Upper Hutt City Council has found two errors in a section of its audited Long Term Plan 2024 – 2034 (LTP) Consultation Document, and will be extending the consultation period by 10 days.
The consultation period will now stay open until 12 May, it initially ran between 2 April – 2 May.
Council Chief Executive Geoff Swainson has apologised for the error and confirmed that the overall year one proposed rate increase (19.93%) and the first-year savings for activities shown in this section remain unchanged.
The errors were found in the Activity Funding Changes section of the LTP Consultation Document only. An addendum document (see below) has been published showing the correct information.
The first error relates to the estimated savings of the proposed service reductions over 10 years.
Cumulative inflation rates were used to calculate maintaining current levels of service and savings from 2026/27 onwards, instead of year-on-year inflation rates.
The Consultation Document shows estimated savings of the proposed service reductions to be $33.9 M over 10 years. The correct amount is $25.1 M over this period.
The second error relates to a GST miscalculation of the first year’s rate increase if the activities were retained and all the proposed reductions did not go ahead.
Swainson said the calculations for the data were used as additional information in the Activity Funding Changes section only.
“I would like to apologise for these errors,” he said.
“No other figures in the Consultation Document are affected. As a result of these errors, we have published the correct information and are extending the consultation period.”
Swainson said the extended consultation period gives the community an opportunity to make submissions with this new information in mind.
This includes members of the community who would like to make another submission if they have already done so.
“We strive to be as transparent as possible with our community throughout all consultations,” he said.
“I would like to encourage our community to make a submission and have their say on these decisions that will help shape the future of our city.”
For more information go to letskorero.upperhuttcity.com/ltp.
To view the Addendum to the Consultation Document click the link below
This article was reproduced from upperhuttcity.com
3/05/24
The Upper Hutt Connection 