​CODC to consider delivery options for Long-term Plan

The Central Otago District Council (CODC) will consider a recommendation to defer the 2024-34 Long-term Plan (LTP) by 12 months and prepare an Annual Plan for 2024-25.

At the meeting on Wednesday (28 February), the Council will consider options provided by the Government in the delivery of the LTP, the key planning tool for local government over a 10-year period.

At the end of last year, councils around New Zealand were advised by the Government that they could adopt their LTP as usual by 30 June or delay until 30 September.

However, in recent weeks, another option was proposed by the Government to defer the LTP by 12 months and in the interim, prepare an Annual Plan for 2024-25, to fulfil public consultation, budgetary and auditing requirements.

The Annual Plan process focuses on a year’s budgets. Councils prepare an annual plan in each of the two years between LTP reviews and set out what the council plans to do in the next 12 months to move towards achieving its goals. These plans are adopted before the start of the financial year in July, following a public consultation process.

The LTP delay option suggested follows the Government’s repeal of the Three Waters services legislation and is designed to give councils more time to incorporate Three Waters costs such as water supply, sewerage and stormwater into their long-term planning.

Council staff have recommended delaying the LTP and preparing an Annual Plan, which would better align with the timing of decisions regarding three waters compliances and costs, along with Waka Kotahi funding for roading projects, which are unknowns at this stage.

If the Council goes with the recommendation, consultation on the Annual Plan would begin at the end of April and run for one month. The Annual Plan would be adopted by the end of June.

To see the Council agenda for 28 February go to: Agendas and Minutes - Central Otago District Council (codc.govt.nz).

To tune in on the meeting live go to: Meetings - Central Otago District Council (codc.govt.nz).

A workshop on the LTP will be held following the confidential part of the meeting. This workshop section will be open to the public but not live-streamed or recorded.