Media release
23 January 2013

Have your say on council’s draft annual plan

How Auckland Council plans to continues to create the world’s most liveable city in an affordable way is outlined in its draft annual plan. Now the council wants to know what Aucklanders think.

Submissions open this week on the draft Annual Plan 2013/2014, the annual budget detailing on what the council plans to do over the next 12 months, as well as areas we are looking to make further efficiencies and savings.

Feedback is also sought on the local priorities and projects raised by the local boards.

For next year, the council is proposing average rates increase of 2.9 per cent, lower than the forecast 4.8 per cent in its Long-term Plan 2012-2022.

This has been achieved by proposing minor service reductions, increasing the proportion of costs recovered from service users for some fees and reducing corporate costs.

The draft annual plan aims to maintain the momentum established through the Auckland Plan and Long-term Plan.

Among the key proposals are:
• increasing the proportion of costs recovered from dog, food premise inspection fees, so as to reduce the amount of rates used to cover these
• standardising mooring and hairdressing fees
• introducing a first inspection fee for swimming pool fence inspections and reducing subsequent inspection fees
• increasing regional park bach and campground fees and
• no longer mowing berms in the former Auckland City Council area to bring it in line with all other parts of Auckland – saving ratepayers $3 million a year
• ending free digital music download services (Freegal) at libraries – saving of $200,000 a year
• contributing to the funding for stage two development of the TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre through the proceeds of the sale of adjacent land.
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Submissions on Auckland Council’s draft Annual Plan open 24 January and close Monday, 25 February 2013.

Local boards will also be holding community engagement meetings throughout the consultation period.

For more information, including documents, to make a submission or details on local board events go to www.aucklancouncil.govt.nz/annualplan

Ends

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Gordon Campbell: On Failures Of Care For Those With Mental Disabilities

Hard to imagine a more disturbing insight into the treatment of the vulnerable than the Health Ministry report on Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau. The Ministry has found that the country’s only kaupapa Maori intellectual disability residential care provider has been “seriously dysfunctional.”

The ministry says the business has failed to recruit and retain quality staff – and says the kaimahi (caregivers) that have been employed are seriously unsuitable for the job, lacking basic knowledge. But Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau doesn’t get all the blame. The report says there’s a significant gap under disability laws to ensure there’s oversight by qualified clinical professionals. More>>