Rates, Charges and Fees – Financial Hardship Policy

Council recognises there are cases of genuine financial hardship requiring respect and compassion in special circumstances. This policy establishes guidelines for the assessment of hardship applications applying the principles of fairness, integrity, appropriate confidentiality and compliance with relevant statutory requirements. It applies to all applications for waiving, deferment and alternative payment arrangements, or the writing off of rates, fees, charges and interest accrued on such debts.

The objective of Council’s Rates, Charges and Fees – Financial Hardship Policy is to:

• Provide a framework for responding to applications from ratepayers and customers experiencing genuine hardship with the payment of their rates, charges and fees in accordance with local government legislation.
• Assess individual cases of financial hardship based on merit.