Wyndham council’s new draft Lease and Licence Policy, which proposes introducing rent for facilities used free-of-charge by some community groups, is available for public feedback.
The policy outlines how the council proposes to engage with community groups and tenants which use local facilities, in terms of lease and licence agreements on council owned or managed property, except for casual room hire; seasonal licence agreements that are covered by the Wyndham Sporting Facility User Guide telecommunications agreements; management service agreements; and those where council is the tenant.
The council is proposing to introduce rents of $421 per annum for community tenants, to be increased annually at a rate comparable to CPI, depending on each group’s income and trading activities.
However, this will not apply to groups covered by the Wyndham Sports Facility User Guide (such as sporting groups on seasonal licenses) or the Early Years Partnership Framework.
For community tenants occupying council premises that pay no rent (or below the proposed administrative rent of $421 per annum plus GST) a three-year phased implementation will be introduced.
There will be no rental change in the first year of the policy, a 50 per cent charge in the second year (proportioned to the lease or licenced area) and 100 per cent in year three.
Community tenants may be able to make a submission when entering a new lease or licence agreement arguing for a rental reduction from the council.
Public feedback on the draft Lease and Licence Policy is due by 11.59pm on Monday, January 31.
Details: theloop.wyndham.vic.gov.au/lease-and-license-policy or contact Jaci Wagner at Wyndham council on 9742 0777 or at Property.Management@wyndham.vic.gov.au – if you speak a language other than English and need help understanding a council matter, can contact Telephone Interpreting Service on 13 14 50.
The Telephone Interpreting Service will coordinate a three-way telephone conversation, where council customer service officers will be able to provide assistance through the interpreter.
