Western Bay Council signs off draft annual plan

Council is also consulting on a proposal to introduce a user pays kerbside recycling and rubbish collection service. Photo / Western Bay of Plenty Council

Western Bay of Plenty District Council has adopted its draft 2019/2020 Annual Plan and will be holding events district-wide from 23 March to 13 April to gain people's views on the main issues.

The council is proposing an average district-wide general rate increase of 3.45 per cent for 2019/2020.

This is a reduction of 0.15 per cent from the average of 3.60 per cent forecast in the council's Long term Plan 2018-2028.

The 3.45 per cent increase was divided between increased costs of 1.25 per cent for maintaining Council's levels of service and inflation of 2.2 per cent, based on the Local Government Cost Index.

Uniform charges for water supply, wastewater and stormwater increased by 3 per cent.

Mayor Garry Webber said the council had a planned capital expenditure programme of $42m in the 2019/20 Annual Plan, up from $39m in 2018/19.

"Council continues to forecast strong growth in the 2019/20 year, particularly in Omokoroa with income projected to be $9.6m, up from $8.8m budgeted in 2018/19.

"Council's external borrowing is unchanged from 2018/19 at $120m," Webber said.

Alongside the Annual Plan, the council was consulting on a significant proposal to introduce a user pays council-contracted kerbside recycling and rubbish collection service, intended to start in 2021.

Webber said the proposal would apply to approximately 80 per cent of the district and included a pay-per-pick-up scheme for rubbish.

The council's engagement would also include a proposed change to debt management and some minor changes to bylaws that were due for review.

These issues are:

Debt management

•The proposal is to contribute $1m of rates to interest/debt repayment rather than the $2.5m included in the LTP. This proposed reduction reflects the council's lower trending debt profile (due to increased growth income and the prudent management of the capital programme), while recognising that a certain level of debt is appropriate for 'intergenerational equity' in funding key assets.

Targeted rates

•Introduction of several new targeted rates around community halls, wastewater and water supply activities.

Policies and bylaws

•Early repayment of rates policy

•Traffic and Parking Bylaw

· Trading in Public Places Bylaw

· Freedom Camping Bylaw

· General Bylaw

· Gambling Policies.

Further information on the draft Annual Plan is available on Council's website.