29 April 2020

Media: Rotorua Daily Post

Topic: NZME Go Local! campaign

Enquiry

NZME, publisher of the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post, today launched a major campaign in an effort to help stimulate the local economy. GO LOCAL! is a call to action for people to support local businesses and organisations.

The campaign will shine a light on businesses being innovative and supporting one another during levels 3 and 2 - and beyond, as well as and supporting specific buy-local initiatives in various communities across the city and region.

I am hoping to shine a light on our local councils to find out what they are doing to support local businesses. My questions to your council are below:

• What is your council doing to support local business?
• Why is it important for local councils to be doing their bit to support local?
• How does the council plan on continuing to support local into the future?
• Why do you think it is more important than ever to support local?
• Please add anything else you would like to say, here:

Response

From Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick:

"Supporting local businesses will be crucial to support the recovery of our local economy and the future wellbeing and sustainability of our community.

"Rotorua's Build Back Better economic recovery strategy is all about supporting local business with the aim to create a confident business environment that encourages investment and the emergence of new sectors. We are working closely with the business sector and other partners on the recovery strategy and will also continue to advocate at national level on Rotorua's behalf.

"Council is committed to buying local services and products wherever possible through its procurement policy, by giving greater weighting to local providers of trades and services.

"We will also be doing whatever we can to support go/buy local campaigns to encourage residents to support our local businesses and keep our people in jobs."

Ways Rotorua Lakes Council is supporting local business:

• Council is working with the local business community, iwi and government agencies on this with council CCO Rotorua Economic Development (RED) leading the establishment of a business steering group and sector groups to develop local strategies for recovery.
• Re-starting existing capital projects as soon as is possible and prudent.
• A rates deferral option impacted businesses for the May 2020 rates instalment is being offered.
• Identifying and submitting projects that could be accelerated/brought forward with Central Government investment (submitted to Crown Infrastructure Partners).
• Continuing work on a district housing strategy which has potential to contribute to keeping local businesses going and people in jobs through construction and associated sectors as well as addressing our critical housing shortage;
• Council is strengthening its council procurement policy to increase the emphasis on wherever possible using local contractors, consultants and services. Additional pro-local actions undertaken in terms of procurement include:
• significantly increasing the weighting applied to the Local Economic Impact and Broader Outcomes attribute;
• proactively encouraging local contractors to bid for projects;
• using invited tender processes limited to local contractors only;
• having open tender processes but requiring participants to have a local office or depot to be considered as conforming.
• Council's CCO Rotorua Economic Development (RED) is also working directly with businesses to provide support and advice, to ensure Rotorua's "voice" is heard at a national level
• RED is also creating a space on its website (rotoruaNZ.com) for local businesses to let people know they are open and this will be promoted on Council channels including website and social media.
• Council is lobbying for the retention of Airways services (traffic control) at Rotorua Airport following a proposal that these be removed. We believe this would be another major setback, impacting on our economic recovery. For more information on the above see the links below:
• Info re rates deferral scheme is HERE
• Info about the Build Back Better economic recovery strategy is HERE
• Info re projects submitted for potential Govt funding through CIP is HERE
• More about council's procurement policy review and increased weighting for local business/contractorscan be found on p47 of the Full Council Meeting agenda for 30 April HERE
• More about Council lobbying for retention of Airways services HERE

________________________________________________________________________________________

Media: The Mud

Topic: Rotorua economic recovery plan

Enquiry

The Mud had the following questions in relation to the Build Back Better Rotorua economic recovery plan:

1. Is there a timeframe for the recovery plan to be implemented - I guess it will be fully developed, passed by the council first etc etc?

2. Does the delegation to the CE mean the CE can start implementing the plan once it is passed by the council (I am asking this assuming that this pandemic will be longer than four weeks)?

3. Will ratepayers/the public have any input on the plan?

4. The report says one of Rotorua's strengths is an Easy Lifestyle - what does that mean?

5. In Underlying challenges section, it notes "Reason why we were considered a 'surge region' - so we are no longer considered a surge region - if this term means economic surge?

6. Is it possible to clarify what the deferral means -

a. put off rate payments entirely for one or more quarters; or,

b. a percentage cut to rates?

7. In Position our district for recovery, it says "Accelerate capital expenditure projects that drive employment" - how will that goal be measured?

8. How many people are currently employed on the Lakefront and Forest projects?

Response

The following information was provided:

1. There is no specific timeframe. How long the recovery strategy is needed will be dependent on Rotorua's economic recovery. Council has approved the strategy. Updates and decision points will go to Council as required.
2. No. The CE delegations are a separate matter, not specifically related to the implementation of the plan but to council decision-making in general. The delegation lapsed when we came out of Alert Level 4, as per the decision the Council made.
3. Business and iwi representatives will be on the steering group and sector groups that will develop strategies for economic recovery. This part of the Build Back Better Rotorua economic recovery strategy is being facilitated by Council's CCO Rotorua Economic Development.
4. This is a reference to the 2017 refresh of the Rotorua 2030 Vision. The refresh was given the title The Rotorua Way to signify it being essentially the next chapter in progress towards the 2030 goals. The Rotorua Way focussed on the district's key strengths and opportunities to build on those. The key strengths identified were Active environment, Strong culture, Easy lifestyle and Diverse opportunities. You'll find more, including what these mean, HERE on Council's website
5. No it does not mean we are no longer considered a "surge" region. This is a term that was used by the Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) for regions that were identified as needing, and prioritised for, early investment. BOP was one of 6 regions identified for early investment due to underlying issues (eg high unemployment, health and other deprivation, low skills) and the need for long-term changes.
6. Deferral means deferring/postponing payments for 6 to 12 months. See HERE on Council's website for more on the rates deferral scheme.
7. It would be measured in number of jobs created. See info HERE about projects the Council has submitted for potential Government funding through Crown Infrastructure Partners (CIP) which includes estimations re anticipated job creation.
8. Information still to come