Long Term Plan 2024-34
Kōrero mai! Speak up!
It's time to have your say on our draft Long Term Plan (LTP) 2024-34.
Check out the consultation document and supporting information below, before completing our online submission form or simply email us your thoughts at submissions@stratford.govt.nz
Submissions close 1 May 2024.
Supporting Information
- Accounting Policies (PDF, 690.7KB)
- Community Outcomes and Vision (PDF, 91KB)
- Development and Financial Contributions Policy (PDF, 492.6KB)
- Fees and Charges 2024/25 (PDF, 1.9MB)
- Financial Statements (PDF, 798.8KB)
- Financial Strategy (PDF, 1.3MB)
- Funding Impact Statement (PDF, 639.9KB)
- Infrastructure Strategy (PDF, 5.5MB)
- Non-Financial Performance Measures (PDF, 945.9KB)
- Parks Reserves and Cemeteries Asset Management Plan (PDF, 7.9MB)
- Property Asset Management Plan (PDF, 10.4MB)
- Revenue and Financing Policy (PDF, 1MB)
- Roading Activity Management Plan (PDF, 13.2MB)
- Significant Forecasting Assumptions (PDF, 1.1MB)
- Solid Waste Activity Management Plan (PDF, 5.5MB)
- Stormwater Activity Management Plan (PDF, 5.9MB)
- Wastewater Activity Management Plan (PDF, 4.9MB)
- Water Supply Asset and Activity Management Plan (PDF, 7.4MB)
Opportunities to talk progress
There's loads of opportunities to learn more and talk to key decision makers. Check out the below dates for public hui/meetings and casual conversation drop in sessions. You can also contact your local councillors direct to discuss.
Public Meetings
This will go for about an hour and a half. Council staff and councillors will be there to present on the draft plan, go onto detail about what's being proposed and be available for questions.
Bring your friends and whānau, and come talk progress with us!
Date | Time | Where |
---|---|---|
Tuesday 9 April | 3pm | Whangamomona Hall |
Tuesday 16 April | 5.30pm | War Memorial Centre, Function Facility |
Tuesday 23 April | 6pm | Whakaahurangi Marae |
Drop in sessions at the Library
Drop into the Library during the below times to kōrero with councillors on the draft Long Term Plan (LTP) 2024-34.
These sessions are an informal hour at the library where people can come and have a chat about the Long Term Plan. We'll put on the jug!
Date | Time | Who's listening? |
---|---|---|
Friday 12 April | 2.30pm - 3.30pm | Councillors Ellen Hall and Grant Boyde |
Friday 19 April | 10.30am - 11.30am | Deputy Mayor Min McKay and Councillor Amanda Harris |
Tuesday 23 April | 11.30am - 12.30pm | Councillors Grant Boyde and Amanda Harris |
Prospero Market
We'll also be at the Prospero Market on Saturday 27 April, 9am - 12noon.
Come along for a chinwag while shopping local!
What is a Long Term Plan?
Every three years we prepare a long term plan which sets out the outcomes we want to achieve for the Stratford district over the next 10 years, and the projects and activities that will help us get there. It also shows how these activities will be funded, and what this means for your rates.
A consultation document is a key part of developing the plan; helping us hear community views on priorities and directions for the decade ahead.
In the consultation document you’ll find information on the opportunities and challenges we’re facing, major projects proposed during the next 10 years, and their financial impact.
This is your opportunity to have your say and to share your views with us.
This could be regarding our planned direction overall, a specific project proposed within the consultation document, or something that you think is really important but you can’t see covered here or in the supporting documents.
The information contained in the Consultation Document comes from
a range of other detailed documents which are available under Supporting Information.
How do I have a say?
Making a submission is easy!
Online
The easiest way to let us know what you think is to complete our online submission form.
You can also provide comments by emailing us at submissions@ stratford.govt.nz
In writing
Fill in the submission form at the end of our consultation document. Post your completed submission form to Council, or drop it to one of our facilities. Additional forms are available from the Library and Visitor Information Centre, Wai o Rua - Stratford Aquatic Centre, Council offices and on our website.
In person
You can present your thoughts to Council by speaking to your submission in person. If you’d like to do this, put in a submission outlining the key points you’ll refer to. On your submission form, make sure you select the option to speak to your submission.
Come to one of our public meetings and talk to elected members and staff to help you make an informed submission.
How do I learn more/who can I talk to?
There's loads of opportunities to learn more and talk to key decision makers. Check out the below dates for public hui/meetings and casual conversation drop in sessions. You can also contact your local councillors direct to discuss.
Public Meetings
This will go for about an hour and a half. Council staff and councillors will be there to present on the draft plan, go onto detail about what's being proposed and available for questions.
Bring your friends and whānau, and come talk progress with us!
Tuesday 9 April | 3pm | Whangamomona Hall |
Tuesday 16 April | 5.30pm | War Memorial Centre, Function Facility |
Tuesday 23 April | 6pm | Whakaahurangi Marae |
Drop in sessions at the Library
Drop into the Library during the below times to kōrero with councillors on the draft Long Term Plan (LTP) 2024-34.
These sessions are an informal hour at the library where people can come and have a chat about the Long Term Plan.
Friday 12 April | 2.30pm - 3.30pm |
Friday 19 April | 10.30am - 11.30am |
Tuesday 23 April | 11.30am - 12.30pm |
Prospero Market
We'll also be at the Prospero Market on Saturday 27 April, 9am - 12noon.
Come along for a chinwag while shopping local!
What are the key dates?
Timeline:
- March 2024 - Adopt the draft LTP Consultation Document and Supporting Information
- 28 March 2024 - Submissions Open
- 1 May 2024 - Submissions Close
- 14 May 2024 - Hear and consider submissions received
- June/July 2024 - Adopt the final LTP
How did we get to this point?
After defining our Vision and the Community Outcomes we want for the economic, cultural, environmental and social wellbeing of our district, we looked at how we could get there.
This work included developing performance measures, targets, and levels of service. As part of this work we thought about how we’ll best prioritise our projects and services, be as efficient as we can be, and save money where we’re able to.
It’s been a big piece of work, and ends in the development of the Consultation Document and supporting information for you to have a say on.
You can see some of the key milestones of this journey outlined below.
Community Feedback
In June 2023 we did a survey that received 123 responses. The survey asked questions that would help Council understand your needs and wants for the district over the next 10 years.
- The full survey results can be viewed here.
- View a summary document showing key themes from the open ended responses here.
Survey results were provided to elected members at a workshop on 11 July 2023. Councillors discussed our existing vision and community outcomes and alongside staff, worked on making some updates to these for our next 10 years.
The draft vision and community outcomes were shared with local iwi organisations for input and then went to Council in a decision report on 22 August, where they had an opportunity to debate any changes prior to adopting them.
- You can read the decision report on page 110 of the agenda here.
- Minutes from this meeting will be available here.
These final Community Outcomes and the District Vision are outlined below and will be included in the full draft LTP which will be up for public consultation in April 2024.
Community Vision and Outcomes
At a council meeting on 22 August 2023, Councillors adopted our Vision and Community Outcomes. We developed these using community feedback, a workshop with Councillors, and input from some local iwi, and they’re what will guide the development of our LTP.
Vision:A Welcoming, Inclusive, Safe community – Te Pūmanawa o Taranaki.
Te Pūmanawa o Taranaki translates as ‘The Beating Heart of Taranaki.’
Community Outcomes:Welcoming
- We celebrate the unique stories of our district
- We are inclusive, and value our diversity
- Stratford is a friendly place where our visitors feel welcomed
- Our diverse community feels safe and supported
- We promote the district as the place to visit, live, play, learn and work
Resilient
- We consider our natural resources as taonga (treasures) and we will work with our treaty partners and the community to protect and look after them
- We support a low-emissions future for our community
- We enable our rangatahi (youth) to be sustainable leaders
- We Strive to have resilient infrastructure that meets the current and future needs of the district
- We respect and apply Te Ao Māori values and Matauranga Māori in our mahi (actions/work)
Connected
- We provide opportunities for families and people of all ages to connect with others in the community
- Our community is engaged and actively participates in democracy
- We value local knowledge when making decisions
- We advocate for the services that our community needs to live safe and healthy lives
- We welcome opportunities to work in partnership with others to help achieve our community outcomes
- We are committed to fostering meaningful and genuine partnerships with Mana Whenua
Enabling
- We are a business friendly district
- We encourage a diverse and sustainable business community
- We enable economic growth by supporting business investment and development in our district
- We support the growth of employment opportunities within our community; with a particular focus on our rangatahi (youth)
- We carefully balance the needs and wants of our district when funding services and infrastructure
- We encourage partnerships to collaborate with Mana Whenua for the benefits of the Stratford district.
Draft proposals for the LTP
Elected Members have been reviewing and debating a number of important matters to help inform the draft Long Term Plan which our community will have a say on in April.
A summary of what's been discussed and recommended to date is below.
December 2023
At the12 December full Council meeting, Elected Members made decisions on the following issues.
- TSB Pool Complex – the old pool facility has been empty since 2022 and was identified as earthquake prone earlier this year. Elected members discussed the varying options available for the site and voted in favour of demolishing the complex as part of the draft Long Term Plan budget.
- Future of Prospero Place – Council has budget committed in the current Long Term Plan to refresh and redevelop the town centre. Elected members discussed the next steps in this progress, and how this work will impact the next LTP. Draft concept plans have been drawn up and Council will now engage a designer to further develop plans for consultation with iwi and our community. Part of this work requires Council to own a section of privately owned land in Prospero Place. Council started negotiations in 2020 to purchase the land in Prospero Place and this work is continuing.
January 2024
On Tuesday 23 January 2024 elected members had a workshop to discuss Economic Development, Three Waters and Wai o Rua – Stratford Aquatic Centre fees and charges. All these topics will feed into the draft LTP.
Later on that day the Policy and Services Committee met to review and discuss recommendations that will be included in the draft LTP if approved at the full council in February.
The meeting was a mammoth one, with 25 reports! The Committee didn't get through everything on the day, so adjourned the meeting at 9.23pm and resolved to continue on Tuesday 30 January at 9am.
You can view the full agenda for this meeting here.
- Decisions made by the committee on these matters are recommendations which will go to full Council on 13 February 2024.
- If approved at the full council meeting, any proposals will be included in the draft Long Term Plan which will be released for public consultation in April 2024.
Items that were up for debate at the meeting included:
Significance and Engagement Policy | The Significance and Engagement Policy is an essential component to Council decision
making. This review of the Policy identified opportunities to provide clarity around the
process of determining significance, include new criteria, and other minor additions to the policy to improve people’s understanding of how the policy is used.
Elected Members made some minor changes to the draft policy which will be available for public consultation from mid-February. |
---|---|
Administration matters for the LTP | The Committee agreed to the following recommendations in the decision report: • That the draft Long Term Plan 2024-34 (LTP) should incorporate the three waters activities for the full ten years of the LTP, noting the government’s intention to repeal the Water Services Entity Act 2002. • That the LTP Consultation Document will not be required to be audited. • That 30 June 2024 is the preferred date for the adoption of the LTP, but to allow for some flexibility, the LTP should be adopted no later than 31 July 2024. |
Revenue and Financing Policy | The Revenue and Financing Policy provides a summary of Council’s funding policies
in respect of operating and capital expenditure for each Council Activity. The Policy is
reviewed at least every three years. The last review was carried out in 2022, after the
adoption of the Long Term Plan 2021-31.
Developments to the draft LTP 2024-34 have contributed to proposed amendments to this policy, although the policy format, structure and wording remain largely similar to the existing policy. Details of the main changes to the policy are provided in 7.2 of the Decision Report which is on page 110 of the Agenda. Consultation on the draft policy will occur during the LTP consultation phase in April 2024. Feedback will be considered at the LTP hearing and a final policy is expected to be adopted in June/July 2024. |
Housing for the Elderly Policy | The purpose of this policy is to facilitate the allocation of Council-owned housing
units, as they become available, to elderly persons in the district.
Council has reviewed the policy and is proposing the following changes: • Increasing rental charges • Changes to the eligibility criteria • Removal of the secondary waiting list • Addition of other conditions of rental Proposed changes to rental charges: In the draft Policy, Council is proposing a new rental charge based on 80% of the current market rate. In this scenario, rental charges would be increased by 10% of the market rate each year until 80% of the current market rate has been met in 2027. If approved at the full Council meeting in February, Council will consult with our tenants on the proposed changes, and their feedback will be taken into consideration before the decision is finalised as part of the adoption of the LTP later in the year. |
Council owned earthquake prone buildings | The purpose of this report was to provide cost information to Council for seismic
strengthening of key facilities identified as earthquake-prone.
The approved recommendations will guide the development of projects and budgets for the following earthquake-prone buildings, for inclusion in the draft LTP 2024-34: • War Memorial Centre (WMC); • TET Multi Sports Centre (TET); and • Clock Tower. The committee agreed on the below options as their preferred recommendation for inclusion in the draft LTP. War Memorial Centre – Option 3: Strengthen the building to 67% NBS IL3. This is estimated to cost $1.4M TET Multi Sports Centre – Option 4: Strengthen the majority of the building to 100% NBS IL3. Strengthen the Stadium component of the building to 100% NBS IL4. This is estimated to cost $1.2M. Clock Tower – Option 2: Strengthen the building to the minimum threshold for earthquake prone buildings being 34% NBS IL2. This is estimated to cost $1.2M, but Council staff are reviewing this estimate to see if it can be reduced. An updated estimate will be included in the draft LTP for feedback. All possible options will be made available to the community for feedback as part of the consultation process in April 2024. |
Forestry differential - Roading Targeted Rate | This report included the proposal to increase the amount of money collected under the Forestry Differential
on the Roading Targeted Rate to $350,000 (currently $250,000), taking into account the increased
costs of remediation works on council’s roading network as a result of forestry
operations.
It also proposed to expand the application of the differential to include properties that have a section of land no less than 10 hectares which is used for exotic forestry (excluding indigenous and protected forests). The individual rating unit would be apportioned into two or more rating units which would be valued and rated for specifically based on the property category. The committee agreed to this draft proposal. |
Draft Fees and Charges | Fees and Charges are set each year to allow Council to recover part or all of the costs
of delivering services to the community as per the Long Term Plan. Fees and charges
are usually only set for a service that a user has discretion to use or not, and where it
is efficient for the Council to collect the fee or charge.
The current Fees and Charges schedule can be viewed here. For this review of the Fees and Charges, the key changes proposed include the following: • Addition of strip hire fee for Aerodrome • Increase in Building Control inspection fees • Increase to burial and interment fees for Cemetery • Addition to Transfer Station fees and Bylaw compliance • Removal of Roading bonds for damage • Increase to Sportsground seasonal and casual use • Increase to Wastewater, Stormwater and Water Supply Connection charges • Increase to Dog Registration fees • Increase to Bylaw fees (impounding, licenses and permits) • Addition/increase to Food-Health and Safety registrations / renewals • Increase to Resource Consent application fees • Increase to Staff charge out rate – across all activities • Amendments to the aquatic centre charges, with new charges added for school specific activities • Amendments to the Venue Hire fees |
Proposed capital projects | Every LTP process includes a review of budget and potential projects for the management and maintenance of Council
activities.
A series of workshops were held in October 2023 with Elected Members and Council staff to discuss the proposed projects for inclusion in the 2024/34 LTP. From there Council staff developed a draft list of projects for Elected Members to consider. The Committee went through each project line by line at this meeting to determine whether something is kept in the draft, taken out, or amended slightly such as when the project would be delivered. Some changes were made to what you see in the list included in the meeting's Agenda. These final proposed projects will go to the full Council meeting in February before being included in the draft LTP for public feedback. Our Consultation Document will highlight the more significant projects being proposed, such as the earthquake prone buildings. |
Maintenance contracts for facilities and open spaces | Elected members were presented with options regarding the future delivery of maintenance services for Council owned facilities in the Stratford district. This includes the Stratford District Council Administration Building, Stratford District Library, War Memorial Centre, TET Multi-Sports Centre, Centennial Restrooms, Wai o Rua – Stratford Aquatic Centre, Clock Tower, Rental Investment Properties, and Public Toilets. The options were: • Status quo: Contract the service out • In-house service delivery • Combination of Contractor Panel and In-house service delivery (Cleaning only) • Combination of Contractor Panel and In-house service delivery (Cleaning and Caretaker) The last option, a combined approach with cleaning and caretaker services delivered in-house was approved for further investigation. The outcome of this review will form how these services are delivered in the future. Elected members were also presented with a high-level cost analysis of delivering maintenance services for community green spaces and facilities including parks, walkways, playgrounds, sports fields, street trees and reserves. The options included: • Status quo: Contract the service out • In-house service delivery • Combination of contractor and in-house service delivery (for cemeteries only) Status quo was recommended by Council. This means the existing service delivery will be budgeted for in the draft Long Term Plan. |
Disposal of surplus properties | Council has a list of properties it owns that are identified as surplus to requirements – meaning the properties are no longer considered useful for Council services and/or activities. Three properties were presented to Elected Members for disposal.These are: • 577 Beaconsfield Road and Stanley Road. This was originally set aside for future cemetery activity, but was later identified to be unsuitable for that purpose. The recommendation for this piece of land is to sell it at market price. • 31 State Highway 3 (SH3), Mountain Road. Historically, this small site formed part of Mountain Road before it was realigned. It is currently used for grazing by the neighbouring farm. The recommendation for this piece of land is to offer it to the neighbouring farm at a market price. If declines, this will be available on the open market for sale. • 85 Regan Street. This property is leased by Stratford on Stage. The recommendation for this property is to sell to Stratford on Stage at market price. The current lease with Stratford on Stage will continue until 31 May 2028 or until such time Stratford on Stage is able to purchase the property. |
Speed Management Plan | In 2023 Council presented a draft Speed Management Plan for community feedback. Since that feedback was received, the Government has removed the deadlines originally set for councils to complete a speed management plan for their districts. The original deadline for a speed management plan was 29 March 2024. In this meeting Council staff sought guidance from Elected Members on the next steps in this process, considering the requirement of a speed management plan currently does not exist. Elected Members were presented with 3 options: • Continue with the implementation of the draft Stratford Speed Management Plan as per the work completed in 2023. While not mandatory to continue, Council’s can decide to follow through with their original draft plans if they wish. • Wait for the Government to release their new Setting of Speed Limits Rule which determines the process to reduce speeds on local roads. This is what the Minister of Transport advised for councils to do. • Do not continue with the draft Stratford Speed Management Plan. Elected Members decided Option 2 was the best way forward, meaning all work on the draft Speed Management Plan is paused until the new Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits becomes law. All feedback received in the 2023 consultation process will be taken into consideration when Council makes any future decisions on speed limits in the Stratford district. With the Speed Limit Bylaw Council can address specific speed concerns across the district on a case by case basis. |
Draft financials for the LTP
Council met on Tuesday 13 February to approve recommendations made by the Policy & Services Committee meeting from January (see draft proposals section on this page).
At this meeting, elected members discussed cost saving options to inform our financial strategy and draft long term plan documents before this information gets finalised and goes out to the community for feedback.
Councils across New Zealand are having to deal with rising costs in maintaining essential services, such as roading, and our position here in Stratford is no different.
Both staff and elected members have spent a huge number of hours poring over budget lines to identify potential savings to reduce our rates increase. We have reviewed everything from print advertising costs to operating hours of the library and visitor information centre.
To see the full list of items considered take a look at the Agenda online here, page 132.
With the recommendations made to date, we’re currently working with a 15-16% rates increase for year 1 of the Long Term Plan. When we first started building our draft long term plan, this figure was sitting higher than 30%.
The next step is to complete our consultation document which will be shared with you in April.
The consultation document outlines the key highlights of our draft plan, it talks about the challenges and opportunities Council faces, and gives you the opportunity to share your views on our direction for the next 10 years. Stay tuned!
Draft Significance and Engagement Policy
At the 13 February Ordinary meeting, the Draft Significance and Engagement Policy was released for consultation.
This policy outlines the framework used to determine the level of significance attached to specific Council decisions, and whether the community should be directly engaged.
It covers:
- How Council will assess the significance of decisions.
- When and how Council will engage with the community.
- Council’s strategic assets and their relation to this policy
Submissions were open for a month and will be heard as part of the Long Term Plan hearing on 14 May.
Consultation Document and Supporting Information adopted
Council met on Tuesday 26 March to adopt the DRAFT Long Term Plan 2024-34 Consultation Document and Supporting Information outlined below:
- Vision and Community Outcomes
- Significant Forecast Assumptions
- Levels of Service and Non-Financial Performance Measures and Targets by Activity
- Financial Strategy
- Infrastructure Strategy
- Revenue and Financing Policy
- Fees and Charges 2024/25
- Development and Financial Contributions Policy
- Financial Statements
- Accounting Policies
- Funding Impact Statement
- Waste Water Asset Management Plan
- Stormwater Asset Management Plan
- Solid Waste Asset Management Plan
- Property Asset Management Plan
- Roading Asset Management Plan
- Water Supply Asset Management Plan
- Parks, Reserves & Cemeteries Asset Management Plan
These documents will be available to view online and at Council facilities from Thursday 28 March 2024.
Waiting for the rates increase announcement? In our last LTP we predicted an average rates increase of 4.96% for 2024/25. This draft plan up for consultation proposes an increase of 15.5% for the same year, with a rates limit of 7% for the other years of the plan.
In our Consultation Document we dig into what’s driving this increase for year 1, and we outline Council’s plan of action on a number of key priority areas.
It’s been a long road to get to this point, and we thank everyone who has followed along on the journey and provided input to help inform this draft plan.
We hope you all take the opportunity to make a submission and invite your friends and whānau to do the same.
Submissions open 28 March and close 1 May 2024.