LAUNCESTON'S RATEPAYER BEING TARGETED FOR A MONEY GRAB

YES, This is nothing more than a massive additional rates grab. 

They are proposing to extend the City Prom boundaries thus:

"While the official boundaries would be decided by a working group, Cityprom's response to the review suggest the boundaries incorporate the Launceston General Hospital, Kings Park and Penny Royal and the Seaport, and out to the Kmart plaza and Racecourse Crescent area." 

The businesses along Charles St have developed and thrived without any City Prom involvement and I doubt any of them want to pay more to have their money spent by someone else, elsewhere . More costs to be added to the bureaucracy as well with a new LCC manager in there somewhere to oversee CityProm. 

• Will CityProm make KMart any more busy? 
• Do they need to pay more rates to get more custom? 

In our opinion, what the businesses should be arguing for is disbanding CityProm altogether. 

Their track record of success in promoting even the current limited boundaries has been an impressive failure, 

What Council should do is hold a plebicite at the next local government elections OR if this council is up for ACCOUNTABILITY let us have a Citizen's Assembly.

IN THE EXAMINER ...  A review of Cityprom could happen in the next six months, after a notice of motion was put forward to the City of Launceston council. ........................ Councillor Rob Soward has put the motion forward asking the general manager to engage with stakeholders, including Cityprom, to review the body and assess whether the needs of the Central Business District are being effectively addressed. ........................ The motion also asks the council to engage with a suitably qualified independent consultant to complete the review, and that it happens within the next six months. ........................ Cr Soward said he believes that it is the council's responsibility to ensure Cityprom is meeting the needs of the CBD. ........................ "According to Cityprom, its purpose is to ensure central Launceston is a vibrant hub for people to live, work, learn, invest, engage, enjoy and experience, through developing and implementing strategies that encourage creativity, entrepreneurship, innovation and sustainable economic growth, establishing Launceston as a great regional city," Cr Soward said. ........................ "Given the dramatic changes, which we have, and continue to experience throughout the Launceston CBD, it is difficult for any such organisations to stay contemporary and relevant." ........................ Cr Soward said it was vital that such organisations engage in periodic review to ensure the best interest for the CBD were being addressed, and said an independent review is what is needed. He said it is not best practise for any organisation to review themselves. ........................ Businesses in the CBD pay a levee, which is collected by the council, to be part of Cityprom. The levee is worth more than half a million dollars. ........................ General manager Michael Stretton said Cr Soward's motion is clear and the justifications all make sense. ........................ The proposed review would cost between $20,000 to $25,000 and budget amendments would have to be made if the council vote to approve the motion. ........................ The meeting will be held on Thursday at 1pm at the Town Hall.