10 Year Plan - Top 10 Questions

10 Year Plan Consultation ResidentsFAQs

1. What is the Draft 10 Year Plan / Long-Term Plan?

2. What information must it contain?

3. What is the draft LTP 2024-34 proposing?

4. How often does the 10 Year Plan get renewed?

5. Why is rates revenue increasing next year by 16.9% (after growth)?

6. Did you find savings to reduce the rates increase?

7. Why are you engaging with communities on the draft LTP?

8. How does the 10 YearPlan relate to the Annual Plan?

9. Has this got anythingto do with the District Plan?

10. I’m experiencing financial difficulties – is there anything Council can do to help with my rates bill?

1. WhatistheDraft10YearPlan/Long-TermPlan(LTP)?

It sets out Council’s priorities, including spending proposals, over 10-year periods. All councils are required by legislation to finalise a LTP every three years. At Hutt City Council we refer to the LTP as our 10 Year Plan. Public consultation for our latest 10 Year Plan is live 2 April – 3 May, 5pm 2024; after which Councillors will consider all community feedback before making final decisions. Council adopts the 2024-2034 10 Year Plan on 27 June. A full version will be available on our website from this date and a printed version will be made available in our neighbourhood hubs.

2. Whatinformationmustitcontain?

Detailed information on the projects, services, and activities that Council intends to deliver. It looks at the proposed spend and how they will be funded including rates and debt, for the coming decade.

3. Whatisthedraft10YearPlan2024-34proposing?

To address a growing population and the resulting impact on ourcity we plan to spend $2.6 billion over the 10 years (increase of $1.2 billion compared to 10 Year Plan 2021 – 31). Of this spend, 62% is on water services and 21% on transport.

It would deliver the largest capital delivery programme in our city’s history including spending $1.6 billion over 10 years to safeguard our city’s drinkingwater network and to provide effective stormwater and wastewater systems. An extra $2.8 million is earmarked for Wellington Water Ltd to eliminate the current backlog of water leaks in Lower Hutt by December 2024.

We’re asking the community how to prioritise spending onthe Petone Wharf, the Petone Library and the earthquake prone Petone Recreation Ground grandstand.

A new weekly kerbside serviceto collect food scraps and greenorganics in one bin is proposed to start in July 2027. This is a joint project with Wellington City Council and Porirua City Council and has some assumed government funding. This service would only go ahead should partner and government funding be approved

A new Rates Remission Policy to help low-income households with their residential rates for a period of three years is also included. Withthat in mind, a new Rates Remission Policy (RRP) is included inthe draft LTP for public comment.

Updated Development Contributions Policy (DCP) to help fund growth related infrastructure. With that in mind, an updated DCP is included in the draft LTP for public comment.

4. Howoftendoesthe10YearPlangetrenewed?

Each 10 Year Plan has a three-year cycle to ensure changing economic and external factors are considered on a regular basis.

5. Whyisratesrevenueincreasingby16.9%(aftergrowth)?

The draft 10 Year Plan has an overall focus on infrastructure investment across water, transport, sustainability and resilience initiatives. None of that is cheap to finance. In particular, our water infrastructure – drinking, waste and storm water – has suffered from chronic under-investment for decades. There’s no hiding from that. Significant investment must be made now to sort the issues for current and future generations. We are proposing to take on more debt through the next ten years to address the infrastructure deficit while maintaining a prudent approach to borrowing and debt headroom. As Council is limited in its funding sources, the balance will largely fall to funding through rates.

6. Didyoufindsavingstoreducetheratesincrease?

We’ve gone through line-by-line to find savings, identify revenueopportunities and proposed spending cuts before coming upwith our proposals. We’ve had to make some difficult calls and after rigorous workhave made $35 million in savings across the board.

7. Whyareyouengagingwithcommunitiesonthedraft10YearPlan?

Despite it being a legislative requirement, we want to work closely with our community on the priorities and projects we set, because it’s important our plans support residents’ aspirations for our city.

Our consultation period is 2 April to 3 May5pm, and people can fill in the online feedback form or visit one of our neighbourhood hubs to fill out a paper form. There is assistance at our hubs if required. Following our consultation, Councillors

will carefully consider all community feedback and make final decisions.

Detailed timings and information is available here: 10 Year Plan 2024 - 2034 | Hutt City Council

8. Howdoesthe10YearPlanrelatetotheAnnualPlan?

Our 10 Year Plan and Annual Plan work together in a series. The 10 Year Plan sets out the vision for our city over the following decade and outlines key projects and budgets for that period. The first year also serves as the Annual Plan for that year.

In the two years following a 10 Year Plan, we produce an Annual Plan each year. You can think of them like chapters two and three of our 10 Year Plan. The Annual Plan follows what was laid out in the 10 Year Plan and gives us an opportunity to make updates if they are needed.

Then, three years into the 10 Year Plan, we take another look at the decade ahead with a new 10 Year Plan, and the cycle continues.

You can find more information about the different types of plans here

9. HasthisgotanythingtodowiththeDistrictPlan?

The District Plan is different. While 10 Year Plans and Annual Plans focus on projects and budgets, the District Plan is more of a rulebook for land use and urban development. These rules cover things like residential development, subdivision of land, height and location of buildings, commercial and industrial developments, heritage and noise.

You can find more information about the different types of plans here

10. I’mexperiencingfinancialdifficulties–isthereanythingCouncilcandotohelp withmyratesbill?

The draft 10 Year Plan has a proposal for a rates remission programme for a period of three years that would help those who have very limited income, afford their residential rates bill. It would sit alongside, and uses the same criteria, as the Government’s rates rebate scheme.

Other ways we may be able to help you include setting up a rates payment plan or postponing your rates bill. Check out our website for more information, or email rates@huttcity.govt.nz

For any additional queries please check out the rest of our dedicated 10 Year Plan website or email us at haveyoursay@huttcity.govt,nz