30 November 2006

Council extends public consultation dates

The Christchurch City Council today extended the consultation dates for three of its key strategy and policy documents.

The consultation date for the Draft Community Development Strategy, including the Community Group Grants Review and Community Facilities Plan, has been extended to 30 January 2007 and the Social Housing Strategy and Draft Ageing Together Policy until the end of February 2007.

With a number of key strategies out for consultation, Council Community Services General Manager Stephen McArthur said the Council was aware some community groups felt under pressure to meet the existing dates for submissions.

Submissions for the Draft Community Development Strategy and Draft Social Housing Strategy were to have closed on 22 December 2006 and the Ageing Together Policy on 27 January 2007.

Mr McArthur said by extending the consultation dates the public were being given up to another two months to be involved in the process.

Public consultation on the Draft Community Development Strategy was unable to be extended beyond 30 January 2007 because it would have prevented Council from implementing any proposed changes to the Community Grants Schemes in the coming financial year, he said.

“It was felt important Council be able to proceed with these changes to address public confusion around the number of different schemes and also double-dipping by some organisations. These are changes the public has been asking Council to make.”

ENDS

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