By John Hawker
John Hawker, a resident in Gateway Ward has given PPM permission to publish his letter on rates to Port Phillip Councillors who will vote on rates rises on 29 June.
Dear Councillors,
I’ve never written to a local council in my 65 years of life; however, on this occasion, I feel compelled to do so after the recent Federal election. Voters are enlightened and there’s an “appetite“ for change. The two major party system is weakened, and this will flow into local government, unless our elected officials listen to their ratepayers. Teal is the new black!
I am a relatively long tern ratepayer; having lived in the area in two different premises in Gateway Ward since 2005 . I enjoy the amenity and proximity to beach and the city. In recent years I have become disillusioned with how the rates I pay you have been used. I’ve done some homework / research and find that my rates on a comparative basis are very high compared to other local councils. On further “digging“, I’m perplexed as to why CoPP has significantly higher operating costs compared to our neighbouring councils. There can be several reasons for this; however, I certainly do not see the level of service greater than other council areas. This has now prompted me to consider requesting a rate review. I also consider this given Councils desire to spend our rate money in another council area. Id support this if our council was operating efficiently; however, I feel it cannot be. On this basis, I also strongly believe councillors should consider a rate freeze. If you can spend money out of your rateable area, you have spare money. Freeze the rates and reward your ratepayers with some relief in these current extremely difficult times.
So, I seek your support for a rates freeze in 2022/23. You have a cash surplus forecast and our rates are already excessive compared to our neighbouring councils.
As a councillor , I believe you are accountable to ratepayers to represent our community. I can see from a number or projects that have happened whilst I remained quiet; are wasteful, inefficient, self- serving in some instances and don’t improve services. Surely your aim should be to enhance community benefit / improve service. I note the CoPP has the highest headcount and wages bill of all neighbouring councillors. I don’t see anything more to show for it. How do you hold the CEO and his executive team accountable? I also note that you don’t appear to “zero base“ your budgeting, which is international best practice. It seems your executive are simply adding a percentage year on year when they formulate the CoPP budget. This is not the way to glory. It’s the road to bankruptcy, inefficiency, and laziness. It’s a predictable process of built-in increases. Further, the year-on-year headcount appears to grow and there’s very little to show for it. I’d question the CEO on whether he’s building an empire and have him consider a headcount freeze; which the huge corporates I was involved in did business; particularly in difficult times for customers ( in your case read ratepayers).
Having our elected councillors consider a rate freeze, would indicate you are listening to ratepayers, and you do care about us. After significant trouble over the last 2 and a half years; and the impending issues we now face in the economy (inflation, interest rate increases, fuel, power, gas and food prices) we won’t see any relief imminently nor for the foreseeable future.
There is hardship in our community, but please don’t ignore me. At some point, those who can support the hardship cases, hit a tipping point. I’m there, hence why I’m now doing more research. The research, as mentioned, indicates I’m paying significantly more than ratepayers in similar sized premises for similar services. Thank you for waking me up to move my case forward re my rates.
Individual council areas have their peculiarities like beaches and markets etc. Please don’t insult your ratepayers by trotting out this excuse. It’s a benign argument.
I now learn that council is considering a waste charge. Please be honest and transparent in this with ratepayers. We are not stupid. This is a way to increase rates by stealth.
I ask you to support a rate freeze for 2022/23, as well as voting against a separate waste charge. Think about us , the people who voted for you . Think about how you spend our money. Think about the demographic of the people paying you the rates (pensioners, retirees, families, single people). Think about whether you are giving ratepayers value for their money. Think about the change in the air regarding elected officials.
Yours sincerely
John Hawker
