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1.1
The following Council Officers provided
information regarding the Council’s draft Long Term Plan (LTP) 2024-34:
· Peter Ryan, Head of Corporate Planning and Performance.
· Russell Holden, Acting GM Resources/CFO.
· Niel Koch, Acting Head of Finance.
· John Filsell, Head of Community Support and Partnership.
· Peter Langbein, Finance Business Partner.
· Katy McRae, Head of Communications and Engagement.
1.2
In support of the briefing Council Officers
provided and spoke to a PowerPoint presentation (Attachment A) which
included the following items:
· General update.
· Current rates position.
· Draft Financial Strategy.
· Capital Endowment Fund and Contestable Community Funds.
· Property disposal process.
· Consultation Document overview.
· LTP Councillor amendments process.
· Update on Councillor Q&A status.
· Next steps.
In support of the briefing on Contestable Funds, Officers provided
a handout with further detail (Attachment B).
Council requests
1.3
The following questions were raised by Councillors:
1.4
In relation to the rates positions (slides
6-8):
1.4.1
A request for further details regarding the
changes to the overall rates position since December 2023.
1.4.2
Confirmation of the Te Kaha operational rate
percentage, and for this to be included, as well as the capital rate percentage,
in future communications.
1.4.3
A request for the quantum/value of all
Councillors proposed amendments, including the quantum of any potential
savings and the potential rates increase percentage.
1.4.4
A request to review the Christchurch
Regeneration Acceleration Facility (CRAF) projects in the capital programme
prior to the adoption of the draft Long-Term Plan.
1.5
In relation to the Financial Strategy (slide
9-13):
1.5.1
A request to revisit the number of capital
projects in the later years of the draft Long-Term Plan (2028-2034), in
comparison with previous Long-Term Plans. It was noted that this would be discussed
as part of the Infrastructure Strategy.
1.5.2
A request for clarification on whether the
projected average rates increase in later years of the Long-Term Plan is
potentially below the rate of inflation.
1.5.3
A request for clarification regarding when the
projects for wards (such as the Riccarton Ward) will be shown as separate
line items, as these are currently listed under the metro budget. It was
noted that this would be discussed in advance of the draft Long Term Plan adoption
meeting.
Councillor Barber left the briefing at 10.24am and returned at
10.28am.
Councillor MacDonald left the briefing at 10.26am and returned at
10.31am.
1.6
In relation to the Capital Endowment Fund
(CEF) (slides 14-18):
1.6.1
A request for clarification on why the CEF
earns interest at below current market rates.
1.6.2
A request for further information regarding
the impact that interest rates have on viability of the CEF given the
internal borrowing that has occurred.
1.6.3
A request for further options to be
considered, such as prioritising debt repayment to the CEF in the short or
medium term.
1.6.4
A request for further details on all proposed
options, including:
·
Greater financial detail and associated rate impacts.
·
Whether changes would require the support of a
certain percentage of Councillors for them to be carried.
·
Any impact from the difference in the policies
governing the use of the Strengthening Communities fund and the CEF.
1.6.5
A request for further information regarding the
risks associated with winding up the CEF and grants being rated annually,
including the risk that future funding would not be guaranteed.
1.6.6
A request for an analysis of whether, to date,
the CEF has:
·
met the objectives set out in its policy,
including the percentage split of
40% to civic and community, and 60% to innovation, economic development and
environment.
·
been used to fund matters that were previously
funded by Central Government, including discontinued COVID related funding.
1.6.7
A request for further information on heritage
building work requirements and restrictions.
1.6.8
A request for further information from the
Council/CCHL as to options for maximising tax incentives for charities/charitable
donations.
1.7
In relation to the Contestable Community Funds
(slides 19-23):
1.7.1
Further information on the Placemaking Fund,
including a breakdown of grants scope of projects and decision-making bodies.
1.7.2
Further information on the Biodiversity Fund,
including information on how the fund is fit-for-purpose for future needs.
1.7.3
Clarification on the relationship between the
cuts proposed to these contestable funds and the inflation adjustment
increase to the Strengthening Communities fund.
The briefing adjourned at 10.57am and reconvened at 11.18am.
Councillors Henstock, Barber, Keown and Harrison-Hunt were not present at
this time.
Councillors Henstock, Barber, Keown and Harrison-Hunt returned to
the meeting at 11.19am.
1.8
In relation to the Property Disposal Process
Overview (slides 24-28):
1.8.1
A request for an option of prioritising offers
from previous landowners, depending on the value of the offers received,
including on whether this would need to be consulted on.
1.9
In relation to the Consultation Document
overview (slides 30-31):
1.9.1
A request for further information on options
for future consultation and engagement strategies, such as citizen
assemblies.
1.9.2
A request for an update on the eastern
improvement plan to inform the draft Long-Term Plan.
1.9.3
A request for clarification on how the
Consultation Document will adequately alert potential submitters to possible changes
to transport projects.
1.9.4
A request for the following:
·
Large prints to available.
·
Letterbox and event-friendly formats to be
available.
·
Ward based information, both online and
hardcopy.
·
Changes to terminologies and wording used such
as “every year we make changes as a result of submissions”
and referring to the “ten-year budget”.
·
Consultation questions to be in plain
language.
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