Reporting to Council
23 Mar 2021
Developing a uniform policy
Currently, eligible pensioners across the Northern Beaches are granted differing voluntary concessions under policies of the
former Manly, Pittwater or Warringah Councils.
To ensure uniformity and consistency across the area, we have developed a draft policy for the provision of voluntary concessions to eligible pensioners as part of the rates harmonisation process.
We propose to replace the existing pensioner concession for each of the former councils by extending the voluntary concession to Northern Beaches pensioners based on the eligibility criteria for the former Warringah Council as the most generous of the three former council areas.
Proposed Voluntary Concessions
|
Manly |
Pittwater |
Warringah |
Total |
|
|
Rates |
|
|
|
|
|
Approximate No: |
120 |
146 |
587 |
853 |
|
Concession $150 |
$18,000 |
$21,031 |
$84,516 |
$123,547 |
|
Total: |
$18,000 |
$21,031 |
$84,516 |
$123,547 |
Domestic Waste Charge | ||||
Approximate No: | 1,082 | 2,566 | 6,080 | 9,728 |
Concession: $54.40 | $58,861 | $139,590 | $324,007 | $522,458 |
Total: | $58,861 | $139,590 | $324,007 | $522,458 |
|
Estimated Total Cost |
$76,861 |
$160,621 |
$408,523 |
$646,005 |
|
Estimated Additional Cost |
$49,361 |
$139,590 |
$0 |
$188,951 |
Inclusions in the draft policy
A consistent definition of eligible pensioners is required for the $150 Voluntary Concession, proposed as follows:
All eligible pensioners under the Local Government Act who haven’t reached the retirement age or those over the retirement age on either the Blind Pension, Carer Payment or Disability Support Pension from Centrelink or either the Totally and Permanently Incapacitated (TPI) Pension or the Extreme Disablement Adjustment (EDA) Pension from the Department of Veteran Affairs.
We propose extending the $150 Voluntary Concession to all eligible pensioners. This would replace the current concession in the former Manly council area. If this definition was uniformly applied, approximately 120 additional pensioners would be entitled to the $150 voluntary concession at an approximate cost of $18,000.
We also propose extending the current Voluntary Concession relating to the Domestic Waste Management Charge to all eligible pensioners across the Northern Beaches area. This would mean an estimated additional 3,648 pensioners would be entitled to the $54.40 Voluntary Concession at an approximate cost of $198,451.
How do the voluntary concessions currently work?
Voluntary Concessions may be applied to eligible pensioners for a reduction on their rates and charges at Council’s discretion.
Eligible pensioners are currently granted voluntary concessions under policies of the three former councils as follows:
Former Manly Council area: A concession on rates is paid to eligible pensioners of between $20 and $30.
Former Pittwater Council area: A concession on rates is paid to eligible pensioners up to $150. This concession is paid to all eligible pensioners who haven’t reached the retirement age or those over the retirement age on a Blind Pension.
Former Warringah Council area: A concession is paid to eligible pensioners of $54.40 for domestic waste management services charge and up to $150 on rates.
This concession is paid to all eligible pensioners who haven’t reached the retirement age or those over the retirement age on either the Blind Pension, Carer Payment or Disability Support Pension from Centrelink or either the Totally and Permanently Incapacitated (TPI) Pension or the Extreme Disablement Adjustment (EDA) Pension from the Department of Veteran Affairs.
The voluntary concession on domestic waste management charge applies to all eligible pensioners that are charged a domestic waste standard service.
Existing Voluntary Pensioner Concessions
|
|
Manly |
Pittwater |
Warringah |
Warringah |
Total |
|
Details |
Rates |
Rates |
Rates |
Waste |
|
|
Voluntary Concession |
$20-$30 |
$150 |
$150 |
$54.40 |
|
|
Number of properties |
1,077 |
146 |
587 |
6,080 |
|
|
Amount |
$27,500 |
$21,031 |
$84,516 |
$324,007 |
$457,054 |
