Blenheim Residents and Ratepayers Association Submissions and Annual Plan Martin Fletcher 29 April 2013

Content How to make a submission Annual Plan – Key Elements Questions

How to Make a Submission Can be written or written + verbal Can be for or against a Council proposal Can be a new proposal Ultimate goal is to get Councillors to agree with what you’re proposing/submitting on Want to grab Councillors attention, read and understand your submission Want Councillors to see the logic in what you’re proposing Want Councillors to see that what you’re proposing will benefit the wider community

Written Submission - Structure Who? What? When? Where? Why? and How? What is/are the specific issue(s) you’re submitting on? Where is the problem – physical location and/or references to the Annual Plan/Summary and or other Council documents. Pictures/Diagrams are useful Why is this an issue? Who does it affect? How and When should Council address your issue? 2 possible Councillor Questions Can anyone else address your concerns? How should it be paid for and Who should pay?

Assistance Who can help you? Council Staff, Mayor and Councillors Also Council’s Website Publications/Plans Policies and Documents/ http:// Publications/Plans Policies and Documents/ Draft Annual Plan.aspx

Speaking to Your Submission Optional Outline the key points of your submission Keep to the time limit – Generally up to 10 minutes - Mayor and Councillors will often ask clarification questions Not a good idea to read your written submission If you’re wanting to hand out additional information, please either bring 20 Copies or provide to Council Staff early so it can be copied.

Timelines/Process Written Submissions close on Thursday 9 May 2013 at 5PM A summary of all submissions is prepared by staff for Councillors Staff may provide comment on submissions, this may include additional background, already planned actions, precedents, examples from other Councils and financial implications Council hears verbal submissions on 4-5 June and if needed 6 June. Council makes decisions on submissions on 10 June. Council adopts the Annual plan and sets the rates for the year on 27 June Write to all submitters advising them of Council’s decision

4 Ways to look at Council’s Annual Plan Revenue and Expenditure Level of Services Is Council proposing to undertake the right things at the right level? Is Council spending your money in the right places? Are the proposed Rates and Charges reasonable? Financial Position What are Council’s current assets and liabilities – especially debt? Resident Satisfaction?

Levels of Service Starting point was to maintain levels of service Also improved levels of service in: – Roading – intersection improvements at Bell’s/St Leonard’s Road, Batty’s/Murphy’s Road, Coleman’s Road and Boyce Street – Sewerage Treatment – Blenheim Sewerage Treatment Plant – Approximately 1/3 of the proposed capital budget is aimed at improving levels of service – Water Quality Monitoring – Coastal and urban waterways – Economic Development through the Smart and Connected initiative – Resource Management Planning

Operating Income and Expenditure Income: $93M ($90M) Overall increase in rates 2.19% Blenheim 2.88% to 3.27% LGCCI – 3.07% CPI, currently 0.9 forecast to rise to almost 2% by June 2014 Expenditure $88M+ ($87M) New Purpose Statement for Local Government – 5 December 2012 – OLD = “to promote the social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being of communities in the present and for the future.” – NEW = “To meet the current and future needs of communities for good quality local infrastructure, local public services, and performance of regulatory functions in a way that is most cost-effective for households and businesses”

Proposed Operating Expenditure

Year on Year Operating Expenditure

Proposed Capital Expenditure - $29.2M

Proposed Capital Expenditure

Assets and Liabilities Council as at 30 June 2012 Assets: $1.31B ($1.30B) (Primarily Infrastructure) Liabilities: $37.7M ($38.1M) Borrowings from external parties, net of investments: $7.9M ($3.9M) Forecast as at 30 June 2014 ( Annual Plan) Assets: $1.5B ($1.38B) Liabilities: $68M ($72M) Borrowings from external parties, net of investments and cash: $40M ($31M)

Resident Satisfaction The proverbial “$64,000 Question?” 23 Submissions, 7 want to speak to date Do measure satisfaction each year – June 2013 For Year ended 30 June 2012 – Overall Score 7.0 (6.9, 6.8) – 74% (71%) of respondents satisfied with Council’s performance – A marginal improvement over the 2011 scores for many Activities Also survey Activity Priority: - Water, Emergency Management, Sewerage, Community Safety, Stormwater, Waste Management

QUESTIONS?