Council community development lead Rebecca Williams said the Cromwell Community Board requested that the Cromwell Community Board community grants account be reimbursed from the Cromwell Reserves Contributions fund account, for the Cromwell Bike Park Inc grant application of $20,000.
During the board’s 2025-26 community grants round the board resolved to provide a grant to the Bike Park Inc. for $20,000 towards a shade sail installation and irrigation system improvements.
During discussion, it was suggested the projects should be funded from the Cromwell Reserves Contribution Fund. As part of the resource consent process for new developments funds were levied to contribute towards the development of reserves, which these projects were.
In September the board approved the grant to give the bike park certainty but were now seeking council permission to reimburse the amount from the reserves contribution fund, which the council controlled, Ms Williams said.
The reimbursement would allow the $20,000 to be contested in a further round of community grants.
There was no clear process or policy from council on the use of the reserve contributions, Ms Williams said.
Mayor Tamah Alley said the bike park improvements would meet community expectations that the reserves contributions should be spent on reserves.
It did seem a policy was needed to clarify building or putting up structures on council recreation land, she said.
Later in the meeting risk and procurement manager Amelia Lines presented the key risk report to councillors.
It was just the second time the report had been presented in public. Previously it had been in the public excluded part of the meeting.
Mrs Alley said it was important people knew what the risks facing council were.
Ms Lines said the council’s highest risks continued to be Three Waters management along with affordability and financial sustainability.
Cr Curtis Pannett asked if the Three Waters risk had been reduced now the council’s water plan had been accepted.
Ms Lines said it was likely to remain at the highest rating until the council-controlled organisation took it over in 2027.
The key drivers in affordability and financial sustainability risk was increasing regulatory focus, increasing costs in renewing and replacing infrastructure and long-term plan community consultation showing residents did not want to see a drop in council services.
Key risks were updated quarterly and reported to the audit and risk committee.
