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NPDC and The Water Company - Wai Hononga Water Services Ltd - are each consulting on separate proposed Significance and Engagement policies. They have meetings for the public. Why is this important ? The proposed policies have been substantially updated to reflect legislative requirements, recent case law, and current engagement practice with community’s. We think engagement by the Council has been a bit of a joke – but actually it is legally binding, so it is important.
We recently asked the NPDC to update their Statement of Expectations for the Water Company to better reflect future involvement with ratepayers, renters and consumers. We asked for this as the Statement of Expectations is a legally binding document. The Water Company must adhere to what is written in that document.
We were very pleased that the NPDC agreed to most of the changes we asked for.
Both the Water Company and NPDC significance and engagement documents are also legally binding. These organisations must identify what is significant information, so people must be told about it, and who else are the community groups and stakeholders who must be informed. These council organisations have a legal obligation to follow what these documents say they will do.
If you have not felt like you have been informed with things that are significant to you, this is your chance to give feedback. What things have you not been informed about that you feel you should be, who should be the stakeholders that you would like to keep you informed, what issues do you have that you think these councils, or companies, should make you aware of because they impact you through your rates, or rents.
Obvious things like big expenditure and debt come to mind and knowing what is happening before debt goes from $24M to $460M. That type of thing.
If you want to ask questions about what this all means, and how the decisions have been made on how you will be informed, there will be two joint information drop in sessions – both the Water Company and the NPDC will be at the same sessions. This also gives you a chance to meet some people from the NPDC and the Water Company.
The dates and details of the meetings with the public are below, please go to a session, these are being put on for you to ask questions, and they haven’t been for the last few years:
• Wednesday 16 September, 5.30pm to 6.30pm, NPDC Civic Centre (Plymouth Room), 84 Liardet Street, New Plymouth.
• Tuesday 22 September, 10.30am to 11.30am, Waitara Library and Service Centre (Boardroom), 15A Queen Street, Waitara.
The link to the submission document is here:
https://haveyoursay.npdc.govt.nz/npdc-proposed-significance-and-engagement-policy
P.S The new CEO for the Water Company has only been on board for a few weeks – but a very simple website has been set up so people can find out basic information about the company, or make contact if they need to. This is the website link:
https://www.npdc.govt.nz/wai-hononga-water-services-limited
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