Full Unitary Plan Hearings Cost $28.4 million

 

Yesterday in my “Governing Body and Budget Committee Agenda’s Out” post I had pointed out that the Unitary Plan Hearings Panel is budgeted to cost Auckland $12.4 million. Upon some further reading of the Budget Committee agenda this morning I had run across some more costs for Auckland.

Take a look at this extract from page 21 of the Budget Committee agenda:

 

Some highlights:

• Mediators and facilitator: $2.64 million over three years
  • 10 mediators/facilitator at 180 days. Mediators rate is $200/hour, facilitator is at $150/hour
• Chairman and Panel Members are budgeted at $4.529 million with the Chair being paid $1500/day ($187.50 for a 9-5 day) and Panel Members at $1200/day ($150/h for a 9-5 day)
• $1.142 million for Democracy Services support
• $1.258 million for building hire – with the paper saying 205 Queen Street
• Total Cost is again $12,439 million

 

So where does the extra money come from for the $28 million figure I said at the top? Check this from the Budget Committee agenda on 18 which is embedded below:

 

Some highlights:

• An apparent savings of $181,000 against the Hearings Panel
• Original cost for Unitary Plan Staff and services was at $13.8 million. However, with GIS support adding an extra $2.1 million the new cost for, the Unitary Plan excluding Independent Hearings Panel stands at $15.9 million
• Total Unitary Plan funding including the Independent Hearing Panel is at $28,421,575

 

The budgetary costs for the Unitary Plan Hearings Panel and accompanying support structures DO NOT take into account is any litigation on the Unitary Plan either by submitters or the Council itself. As mentioned before if the Council rejects a recommendation by the Hearings Panel, a submitter can go to the Environment Court against the Council on that recommendation rejection.  If the Council accepts a recommendation then that recommendation can only be appealed in the High Court on points of law only.

It is of note that the Unitary Plan Hearings Panel continues in existence until it effectively the Unitary Plan is operative and all litigation against the Unitary Plan is either complete or exhausted.

 

I am in no way objecting to the costs of the Unitary Plan Hearings Panel (at the moment). I am illustrating though the cost the City needs to budget for as we work through the next phase of the Unitary Plan. What will be interesting though is what litigation might come up through all this and at what cost.

The $28 million is NOT the Price of our Democracy – I consider it an investment into our Democracy and our City.

Litigation especially considered vexatious litigation that drags on and on and on? This is where the Price of our Democracy might run high and become costly… 

 

A case of wait and see – unfortunately…

 

Budget Committee Agenda