|
Resolution number AE/2014/73
MOVED
by Deputy Chairperson GJ Fryer, seconded by Chairperson PD Haynes:
That the Albert-Eden
Local Board:
RATING POLICY OPTIONS
a) considers
that the residential rates increases for our area over the last three years
have been too onerous, with many ratepayers having increases of 10 per cent
per annum.
b) notes that the Board’s
ability to comment on the proposed financial policies for the Long-Term Plan
is impacted by the lack of information available regarding the effects of the
new capital valuations from 2015/2016 onwards.
c) requests further information
regarding the impact of various Uniform Annual General Charge levels combined
with the analysis of the new capital valuations data for the Albert-Eden
Local Board area.
d) recommends a review of the
reduction in the business rates differential – including options such as
spreading the reduction over a longer period, and pausing the reduction in
the short term - to lessen the impact of rates increases for residential
ratepayers.
e) supports the use of a 10 per
cent cap to keep rate increases tenable, while the transition to the new
rating system continues.
f) supports the use of the
general rate to fund local initiatives as local initiatives are core council
activities, essential to cohesive communities and Auckland being the world’s
most liveable city.
g) supports in principle a
decrease in the Uniform Annual General Charge to better balance fairness and
affordability issues.
h) supports rates postponement
for superannuitants, based on levels of income and ability to pay, in
addition to the Department of Internal Affairs’ rebate.
i) supports a review of
community, sporting and heritage remission and postponement policies in an
effort to promote transparency and fairness across Auckland.
j) notes that if legacy
community, sporting and heritage remission and postponement policies are
replaced by grants, the funding associated with the legacy policies should be
allocated to local boards so that the local boards’ discretionary budgets are
not impacted.
k) requests that the Governing
Body advocate to Central Government to ensure that the rates exemption for
government owned land (such as schools and hospitals) is lifted.
l) requests an investigation
into alternative funding mechanisms, including the feasibility of a ‘bed tax’
in Auckland.
m) requests that clear,
well-developed scenarios are consulted on as part of the draft Long-term Plan, including an option for a higher
rate increase, noting that it is important that Aucklanders understand what
services they can expect with different levels of rates.
STANDARDISATION OF FEES AND CHARGES
n) supports in principle a
standardisation and simplification of fees and charges in Auckland over time
in an effort to promote transparency and fairness across Auckland.
o) favours social housing rents
to be aligned to Housing New Zealand rent policy – i.e. 25 per cent of net
income.
p) supports a move to charging
for street trading and supports a fair and equitable charge for street
trading licences in town centres, reflecting the vitality benefits to town
centres.
DEVELOPMENT CONTRIBUTIONS
q) supports an increase to the
level of development contributions as a proportion of the median new house
cost in order to increase the level of provision of open space and other
community infrastructure to residents.
r) supports a variation of
development contributions according to size and type of housing in order to
encourage more efficient use of residential land.
s) requests that the local
board projects in parks and reserves and community facilities be exempted
from development contributions charges as the projects are providing
essential community infrastructure to cater for a growing city.
t) requests that the Governing
Body advocates for a change to the existing development contribution laws to
enable development contributions to be spent in established suburbs.
CARRIED
|
