Latrobe City Council is taking steps to make it easier for businesses to establish and operate locally, following an extensive review of Council fees, processes and communications.
The red/green tape and fee reviews looked closely at Council's regulatory fees and charges, how they are set, and how information is communicated to businesses. The aim of the reviews was to identify any barriers facing businesses and to improve Council's approach to being a supportive, business-friendly regulator.
The review found that the main challenges for businesses relate to complex systems, fragmented processes and unclear communication, rather than the cost of Council fees themselves.
These findings were reinforced through Council's participation in the Business-Friendly Council Program, which highlighted opportunities to simplify internal processes, improve coordination between Council departments and provide clearer, more accessible information for businesses. The program also identified that some unexpected costs faced by businesses sit outside Council's direct control.
As a result, improvement actions from both initiatives have been brought together into a single Action Plan. The Plan sets out a clear and coordinated roadmap to simplify fees, charges and processes, and to drive ongoing organisational improvement.
Latrobe City Council Mayor, Councillor Sharon Gibson, said she was pleased to say that it will now be even easier to do business in Latrobe City.
"Council completed an extensive review and found ways to make processes more straightforward so it's even easier for businesses to flag when an unexpected cost comes up," said the Mayor.
"I'm very pleased with this new review and how Council can work together with businesses to ensure they are helped from start to finish. The Action Plan to simplify our processes in Latrobe City will make it easier for businesses, especially small businesses, and ensuring that we continue to grow our economy.
"We've changed what we can and we're now advocating to State and Federal Government to get business going and create new jobs in Latrobe City."
