Northern Beaches ratepayers, fed up at the prospect of a 40% rate rise, are petitioning the NSW government to step in to halt the process and carry out a full review of the council before it goes any further.   

Ms Scruby has agreed to present one of two current petitions to NSW Parliament.    

The petitioners are calling for the NSW Government to:  
 

1. Order an immediate, independent expert inquiry into Northern Beaches Council's proposed 40% rate hike.  

1. Ensure this inquiry includes a comprehensive productivity audit of the Council's operations.  

1. Halt any rate increases until the inquiry's findings are published and publicly discussed.   

The petitioners are both local residents.   

‘In the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, significant increases to council rates across NSW absolutely needs to be debated in Parliament and addressed by the NSW Government.   

Ms Scruby says that despite councils across NSW facing similar rate increases, what is playing out in the Northern Beaches is a crisis of confidence in the structure of councils in NSW, particularly following forced amalgamations under the former Coalition government.    

‘We need to restore confidence, and that can be achieved by an independent performance audit or bringing in a financial manager. The review needs to be comprehensive – from compliance operations which generate revenue for councils, to operational structure to address the disproportionate middle management and CEO salaries.  

‘There is no doubt that increasing costs are being faced by council, but that doesn’t mean people don’t want the fat cut first. They want to see and witness austerity measures before having to consider rate rises. That’s what they are doing in their homes and that’s what they want to see from council, irrespective of the aspirational strategic plans or ‘nice to have’ services of the past that are not appropriate in tough times,’ said Ms Scruby.    

‘We believe this action is necessary to ensure transparency, accountability, and fair treatment of Northern Beaches residents, particularly given that the amalgamation of the three councils was expected to deliver significant productivity gains,’ say the petitioners.  

Last month the council voted 8-7 to push ahead with the highest of three proposed options, despite it getting the lowest level of support in the council’s own community consultation process. The proposal will go forward as a special rate variation to be assessed by Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal of New South Wales (IPART).   

Ms Scruby highlights that requesting a special rate variation (SRV) is not unique to Northern Beaches Council and clearly shows local governments need structural reform.    

‘As the State MP for Pittwater, I will be raising the issue in Parliament when it resumes, and I have already requested the government direct the Audit Office of NSW to undertake an independent performance audit for NBC and regulate senior bureaucrat salaries.’  

Ms Scruby is calling for the IPART process to be strengthened to require councils to do more to cut costs before special rate variations are approved, and to improve their consultation processes.    

‘Northern Beaches Council is not alone. Across NSW, over the last two years, 25+ Councils have applied or are applying to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) for special variation rate rises. Councils are facing similarly increasing costs which are genuine. These costs include general inflation, above CPI increases to construction and insurance costs, the financial impact of extreme weather (the cost of climate change) and cost-shifting to councils from the NSW Government, including the Emergency Services Levy.  

‘I’ve also called on the NSW Government to implement the majority of the 17 recommendations of a recent NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into the ability of local government to fund infrastructure and services. These recommendations include reversing state and federal government measures which shift costs to councils, reviewing rate exemptions and doubling of federal government funding.   

‘I will be strongly advocating for the NSW Government to act on the recommendations, so ratepayers are not left to foot the bill.’    

Ms Scruby encourages everyone to sign both petitions, make a submission to the IPART review and write to councillors and state MPs.