Updates from the Community and District Development Committee Meeting
Better outcomes for pensioner housing
Today Elected Members considered recommendations for the future management of council’s pensioner housing portfolio, with the aim of improving the quality of the service for tenants and creating a financially sustainable asset for ratepayers.
It was heard that there are a number of challenges council faces in delivering pensioner housing including:
- Entire cost of the service sits with council at a total of $1.3million from rates each year, with no access to government subsidies to support reinvestment into the properties or support services.
- Council currently does not have resource or experience to provide social support to tenants who need it.
- Council currently has no ability to meet the demand for affordable housing by increasing the current housing stock.
To respond to the challenges, and with the aim of improving the service, a preferred option to lease to a Community Housing Provider was recommended to achieve the following objectives:
- Ensure ongoing housing security for existing tenants.
- Provide greater support services for vulnerable tenants.
- Ensure that the portfolio is financially sustainable.
- Create opportunities for growth in the portfolio in the future.
Councillors approved the recommendation for the preferred option, along with amendments to eligibility criteria in the Pensioner Housing Policy, and that $1.1million would be included in the 2024-2034 Long-term Plan to refurbish the vacant units ahead of entry into any lease agreement.
The community will be asked for feedback on the preferred option during consultation on the 2024-2034 Long-term Plan.
More detail can be found in the documents below:
- Community and District Development Committee Agenda 8 November 2023 - PDF, go to page 25
- Pensioner Housing Options and Recommendation presentation - Nov 2023 - PDF
- View the recording of this Community and District Development Committee Meeting - YouTube
Dog registration update
Elected Members received a presentation at today’s Community and District Development Committee meeting on dog registrations for the 2023/2024 registration year. It has prompted a reminder from council about the responsibilities of owning and caring for a dog.
This year, council has reported a significant increase in the number of owners who have chosen not to register their dogs, and today the Committee heard that staff would be sending approximately 1660 infringement notices to owners.
Owners who receive notices will have 28 days from the notice date to pay the outstanding registration fee and penalty. If they do not pay within the 28 day period, they will be liable for the full registration fee, penalty and the infringement of $300.
Council’s Animal Control team is obligated under the Dog Control Act 1996 to enforce the legislation and the local Dog Control Bylaw. This includes following up on and infringing owners for failing to register their dogs by the due date.
View the presentation on this matter HEREon Council’s website.
Go to THIS LINK in the meeting recording to view this part of today’s meeting.
Other items on the agenda:
Energy Events Centre repair/maintenance: The geothermal environment has caused rusting of the steel structure on the side of the Energy Events Centre building. The Committee considered two options for the repair or removal of the external louvre structure and resolved to proceed with removal of the structure at a cost of approximately $40,000 from existing renewal budgets. Go to p54 of the meeting agenda for the full report. Go to THIS LINK in the meeting recording to view this part of today’s meeting.
Community and District Development: Councillors received a presentation on consenting resourcing as part of the Community and District Development operational report. Go to p34 of the meeting agenda for the full update. Go to THIS LINK in the meeting recording to view this part of today’s meeting.
Corporate Services: Councillors received a report on the Rotorua Night Market as part of the Corporate Services operational report. Go to p47 of the meeting agenda for the full update. Go to THIS LINK in the meeting recording to view this part of today’s meeting.
RMA Delegations: Elected Members approved updates to Rotorua Lakes Council’s Resource Management Act 1991 Delegations Manual. Go to p22 of the meeting agenda to read the full report. Go to THIS LINK in the meeting recording to view this part of today’s meeting.
CCO reports: Chief Executives from CCOs Rotorua Airport and Rotorua NZ provided Elected Members with their quarterly reports.
- Read Rotorua Airport’s quarterly report on p12 of the meeting agenda. Go to THIS LINK in the meeting recording to view this part of today’s meeting.
- Read Rotorua NZ’s quarterly report on p15 of the meeting agenda. Go to THIS LINK in the meeting recording to view this part of today’s meeting.
Frances Street petition: Elected Members heard from a number of Frances Street residents in relation to a housing development by Kāinga Ora at 15 Frances Street. Go to p6 of the meeting agenda to read the petition. Go to THIS LINK in the meeting recording to view this part of today’s meeting.