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Staff will now start preparing the draft plan, which they will then present to councillors in February 2026 before going out for public feedback.
Chief Financial Officer Bede Carran says the options have been developed by the new council in a series of workshops held since October’s local elections.
“Councillors have workshopped different ways of delivering what was agreed in the Long Term Plan 2024–2034 while reducing rates lower than what was projected,” Mr Carran says.
“Based on our work so far, the direction for the draft plan would see an 8.32% average rates increase next year.
“Staff will work over the holiday break and into the first weeks of 2026 as they continue developing a draft plan that doesn’t compromise on what our community expects from us.”
At this stage, councillors have agreed that the first cut of the Draft Annual Plan will include the following proposals:
- Savings due to reduced insurance premiums, an updated subvention receipt forecast and a review of the capital programme’s deliverability.
- Putting identified savings towards reducing debt.
- Asking for feedback on whether to pause a planned increase to the Environmental Partnership and the Climate Resilience funds, as well as on a proposal to permanently reduce the funding that goes towards contestable grants, such as the Strengthening Communities Fund.
“We expect that councillors will continue to debate the Draft Annual Plan before it’s adopted in February 2026, and the community will then get a chance to have a say on our proposals in March,” Mr Carran says.