LGOIMA Request Details: LG2474

Date received: 24/06/2026

Requested information: Questions about various aspects of the Annual Plan - Various questions regarding the annual plan and additionally, a request for a high-resolution image of the council or Feilding for use in a local newspaper.

Status: Complete

Date responded: 29/06/2026

Response:

1. Does the annual plan feature new or increased borrowing? If so, is this borrowing for operational expenses, capital expenses, or other?  The Annual Plan contains a net increase in debt of $13,830,000 to fund capital projects
2. Will a greater share of council internal staff and administrative costs be recovered through user-pays regulatory fees (such as building consents and licensing)?  There are no changes to how regulatory activities are funded in this Annual Plan
3. Does the annual plan include assumptions about future population growth in places such as Maewa in order to spread the district's debt and operating costs over a greater number of ratepayers? What is the council's plan should growth not meet these assumptions?  The Annual Plan contains growth assumptions as outlined in the 2024-34 Long Term Plan. These assumptions will be revisited in the 2027-37 Long Term Plan
4. Has any rate revenue or funding been allocated to Resilience and Insurance Reserves? If no additional revenue has been allocated, why is this? What would the course of action (liquidity plan) be if Resilience and Insurance Reserves were needed urgently?  The Annual Plan contains no rates funding for Resilience and Insurance reserves. Council can use existing reserves or borrowing facilities in the event of an emergency.
5. Does the updated Development and Financial Contributions Policy accurately reflect the actual cost of installing infrastructure at Maewa, or are existing ratepayers subsidizing the growth of new housing?  Development Contributions are used to recover the cost of all growth works.
6. How are increases in the cost of raw materials (e.g., bitumen for roads and plastics for pipes) managed within the current financial strategy, and where are service levels being adjusted to account for these hikes?  Council will manage cost fluctuations within existing budgets. Decisions on adjusting levels of service to remain within budget will be made as required.