Council Update

Conversation with the GM

 

2024/25 Rates Notices 

FlexiPay
Council acknowledges the wider cost-of-living pressures that, every: home, business and farm is currently experiencing. One way in which Council has sought to assist our community is by providing a flexible payment option called ‘FlexiPay’ for rates. 

FlexiPay is an external payment service that is safe, secure and confidential and allows you to control payment of your rates based on a frequency that suits you. 

You choose the frequency (annual, quarterly, monthly, fortnightly or weekly). FlexiPay instantly calculates a payment plan based on the amount required to be paid and the frequency you also prefer. 

For customers with eNotices, you can easily manage the payment schedule in the eNotices portal. Scan the QR code on your rates notice, or please call Council’s Revenue team to discuss FlexiPay. 

Financial Difficulty  
If anyone is experiencing financial difficulties, I take this opportunity to remind you to please call Council and speak to our revenue team who are here to assist you.

Council reviewed its debt recovery process in 2020 and subsequently implementing a new mediatory, compassionate, and engaging approach for rates recovery. 

This innovative approach has led to Council having an amazingly low, outstanding rates percentage of 1.69% (2023/2024).  The new approach is reliant on you the ratepayer proactively contacting Council (confidentially) as early as possible if you are experiencing financial hardship.

Some key topics that we wish to highlight;

1. If you have not received your rates notice, please contact Council.
   It is important to check that Council has your current contact details, postal address and email (please also check your email junk folder). 
2. Carefully check details on your rates notice. 
   If you are on a Centrelink or Department of Veterans Affairs pension you may be entitled to a rebate, if it is not on your notice, please contact Council.
3. Payment plans and other options. 
   Now is the time to work out a payment plan if you need to. Early intervention and action will result in less stress and financial pressure being placed on you, so please contact Council’s revenue team to confidentially discuss these options further.

Council Update

Bulky Waste Collection – 26 August 2024

Council is providing a Bulky Waste Clean-Up. This will allow the collection of larger items and will enable items suitable for recycling to be diverted from landfill thereby maximizing the life of this valuable resource.

Collection will be from 26 August to 6 September 2024. Categories of items are collected in separate pickups during the week so make sure everything is out by the Sunday 25 August 2024

Please visit the Bulky Waste webpage for further information on acceptable items for collection.

Local Heritage Assistance Fund 2024/25

Council has launched the Local Heritage Assistance Fund for the 2024/25 financial year. Applications for grants are invited and will be received up until Thursday 1 August 2024.  

The grants are available for the conservation and maintenance of heritage buildings, adaptive reuse and interpretation projects that support heritage in the Blayney Local Government Area.

Further information, Guidelines and application forms are available from Council’s Local Heritage Assistance Fund page or calling Council on 02 6368 2104.

Community Financial Assistance Program Round 1 – 2024/25

Applications for the first round under the 2024/25 Community Financial Assistance Program are now open. 
Local community organisations / individuals are invited to submit an application by 2 August 2024. Applications lodged before 26 July 2024 will be reviewed and applicants will be contacted in the event of any errors or omissions in applications.

There are four categories of financial assistance:

• Recurrent financial assistance 
• Non-recurrent financial assistance (Up to $5,000 and more in exceptional cases)
• Sporting related financial assistance
• Flagship annual community project (Up to $25,000 for a major project)

Applicants are required to obtain a copy of the guidelines and complete the application form. 

Please note that Council does not consider requests for financial support (cash or in-kind) outside of this program. 

Guidelines and application forms are available from Council’s Community Financial Assistance Program page or from Council’s office.

Documents on Public Exhibition

Following the June Council Meeting, Council is seeking comment on the following document are on public exhibition:

• Data Breach Policy

This document is available for viewing and downloading on Council’s Documents on Public Exhibition page.

Written submissions must be received prior to 5.00pm Thursday 1 August 2024.