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FUNDING for State Emergency Service units will not be pared back in Kingston if the state government’s planned rate capping policy comes into force next financial year. Some Victorian councils, such as Cardinia Shire Council, have reportedly threatened to cut SES funding if Labor goes ahead with its plan to limit future rate rises to inflation costs. When asked by The News, Kingston Council CEO John Nevins said council will continue to support the Chelsea SES and Moorabbin SES units. “Council greatly values the work of the local SES units and has no intention to cut back this funding.” Council provides the Chelsea SES with a base at council’s Bonbeach depot facility free of charge and pays the rental costs for the Moorabbin SES. The rental charges and the free space provided are valued at a combined $100,000 annually. A $43,348 grant was also provided to Chelsea SES last year and Moorabbin SES, which also covers part of the City of Bayside, received $20,907 from Kingston Council. Chelsea SES spokesman Phil Wall welcomed Kingston Council’s ongoing support. “We’ve always had a great working relation-
ship with the City of Kingston and it’s very reassuring that nothing will change.” Victorian councils fear some frontline services may have to be slashed when the Andrews government’s rate capping policy is introduced in the 2016-17 financial year. Kingston Council has made its submission to an Essential Services Commission review of the state government’s proposed rate capping plan, a pre-election pledge by Labor. Mayor Cr Geoff Gledhill said council has a “strong focus on sound financial management”. “We’re certainly open to the Victorian government’s rate capping policy but question whether CPI [consumer price index] is the right basis,” Cr Gledhill said. “CPI includes items that make up only 3 per cent of council spending such as fuel, food for meals on wheels services, utilities and insurance fees. But our main costs are labour, goods and services such as waste collection and home care services, plus construction costs for roads, drains, community buildings and sports pavilions.” Kingston Council’s submission argues any rates cap should not apply to waste service charges “which are generally outside council’s control”. Council notes landfill levies are set by the state government and the EPA and have risen 45 per cent in the past decade. Kingston Council is due to pay $1.9 million in state landfill levies in 2015-16.
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