details to option five, that\u2019s all held by us as confidential information, but that doesn\u2019t sit well with me.\u201d<\/p>\n
During the meeting, Shire mayor Cr Gavin Gamble said he had written a consultation letter to community members, but Cr Sharkey said \u201cthat letter wasn\u2019t sent.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know it\u2019s difficult sometimes facing communities that are in angst or against our decisions, but it\u2019s just so important to face the community… and hear their side.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe best community consultation you could have is when the rates notices go out. We haven\u2019t heard from anyone in this community that wanted us to do this review,\u201d Cr Sharkey said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe ratepayers in my home township of Batesford are paying four-and-a-half or five-and-a-half thousand dollars in rates, and the decision we made to further increase them, even though they were the most vocal people in the Shire, so it\u2019s disappointing.\u201d<\/p>\n
For 15 minutes of the rating debate, Cr Ian Getsom was not present in the livestream, and that also \u201cdoesn\u2019t sit right\u201d with the former mayor.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe openly admitted he didn\u2019t understand what was going on or where we were, but he voted and his vote was taken,\u201d Cr Sharkey said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re not up to speed with things, you shouldn\u2019t be in the room for starters. There\u2019s no excuse for poor internet connection because we\u2019ve all got the ability to go into the chambers.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve asked for the motion to come back to counsellors in the next meeting, and I suspect we\u2019ll have the same outcome… but I\u2019m hoping by rescinding this, counsellors will adhere to the rules set out and the expectations of the ratepayers.\u201d<\/p>\n
During the rating strategy debate in the last regular meeting, Cr Brett Cunningham disagreed with Cr Sharkey\u2019s comments, and said community consultation had been managed well.<\/p>\n
Cr Cunningham was approached regarding this issue but did not comment as the next meeting\u2019s agenda is not yet in the public domain.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
GOLDEN Plains Shire councillors adopted new differential rating categories for the next four years at last month\u2019s regular meeting, but not everyone was in favour of the change. The move included a 10 per cent increase for Bannockburn businesses, a five per cent rise for intensive farming and 2.5 per cent more on the broadacre […]<\/p>\n