PRESS RELEASE
Orewa, 26th February 2007
Available for Immediate Release

Council to Release Draft Annual Plan

The Rodney District Council’s draft Annual Plan for 2007/08 is to be released for public scrutiny and comment.

The Council decided at its February meeting last week to release the draft plan in full as well as a summary document.

The vote to release the plan was seven in favour, four opposed, with two councillors absent from the meeting.

Council’s finance and business director, Kevin Ramsay, said in his presentation to Council that it was a difficult balancing act meeting and funding the needs of a fast-growing community from a relatively small and mostly residential rating base.

He said the present draft plan took a fiscally conservative approach while the council “took stock” of the challenges before it, and the commitments made recently to the community with the adoption of Rodney’s Long Term Plan.

“Clearly there are ambitious opportunities ahead of us. There is also the prospect and the requirement to play our part in the regional growth strategies. Both our Capex (Capital Expenditure) and Opex (Operational Expenditure) budgets will have a lot to cope with in the years ahead.

“This is the year that we consolidate those budgets, ready for tomorrow. And in that regard I see this draft Annual Plan as extremely far-reaching, as well as fiscally prudent.”

Rodney mayor John Law, who chaired the meeting, said that maintenance of services within New Zealand’s second-fastest growing district was placing unprecedented demands on council and its funding resources.

“I am on record as saying I don’t think rates are either the only or even anywhere near the best method of funding infrastructure and services.š But that’s what we have to work with for the moment.

“Given that,” the mayor said, “it’s not realistic to accept that everything the community wants can be achieved or delivered. That’s why we produce a draft report. One we can then take it to the community and say, ‘well, this what we are thinking in terms of what we can and cannot deliver this year. Now what do you think?’

“For that reason, I welcome the draft report going to the public for their input.”

The council’s media manager Mike Isle said that the full report and copies of the summary documents should be in all council offices by mid March. The documents would also be uploaded and available on the council’s website www.rodney.govt.nz.

ENDS

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