Meeting Date:
25 September 2008
REPORT TO: Council
Subject:
Kaikoura Abolition Proposal
Report by:
Manager Community and Corporate Policy
Signature:
Author
Manager
Summary Report
At the Council meeting held on 28 August 2008, a report was tabled by the
Chief Executive Officer outlining the proposal for the Kaikoura District Council
to be abolished and included into the Hurunui District. This report has been
prepared to provide the Council with information to assist the Mayor and
Councillors to form a position on the proposal. The Local Government
Commission has called for submissions up until 13 October 2008. Once
Council has determined its position, a submission will be prepared and sent to
the Local Government Commission on the matter.
Recommendation
1. THAT THE COUNCIL FORMS A VIEW ON THE PROPOSAL FOR THE
KAIKOURA DISTRICT COUNCIL TO BE ABOLISHED AND INCLUDED
INTO THE HURUNUI DISTRICT.
2. THAT COUNCIL OFFICERS PREPARE A SUBMISSION TO THE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT COMMISSION ON THE KAIKOURA ABOLITION
PROPOSAL, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COUNCIL’S POSITION ON
THE MATTER.
3. THAT THE MAYOR BE DELEGATED AUTHORITY TO APPROVE THE
SUBMISSION.
BACKGROUND
The Local Government Commission has accepted a petition of Kaikoura
District electors proposing the abolition of the Kaikoura District and its
inclusion in the Hurunui District. The Commission is now calling for
submissions on the proposal. A report from Andrew Dalziel, Chief Executive
Officer, was presented to the Council meeting held on 28 August 2008 on this
matter. In addition, Donald Riezebos, Chief Executive Officer of the Local
Government Commission attended the Council meeting to explain the legal
process and procedures that are involved.
Apart from wanting to consult with this Council, the Commission is also
consulting with other affected or adjoining local authorities, the proposer,
relevant government agencies, and iwi.
The closing date for submissions is 13 October 2008. It is the Commission's
general policy to make submissions publicly available on request. The
Council can request to appear before the Commission. No hearings dates
have been set yet.
This Council now needs to form a view about the abolition proposal. This
report has been prepared to assist Council in its decision. The Kaikoura
District Council are opposed to the abolition proposal, and to respect their
position at this time, staff have not directly approached Kaikoura staff or
elected members for any information in relation to the proposal. The
information presented in this report, has been derived from publicly available
information such as their Long Term Council Community Plan and Annual
Plan.
The table set out below demonstrates differences, comparisons or similarities
between the Kaikoura and Hurunui District Councils.
Council Activity
Kaikoura District Council
Hurunui District Council
Annual Report
As at 30 June 2007
As at 30 June 2007
2006/07
Revenue:
Surplus
$10.2 m
$2.7 m
Vested Assets
$6.8 m
$0.98 m
Development
$2.8 m
$0.99 m
Levies
General Rates
$2.4 m (incl UAGC)
$4.64 m
Targeted Rates
$1.09 m
$5.05 m
Operating
$4.3
$16.14 m
Expenditure
Depreciation
$1.13 m
$5.3 m
External Interest
$306 k
$0
Annual Report
2006/07
Balance Sheet:
As at 30 June 2007
As at 30 June 2007
Cash
$2.06 m
$3.7 m
Term Deposits &
$1.5 m
$7.3 m
Sinking Funds
Forestry Value
$3.2 m
$1.5 m
Investment
$4.4 m
$0.18 m
Properties
Plant, Property &
$118.5 m
$251 m
Equipment
External Debt
$4.2 m ($1.5m to be paid
$0
within 12 months)
Annual Plan
2007/08
Revenue
Statement:
Surplus
$1.5 m
$1.9 m
Vested Assets
$0
$877 k
Development
$1.7 m
$635 k
Levies
General Rates
$2. 7 m (incl (UAGC)
$4.9 m
Targeted Rates
$1.35 m
$5.6 m
Operating
$4.65 m
$16.4 m
Expenditure
Depreciation
$1.5 m
$5.6 m
External Interest
$370 k
$807 k
Costs
Annual Plan
2007/08 Balance
Sheet:
Cash
$2.07 m
$7.5 m (inclusive with term
deposits)
Term Deposits &
$620 k
As above
Sinking Funds
Fixed Assets (incl $118.5 m
$280 m
forestry &
property)
External Debt
$4.6 m ($2m to be paid
$7.6 m
within 12 months)
Annual Plan
2008/09
Revenue
Statement:
Surplus
$1.8 m
$2 m
Vested Assets
$0
$764 k
Development
$872 m
$648 k
Levies
General Rates
$2. 8 m (incl (UAGC)
$5 m
Targeted Rates
$1.4 m
$6.2 m
Operating
$4.9 m
$17.8 m
Expenditure
Depreciation
$1.6 m
$5.4 m
External Interest
$503 k
$831 k
Costs
Annual Plan
2008/09 Balance
Sheet:
Cash
$1.4 m
$7.5 m (inclusive with term
deposits)
Term Deposits &
$713 k
As above
Sinking Funds
Fixed Assets (incl $123 m
$277 m
forestry &
property)
External Debt
$6.6 m ($1m to be paid
$6 m
within 12 months)
Capital
Programme for
2008/09:
Roading
$944 k
$3.5 m
Water
$472 k
$2.46 m
Sewerage
$1 m
$745 k
Town Centre
$200 k
$1.4 m (Hanmer Springs)
Upgrade
$250 k (Amberley)
Esplanade
$250 k
-
Beautification
Museum
$872 k
-
Council Offices
$3.2 m
-
Other
$147 k
-
Total
$7.1 m
$8.4 m
Rating System:
1
Combination of Capital
Value Charges & Uniform
Annual Charges.
2
Water & Sewer Rates are
charged as Fixed Charges
per property with an
additional pan charge for
sewer attached to
commercial or
accommodation properties.
3
For the 2008/09 year, a
Uniform Annual General
charge of $416.94 has
been charged to each
property.
4
The balance of the
General Rate is charged
by way of Capital Value
Rates with Special
Accommodation
Ratepayers paying 120%
of the residential General
Rate and Commercial
Ratepayers paying 300%
of the Residential General
Rate.
Rating for 08/09: KDC $250k Property:
HDC $250k Property:
General Rate
UAGC
Amberley - $1,150 to 1,290
Water
$290
Cheviot - $1,397
Sewer
$417
Hanmer - $1,272 to 1,293
(excl tourism tax)
Other
$285
(Above figures excl ECan
Total
$78
rates)
$1,340
Roading:
Roads
199.2 kms
1,400 kms
(50/50% sealed &
(32% sealed & 68%
unsealed)
unsealed)
Footpaths
21 kms
40 kms
Bridges
40 (12 uneconomic)
268
FAR
47%
50%
Streetlights
244
795
Water:
No. schemes
6
14
No. connections
1,386
5,536
Sewerage:
No. schemes
1
7
No. connections
1,396
2,470
Solid Waste:
Information to be
added.
Landfill:
1
1
Building
Consents:
No. consents pa
300
500
Bylaw Review:
Completing reviews by
Completing reviews by
1/7/08
1/7/08
District Plan:
Date operative
2008
2003
Review date
2018
2013
Animal Control:
Registered dogs
1,000
5,000
Complaints etc
Carried out under contract
Carried out under contract
Compliance:
Car parking
Pay parking policy
Free parking
Pensioner
Housing:
Information to be
added.
Library:
No. Branches
1
8 (5 staffed and 3 volunteer)
Staff FTE
3
6
Membership
61% of district
55% of district
Software
Liberty3
Liberty3
programme
Expenditure
$222 k
$571 k
Income
30 k
$42 k
Service Centres: 1
2 (plus 2 of the libraries
above)
Airport
1
0
Harbour
1
0
Tourism:
Brands
Alpine Pacific Triangle
Alpine Pacific Triangle
Kaikoura Development
Committee
‘Nature & Marine’ focus
New ‘Wellness’ focus
i-sites
1 managed through the
1 managed by the Thermal
Kaikoura Information Trust
Pools & Spa
Market
70 – 75% international
70 – 75% domestic visitors
visitors
Population:
3,600
10,600
Rateable
2,587
7,286
Properties:
Land Area:
2,048 sq km
8,648 sq km
Land Use:
Predominately rural
Predominately rural
Representation:
Mayor & 7 Councillors
Mayor & 9 Councillors
District at Large
5 Wards
Voter Turnout:
Information to be added.
Information to be added.
Eligible to vote
Voter turnout
2007
No. Staff
26 FTE
72 FTE Council
47 FTE Pools
Community
1. Sustainable Development 1. A desirable place to live,
Outcomes:
2. Quality Water and
work and play
Wastewater Services
2. A healthy, safe place to live
3. Safe, Efficient Transport
3. A thriving local economy
Network
4. Essential infrastructure
4. Opportunities for
5. Environmental
Education and
responsibility
Employment
6. Skills and education for
5. A Quality Standard of
work and life
Affordable Housing
6. Environmental Protection
and Enhancement
7. Affordable Access to
Quality Community
Facilities
8. Community Involvement
in Planning the Future
and Managing the
Present
Government and Both Canterbury and
NGO Services:
Marlborough. EG:
Canterbury: DHB, ECan
Marlborough: W&I, Police,
DoC, CYF
Communities of
Tourism – Kaikoura
Tourism – Hanmer Springs
Interest
Township
Township
Rural – remainder of District
Rural – remainder of District
Lower part of the District was
Cheviot has links with
part of the former Cheviot
Kaikoura. Many use
County Council
Kaikoura’s Heartland Services
and use other facilities
Governance:
Information to be added.
Information to be added.
Cost
Options Considered
Do Nothing
This is not an option. The Council needs to take a position on the matter as it
could have a significant effect on its constitution, responsibilities and duties.
1st Option
Council agrees with the proposal to abolish Kaikoura District Council and
incorporates all or part of that District into the Hurunui District Council.
Council’s submission would need to set out reasons for supporting the
proposal and outline how this would support better decision making and good
local government.
2nd Option
Council does not support the proposal to abolish the Kaikoura District Council
and opposes it. Council’s submission would need to set out reasons for not
supporting the proposal.
Policy and Plan Consideration
At this early stage there are no Policy or Plan Considerations identified.
Significance
At this early stage there are no significance considerations that need to be
identified.
Maori Implications
At this early stage there are no obvious Maori Implications to be identified.
CONCLUSION A proposal to abolish the Kaikoura District Council and have it join the Hurunui
District now requires this Council to form a view on the matter. It is
recommended that form a view on the matter and instructs staff to make a
submission to the Commission accordingly.
Appendices:
1. Map of Kaikoura District
2. KDC Growth Assumptions & Major Issues, and ‘Next 10 years –
Priorities & Issues (from 2006 LTCCP)
Document Outline
