Draft Annual Plan opens for consultation

The financial and planning highway for Nelson city over the next 12 months has been mapped out and will be up for discussion from tomorrow with the release of the draft 2010 Annual Plan.

Nelson Mayor Kerry Marshall says while the draft plan is a continuation of the vision of last year’s Ten year Plan, it is still a balancing act. “We have many challenges ahead but retain absolute clarity on our priorities: delivering great value-for-money services. We know that progress is vital to our future.”

The draft Annual Plan also contains an amendment to the ten year plan with an update to the Development Contributions Policy.

The projected rates increase for 2010/2011 is an average of 6.3%, substantially lower than the 8.0% forecast in the ten year plan.

Kerry Marshall says ratepayers should remember it is a valuation year, which impacts on the land value of properties. The ‘average’ rate contains many variables, including land value, water use, and whether or not the property has Solar Saver or Pay as You Heat schemes attached to it.

Ratepayers can see what difference the new rate will make by going to the Council website, accessing their information through the rating data base and selecting the 2010/2011 rating year.

As part of the consultation process, Council will hold informal café drop ins at the Customer Service Centre in the ground floor of Civic House for people to discuss the Annual Plan with both Councillors and staff over a cup of coffee.

These will be held between 11.30-1.30pm on:

• Friday 26 March
• Friday 9 April
• Friday 16 April
• Friday 23 April

There will also be an information stall at the Nelson Market on Saturday 10 April and visits to Nelson College, Nelson College for Girls and Nayland College.

Timeline:

• Wednesday 24 March 2010 Consultation opens
• Wednesday 28 April 2010 Consultation closes
• May 19, 21, 24 Hearings for those submitters wishing to be heard
• Late June Council adopts Annual Plan
• July 1 2010 Annual Plan comes into effect

Submissions can be made on line at www.nelsoncitycouncil.co.nz or submission forms downloaded and sent free post to Nelson City Council Att: Draft Annual Plan, Freepost 76919, P O Box 645, Nelson 7040.

A summary of the draft Annual Plan is printed in Live Nelson this week and full copies of the Plan are available from the Council at Civic House, Trafalgar Street, Nelson, or from all three Nelson Public Libraries.