Long Term Community Plan 2012-2022 - Hurunui District Council

www.hurunui.govt.nz
The starting point for determining the degree of significance
is to consider:
• the likely impact on or consequences for the wellness of the
community, taking account in relation to current and future
needs (i.e. sustainability) the social, economic, environmental
and cultural wellbeing of the District, along with the District’s
landscape & outlook, individual and community lifestyle,
education and skills development, heritage & tradition, and
infrastructure.
• the likely impact on or consequences for those
affected or interested.
• the capacity of the Council (including financial capacity)
to implement the decision and carry out its normal role.
It is Council’s decision as to what “a high degree of significance”
means in each instance.
Criteria for Determining Significance
The significance of a decision will help determine the
appropriate nature, extent and degree of compliance required
with the decision-making process set out in Part 6 of the LGA.
For significant decisions, the Council will ensure appropriate
compliance.
The questions set out below should be used by Council to
assist in determining the degree of significance of any issue,
proposal, decision or other matter. These questions will also
help with the required level of compliance with sections 77, 78,
80, 81 and 82 of the LGA. (Refer to the appendices.)
Firstly: Does Council have sufficient information about the
issue, proposal, decisions or other matter?
If not, then no decision as to the significance of the issue can
be made.
Secondly: If the answer is yes to any of the following questions
then the issue, proposal, decisions or other matter has
significance. The greater the number of ‘yes’ answers, the
greater the degree of significance.
In the opinion of the Council, does the issue, proposal, decision
or other matter:
• affect all or a large portion of the community in a farreaching
way?
• have a potential impact or consequence on the affected
persons (being a number of persons) that is substantial?
• have financial implications on the Council’s resources
that would be substantial?
• generate (or would be expected to generate) a high
degree of controversy?
• fail to flow logically or consequentially from a decision
in the Hurunui Long Term Community Plan (including
the ideal of District and community wellness)?
Significant Issues, Proposals, Decisions and Other
Matters
Significant issues, proposals, decisions or other matters will be
included in the Hurunui Long Term Community Plan wherever
possible. Where this is not practical they will be included
wherever possible in the Annual Plan produced in the years
between the Hurunui Long Term Community Plan or where
required by the Act in an amendment to the Hurunui Long Term
Community Plan.
Significant decisions will only be made outside of the above
processes where there are compelling reasons for it not being
practical for them to be included in the Hurunui Long Term
Community Plan or Annual Plan.
The Council will not proceed with a decision that is deter- mined
to be significant without consideration of a detailed statement
evidencing compliance with sections 77, 78, 80,81 and 82 of the
LGA.
Other implications of significance under the LGA are:
• The Council must use the special consultative
procedure (SCP) when considering a proposal to alter
the mode (as set out in LGA section 88(1-2)) by which
a significant activity is undertaken.
• If an option identified in the decision-making process
involves a significant decision in relation to land or a
body of water, the local authority must take into
account the relationship of Mäori and their culture and
traditions with their ancestral land, water, etc.
• The Council must not lose control of, sell or dispose
of ‘significant infrastructure’ necessary for providing
water services.
Consultation
The significance of a matter will guide the Council’s decisions
concerning the extent and nature of the consultation to be
undertaken with the persons likely to be affected or interested
in the decision or matter as set out in section 82 of the LGA.
In determining what is appropriate, the Council must have
regard to various matters including its likely impact from the
perspective of the persons who will or may be affected by the
decision. The degree of significance will help decide whether
a special round of consultation is necessary, or whether it is
sufficient to rely on information already gathered and held by
the Council. The degree of compliance and associated cost
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