Tory Whanau. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Wellington's mayor says councillors should look to "share the pain" across the city as they consider project cuts following the airport vote.
Nearly two weeks ago the council voted to stop the sale of its 34 percent stake in Wellington Airport.
The sale had been part of its long-term plan (LTP), adopted in June.
Now the council has to undergo a LTP amendment process, which will involve community consultation and a final vote on the changes in June next year.
Mayor Tory Whanau warned that the council will have to look at cuts as a result of the vote.
In a statement released on Monday, Whanau said that she had met with councillors again on Monday afternoon discuss the amendment process. She said it would be fast-moving, with the hope of having key elements of a draft amendment ready by the end of the year.
Simeon Brown. Photo: RNZ / REECE BAKER
Whanau said making savings would be a difficult process, and councillors had discussed what should inform those changes.
"As a top priority I think every councillor agrees that the LTP amendment decisions should not further increase rates and should not reduce funding for water.
"The focus is on reducing new infrastructure and community building projects as these are debt-funded."
She said she would also seek to avoid cuts to the council's provision of social housing and climate action.
Whanau said reductions to community projects were difficult.
"Where these are considered, it is my view that we should seek to share the pain as much as possible across different wards and between the central city and suburbs."
The mayor's office shared the following dates for the long-term plan amendment process:
- 29 October: Committee paper on process and risks
- 12/13 November: Committee workshop outlining options for reducing the capital programme
- 21 November: Decision on capital programme reduction for consultation
- 11 December: Approval of draft budget
- 20 March - 20 April: Community consultation
- 26 June: LTP approved
The statement came as the city council was under pressure due to threats from the government of intervention in the council due to the recent vote.
An urgent meeting was held last week between councillors, which was followed up by a meeting between Whanau and Local Government Minister Simeon Brown on Thursday last week.
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