The final curtain has been drawn on Gunnedah’s Shire Council’s Business Partner Program – the first of several cost-savings measures introduced in anticipation of a looming special rate variation approval.

The council grant program – which funded up to 75 per cent of project costs for new local business initiatives – was suspended last year pending a formal decision on its future.

During last week’s February meeting of council, elected representatives voted to officially discontinue the program and its associated advisory group.

Councillor Robert Hoddle said the council program was budgeted for more than $100,000 in funding and a top-up was expected soon.

“It is money saved,” he said.

The councillor highlighted the difficulty for those involved in the selection process about “being fair” to all grant applicants.

Cr Hoddle said the program consumed many hours in resources for council staff and failed to deliver quantifiable employment outcomes as the program intended, which irrespectively, were not applicable today given the high workforce demand.

“The economy is different,” he said.

The councillor pointed to other avenues available to businesses and organisations to seek funding from council – highlighting council’s $15,000, three-year pledge to support the Jack Newton Junior Golf tournament in Gunnedah.

Other councillors such as Cr Juliana McArthur were less eager to see the business program written off, drawing her colleagues’ attention to a similar program on the NSW south coast.

“We’re asking to throw out an established program that other councils are bringing in,” Cr McArthur said.

Cr Cameron Moore was also concerned about withdrawing from the grant program altogether.

He asked if council could bring back a report on other ways to provide business support “in a more accessible format”, telling colleagues “we want a way that’s functional”.

Cr Hoddle said the matter had been discussed for months already.

“We still want to help people but we need to do it in a more efficient way,” he said.

To order photos from this page click here