Campbelltown Council has jumped aboard the Small Business Friendly Council Program.
The objective of the program is to encourage local councils to proactively work with and support small business together with enhancing the business relationship with council.
The 12 month long program is an initiative of the Office of the NSW Small Business Commissioner (OSBC) in partnership with the NSW Business Chamber.
Campbelltown Council voted to support the program last week.
In addition to reviewing procedures and practices in dealing with small businesses, identifying areas for improvement and exploring new initiatives, participating councils also benefit through sharing of business improvement ideas and strategies with each other.
There is no cost to the council for taking part.
More than 40 councils are currently participating in the program, ranging from large metropolitan councils to small regional councils.
A report to Campbelltown Council last week said the program requires five key commitments from a participating council:
1. On-time payment policy detailing council’s payment cycle and reporting proportion of businesses paid on-time each quarter
2. Business Improvement Processes – identifying and implementing two strategies to improve business processes. Council also needs to identify one new initiative such as promoting pre-lodgement DA meetings
3. Make a public commitment from the Mayor and General Manager supporting the program
4. Dispute resolution – agree to refer any business disputes to the OSBC Mediation and Dispute Resolution Unit.
5. Business Advisory Board – in conjunction with local business chamber establish a board, to work with Council.
“As council’s senior management team already meets regularly with the representatives of both the Campbelltown and Ingleburn Chambers of Commerce, there may be merit in forming a Business Advisory Board in Campbelltown,’’ a report to council said
The report recommended that council “embrace the opportunity to become involved’’.
Council will now inform the local chambers of commerce of its decision and will also look into the feasibility of establishing an advisory board with them.
