Bellingen Shire Council has committed to improving its service to small business across the Shire by joining the Small Business Friendly Councils Program.
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“Councils sign up to a charter which sets out a number of benchmarks on how services are delivered to small business,” said Bellingen Shire Mayor, Cr Mark Troy.
The program is an initiative of the NSW Small Business Commissioner and the NSW Business Chamber. It aims to encourage councils to be more small business friendly. Councils who are accepted on to the program must identify key strategies which will ultimately improve their service and relationship with small business in their community.
One key initiative introduced is a Development Application (DA) tracking system. “Council’s Manager of Economic and Business Development will work proactively with commercial DA applicants to ensure the process is as simple and efficient as possible,” said Liz Jeremy, General Manager.
Council has also introduced a Local Preference Procurement Policy, Pre DA Lodgment meetings and has committed to an On Time Payment Policy for small business. Bellingen Shire is one of 35 councils across NSW who have committed to participate in the program and report against the committed initiatives.
