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|
Infrastructure Services Committee
17 September 2024
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Local Water Done Well - Water
Services Delivery Plan - Requirements and Process
Department: Legal Services
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1 The
Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Act 2024
(Preliminary Act) became law on 2 September 2024. As a result,
Council is now required to prepare and submit a Water Services Delivery Plan
(WSDP) to the Secretary for Local Government by 3 September 2025.
2 The
Preliminary Act represents the second stage of a three-stage legislative
process in implementing Local Water Done Well (LWDW). Further legislation
is expected to be introduced to Parliament in December 2024 with possible enactment
mid-year 2025.
3 In
addition to the legislation passed to date, guidance has now been released by
the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) on both the future water services
delivery system and on completing the WSDP (Guidance). The Guidance will
be subject to further amendment through the legislative process later in 2024
and 2025 and any other Government direction.
4 To
prepare the WSDP, further technical and rigorous analysis will be required as
well as further discussion with other territorial authorities and mana
whenua.
5 The
purpose of this report is to:
· provide
an overview and update the Committee on LWDW;
· outline
the proposed process for Council to prepare and adopt the WSDP (subject to
further Government direction or legislation); and
· signal
that there will be subsequent reports coming to Council on the WSDP, including
further information on potential service delivery models and the requirements
for ringfencing and financial sustainability for the delivery of water
services.
RECOMMENDATIONS
That the Committee:
a) Notes that Council
must prepare a Water Service Delivery Plan and submit a Water Service Delivery
Plan to the Secretary for Local Government by 3 September 2025.
b) Confirms the proposed
timeline and process, subject to amendment required by further Government
direction and further legislation.
c) Notes that the
proposed process includes further discussion with other territorial authorities
and mana whenua, and public consultation regarding potential water services
delivery models.
BACKGROUND
History of Water Reform
6 Over
the years, respective governments have implemented a series of steps to
progress water reform following both an inquiry into Havelock North’s
drinking water and the Government’s Three Waters Review, which commenced
in 2017.
7 The
approach and timeline to water sector reform has changed significantly over a
relatively short period. A timeline of water reform from 2017 to date is
set out in Attachment B of this report.
8 The
Council has actively participated in the reform process, including through
written submissions on the Bills associated with water reform.
Local Water Done Well
9 In
December 2023 the current Government outlined their LWDW reform programme with
the following key principles*:
· Introducing
greater central government oversight, economic and quality regulation.
· Fit-for-purpose
service delivery models and financing tools, such as improving the current
council-controlled organisation model and developing a new class of financially
separate council-owned organisation.
· Setting
rules for water services and infrastructure investment.
· Ensuring
water services are financially sustainable. Financial sustainability
means revenue sufficiency, balance sheet separation, ring-fencing and funding
for growth.
* Source: Letter to
the Mayor from Minister of Local Government December 2023.
10 Further
detail from the Government was announced in early 2024 and proposed a
three-stage process to enabling LWDW as shown in the table below:
|
LWDW Stage/Timing
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Action
|
Legislation
|
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Stage One
(February 2024)
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Repeal
of legislation relating to water services entities
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Water
Services Acts Repeal Act 2024
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Stage Two
(May 2024 to September
2024)
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Establishes
a framework for local government to manage and deliver water services –
setting out the preliminary arrangements including the detail required for
Council to prepare and submit a WSDP as well as timing.
|
Local
Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Act 2024 became law on 2 September 2024
(Preliminary Act)
Council
made a Submission dated 19 June 2024 on the Preliminary Act.
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Stage Three
(Anticipated December
2024 to mid-2025)
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Framework for economic
regulation and the more detailed powers and duties for service delivery
models. Provide enduring settings going forward.
|
Bill Number Three - Local Government Water
Services Bill
(December Bill)
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11 Stage
Two of LWDW has now been implemented by the Government with the Preliminary Act
becoming law on 2 September 2024. The Preliminary Act provides the
following key points:
· Council
must prepare a one-off WSDP by 3 September 2025.
· Foundational
information disclosure will be provided through the WSDP to lay the groundwork
for comprehensive economic regulation.
· Introduces
an alternative streamlined consultation and decision-making process (as opposed
to the standard requirements under Part 6 of the Local Government Act 2002 (LGA
2002)) that:
i) may
be used for consulting and decision making on establishing, joining or amending
a water services council-controlled organisation (WSCCO) (or are deciding
whether or not to do so), or a joint local government arrangement (made under
section 137 of the LGA 2002) (or are deciding whether or not to do so); and
ii) must
be used for consulting or decision making in relation to an anticipated or
proposed model or arrangement for delivering water services; and other parts of
the WSDP if consulted on.
12 Guidance on
the future water services delivery system was released by the DIA on
8 August 2024. This was based on the LWDW Cabinet decisions
announced by the Minister of Local Government in August 2024. Key
Factsheets in the Guidance have been provided at Attachment C. Further
Guidance was also released by the DIA on 3 September 2024, specifically in
relation to WSDPs and provides a template for Council to develop the WSDP
content.
13 However, it
is important to note that the Guidance will be subject to amendment as the
December 2024 Bill proceeds through the parliamentary process. Although the
Bill is expected in December 2024, the Bill may not be enacted until
mid-2025.
DISCUSSION
Key Considerations
14 Council
needs to prepare a WSDP in accordance with the Preliminary Act. This will
require Council to consider several key matters which are outlined further
under this discussion including service delivery models, ringfencing and
financial sustainability of water services, and consultation
requirements.
15 To provide
context, a summary of the WSDP requirements and the process under the
legislation is set out below.
Water Service Delivery Plans
16 Council
must submit and give effect to a compliant WSDP. Failure to do so could result
in ministerial intervention by a Crown facilitator or Crown water services
specialist (in addition to ministerial powers under the LGA 2002).
17 A WSDP must
identify the current state of the Council’s water services and outline
how the Council will deliver water services in a way that:
a) Ensures
that all relevant regulatory quality standards will be met for stormwater,
wastewater and water supply networks;
b) Is
financially sustainable;
c) Ensures
the Council will meet all drinking water quality standards;
d) Supports
housing growth and urban development, as specified in the Council’s LTP.
18 The table
below shows the key elements of the WSDP as required by the Preliminary Act:
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Timing
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Required to submit a
WSDP to the Secretary for Local Government by 3 September 2025.
Extension - The only
exception to this timing is where an extension has been granted in accordance
with section 19 of the Preliminary Act which requires an application for
extension no later than 3 August 2025.
WSDP is a one-off
document.
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Joint WSDP (optional)
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Council
may submit a joint WSDP with one or more territorial authorities in relation
to delivering water services in the joint service area covered by a joint
arrangement (Section 10).
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Period
Covered
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Must cover a period of
not less than 10 consecutive financial years starting with the 2024-25 financial
year; and
May include information
that covers an additional 20 consecutive years if the information identifies
investment requirements for water services infrastructure or to support
future housing growth and urban development (Section 15).
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Content
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The Preliminary Act sets
out at section 13 the information required within the WSDP. A table
setting out the contents and an indication of availability of information for
Council is set out at Attachment E of this report.
The Secretary may make
rules for three months following enactment of the Preliminary Act in relation
to the WSDP specifying additional information that must be included, or the
manner and form in which the information must be included in a WSDP.
|
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Effect
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Requires Council to give
effect to the proposals or undertakings relating to the future delivery of
water services specified in the WSDP (Section 22) and not doing so could be a
ground for appointing a Crown facilitator (Section 25).
|
|
Council
Adoption Process
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WSDP must be adopted by
resolution of Council (Section 17(1)), and certified that the WSDP complies
with the Preliminary Act and is true and accurate by the Chief Executive
(Section 18(2)).
|
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Consultation
|
Provides for alternative
decision making and consultation (modifying existing processes in the LGA
2002) for some decisions – discussed in further detail below and shown
as a diagram at Attachment F].
Note: The Preliminary
Act does not require consultation on a draft or final WSDP except for an
anticipated or proposed model or arrangement for delivering water services
(Section 17(3)).
|
|
Amendment
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May amend WSDP and
resubmit amended WSDP in certain circumstance (Section 23).
|
19 Preparing
the WSDP will require technical and rigorous analysis. This will involve
significant work from staff and require further direction from Council
particularly relating to information that is not readily available to staff
including:
· The
anticipated or proposed model or arrangements for delivering water services
(including whether the territorial authority is likely to enter a joint
arrangement).
· Summary
of consultation undertaken as part of developing the information required in
the preceding bullet point.
· Explanation
of how revenue from and delivery of, water services will be separated from
other functions and activities.
· Explanation
of how Council proposes to ensure delivery of water services will be
financially sustainable by 30 June 2028. Ringfencing and financial
sustainability is discussed later in this report.
Service Delivery Model
20 There are
several possible delivery model options for delivering water services. The
Guidance set out at Attachment C provides examples of possible options and is
summarised in the table below:
21 However,
the Guidance states that councils will be able to design their own alternative
delivery arrangements, provided these arrangements meet the minimum
requirements set out in the legislation. The minimum requirements for all
service delivery models according to the Guidance are likely to include the
following:
22 A water
services “provider” means all forms of local government providers
including councils that continue with direct (in-house) delivery.
23 The term
“water organisation” refers to a separate organisation that Council
may establish to provide water services and does not include in-house
delivery.
24 There are
likely to be further legislative requirements if forming a “water
organisation” (which could affect the organisation’s ownership,
governance and structural arrangements).
25 Further
provisions will also likely apply if a consumer trust is adopted.
26 The
Guidance has posed several questions for councils to consider, including:
· Whether
to deliver water services in-house or establish a water organisation?
· Whether
to deliver services on a stand-alone basis or establish a joint arrangement
with other councils?
· How
to structure ownership and governance arrangements for any water organisation?
and
· How
to set up water organisations to facilitate access to long-term borrowing for
water infrastructure?
27 The above
questions will be discussed in a subsequent report to Council. That report is
likely to be early next year, so that the report can be informed by the
Morrison Low Report that is due in November 2024 and the December 2024 Bill.
Regional Collaboration
28 Following
the introduction of LWDW by the Government, an Otago/Southland Regional Local Water
Done Well Working Group (Working Group) was formed in April 2024. That Working
Group is overseen by the Chief Executive Officers of each council and reports
to the Otago/Southland Mayoral Forum.
29 Council
staff have membership on the Working Group along with staff from other Otago
and Southland councils.
30 The Working
Group’s purposes are:
i) To
assess and determine a range of, implementable, collaboration topics that can
usefully support common activities across Otago/Southland; and
ii) To
explore pathways for service delivery in the two regions and provide a short
list of options; and
iii) To assess
and determine a range of, potential, collaboration topics at a national or
sub-national level.
31 The Working
Group has arranged a report by Morrison Low to develop a first principles
approach to identify the range of pathways and the short list of options for
service delivery in the two regions. The Morrison Low report is due to be
completed November 2024.
32 A
high-level schedule of the Working Group’s deliverables along with a list
of participants is provided in Attachment D as extracted from the Working Group
briefing dated 10 September 2024.
33 The Working
Group presented an update to the joint Otago/Southland Mayoral Forum on 6
September 2024. At that meeting, members endorsed the five investment
objectives shown on Attachment G.
34 It was also
agreed that each individual council should seek feedback from its elected
members on the following five options:
i) The
status quo of having water services delivered in house by councils;
ii) Joint
contracts;
iii) Shared
services arrangements provided through a formal entity;
iv) A management
CCO; and
v) A
multi-council water services organisation.
35 When
considering feedback on the options, councils were asked to focus on their
priorities, initial responses to the options and on any concerns. There is no
expectation that any council will rule any option in or out at this point.
36 A further
joint Otago/Southland Mayoral Forum has been scheduled for 23 September 2024 to
consider the initial feedback from councils.
37 The
timeframe for feedback on the above listed options is very tight and the
timeframes do not align with the proposed timeline and process for Council, as
shown on Attachment A.
38 It is
difficult to fully assess or provide advice on the above listed options given
the lack of financial information, where the Council is at in its 9 year plan
process and without having seen the December 2024 Bill. Further, the above
listed options do not fully align with the DIA examples and do not include
bespoke options that may be available to Council.
39 The Council
has not yet had an opportunity to formally engage with mana whenua over water
service delivery options and this is planned to happen in advance of the formal
report in late January 2025.
40 Given these
factors, staff recommend that the Infrastructure Services Committee does not
take a formal position on the Morrison Low options but continues to engage
fully in the Working Group and the regional discussions leaving all options on
the table.
41 Staff will
ensure regular reporting to either Council or the committee and will work
toward the timeline and process outlined in Attachment A. This means that the
Council will be in a position to formally make an “in principle”
decision on its preferred option in late January 2025 which will then be
subject to formal consultation with the community.
Ringfencing and Financially Sustainable
42 A WSDP
needs an explanation of how revenue from and delivery of water services will be
separated from other functions and activities, as well as how Council proposes
to ensure delivery of water services will be financially sustainable by 30 June
2028.
43 The
Guidance states that ringfencing requires that:
i) Water
revenues be spent on water services; and
ii) Water
services charges and expenses be transparent and accountable.
44 The
Preliminary Act defines ‘financially sustainable’, in relation to a
council’s delivery of water services, as:
a) The
revenue applied to the council’s delivery of those water services is
sufficient to ensure the council’s long-term investment in delivering
water services; and
b) The council
is financially able to meet all regulatory standards and requirements for the
council’s delivery of those water services.
45 The
Guidance suggests that to assess whether a council’s water services
delivery is financially sustainable, the WSDP templates ask councils to provide
information about three components:
a) Revenue
sufficiency – is there sufficient revenue to cover the costs (including
servicing debt) of water services delivery?
b) Investment
sufficiency – is the projected level of investment sufficient to meet
regulatory requirements and provide for growth?
c) Financing
sufficiency – are funding and finance arrangements sufficient to meet
investment requirements?
46 The
Guidance makes further recommendations about how councils can demonstrate
ringfencing. It also provides further information about financial
sustainability as well as providing a template for financial projections and a
financial sustainability test (See link Guidance
for preparing Water Services Delivery Plans).
47 Council is
not subsidising other activities with three waters funding.
Consultation
48 A diagram
showing the various consultation and decision-making requirements required
under the Preliminary Act, is provided as Attachment F.
49 Section 17
of the Preliminary Act requires that in relation to an anticipated or proposed
model or arrangement for delivering water services in its WSDP, a council must
undertake consultation and ensure its consultation and decision-making complies
with sections 61 to 64 of the Preliminary Act. The Preliminary Act
otherwise does not require a council to consult any further on a draft or final
WSDP. However, if a council decides to consult further on a part of
its WSDP, then it must do so in accordance with sections 62 to 64.
50 Section 58
of the Preliminary Act introduces an alternative consultation and
decision-making process (as opposed to the standard requirements under Part 6
of the LGA 2002) that:
i) may
be used for consulting and decision making on establishing, joining or amending
a water services council-controlled organisation (WSCCO) (or are deciding
whether or not to do so), or a joint local government arrangement (made under
section 137 of the LGA 2002) (or are deciding whether or not to do so); and
ii) must
be used for consulting or decision making in relation to an anticipated or
proposed model or arrangement for delivering water services; and other parts of
the WSDP if consulted on.
51 Under
Council’s Significance and Engagement Policy, the following are all
listed as Strategic Council-Owned Assets:
a) Stormwater
collection and disposal system
b) Wastewater
collection, treatment and disposal system
c) Water
collection, storage, treatment and distribution system
52 A summary
of the alternative consultation and decision-making requirements are set out
below as sourced from the Guidance:
53 Council is
required to consult with mana whenua under both section 77(1)(c) and section 81
of the LGA 2002 given both references are included under section 60 of the
Preliminary Act. Further section 14(1)(d) of the LGA 2002 also provides
that a local authority should provide opportunities for Māori to
contribute to its decision-making processes.
Consultation and the Long Term Plan
54 Given
Council did not adopt a Long Term Plan (LTP) in 2024, Council could look at
combined consultation on both the LTP to be adopted in 2025, and those aspects
of the WSDP requiring consultation.
55 If combined
consultation was to be undertaken, it may be most effective to prepare separate
consultation documents to ensure clarity.
Expected Content in December Bill - Enduring Settings for
Water Services Delivery
56 While the
December Bill has not been released, the Guidance has provided further
information relating to the likely ongoing framework and enduring settings that
Council will be subject to under LWDW.
57 In summary
(including links to the relevant Factsheet in the Guidance (and also attached
at Attachment C) the Guidance suggests the following settings will likely be
included in the December Bill:
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Possible Content in December Bill
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Key Features
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|
Planning and accountability
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New
planning and accountability framework fit for purpose comprising three core
documents:
1 Statement
of Expectations (for Water Organisations only).
2 Water
Services Strategy – single comprehensive water focused document -how
the provider is proposing to perform, respond to local expectations and
priorities and meet regulatory and financial sustainability requirements.
Also includes financial forecasting information over 10 year period and
infrastructure and investment information over 30+ year period.
3 Water
Services Annual Report – water service provider’s actual
performance against the expectations and proposals in the above documents.
4 Also
required to develop standalone financial statements for all water services.
5 Replace
and/or modify current requirements under Part 6 and Schedule 10 LGA 2002
e.g., LTP. Councils that continue to deliver water services in-house will
need to prepare the strategy and annual report, instead of including
extensive information on water services in their general long-term plan,
infrastructure strategy, financial strategy, and annual report.
6 Will
include the principle that ‘water revenues should be spent on water
services’.
Factsheet
Link Planning and accountability for local government
water services
|
|
Future arrangements for stormwater
|
1 Council
will retain legal responsibility and control of urban stormwater(sw) services
but will be able to choose arrangement most suited, i.e., continue to deliver
sw services, contract a new water organisation to deliver aspects of those sw
service delivery; or transfer aspects of sw service delivery to a water
organisation.
2 If
Council chose to transfer some or all aspects of the delivery of sw services,
they will still be responsible for determining the levels of service and
performance targets (subject to regulatory requirements and community
preferences). Council would also be able to still recover costs of providing
sw services that they continue to deliver for ratepayers.
3 Changes
to improve management of overland flow paths and urban watercourses.
4 Maintain
the incentive on councils to align land use planning, stormwater services and
investment to support the management of sw services and continue to leverage
councils’ existing networks with the communities.
5 Current
funding arrangement for sw services retained. If council contracts or
transfers delivery of sw to a water organisation, the revenue collected
through rates may be allocated between council and the organisation.
Factsheet
Link Future arrangements for stormwater
|
|
Economic regulation and consumer protection
|
1 Economic
regulation tools available to the Commerce Commission include:
· Information disclosure, revenue thresholds, financial
ringfence, quality standards and performance requirements, price-quality
regulation.
2 Consumer
protection tools available to the Commerce Commission include:
· Complaints regulations, dispute resolution
regulations, guidelines on service quality codes; and a mandatory service
quality code.
3 Economic
regulation regime will be risk-based and flexible. Based on information
supplied in WSDP and information disclosure requirements, the regulator will
be able to set individual requirements for certain providers and common
regulations where appropriate.
4 Economic
regulation will apply to drinking water and wastewater services and will
provide flexibility to include stormwater services at a later date if
necessary.
5 Cost
of the regulator due to providing economic regulation of water services, will
be funded through a levy on local water services providers.
Factsheet
Link Economic regulation and consumer protection
|
|
Drinking water regulation
|
1 Changes
aim to reduce the cost and burden for drinking water suppliers associated
with complying with the Water Services Act 2021. Changes are designed to
improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the drinking water regulatory
regime and the approach Taumata Arowai takes to regulating.
2 Propose
to reduce regulatory burden on small suppliers, by excluding ‘shared
domestic supplies’ serving 25 consumers or fewer from regulation.
Higher risk community supplies (such as community halls and marae) would not
be covered by this exclusion.
3 Amend
legislation to refer to ‘Water Services Authority – Taumata
Arowai’.
4 Changes
to provide clarity around how to give effect to Te Mana o te Wai.
Factsheet
Link Drinking water quality regulation
|
|
Standards to help reduce water infrastructure costs
|
1 Proposals
relating to wastewater environmental performance standards and national
engineering design standards, are intended to reduce costs, inefficiencies,
and regulatory compliance processes associated with providing water
infrastructure.
Factsheet
Link Standards to help reduce water infrastructure costs
|
|
Financing for councils and water organisations
|
1 LGFA
has confirmed that it will provide financing to support water
council-controlled organisations established under LWDW and look to assist
high growth councils with additional financing.
2 Councils
continuing to provide water services in-house will also retain the ability to
borrow through LGFA.
Factsheet
Link Financing for councils and water organisations
|
Proposed Timeline and Process
58 Given the
above considerations, staff have prepared a proposed timeline and process
(shown at Attachment A). The timeline and process would guide
Council’s preparation and submission of the WSDP. The proposed
timeline and process is subject to amendment required by Government direction
or legislative changes.
59 Based on
the proposed timeline a decision ‘in principle’ would be required
in late 2024/early 2025 before proceeding to consultation.
Constraints
60 The WSDP
requires Council to state their anticipated or proposed model or arrangements
for delivering water services by 3 September 2025. However, while
the policy intent available through the Guidance explaining the available
options, tools and models is now available, the models available to choose from
will only be passed into law (mid 2025) shortly before the due date for
submission of the WSDP. The Guidance is therefore subject to amendment
throughout the legislative process. It is understood that there will be
an opportunity for Council to make submissions on the content of the December
Bill possibly in early 2025.
61 Likewise,
the Preliminary Act requires financial sustainability by 30 June 2028.
This includes meeting regulatory requirements. However, details around
the comprehensive economic regulation regime will only be passed into law in
mid-2025.
62 There is
also the risk of further Government mandate or intervention requiring Council
to proceed a certain way particularly so if Council is unable to comply with
its requirements for the WSDP. There is also the risk that further information
may be required in the WSDP should the Secretary for Local Government direct
for the three-month period from 3 September 2024.
OPTIONS
63 There are
no options listed because the preparation and adoption of a WSDP is a
legislative requirement under the Preliminary Act.
NEXT STEPS
64 Staff will:
a) undertake
further technical analysis on content required in the WSDP including delivery model
and financial considerations;
b) advance
discussions with other parties (including mana whenua) to enable Council to
make future decisions on the content of the WSDP; and
c) report
back to full Council with further technical analysis and an update on
discussions with others (including mana whenua) in accordance with the proposed
timeline set out in this report.
Signatories
|
Author:
|
Nadia McKenzie - In-House Legal Counsel
Karilyn Canton - Chief In-House Legal Counsel
|
|
Authoriser:
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David Ward - General Manager, 3 Waters and Transition
Sandy Graham - Chief Executive Officer
|
Attachments
|
|
Title
|
Page
|
|
⇩a
|
Proposed Timeline and
Process (subject to amendment)
|
43
|
|
⇩b
|
History of Water
Reforms
|
45
|
|
⇩c
|
DIA Guidance
|
47
|
|
⇩d
|
Working Group High
Level Plan
|
105
|
|
⇩e
|
Water Service Delivery
Plans - Content Requirements - Section 13
|
107
|
|
⇩f
|
Consultation Diagram -
Russell McVeagh
|
110
|
|
⇩g
|
Investment Objectives
proposed by Working Group
|
111
|
|
SUMMARY OF CONSIDERATIONS
|
|
Fit with purpose of Local Government
This report enables democratic local
decision making and action by, and on behalf of communities and promotes the
social, economic environmental and cultural well-being of communities in the present
and for the future.
|
|
Fit with strategic framework
|
|
Contributes
|
Detracts
|
Not applicable
|
|
Social Wellbeing Strategy
|
☐
|
☐
|
✔
|
|
Economic Development Strategy
|
✔
|
☐
|
☐
|
|
Environment Strategy
|
✔
|
☐
|
☐
|
|
Arts and Culture Strategy
|
☐
|
☐
|
✔
|
|
3 Waters Strategy
|
✔
|
☐
|
☐
|
|
Future Development Strategy
|
✔
|
☐
|
☐
|
|
Integrated Transport Strategy
|
☐
|
☐
|
✔
|
|
Parks and Recreation Strategy
|
☐
|
☐
|
✔
|
|
Other strategic projects/policies/plans
|
✔
|
☐
|
☐
|
This report has been prepared with reference to the
Dunedin strategic framework.
|
|
Māori Impact Statement
Council is required to consult with mana whenua under both
sections 77(1)(c) and section 81 of the LGA 2002 given both references are
included under section 60 of the Preliminary Act. Further section
14(1)(d) of the LGA 2002 also provides that a local authority should provide
opportunities for Māori to contribute to its decision-making processes.
The timeline proposed has formal engagement with mana whenua as the next
step. The form of the engagement has not yet been finalised but will run
throughout the process.
|
|
Sustainability
Financial sustainability of local government water
services is a key objective of the Government’s ‘Local Water Done
Well’ policy. The Preliminary Act is designed to implement this
policy and ensure delivery of water services is financially sustainable.
|
|
LTP/Annual Plan / Financial Strategy /Infrastructure
Strategy
There are significant implications for the LTP and Annual
Plan, and the associated documents. This will be discussed further in
subsequent reports.
|
|
Financial considerations
This is a noting only report.
|
|
Significance
The matters discussed in this report are considered high
in terms of the Council’s Significance and Engagement Policy. Any
water services delivery models will be the subject of public consultation.
|
|
Engagement – external
There will be engagement with other territorial
authorities and mana whenua.
|
|
Engagement - internal
Staff from the Legal Team, 3 Waters Group, and the
Executive Leadership Team have contributed to this report.
|
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Risks: Legal / Health and Safety etc.
There are no identified risks related to this report.
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Conflict of Interest
There are no known conflicts of interest.
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Community Boards
There are no specific implications for Community Boards,
although the LWDW reform will affect all areas.
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