BATHURST Regional Council has devised another set of economic stimulus measures, just in time for Christmas.
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A fifth mayoral minute has been prepared detailing new economic stimulus measures in response to the coronavirus pandemic, with council to make a determination on these on Wednesday night.
One the proposed measures is to waive $17,000 in Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre (BMEC) hire fees for the 2021 Carillon Theatrical Society performance.
According to the mayoral minute, council has received representations from the Carillon Theatrical Society seeking fee reductions to the BMEC hire rates.
Due to COVID-19, the group was unable to hold its show in 2020, but is proposing a 2021 performance.
Council policies already apply a 20 per cent discount to the schedule of fees, but now council is proposing that a discount of $17,000 be applied on the amount remaining after the standard 20 per cent discount (local users) is allocated.
This is response to the group's request, which was for no payment for dark days, 75 per cent local users discount, 25 per cent discount for all staffing costs, the ticket surcharge to be reduced by 50 per cent and a discount on bulk hire of equipment to be applied as always.
The new mayoral minute also proposes to waive Outdoor Dining Fees from January 1 to June 30, 2021 at an estimated cost of $9244.
This recommendation is in response to the NSW Government's promotion of outdoor dining facilities "as a way to facilitate the energising of local economics".
If this recommendation is adopted, it won't be for the first time.
Council agreed to do this in the first mayoral minute in April, with the waiver to apply from March 1 to December 31, 2020.
As reported in April, council's estimated income per annum from outdoor dining fees is $27,000.
The decision to waive those fees resulted in a budget loss of $9233 in the 2019-20 financial year, and $14, 224 in 2020-21.
The latest mayoral minute also recommends that council waive Bathurst Library fines for the period of January 1 to June 30, 2021.
Again, it is not the first time council has done this.
"Council in the May 2020 mayoral minute waived library fine charges up to December 31, 2020," the new mayoral minute reads.
"It is recommended that the fees be waived to June 30, 2021. It is estimated this will cost $5233 for the six-month period."
These latest measures will be considered at Wednesday's ordinary council meeting, which can be viewed live online from 6pm.
