The Clarence City Council approved a unique relief package to support the community and help to ease some burdens brought on by the COVID-19 crisis.
The COVID-19 Clarence City Council Community Support Package will assist both individual ratepayers and businesses within the City.
It has been developed to allow people to get through this crisis in the best way possible and recognises that many in our community will suffer detrimental financial, social and health impacts.
The package includes the following key community support measures:
- Council will not apply penalties, charges, interest or undertake debt collection for late rate payments until at least 30 June 2020.
- Council approved a new COVID-19 Financial Hardship Policy that will provide the basis for the General Manager (or delegate) to assess hardship claims in relation to payment of rates.
- In accordance with the new Hardship Policy, council will provide rental relief on council owned buildings and other premises where tenants and/or leaseholders are experiencing financial hardship until 30 June 2020.
- Refocussing of the regular community grants program to support local businesses, not-for-profit organisations and community organisations recover their operations to help build resilience, until 30 June 2021.
- As a means of supporting local business recovery and injecting funds into the local economy in a timely manner, council will settle creditor invoices within 14 days of receipt (or sooner), irrespective of normal or contracted trading terms.
- Council will adopt a zero% rate increase of the general rate by fixing the general rate for the upcoming financial year (FY2020/21).
Clarence ratepayers and businesses can apply for assistance via the council website by completing an Application for Financial Hardship Assistance.