Consultation on the draft plan

Each year we develop a Draft Annual Business Plan guided by our overall planning framework (Long Term Financial Plan (LTFP)) which sets strategic directions over the medium and long term and converts these into annual actions and outcomes. In April/May each year we invite residents, ratepayers and businesses to take a look at our Draft Annual Business Plan and provide feedback on our suggested annual actions and outcomes.

Our Draft Annual Business Plan 2023/24 was available for community comment from Wednesday 12 April 2023 until 5.00pm on Saturday 6 May 2023. There were more than 800 visits by 630 people to Your Say Charles Sturt during the consultation period, and a total of 34 written submissions were received. The draft plan was also available in hardcopy form and promoted through our social media channels, our libraries and community centres, and The Advertiser.

Review of submissions and the draft plan

A report was prepared summarising community submissions and providing staff responses to key themes raised. Community submissions on the Draft Annual Business Plan 2023/24 was considered by Council's Corporate Services Committee on Monday 5 June 2023 and Council on Tuesday 13 June 2023 as we refine our Annual Business Plan for the year ahead.

Following consideration of community consultation feedback, Council made amendments to the Draft Annual Business Plan 2023/24 including proposed projects.

Reductions in two annual operating projects were endorsed including:

• PBB 1719 Carbon offset purchasing (budgeted at $160,000) was removed noting it is more effective for Council to continue investment in reducing its emissions as opposed to using ratepayers money to purchase carbon offsets; and
• PBB1760 Business support. Feedback suggested council could reduce this program by $20,000 from $140,000 to $120,000 given cost of living pressures.

With these reductions plus productivity efficiencies achieved within the recurrent budget the overall rates increase proposed is now 7.52% plus growth (and less than current Adelaide March CPI).

This is less than the 8.59% originally forecast, having regard to the feedback about the cost of living pressures within the community but still cognisant of maintaining financial sustainability. For residential ratepayers this will translate to an average increase of 7.39%.

We thank all of those that have taken the time to contribute toward our Annual Business Plan consultation process.

The final Annual Business Plan and Budget will be presented to Council for adoption on Monday 26 June 2023.

Once adopted, a summary of the Plan will accompany the first rates notice for the financial year and the Annual Business Plan and Budget 2023/24 will be available on our City of Charles Sturt website and at the Council Offices for your information.