Councillor comment

Council meeting

At our Extraordinary Council meeting on the 19^th August, councillors debated the issue of signing or not signing the Memorandum of Understanding and Funding Agreement with the Crown to participate in a review of three waters service delivery. Councillors have voted to sign the MOU and delegated this to the Mayor.  The signed MOU needed to be with the Government by the 31^st August.  

Once this has been signed by representatives of the Crown, Council will receive approximately $2.8 million in funding to be used in the areas of the three waters. As the plans on which projects are to be progressed earlier than expected and the costs of these projects are finalised, we will be pleased to report further and keep everyone up to date.  This is certainly a major injection of funds for all councils throughout NZ and a huge responsibility to make sure the funds are used wisely.

Pain Farm

Thanks go to Council’s Amenities Manager, Bryce Neems, and his team, who have been really busy at Pain Farm Homestead and have completed the repairs to all the sash windows, repainted the entire inside of the homestead.  Installed heat pumps, new curtains and new carpet.  They have also hung 2 beautiful chandelier light fittings which look stunning.  They have also completed some of the work required on the cottage. Well done and thanks to you all. 

It is planned to hold an open day at the homestead on Thursday 10^th September and there will be more advertising around this.

Long Term Plan

The Annual Plan has now been signed off and work has started on preparing for the Long Term Plan for the 2021 – 2023 period.  This like the Annual Plan, will take up many hours of councillor time as we discuss the way forward and also include the Spatial plan during the consultation period.  

Some of the items agreed to during the Annual Plan, such as the Waste Minimisation Action Plan and the Water Conservation Action Plan will need to be developed by Council officers for consultation as part of the LTP process – which is an enormous undertaking for Council officers.

Grant Applications

The Grant application funding round has closed and there were 42 applications received, 7 of these were for the Youth Grant Funding and 35 for Community Grant Funding. On the 27^th August, a subcommittee of the Finance, Audit & Risk Committee will hear 31 applicants speak to their applications and then the committee will deliberate and discuss these applications.  

If you would like to see the submitted applications then these can be found on the Council website  www.swdc.govt.nz  under Your Council, Meetings, Finance Audit & Risk, Grants Committee. It is very heart warming to read about all the fantastic things that are happening in our community and the very talented and community minded people undertaking this work.

COVID-19  

Covid-19 – we are still on Level 2 and it is our priority that everyone in the community remains safe at this time, look out for yourselves first, family next and then neighbours and friends/colleagues. Please take care and continue to follow any instructions from our Prime Minister and the Ministry of Health. This will ensure that we come through this in the best way possible.

I was going to say that it is hard to believe that Spring and September are just around the corner, but the daffodils have been out in flower for a wee while and I see that my peonies have lovely big flower buds already.  Enjoy the longer days and the extra sunshine.

Be safe, be kind and take care.

Pam Colenso  0274414892 pam.colenso@swdc.govt.nz