No consultation needed to adopt annual plan

The Mackenzie District Council will vote on whether to adopt the draft annual plan at an extraordinary council meeting today.

The plan was tabled at a council meeting on June 23 where it was decided that it did not deviate significantly from year three of the Long Term Plan 2018-28 and therefore did not require public consultation.

According to a report to be tabled at the meeting, engagement will instead be carried out through ‘‘informing’’ the public of the plan

‘‘Following adoption, there will be information placed on the council’s website about the process and the adoption of the Annual Plan and its contents.

‘‘In addition, it is proposed to circulate the attached twopage summary of the Annual Plan 2020/21 for inclusion in the first quarter of rates,’’ the report says.

Videos covering the key points of the plan will also be promoted through the council’s Facebook page.

A number of amendments were made to the draft annual plan in response to the economic impact of Covid-19, including cutting the rates rise from a projected 8 per cent to 4.48 per cent and accelerating projects.

The LTP forecast external debt for next year would be $5.873 million but the proposed annual plan will see that jump to $10.5m.

‘‘This will be utilised for the funding of a number of capital works including planned water supply upgrades and local share of capital roading projects,’’ the report says.

‘‘The increase relates to council’s intention to progress shovel-ready projects as part of its Covid-19 Economic and Community Recovery Action Plan. The intended borrowing is in accordance with the Liability Management and Investment Policies.’’

Voting to adopt the annual plan today will mean the council meets its legal responsibility to adopt the Annual Plan 2020/21 prior to July 1, and subsequently be able to strike rates for the first quarter; allows commencement of key programmes of work/ projects, especially those contributing to the social and economic recovery of the district.

The report also notes that staff time and expense which would be used in public consultation can be used elsewhere, and that because there was no consultation on last year’s annual plan the public would not expect there to be this year. shovel-ready