DRAFT LTP book.indb - Hurunui District Council

www.hurunui.govt.nzThe starting point for determining the degree of signifi canceis to consider:• the likely impact on or consequences for thewellness of the community, taking account inrelation to current and future needs (i.e.sustainability) the social, economic, environmentaland cultural wellbeing of the District, along withthe District’s landscape & outlook, individual andcommunity lifestyle, education and skills development,heritage & tradition, and infrastructure.• the likely impact on or consequences for thoseaffected or interested.• the capacity of the Council (including fi nancial capacity)to implement the decision and carry out its normal role.It is Council’s decision as to what “a high degree of signifi cance”means in each instance.Criteria for Determining Signifi canceThe signifi cance of a decision will help determine theappropriate nature, extent and degree of compliance requiredwith the decision-making process set out in Part 6 of the LGA.For signifi cant decisions, the Council will ensure appropriatecompliance.The questions set out below should be used by Council toassist in determining the degree of signifi cance of any issue,proposal, decision or other matter. These questions will alsohelp 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 suffi cient information about theissue, proposal, decisions or other matter?If not, then no decision as to the signifi cance of the issue canbe made.Secondly: If the answer is yes to any of the following questionsthen the issue, proposal, decisions or other matter hassignifi cance. The greater the number of ‘yes’ answers, the greaterthe degree of signifi cance.In the opinion of the Council, does the issue, proposal, decisionor other matter:• affect all or a large portion of the community in a farreachingway?• have a potential impact or consequence on the affectedpersons (being a number of persons) that is substantial?• have fi nancial implications on the Council’s resourcesthat would be substantial?• generate (or would be expected to generate) a highdegree of controversy?• fail to fl ow logically or consequentially from a decisionin the Hurunui Long Term Community Plan (includingthe ideal of District and community wellness)?Signifi cant Issues, Proposals, Decisions and OtherMattersSignifi cant issues, proposals, decisions or other matters will beincluded in the Hurunui Long Term Community Plan whereverpossible. Where this is not practical they will be includedwherever possible in the Annual Plan produced in the yearsbetween the Hurunui Long Term Community Plan or whererequired by the Act in an amendment to the Hurunui Long TermCommunity Plan.Signifi cant decisions will only be made outside of the aboveprocesses where there are compelling reasons for it not beingpractical for them to be included in the Hurunui Long TermCommunity Plan or Annual Plan.The Council will not proceed with a decision that is deter- minedto be signifi cant without consideration of a detailed statementevidencing compliance with sections 77, 78, 80,81 and 82 of theLGA.Other implications of signifi cance under the LGA are:• The Council must use the special consultativeprocedure (SCP) when considering a proposal to alterthe mode (as set out in LGA section 88(1-2)) by whicha signifi cant activity is undertaken.• If an option identifi ed in the decision-making processinvolves a signifi cant decision in relation to land or abody of water, the local authority must take intoaccount the relationship of Mäori and their culture andtraditions with their ancestral land, water, etc.• The Council must not lose control of, sell or disposeof ‘signifi cant infrastructure’ necessary for providingwater services.ConsultationThe signifi cance of a matter will guide the Council’s decisionsconcerning the extent and nature of the consultation to beundertaken with the persons likely to be affected or interestedin the decision or matter as set out in section 82 of the LGA.In determining what is appropriate, the Council must haveregard to various matters including its likely impact from theperspective of the persons who will or may be affected by thedecision. The degree of signifi cance will help decide whethera special round of consultation is necessary, or whether it issufficient to rely on information already gathered and held bythe Council. The degree of compliance and associated costinvolved when making a judgment about signifi cance of aparticular decision also needs to be considered.258