Charter Local Governments WESTERN AUSTRALIAN SMALL BUSINESS FRIENDLY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS Charter
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
DV18.86 - Att 1 of 3 - Small Business Friendly Charter Local Governments WESTERN AUSTRALIAN SMALL BUSINESS FRIENDLY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS Charter Commitment to this Charter is a requirement for participation in the Small Business Friendly Local Governments (SBFLG) initiative and outlines what the local government agrees to do to support small business in their area. 1. Commitment to small business The local government agrees to: a) recognise that the small business community is an important stakeholder; b) undertake regular and targeted consultation with this group; b) work towards understanding how its local small business community operates, its needs and goals, and the key challenges; c) provide networking and other development opportunities for its local small business community; and d) actively engage, where appropriate, with the Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) on matters affecting small business. 2. Commitment to customer service The local government agrees to: a) maintain open lines of communication with small businesses through both formal and informal approaches; b) provide clear advice and guidance to small businesses with a focus on assisting them to understand and meet their regulatory obligations, and to work with them to achieve compliance; c) publish a set of clear service standards setting out what small businesses can expect from them; d) consider the needs of local small business owners for whom English is not a first language; and e) publish a link on its website to take small business owners to resources available on the SBDC website, including the Business Licence Finder. 3. Administration and regulation The local government agrees to: a) take reasonable action to limit unnecessary administrative burdens on small business such as: i. only asking for information that is absolutely necessary; ii. not asking for the same information twice; iii. working collaboratively with other local governments; b) undertake regular policy reviews to limit their impact on small businesses, and to test new policies and procedures for ‘small business friendliness’; and c) ensure that its officers have the necessary knowledge and skills to apply plans and regulations in a consistent manner. 4. On-time payment policy The local government agrees to work towards ensuring all invoices from small business suppliers are paid within 30 days. 5. Small business engagement The local government agrees to regularly meet and consult with the small business community, including small business operators and members of representative bodies, to assist their understanding of small business needs in their local area. Small Business Development Corporation 6. Dispute resolution The local government agrees to implement a timely, cost-effective and non-judicial process to manage any disputes it may have with small businesses and to publish details of this on its website. The process could include referring the dispute to an independent dispute resolution service (such as that offered by the SBDC). 7. Additional activities to support small business In addition to items 4, 5, and 6 above, the local government agrees to implement at least three other activities to improve the operating environment for small businesses within its authority. Details of the initiatives are to be included in the local government’s bi-annual reports to the SBDC. 8. Progress reports The local government agrees to: a) provide the SBDC with a biannual progress report that outlines the results achieved in relation to its small business friendly initiatives, including its policy relating to small business being paid on-time, business advisory group, and dispute resolution process; and b) forward success stories and case studies to the SBDC in relation to the SBFLG initiative when requested. 9. Promotion and marketing of the program The local government: a) agrees that the Mayor and Chief Executive Officer will make a public statement in relation to its commitment to the SBFLG initiative, and to post this statement on its website; b) will be provided with a logo which it agrees to use in accordance with the SBFLG style guide supplied by the SBDC; and c) is encouraged to promote the SBFLG initiative by displaying the approved logo on its online and printed marketing and communication materials. 10. Contact details The local government agrees: a) that the primary contact for the SBFLG initiative will be the Chief Executive Officer and that a secondary contact will also be nominated, as a delegate of the Chief Executive Officer; and b) to provide the SBDC with direct contact details for the nominated contacts. Name Position Phone number Email address Primary contact Chief Executive Officer Secondary contact 11. Acceptance On behalf of [insert local government name], we agree to the terms outlined in this Charter and agree to implement the SBFLG initiative. Mayor Chief Executive Officer Print name: Print name: Signature: Signature: Date: Date: MAR17/006 DV18.86 - Att 2 of 3 - Town of Cambridge Draft Economic Development Strategy ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY - DRAFT 2018 - 2022 Photo by Jon Davison - eyeinthesky.com.au 2 Town of Cambridge – Economic Development Strategy 2018 - 2022 Contents 1.0 Overview 4 1.1 Context 4 1.2 Development Process 5 1.3 Our Goals 6 2.0 Economic Development 8 2.1 What is Economic Development 8 2.2 Role of the Town of Cambridge 9 2.3 A Framework for Decision Making 9 3.0 Our Town 10 3.1 Where are we now 10 3.2 Employment Quality 12 3.3 Consultation Outcomes 15 4.0 Where We Want To Be 16 4.1 Goals 17 5.0 Next Steps 20 6.0 Appendix 1 - Centre Growth 22 6.1 Town of Cambridge – Employment Floorspace 22 6.2 Centre Break Down 23 6.3 Consumer Centres 24 6.4 Knowledge Centres 26 6.5 Strategic Centres 28 Cover Photo by Jon Davison - eyeinthesky.com.au Town of Cambridge – Economic Development Strategy 2018 - 2022 3 1.0 Overview The Town of Cambridge Economic Development Strategy (the Strategy) recognises the needs of local businesses and that the benefits of local economic growth should be communicated to all. It is the first step in an ongoing program of economic development activities that seek to create a business-friendly environment that will assist in maintaining our high level of employment quality and attract further investment in our Town. By supporting economic growth, the Town of Cambridge aims to ensure that our current levels of amenity, prosperity and quality of life are maintained as Perth continues to grow, and that the Town of Cambridge builds on the sense of community that make our Town a great place to live, work and enjoy. 1.1 Context This Strategy will guide future development activities to be carried out by the Town of Cambridge and relevant partners over the short to medium term. It aligns with the State and Local planning framework and builds on the Town’s previous efforts in developing the Strategic Community Plan 2017 | 2027, Corporate Business Plan 2014-2018 and Local Planning Strategy by providing strategic direction and goals for future economic development efforts, that will in turn strengthen the Town’s position as one of Perth’s most livable areas. Figure 1 illustrates the relationship between the Town of Cambridge’s Planning framework and those of the State and adjacent Local Governments. FIGURE 1. PLANNING FRAMEWORK OVERVIEW 4 Town of Cambridge – Economic Development Strategy 2018 - 2022 1.2 Development Process The Strategy has been developed through a process of desktop review and direct consultation. Consultation consisted of a series of five business workshops held from November to December 2017, which were supported by an industry survey distributed to all registered businesses within the Town. This review and consultation process has guided the development of the Strategy’s goals and actions. The Draft Strategy is subject to a process of public comment that will remain open to <date>, after which, appropriate amendments will be incorporated prior to the adoption of the Strategy (subject to council vote). FIGURE 2. DEVELOPMENT PROCESS Town of Cambridge – Economic Development Strategy 2018 - 2022 5 OUR VISION We will understand the needs of our local businesses and work with industry to support economic activity that enhances the prosperity, safety and quality of life within our local communities. 1.3 Our Goals The Town currently supports approximately 3,914 businesses, with a number of centres ideally situated within close proximity to the Perth CBD and other major commercial centres. Businesses include regionally significant medical and community facilities, a spectrum of specialised professional and technical services, and a large number of small businesses and sole operators. The objective of the Strategy is to meet the needs our business community and attract new businesses to service our increasing population. To ensure our high standard of living, our centres will need to develop in a manner that attracts high value activity while considering our broader community aspirations and environmental responsibilities. The goals outlined in this Strategy reflect these challenges and connect to the Town’s strategic focus areas laid out in the Strategic Community Plan 2017 | 2027. Looking forward, they establish a framework for ongoing consultation and the development of specific and measurable economic development actions to be undertaken by the Town of Cambridge. STRATEGIC GOALS ALIGNMENT TO SCP FOCUS AREAS 1. Provide a high standard of communication and business support 2. Develop our unique centres to support