Rotorua Lakes Council has provisionally approved its annual plan for the coming financial year, but some councillors are still not happy public consultation and hearings were not held.
Councillors voted 8-5 during yesterday's meeting of the council's Strategy, Policy and Finance Committee to take the plan to the next council meeting, on June 23, for formal approval.
The plan will come into effect on July 1 and will see an average rates increase across the district of 1.9 per cent.
Under new rules set out by the Government, councils are not required to consult the public on annual plans, unless significant changes were being made to long-term plans.
Traditionally, the council has produced a draft annual plan and undertaken a formal submission and hearings process before adopting its annual plans.