A working group comprised of Cityprom, the council and the Launceston Chamber of Commerce will begin to work on how to implement changes ahead of next year.

The recommendations will broaden the boundaries of Cityprom's activities, clarify Cityprom's role and relationship to the council.

Councillor Hugh McKenzie moved an amended motion which will see the findings of the working group reported back to the council next year ahead of the changes coming into force in July 2022.

The working group will be tasked with investigating the name and structure of Cityprom, its operational boundaries, its roles and responsibilities, its performance accountability framework and the makeup of its board.

RELATED: Retailers weigh in on proposed Cityprom changes

There was strong discussion with a few councillors revealing they had mixed feelings on Cityprom before the release of NOA Group's report.

Cr Rob Soward, who initially asked for the report back in 2019, said that review offered a way forward for the organisation.

"[This review] provides a sensible way forward that will bring some positive change to the way CBD operates," he said.

This sentiment was supported by deputy mayor Danny Gibson and mayor Albert van Zetten, who indicated they believe Cityprom has a role in creating a vibrant Launceston CBD.

"[The proposal] will say us invest in a model that increases the rigour, increases our control, increases our strategic alignment," Cr Gibson said.

"Sometimes we need to be not just looking at individuals but looking at overall, what do we want the city to be, and how we're going to be a great regional city," Cr Albert van Zetten said.

"I believe we do need to see a good framework than when it comes back to council we can have further discussion."

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Cr Andrea Dawkins was strong in her thoughts about the organisation's usefulness and stressed the need for key performance indicators, which are recommended as part of the report.

"I just think as I said before this organization has really outlived its usefulness, I suspect that it had that usefulness in the [1980s] but I don't believe that anymore," she said.

"I think it is imperative we get the report back in a year's time so those accountability measures can be viewed by us and by the entire community.

"From my perspective, I want to see significant change and I want to see deliverables."

One of the major talking points during discussion was the change in funding, which will see funding for Cityprom move away from a business levy and absorbed as part of the general rate base.

That transition will take place over four financial years to broaden the funding of Cityprom but will begin in the 2022-23 financial year.

In the report provided to council, the average payment from businesses as part of the business levy in 2019-20 over the 458 properties was $1160 per annum.

Modelling provided during the discussion, based on the 2021-22 financial year, would see a rate increase of $4.39 per year to the residential rate.

All councillors present except Cr Tim Walker and Paul Spencer voted in favour of the motion to see it carried.

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