Waikato Regional Council has proposed an average rate rise to 2.6 per cent for the next financial year.

The rise reflects a tight focus on keeping costs under control while providing extra where necessary for various project, and was approved by a 7:4 majority of councillors last week.

The suggested rise in the draft 2017-18 annual plan, which is due to be confirmed by the council in May after some targeted consultation, would see a rates revenue of $83.92 million.

Projected growth in new properties of 1.4 per cent would contribute to the rating pool and the actual impact of the rates rise on individual existing properties would vary depending on any property revaluations.

'We have made every effort to hold the line on spending, while recognising that it is important to provide extra in a range of areas,” says WRC chair Alan Livingston.

'One of these being investing in preparedness for implementing the proposed Plan Change 1, Healthy Rivers Wai Ora, where the majority of councillors agreed we need to provide funding for initial work.”

Preparation for implementing proposed Plan Change 1 was a key budgetary consideration. The budget includes spending $1.68m on information technology systems to support the collection of data and the initial implementation costs are budgeted at $1.06m.

Following receipt of independent economic advice assessing the ongoing benefits, these costs are to be spread over a ten year period, resulting in a rates funding requirement of $358,000 in 2017-18.

This implementation work will help council, industry, land owners and others to be ready for when the plan change is operational.

Some councillors felt the costs for implementation preparedness for Proposed Plan Change 1 should not be provided for in the budget at this stage given that the plan change statutory submission process is still underway.

But others councillors noted that starting work soon to prepare for implementation is required to ensure council is able to meet legal obligations, in regard to plan implementation further down the track.

A 7: 5 majority of councillors agreed to the first stage of the proposed plan change implementation budget last Wednesday.

WRC chief executive Vaughan Payne says the budgeted implementation spending was focused on fundamental actions that the council would be required to be do, regardless of the final outcome of the plan hearings.

'For example, it makes sense for us to be working with others to develop standards for industry schemes and farm environment plans.”

There was also discussion at last week's meeting about whether the draft budget, particularly that component related to implementation of the proposed plan change, should go out for public consultation.

While people can make submissions on the plan change under a Resource Management Act process, some councillors felt the public should get a chance to have a greater say on whether implementation funding should be set aside in such formative stages of the proposed plan timing.

Others considered it is important council start preparing for the plan change, and also noted the potential for confusion of any annual plan engagement with the RMA submission process, and, further, felt the rating impact was not significant enough.

Following staff advice that actual budget variations from the long term plan were not significant enough to trigger consultation requirements, a majority agreed that there should only be targeted consultation over a flood protection scheme at Tauhei.

It was noted that those wanting to have a say over the Healthy Rivers Wai Ora plan change proposal could make submissions up until March 8.

OTHER ITEMS OF EXTRA EXPENDITURE APPROVED INCLUDED:

• $500,000 increase in funding for the implementation of catchment works in Waipa, in conjunction with the Waikato River Authority
• $164,000 for costs related to the establishment of a new centre for Waikato Civil Defence Emergency Management Office operations in Hamilton.
• $100,000 for extra passenger transport marketing
• $50,000 to scope harbour and catchment planning works on the West Coast