Chch City Council launches 2006-16 Community Plan
17 May 05
Chch City Council launches 2006-16 Community Plan consultation
Christchurch City Council has begun a major public consultation, seeking public input to help put together a new long-term community plan setting out the CCC's goals and plans for the years from July 1, 2006.
The current version for the years 2004-2014 is called Our Community Plan Christchurch Otautahi and is online at www.ccc.govt.nz/LTCCP/CurrentPlan.asp The long-term plan is important because the law directs councils to line their work up with the wishes of their communities. This document will be used by the CCC to set its priorities and plan its work.
To put the new plan together, the Council is managing a two-stage process. First, it is leading a community-wide effort to establish top-level goals called Community Outcomes. Second, the Council looks at what part it can and should play in achieving those goals. The details of the Council's proposed activities, services and resources will form a further round of consultation in early 2006.
The Council wants to hears people's opinions. It has
put together a draft document, called Let's Talk it Through,
to assist interested members of the public to take part. The
booklet is now available at all Council service centres and
libraries and on the Council's website, at www.ccc.govt.nz
"These top-level goals,
Community Outcomes, belong to the city of Christchurch, not
just the Council," says Alan Bywater, who heads the
Council's research and policy effort. "We're leading this
because that's part of our role but these need to belong to
the community.
"We've developed some draft Outcomes based
on research and consultation with interest groups and
agencies in the city. In the Let's Talk it Through booklet,
each of the nine Community Outcomes are paired with a series
of pointers about what needs to be done to achieve the
Outcome. They're the pointers to what the community believes
are its most important challenges in the coming years." As
an example, the first Community Outcome being proposed is
that Christchurch should be A City of Inclusive and Diverse
Communities. The draft priorities flowing from that include
ensuring that, "older people remain valued participating
members of the community" and that there is support for
"families/whanau to ensure the wellbeing of our children and
young people". Feedback on the draft Community Outcomes
and Council goals is sought by Friday, 10 June. Members of
the public will be able to make their opinions known on the
draft 2006-16 Community Plan early next
year. ENDS