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Scoop
26-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Decisions Confirmed On Water Model And City Budget
Porirua City Council today officially adopted the Te Puna Kōrero committee recommendations made earlier this month around the city's budget and rates, and the preferred water services delivery model. The Annual Plan for the 2025/26 year was agreed, with an average rates increase of 6.39 per cent, significantly lower than previously budgeted. When preparing the draft Annual Plan, the starting point for this year's rates increases had hit 15 per cent, due to cost pressures. Council acknowledged this wasn't sustainable for households and businesses, so took a hard look at internal operations to find cost savings. This brought the new starting point for the average rates increase down to 6.75 per cent. After public consultation on five options to further lower the increase, Council agreed to discontinue the Chamber of Commerce grant and increase Council's building consent hourly rate. They voted against increasing the paid parking hourly rate, putting up Cannons Creek Pool entry fees, and discontinuing the Event Investment Programme. With these changes, the average rates increase for residential properties will be 6.39 per cent. For most properties, this equates to around $6 or $7 extra per week. Porirua Mayor Anita Baker said while nobody wanted to see rates go up, she was confident that the Council had done everything possible to keep increases as low as possible. "We know the community is struggling, which is we have done a deep dive internally and made significant cuts, that got us to a lower number than planned. We could have done further cuts, but we listened to your feedback and were guided by that." Water Services preferred delivery model Council also agreed to the committee recommendation of 5 June to jointly establish and co-own a new water organisation with Upper Hutt City Council, Hutt City Council, Wellington City Council and Greater Wellington Regional Council. Mayor Baker said this was another milestone decision for Porirua as we continue to progress towards implementing the Local Water Done Well Policy. "Public consultation undertaken in March and April strongly supported a jointly owned water organisation, and this decision today enables Porirua to continue working with our neighbouring Council towards the stand up of the water company in 2026." Council also agreed today to delegate Mayor Baker and Councillor Ross Leggett, as her alternate, (as the Council's representative on the Advisory Oversight Group) the power to make decisions on two establishment activities. This delegation will enable the next phases of work to continue during the new company's establishment phase. It will remain in place until later in the year when a new shareholders committee will be set up and will take over the governance level decision making.
Scoop
05-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Porirua City Council Makes Budget Decisions
Press Release – Porirua City Council The Councils Te Puna Krero committee met this morning to deliberate on the Annual Plan, which sets the citys budget for the coming financial year. After listening to feedback from residents Porirua City Council has made changes to next year's budget, including not increasing paid parking charges in the city or Cannons Creek pool entry fees. The Council's Te Puna Kōrero committee met this morning to deliberate on the Annual Plan, which sets the city's budget for the coming financial year. When preparing the draft Annual Plan, the starting point for this year's rates increases had increased from the planned 10 per cent to 15 per cent, due to cost pressures. Council acknowledged this wasn't sustainable for households and businesses, so took a hard look at internal operations to find cost savings. This process brought the new starting point for the average rates increase down to 6.75 per cent. Council consulted on five options, which if adopted would decrease the rates increase even further. A total of 343 submissions were received, with a mix of opinions on the items on the table. Committee Chair Councillor Ross Leggett thanked everyone who made submissions and shared their thoughts. 'Your feedback is shown in this paper and we do read and appreciate all of it,' he said. Of the options consulted on, the committee voted to discontinue the Chamber of Commerce grant and increase Council's building consent hourly rate. They voted against increasing the paid parking hourly rate, putting up Cannons Creek Pool entry fees, and discontinuing the Event Investment Programme. With these changes, the average rates increase for residential properties for the 2025/26 year will be 6.39 per cent, subject to confirmation by the full Council on 26 June. Mayor Anita Baker said everything possible was done to keep rates increases as low as possible. 'Nobody wants the big increases we saw last year and we know the community is struggling. The organisation has done a deep dive internally and made significant cuts that got us to a lower starting point than planned. 'In terms of the further cuts we could have made, we asked for feedback and we've listened to our people. That's why we are not supporting some of the ideas that were on the table.' Councillors spoke about the community benefits of swimming pools, the life that events bring to the city, and the need to support local businesses through keeping parking charges as they are.
Scoop
05-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Porirua City Council Makes Budget Decisions
After listening to feedback from residents Porirua City Council has made changes to next year's budget, including not increasing paid parking charges in the city or Cannons Creek pool entry fees. The Council's Te Puna Kōrero committee met this morning to deliberate on the Annual Plan, which sets the city's budget for the coming financial year. When preparing the draft Annual Plan, the starting point for this year's rates increases had increased from the planned 10 per cent to 15 per cent, due to cost pressures. Council acknowledged this wasn't sustainable for households and businesses, so took a hard look at internal operations to find cost savings. This process brought the new starting point for the average rates increase down to 6.75 per cent. Council consulted on five options, which if adopted would decrease the rates increase even further. A total of 343 submissions were received, with a mix of opinions on the items on the table. Committee Chair Councillor Ross Leggett thanked everyone who made submissions and shared their thoughts. "Your feedback is shown in this paper and we do read and appreciate all of it," he said. Of the options consulted on, the committee voted to discontinue the Chamber of Commerce grant and increase Council's building consent hourly rate. They voted against increasing the paid parking hourly rate, putting up Cannons Creek Pool entry fees, and discontinuing the Event Investment Programme. With these changes, the average rates increase for residential properties for the 2025/26 year will be 6.39 per cent, subject to confirmation by the full Council on 26 June. Advertisement - scroll to continue reading Mayor Anita Baker said everything possible was done to keep rates increases as low as possible. "Nobody wants the big increases we saw last year and we know the community is struggling. The organisation has done a deep dive internally and made significant cuts that got us to a lower starting point than planned. "In terms of the further cuts we could have made, we asked for feedback and we've listened to our people. That's why we are not supporting some of the ideas that were on the table." Councillors spoke about the community benefits of swimming pools, the life that events bring to the city, and the need to support local businesses through keeping parking charges as they are.
