Gore Chooses Yearly Planning Over Decade Strategy

• The Gore District Council has opted to prioritize the development of an enhanced Annual Plan for the next fiscal year, sidestepping the usual 10-year planning due to uncertainties in the future of 3 Waters service delivery.
• Mayor Ben Bell and interim chief executive Stephen Parry both highlighted the advantages of this decision, emphasizing the importance of adaptability in light of governmental shifts concerning water service reforms.
• As a result, the Council will not only focus on the upcoming year’s Annual Plan but also prepare for a revised nine-year plan to be introduced next year, adjusting the long-term planning cycle accordingly.

This week, the Gore District Council took a pivotal step by deciding to concentrate on a comprehensive Annual Plan for the forthcoming year, rather than extending its vision to a 10-year framework. This move is a direct response to the government’s recent allowance for local bodies to postpone their Long Term Plans, amidst the unpredictable future of the 3 Waters service delivery. The shift comes in the wake of the government abandoning the 3 Waters Reform program and charting a new course for water services, placing councils in a tight spot to devise long-term financial forecasts under uncertain conditions.

Gore’s Mayor, Ben Bell, expressed satisfaction with the government’s nod towards the Council’s earlier efforts to persuade the Minister for Local Government, underscoring a recognition for the principle of local governance and attentiveness to smaller councils’ voices. “For me, it shows that central Government and the Minister value localism and are listening to smaller councils, such as Gore,” Bell remarked.

Stephen Parry, the interim chief executive, who has been a national advocate for postponing or abandoning this year’s Long Term Plan (LTP) process, elaborated on the benefits of opting out from a long-term plan. He pointed out that the decision was driven by multiple factors, notably the anticipated clarity around 3 Waters reform and the Council’s role within any forthcoming structural changes, expected within the next year.

Parry also noted the prevailing reluctance to plan for the next decade, overshadowed by nationwide concerns over proposed rate increases for the ensuing year. By focusing on the immediate 12-month period, the Council aims to better position itself amidst the external pressures influencing rate hikes. Moreover, the pending introduction of a new chief executive was cited as a further reason to delay the LTP, allowing the incoming leader to have a more substantial influence on the long-term planning process.

In essence, this decision means the Gore District Council is committed to delivering an improved Annual Plan for 2024-25, followed by a consultation document for the same period, and subsequently, a nine-year plan by June 2025. This approach is designed to realign the Council with its three-year planning cycle, maintaining a balance between long-term foresight and adaptability to immediate needs and reforms.