Annual Report 2010 - Christchurch City Council

Community support
Council activities
and services
Annual Report
Christchurch Otautahi
2010
p49.
Council activities and services
Community support
What is community support and what does the
Council do?
Community support provides housing, community facilities,
project funding, community programmes and emergency
management for the benefit of our community. Through Civil
Defence we prepare the city in case of disaster and co-ordinate
our response when that occurs. Community facilities and funding
enable people to socialise and carry out voluntary work for the
good of the city, and programmes aimed at those at risk help make
our city a better place to live.
Why is the Council involved in community support?
We provide opportunities for meeting and socialising which
develop strong and inclusive communities within the city.
Local government is responsible for promoting the cultural,
economic, environmental and social well-being of communities for
the present and the future.
Community support activities contribute to the cultural and
social well-being of the community by ensuring that Civil Defence
initiatives are in place, that community groups receive support and
funding for further development, and that a wide range of services
and facilities, including social housing, are available for the use of
the community.
They also contribute toward the achievement of the city’s
Community Outcomes by helping to make Christchurch a city
of diverse and inclusive communities, a well-governed city, and
a prosperous city – three of the nine goals for our city that are
included in our Community Outcomes. This contribution is made
through funding and working with community organisations to
support their communities, involving them in Council decision
making processes and helping them stand on their own feet so they
are able to prosper. For more information on these nine goals see
the Community Outcomes section of this report.
How does it affect me?
Community support services mean you’ll have help if disaster hits.
Community groups in your area receive funding for projects that
will make your neighbourhood a better and safer place to live and
provide places in your part of town that can be used for socialising
and recreation. Ultimately, it means you will live in a safer, stronger
community.
What activities are included in community support?
Civil Defence and emergency management
We co-ordinate local Civil Defence, including training of operations
centre staff and community volunteers. We also promote
community awareness of the likely impact of a disaster and
encourage everyone to be prepared.
Community grants
We provide community grant funding to community groups for
projects and initiatives that benefit wider Christchurch, local
communities and communities of interest.
Community facilities
We own a range of facilities, community centres, halls and cottages
which can be hired by community groups for activities such as
public meetings, dance or exercise classes, social gatherings, craft
groups and sports workshops.
Community facilities allow activities to take place which fulfil a
wide variety of social, educational and recreational needs. They are
places for people to meet, play and learn.
Early learning centres
We operate three early learning centres at Tuam Street, and QEII
and Pioneer sports and recreation centres where children under
five years old are safe and well cared for. We also provide an
additional 13 facilities which are operated by the community.
Social housing
We provide affordable housing for Christchurch people on low
incomes, for the elderly and people with disabilities. The housing is
financially sustainable and is not funded through general rates.
Strengthening communities
Community development projects planned, facilitated or
delivered by the Council, voluntary organisations, iwi and other
stakeholders, help to build and promote strong communities.
Project and support are provided to many communities of interest
representing youth, people with disabilities, the elderly, multicultural
groups, and voluntary and not-for-profit environmental,
arts and social service groups.
Community Engagement refers to the process of involving
communities in the planning and development of services in
their own area. The community engagement process is essential
for the legitimacy and responsiveness of local government. The
Local Government Act 2002 requires local authorities to place
emphasis upon enhancing opportunities for public participation
in local decision-making. It is important to recognise, however,
that differing levels of public participation will be appropriate
depending on the circumstances.
As the Safer Christchurch team, we work to achieve the goals of
the Safer Christchurch Strategy. Specifically, we work in the areas
of injury prevention, crime prevention and graffiti vandalism
mitigation. We aim to make Christchurch the safest city in New
Zealand and to maintain Christchurch’s accreditation as an
International Safe Community.
Walk-in customer services
The Council operates walk-in customer services at service centre
locations across greater Christchurch. Customers have ready access
to a wide range of Council information and services at first point of
contact, including: drainage plans, payments, reception, bookings,
kerbside collection services and products, dogs licensing and
dispatching requests for service to various Council departments.