Our submission to the Council on the proposed ten year plan.
We make this submission on behalf of our 4300 members and this submission covers,
the information given in the summary version.
We would like to speak to the submission but are doubtful of the efficacy of this
as past experience indicates that we would be at the end of the submissions
where there are minimal councillors present and some have in the past just up and
left without apology to the chair or the submitter.
However we believe that interaction is necessary and request to speak to our submission
Firstly we must comment that there is no mention of the elderly nor is there any mention
of the implementation of the Ageing in Place philosophy that Council is required
to put in hand by government request.
We find that as the elderly are the fastest growing section of the community and most
because they are home owners are ratepayers that this omission is hard to understand
except if one accepts the fact that in essence the Council is just not interested
in the welfare of the elderly.
With the ever increasing capital value of properties and the high rises in the rate
percentage proposed by the Council over the next three years many of the elderly
are going to find great difficulty in meeting the increases without some level of hardship.
The local government Act requires Councils when setting rates to take due notice of the
ratepayer’s ability to meet the rate demands and this appears to have been totally ignored.
Those on fixed incomes have little or no discretionary spending so despite the figure of
an average of $2.01 per week to cater for rate increases being quoted,
this has to come at the expense of other spending.
A high proportion of the elderly are asset rich but cash poor and solutions like downgrade
and shift are just not acceptable as many have lived in their homes many years ,
have many friends in the neighbourhood and to suggest that those affected should shift
takes scant regard of the social implications of moving away from an area with which one is familiar,
to a lower cost residence absolutely goes against any concept of a caring society.
The claim that since 2000 Christchurch ratepayers have experienced lower rate increases than
elsewhere can only signify that the necessary upkeep of the infrastructure has not been made
to now necessitate such large increases.
Or is it the wish to build a new council building with a "wow" factor
$500 per annum from low fixed income such as New Zealand Superannuation is substantial
and must be considered as such bearing in mind the low level of superannuation.
We accept that base priorities must be fulfilled but we cant accept the wish to develop
the Central City Mall when most elderly would not venture there either during the day or night .
The businesses in that area now, apart from two major shops , are mainly in the bar industry
and have little appeal to the elderly .
We would also question the necessity of a new bus exchange – their is no indication of where
this would be or whether it is a refurbishment of the existing as all that is stated is the cost
of $59.5 million
- what is wrong with the present arrangement which at the time of construction was
considered adequate and forward looking.
As for rates , these are currently based on the property which can house 1 to over 12 people
all of whom use council services but only the owner is the ratepayer –
a more equitable arrangement would be to vary the rates in bands according to household numbers .
Why are City Care & Red Bus no longer strategic assets as we consider that they are fundamental
to the city especially in view of the current cost of petrol
– what exactly their being no longer strategic, means we are not sure but suspect
that they are soon to be put up for sale to private enterprise .
Bus fares already favour the working population to the detriment of the elderly who can
no longer obtain a concessionary four hour return fare to city and back
despite the fact that the fastest increasing section of the population using the buses is the elderly.
There is no mention of the elderly at all in the plan and
this is the fastest growing sector of the community and the least serviced.
There is no comment at all on the council’s implementation of the Ageing in Place philosophy
– in fact it is ignored.
We are unconvinced that the closing of community libraries and the withdrawal of the mobile is in
the interests of the citizens especially the young and the elderly
– the number of young mothers that frequent the libraries of all sizes to take out books
for their children is very large
– one of our members fills in as a police helper at the police office in Fendalton library
is constantly amazed by the large number of young mothers who take out heaps of books for the school children.
It is considered viable to spend money on the Central City Mall yet what would support that approach
is thwarted by an increase for those using the city for shopping is the increased parking charges
– people will just not pay parking fees when they can do their shopping at Malls where parking is available and free .
There are no proposals to reduce refuse collection and disposal, not even a minimal extension of the product
that can go in the green bin as recyclable items which has changed little since inception
– the only change that can be recalled is the now acceptance of items marked 2 in a triangle.
To cater or the accommodation needs of the elderly there needs to be more two bedroom units available
but we are very mindful of the Council’s housing policy which provides suitable accommodation .
However the rent seems to rise very time there is an adjustment to New Zealand superannuation
and the rise exceeds the percentage increase of NZS and is not covered by the accommodation supplement
– as an example we draw your attention to rental costs of Beachville Rd units
To cater for the travel needs of the elderly especially in these times of escalating petrol prices
there needs to be a review of the charges for the elderly which sometime ago were increased for them
and reduced for the workers using the buses – we would ask that this be taken up with Ecan.
There is a large proliferation of signs and billboards on the foot paths which present a hazard for
the elderly especially those with a walking impairment and these should be more strictly monitored.
Your publication is well done with great photos and comments from the elderly but the elderly are
just not mentioned which leads us to believe that it is a plan for the bureaucracy not the ratepayers
and the people who are only required to supply the monies .
The Council will be reviewing its Older Persons Policy this year to align it more closely with the
national Positive Ageing Strategy and to provide a stronger basis for considering the needs of older
people in its future planning across the range of the Council's activities.
Rate Affordability
Rates Increase in 2007/08
The LTCCP includes a rate increase of 8.55% after growth in the rating base and
a further 7.03% 07/08 and 10.75% 08/09.
Ratepayers on low incomes (estimated up to 20,000 in Christchurch) can take advantage of the
expanded rates rebate scheme in 2006/07 which will reduce the cost by up to $500.
The Council has chosen, from the options available, the capital value rate system with a modest UAGC.
This is the best system to reflect ability to pay issues in that low income ratepayers generally own
lower valued homes and therefore pay the lowest rates.
For Council to do otherwise, say a higher UAGC, would increase the rates on low income
ratepayers with the consequent impacts.
The rates on the average residential property in Christchurch are still the lowest of the main cities
and will have an increase of $2.11 per week next year.
The Council considered affordability issues during the consideration of the
Revenue & Financing Policy and the LTCCP.
Rates on Residential Head Counts
This is not legal in New Zealand. A poll tax was tried in the UK and failed.
There are significant practical and social intrusion issues.
In the last 10 years rates have gone up by $8.03 per week whilst govenunent superannuation
?
income has gone up by $103 per week.
General - rates, affordability
Rates are the main source of revenue for Christchurch City Council.
The rates requirement is determined by the Levels of Service set by Council for its
operating activities, and by the capital programme of development and renewal of major
infrastructure assets for the city's growth and development.
Pressure on the rates requirement is arising from population growth (16% increase projected by 2026),
rapidly increasing costs in the capital construction sector, inflation, depreciation, and the
effects of deferred investment in past years.
The rating levels proposed in the Draft LTCCP are those considered necessary to provide the levels of
service and investments set out in the plan.
The Council notes that increased financial assistance from Central Government will be available to
ratepayers through the rates rebate scheme from I July 2006.
The additional assistance provide for maximum rebates to increase from $200 to $500;
and the income threshold to increase from $7400 to $20,000.
Housing - mental health
Council provides rental housing based on need.
The criteria for need as defined in existing policy terms is on the basis of
Housing rentals were not adjusted between 1997 and 2003.
In 2003 there was an increase to bring rentals up-to-date
From 2004 onwards there has been an annual review based on CPI% to cover increasing costs
the Council Housing portfolio is funded by rentals and not a cost to the ratepayer.
The Beachwille Road units are approximately 70% of current market rents.
Signs on Footpaths
"There is a large proliferation of signs and billboards on the foot paths which present
a hazard for the elderly especially those with a walking impairment and
these should be more strictly monitored. "
Signs on footpaths are permitted provided these comply with Council's guidelines
as to size and placement.
These are monitored by Council's enforcement officers who will also respond to any
complaint about a specific sign or signs.
Your comment about the proliferation of signs is acknowledged, and an inter-unit working
party has recently been set up to investigate this and
report back on methods for dealing with this problem.
City Development
Central City Mall development - comments noted.
Library closures
Initial strategic thinking around the Library Facilities 2025 Plan
- a 20-year plan to provide for the future provision and enhancement of library facilities
in Christchurch
- has identified the need to consider the location of libraries in the future.
A number of new libraries have been built which provides the opportunity to assess whether all
of the current libraries are located in areas to best meet community needs.<
This planning has only just begun and is expected to take some time to complete.
In developing the Library Facilities 2025 Plan, consideration will be given to a number of issues,
including the results of the 2006 Census;
projected population growth, particularly in the northwest and southern sectors of the city;
changing demographics, such as an ageing population.
The Plan will also consider the areas of accessibility to services, public transport networks
and mobility.
This work will also acknowledge the expanding role of libraries in lifelong learning
and as a community meeting place.
Opportunities to work with other community and educational providers will be investigated and
consideration will be given to the co-location of libraries with other council facilities.
In preparing the Plan, Council will need to look at the role of voluntary libraries,
the mobile library, central library and the citywide network of suburban facilities,
including those on Banks Peninsula.
Bus Xchange / Bus fares
The bus xchange requires expansion due to the higher than predicted growth in peak passenger demand
that has taken place since 2000.
It may involve expansion in the current location or moving to a new site.
This will be established in the next planning and investigation phase.
Bus fares are set by ECan. Chch has the cheapest fares in New Zealand.
It is understood that removing discounts for certain groups was legally appropriate
and allowed across the board fares to remain low for everyone.
Workers did not receive any new discounts.
The only people still entitled to discounts are under 18's.
Central City Parking tariffs increase
The Council has charged for central city parking for many years,
along with provision of certain incentives such as free one-hour parking at
parking buildings and during weekends.
Research on previous Christchurch parking charge increases and international information
indicates that the difference in parking fee charges, given the existing fees,
will make negligible difference to people's choice of whether to visit the central city or not.
Christchurch's parking tariffs are in fact low by national and international standards.
Parking at suburban malls may be extensive, but is becoming increasingly difficult to access
and is not free for the owners to provide (as in the central city situation).
Strategic Assets
Red Bus Ltd has been removed from the list of strategic assets because it does not represent
irreplaceable infrastructure assets of the City consistent with the other assets listed
in the strategic assets list.
There are no current plans to sell Redbus.
Red Bus Ltd is currently the holder of the majority of the bus services within the City.
However, to provide those services on a subsidised basis,
Red Bus Ltd must compete with other providers for tenders offered by Ecan.
The level of fares is controlled by ECAN who set the standards and let contracts to bus companies
to operate the routes in the city.
There are two other urban bus operators operating within the city and >br> Red Bus has no special rights to operate the services because it is owned by CCC.
In fact, to be able to ensure that it has a reasonable slice of the market it has to operate on
relatively fine margins.
Council's ownership of this asset does not ensure that it has continuing rights to
operate bus services within the City.
That is a matter for Ecan.
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