Council policy and strategy lead Alix Crosbie and risk and procurement manager Ameila Lines presented a report on preparations for the 2027-37 long-term plan.
Because the previous long-term plan, adopted this year, was delayed due to the government’s water reform, the 2027-37 plan was due in two years not the usual three, the report said.
Water services and additional management plans required for auditing would also impact the long-term plan process.
Ms Crosbie said rates rises and the financial environment were likely to drive conversations around levels of service.
Committee chairman Bruce Robertson said affordability and financial risk were key things the committee monitored.
"I didn’t see financial strategy in here . . . when are you going to do it?"
Mayor Tamah Alley pointed him to a section further on in the report but Mr Robertson was not satisfied.
"I think it’s implied but looking at this I think the financial strategy is understated."
The question was when was a financial strategy prepared, he said.
"Is it the result of all your planning [or] is it driving the financial position?"
Ms Lines said staff would not know the answer to that until they had a direction of the new council following next month’s elections.
Council chief financial officer Paul Morris said traditionally the council’s financial strategy had always been an end result.
There were two ways to approach it, he said.
"Either get a fiscal envelope up front from the council and say this is what we are expecting or present budgets and start fitting budgets to expectations."
His preference was for the former so the staff new what they were working with, a position Mr Robertson agreed with.
However, that would depend on the incoming council, Mr Morris said.
Mr Robertson said the upcoming long-term plan would be the council’s most difficult, with changes to water services and ongoing central government reform.
Ms Crosbie said long-term planning training would be offered for both staff and elected members before asking for decisions to be made, following a review of the last long-term plan process.
