COUNCIL ANNOUNCES FORUM 6 JUNE

After the recent overwhelming community Protest Vote against the SMBA’s special rate and the objections put to Council on 24/4/12, the City of Port Phillip Council has
directed the SMBA to ‘pause’ the process and hold a community ‘Forum’.

Council has advised the FORUM will be held by the SMBA
 on Wed June 6, (time yet to be announced).

At this Forum, the SMBA will be required to explain why they want your $1.8 million
for the Advertising Levy Special Rate, and exactly what they will do with it.
This will be YOUR chance to ask questions directly of the SMBA
and ask how - if at all -  this advertising levy will benefit YOU.

•The SMBA had NO Business Plan when they petitioned Council for this rate in November 2011. It STILL has NO business plan but is required to reveal its plan at this Forum.
• Why are some central South Melbourne addresses (e.g.some York Street) excluded from this rate? Is this incompetence? or favouritism?
•Why are businesses from the Market exempt from this rate?
• Why won’t the SMBA provide their past Financial statements to YOU the members?
(YOU are a member if you are paying this rate.)
• Where has the past rate money been spent, with what businesses, at whose choice and for how much?
• How much has been spent on The Block promotion? Did the SMBA commission a report that actually recommended AGAINST the Block promotion?
• What are the ructions in the committee – are committee members resigning? Is the President ‘retiring’? Why?
•Why have Council and the SMBA refused to provide answers to many questions like these from the community?


There are lots more questions the SMBA should be forced to answer.
Remember, it is the majority who do NOT agree with this rate.

Bring your questions and be ready to come along to the SMBA's Forum
WED JUNE 6th and put your own questions to them.
What do YOU get for your money, and WHO decides that?

Please ask your neighbours if they are plugged into this information loop, and if not, plug them in. They can send their email addresses to: http://www.concernedsthmelb.com/