The Northern Beaches Council has established hardship policy where residents have a difficulty in paying these charges. Council invite a resident under those circumstances to complete a relief application form.
Policy Statement Council acknowledges that ratepayers will, for various reasons from time to time, fail to pay rates when they become due and payable to Council. It is not the intention to cause hardship to any ratepayer through Council’s recovery procedures and consideration will be given to acceptable arrangements to clear the debt prior to the end of the current financial year, where possible. Council recognises there are cases of genuine financial hardship requiring respect and compassion in special circumstances. This policy establishes guidelines for assessment of a hardship application applying the principles of fairness, integrity, confidentiality and compliance with statutory requirements. It applies to all applications for waiving, alternative payment arrangements or writing off rates, fees, annual charges and interest accrued on such debts.
