Long Term Plans
Every three years councils prepare and consult on their next Long Term Plan (LTP), formerly their long term council community plan, this time for the 2012 - 2022 period.
These plans detail all the activities councils intend to provide or resource and show how they are going to be funded for the 10 year period of the plan. The plans are a major logistical exercise for councils involving most staff in one way or another. Detailed information has to be gathered about the condition of the councils' assets as well as any potential changes in the external environment that impact on these services in the future, such as population growth.
The draft plans are prepared by council officials with many councils undertaking pre-consultation in order to highlight possible areas requiring enhancement or new investment. Once the plans have received an audit opinion they will be published in accordance with the special consultative procedure, which ensures that individuals and groups have at least a month to make a written or verbal submission.
After submissions are considered and amendments to the plan made if necessary, council will then adopt the plan. Councils are required to adopt their final 2012-2022 LTP by the end of June 2012.
