Policies 2015 - 2025 LONG-TERM PLAN
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297 policies 2015 - 2025 LONG-TERM PLAN LONG-TERM The following policies set out basic principles and associated guidelines that Council will follow to direct and limit actions, in pursuit of its long term goal of sustainable development and providing for the current and future interests of the Community. policies 298 significance & engagement policy PURPOSE THRESHOLDS AND CRITERIA To let the Community know when and how they can A: Contribution to Community Outcomes expect to be engaged in Council’s decision-making or Key Project processes. Council will consider the extent to which the decision To act as a guide to Council and council staff as to contributes to its Community Outcomes or any key what extent, form and type of engagement is required project. If a matter clearly contributes to several from the beginning of a decision-making process. Community Outcomes or a key project and is borderline in regards to the other thresholds and To identify Council’s approach to determining the criteria for determining significance, this will mitigate significance of proposals and decisions in relation to in favour of the decision being treated as “less issues, assets, or other matters. significant”. If, however, a decision does not clearly contribute to Community Outcomes or a key project THRESHOLDS AND CRITERIA and is borderline in regards to the other thresholds GENERAL APPROACH and criteria for determining significance, Council will The decision on a matter’s significance rests with A: Contribution to Community Outcomes or Key Project adoptCouncil a willprecautionary consider the extent approach to which the and decision treat cont theributes issue to its asCommunity Outcomes or any key project. If a Council. matter clearly contributes to several Community Outcomes or a key project and is borderline in regards to the other THRESHOLDSbeingthresholds “more and AND significant”.criteria CRITERIA for determining significance, this will mitigate in favour of the decision being treated as “less significant”. If, however, a decision does not clearly contribute to Community Outcomes or a key project and is If the issue, proposal, decision, or other matter borderline in regards to the other thresholds and criteria for determining significance, Council will adopt a precautionary approach and treat the issue as being “more significant”. A: Contribution to Community Outcomes or Key Project concerned involves a significant decision in relation to B:Council Consistency will consider with the extent the to LTP which the decision contributes to its Community Outcomes or any key project. If a land or a body of water, Council will take into account B: matterConsistency clearly withcontributes the LTP to several Community Outcomes or a key project and is borderline in regards to the other thresholds and criteria for determining significance, this will mitigate in favour of the decision being treated as “less the view of Måori and their culture and traditions, significant”. If, however, a decision does not clearly contribute to Community Outcomes or a key project and is borderline in regards to the other thresholds and criteria for determining significance, Council will adopt a recognising their cultural values and their relationship precautionary approach and treat the issue as being “more significant”. Greater Significance to land and water. B: FullyConsistency described within the LTP Not included in the LTP the LTP When undertaking a process to determine the extent Council will consider the extent to which the decision flows logically and consequentially from a decision already Councilmade in willthe LTP consider or Annual the Plan. extent to which the decision to which issues, proposals, decisions or other matters flows logically and consequentiallyGreater Significance from a decision are significant; staff will prepare a report against the C: Net Cost to Council Fully described in Not included in alreadythe LTP made in the LTP or Annual Plan. the LTP thresholds and criteria listed below for consideration Council will consider the extent to which the decision flows logically and consequentially from a decision already by and presentation to Council. made in the LTP or Annual Plan. C: Net Cost to Council Greater Significance Council will evaluate the significance of each C: NoNet net Cost cost to Council Over financial limits proposal or decision it makes on a case-by-case Council will consider the magnitude of the decision in terms of its net cost to Council. Most major spending decisions basis. Decisions of low significance, including some will be made in the context of the LTP or Annual Plan. As a general guide, any individual decision involving more than $5 million of unbudgeted Greatercapital Significance expenditure or $500,000 of unbudgeted annual operating costs may be decisions made under delegated authority, may not regarded as significant. No net cost Over financial explicitly state the degree of significance. limits D: Variation of Options Council will consider the magnitude of the decision in terms of its net cost to Council. Most major spending decisions Significance and engagement will be considered in Councilwill be made will considerin the context the of the magnitude LTP or Annual of Plan.the decisionAs a general guide, any individual decision involving more than $5 million of unbudgeted capital expenditure or $500,000 of unbudgeted annual operating costs may be the early stages of a proposal before decision making in regardedterms ofas significant.its net cost to Council. Most major Greater Significance occurs and, if necessary, reconsidered as the proposal spending decisions will be made in the context of D: MinorVariation of Options Major develops. Differing levels of engagement may be thedifferences LTP or Annual Plan. As a general guide, anydifferences required during the varying phases of decision-making individualCouncil will decision consider theinvolving variation inmore impact than of the $5 options million identified (including a “do nothing” option) on the community. The greater the variation, the greater the degree of significance. on an issue, and for different stakeholders. of unbudgeted capital expenditureGreater Significance or $500,000 of E: Reversibility unbudgetedMinor annual operating costs may be regardedMajor differences differences as significant. Council will consider the variation in impact of the options identified (including a “do nothing” option) on the community. The greater the variation, the greater the degree of significance. Greater Significance E: EasilyReversibility Completely reversed irreversible Council will consider the reversibility of the outcomes arising from the decision. In general, the degree of significance will increase as the difficulty of reversing a decision’s outcome increases. Greater Significance Easily Completely reversed irreversible Council will consider the reversibility of the outcomes arising from the decision. In general, the degree of significance will increase as the difficulty of reversing a decision’s outcome increases. page 2 page 2 THRESHOLDS AND CRITERIA A: Contribution to Community Outcomes or Key Project Council will consider the extent to which the decision contributes to its Community Outcomes or any key project. If a matter clearly contributes to several Community Outcomes or a key project and is borderline in regards to the other thresholds and criteria for determining significance, this will mitigate in favour of the decision being treated as “less significant”. If, however, a decision does not clearly contribute to Community Outcomes or a key project and is THRESHOLDSborderline in AND regards CRITERIA to the other thresholds and criteria for determining significance, Council will adopt a precautionary approach and treat the issue as being “more significant”. B:A: ContributionConsistency withto Community the LTP Outcomes or Key Project Council will consider the extent to which the decision contributes to its Community Outcomes or any key project. If a matter clearly contributes to several Community Outcomes or a key project and is borderline in regards to the other thresholds and criteria for determining significance, this will mitigate in favour of the decision being treated as “less significant”. If, however, a decision does not clearly contribute to Community Outcomes or a key project and is borderline in regards to the otherGreater thresholds Significance and criteria for determining significance, Council will adopt a precautionary approach and treat the issue as being “more significant”. Fully described in Not included in the LTP the LTP B: Consistency with the LTP Council will consider the extent to which the decision flows logically and consequentially from a decision already made in the LTP or Annual Plan. 299 C: Net Cost to Council Greater Significance Fully described in Not included in F: Level of Controversy the LTP the LTP 2015 - 2025 Council will consider the extentGreater to which Significance the decision flows logically and consequentially from a decision already made in the LTP or Annual Plan. No net cost Over financial limits Greater Significance C: Net Cost to Council Uniformity of Deeply divided Council will consider the magnitude of the decision in terms of its net cost to Council. Most major spending decisions community views views PLAN LONG-TERM will be made in the context of the LTP or Annual Plan. As a general guide, any individual decision involving more than $5 million of unbudgeted capital expenditure or $500,000 of unbudgeted