Have your say on Community Leasing and Licensing Policy review

A number of Council-owned facilities are provided at below market rent to organisations that deliver community and recreation services across the municipality.

Every four years, Council reviews the policy framework that guides these tenancy agreements to ensure the arrangements are responsible, equitable and a sustainable management of Council facilities.

We invite your feedback on the changes proposed to the City of Stonnington Community Leasing and Licensing Policy, which include:

  • Update to rental assessment/eligibility criteria and fee categories
  • New rental subsidy guidelines
  • Legislative updates
  • New property site assessments

The main focus of the Policy update in 2025 is to improve the alignment between the level of discount provided to community organisations and these groups' ability to generate revenues (lower discount) and/or assist in facilities maintenance (higher discount).

The update also introduces a new category (A1 – Annual Administrative Fee) which seeks a fixed level of contribution each year to support Council’s essential building compliance cost obligations.

We encourage you to view the draft Policy and Schedules 2 and 3 in the Document Library and provide your feedback by Monday 14 July 2025.

Existing users of Council facilities have received an invitation to participate.

What you have to say is important to us and any feedback provided will be considered by Council prior to the Policy’s final adoption later in 2025.

About the draft Community Leasing and Licensing Policy

The revised Policy:

  • Gives greater clarity to Rental Subsidy and Categories, and eligibility for a community lease. (See Schedule 1 and 2 of Policy)
  • Criteria reviewed to improve the assessment of community benefit and services provided by occupants.
  • Introduces new guidelines for determining rental subsidy (See Schedule 3 of Policy), which now includes:

Category A1 - Annual administration fee (proposed $1000 +GST for 2026/27 and updated annually in Council's fees and charges in the budget)
Category A2 - Peppercorn rent ($1 if approved by Council)
Category B - Discounted market rent (discounted by 20 to 80 per cent)

  • Updates Local Government Act 1989 legislative requirements to Local Government Act 2020 legislative requirements.
  • Introduces community benefit in the eligibility criteria for a community use occupancy.
  • Clarifies when a lease or licence is appropriate.
  • Introduces a new Property Site Assessment.

For occupants within Category B (subsidised Rent) that require a transition period to budget for the increase in rent, Council may offer the following lease or licence incentive:

Rent Year 1: up to 50% discount off rental payment.
Rent Year 2: 100% full rental payment

  • The New Policy has now included a number of the legislative changes after the new Local Government Act 2020 was introduced.
  • The Leasing and Licensing Policy 2019 is due for a review every 4 years, in order to improve and provide further clarity on rental subsidies and the eligibility criteria for a Community Lease or licence.
  • The introduction of the Annual Administration Fee aims to cover a number of the ongoing administration, building insurance and planned and reactive building maintenance costs to Council to assist with financial sustainability.
  • As the community and recreational services that Council aims to provide as per the Council Plan, Strategies and other Policies changes over time, the New Policy aims to capture these ongoing changes to ensure our services plans and objectives are met to provide high quality community services to the municipality.

The Policy relates to all Council-owned building and facilities that are leased or licensed to a community services provider.

Examples of current tenants and licensees may include the following:

  • Sport and recreation clubs
  • Kindergartens and Early Years Services
  • Scouts
  • Aged and Disability Services
  • Other Community Services

Your feedback will be considered by the relevant service managers and the Property team and will be considered in a report to Council following the close of Community Engagement. Council will review the Community Engagement feedback and consider prior to considering the adoption of the New Policy.

Privacy Statement

The personal information requested on this form is being collected by Council for the purpose of facilitating the community engagement process for this project. The personal information will be used by Council for that primary purpose or directly related purposes.

The demographic information collected will only be reported at the aggregate level. Personal information (if collected) will not otherwise be disclosed unless required by law. Requests for access to and/or amendment of personal information should be made to Council's Privacy Officer by telephoning 03 8290 1333 or emailing council@stonnington.vic.gov.au.

For more information about how Council handles personal information, please refer to our Privacy Policy.

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