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This is the engagement page for the development of our new Leasing and Licensing Policy.

A print version of the Managing new leases and licenses survey are available to download for screen reading purposes.

A text document of this page content is available upon request if your screen reader is not compatible with this webpage.

A hearing loop can be provided for engagement activities upon request.

If you have any specific accessibility needs, please contact us at haveyoursay@knox.vic.gov.au

How can we better manage new leases and licenses?

Council is developing a new Leasing and Licensing Policy for the next four years, and your feedback is invited on the draft policy to help us finalise it.

Managing leases and licenses for Council buildings and land are a way for us to support our community accessing important services that benefit Knox.

Lease and license agreements are a large and complex area for Council to manage. Council has around 100 buildings or land parcels that are occupied under a lease or license agreement.

Council is developing a new Leasing and Licensing Policy 2025-2029 to improve transparency, consistency and equitability for tenants.


About the Leasing and Licensing Policy

The policy outlines how we enter and manage lease agreements for Council land and buildings. It provides guidelines on managing this process according to legislative requirements, and helps ensure agreements maximises community benefit.

Proposed changes in the draft policy

Council undertook a comprehensive review of the existing policy and we are proposing changes to improve transparency, consistency and equitability for tenants. This is your opportunity to share your thoughts on the proposed changes.

Proposed changes include incorporating more accessible language, simplifying processes and adding new guidelines to meet community needs.

Revised tenant categories

New tenant categories are being proposed to group organisations based on their structure instead of the services they deliver to improve equity and consistency for tenants.

A new tenant category is being proposed for telecommunication and utility service providers to ensure pricing for these agreements reflects modern valuation approaches. Upcoming leases in this category will still involve community engagement to meet requirements outlined in the Local Government Act and Council’s Engagement Policy.

Changes to fee increases

The draft policy is proposing a fixed increase in the annual fee, instead of applying CPI which requires complex calculations. This proposed change will provide certainty to tenants of rental fees for the life of their agreements. Charges and fees are not listed or determined by this draft policy, as this occurs in the Annual Council budget.


Information for existing tenants

Existing lease and license agreements will not be changed as a result of the development of this new policy.


Community Engagement summary

To develop the new Leasing and Licensing Policy for the next 4 years.

The policy outlines how we enter and manage lease agreements for Council land and buildings. It provides guidelines on managing this process according to legislative requirements, and maximising community benefit.

By considering feedback received during community consultation on the draft policy and the Council officer's recommendations.

  • Existing tenants
  • Potential tenants
  • Residents
  • The use of principles to inform the policy
  • The use of categories to define how the policy is applied to different groups to achieve equity
  • Requirements under the Local Government Act 2020
  • Application of the policy in future lease and license agreements
  • Current and future leasing and licensing fees, as this is set by Council's annual budgeting process
  • Timeframes and length of leases and licences
  • Existing lease arrangements
  • Items covered in another policy, e.g. Casual Hire
  • Requirements for existing tenants to cover outgoing costs (e.g. utilities) as outlined in their agreement.
  • The language used to describe the principles underpinning the policy
  • The definition and description of each tenant category
  • Other elements not captured and considered in the policy
  • The language used in the policy to explain the regulations and non-negotiables

Have your say by 21 May 2025

How to have your say:

Online

  • complete the survey below

In writing

  • post your submission to:
    Leasing and Licensing Policy consultation
    Property Management
    Knox City Council
    Reply Paid 70243, Wantirna South 3152
  • Email propertymanagement@knox.vic.gov.au

Timeline

  • Timeline item 1 - active

    Community engagement period

    Wednesday 22 April - Wednesday 21 May

  • Timeline item 2 - incomplete

    Report going to Council meeting for consideration

    Second half of 2025

Engagement Level

For this project we will be engaging our community at the level of Consult on the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2) Spectrum.
This means we will listen to what you say and consider it when we make a decision.

Contact us

Find out more about this engagement.

Contact Information
Name Property Management Team
Phone 03 9298 8000
Email propertymanagement@knox.vic.gov.au