ORC unable to alter rates rise plan before lockdown began

WHILE some councils were able to convene emergency meetings to avoid proposals for rates rises, the Otago Regional Council was unable to in the two weeks between formalising its plans and heading into lockdown, its chairwoman says.

Public consultation on the council’s annual plan — including a 9.1% rates rise — is under way under a Covid19 Alert Level 4 lockdown, while nonessential workers in the region sit at home, a major recession has been predicted, and the Government has spent billions of dollars propping up the economy.

Council chairwoman Marian Hobbs pledged council responsiveness in a statement this week.

‘‘In finalising our work programme and how it is funded, we will take onboard the feedback of the community,’’ she said.

‘‘For us as councillors, the challenge will be finding a way forward that does the right thing by our community and the environment, and to guide us as we navigate this challenge, we need to know your thoughts on what we should do, what we shouldn’t do, and how we should fund our work.’’

The Dunedin City Council began seeking feedback on its annual plan — an overall rates increase of 6.5% — on March 12.

It closes April 15.

Recently two city councillors have spoken out against pushing through a prepandemic spending plan.

Crs Lee Vandervis and Jules Radich have spoken out in favour of deferring planned ‘‘nonessential’’ work including the $60 million George St upgrade, $20 million spending at the university, and $20 million at the waterfront.