- Minister for Small Business
More than 17,000 businesses in Wyndham City Council will encounter less bureaucratic red tape as the number of signatories to the Andrews Labor Government's Small Business Friendly Council initiative grows to 12.
Welcoming the commitment, Minister for Small Businesses Adem Somyurek invited other councils to join Wyndham and pledge to helping their local small businesses grow.
Launched in May, the charter commits councils to:
- Pay small businesses within 30 days of an invoice being received
- Support local businesses in managing the impacts of infrastructure projects
- Streamline the approval process when starting a business
- Help establish and support local business networks.
Wyndham City Council follows the City of Kingston, Yarra Ranges Council, Mount Alexander Shire, City of Wodonga, Gannawarra Shire, Latrobe City, Baw Baw Shire, City of Yarra, Northern Grampians Shire, City of Glen Eira and Corangamite Shire in signing up to the program.
The initiative is part of the Labor Government's comprehensive plan to support small business, working in partnership with the Victorian Small Business Commission and Small Business Victoria.
The charter includes the Better Approvals Project which has seen councils streamline many procedures, in one instance reducing the approval time for an outdoor trading permit from an average of 126 days to 11 days.
For more information on the Small Business Friendly Council initiative, visit vsbc.vic.gov.au.
As stated by Minister for Local Government and Small Business Adem Somyurek
"We know that red tape can be a barrier to growth for small business. That's why we are working hard with local governments to reduce the regulatory burden, which will help operators save time and money in the long run."
"Victoria is the best state in Australia to build a small business, and red tape cuts by local government will only make it easier to operate a business."
As noted by Acting Victorian Small Business Commissioner Mark Schramm
"Congratulations to Wyndham on making a commitment to be a small-business friendly council. The Victorian Small Business Commission looks forward to working with all signatory councils to create a fair and supportive environment for small businesses."
As noted by Wyndham City Council mayor Cr Mia Shaw
"Small businesses are at the heart of our community and vital to building a strong local economy. That's why we're thrilled to be signing up to this initiative, which is pivotal to our commitment to supporting Wyndham City business."
