Community Plan 2009-2019

Asset
Something of value that the Council owns on behalf of the people of the district, such as roads, drains, parks and buildings.

Asset Management Plan (AMP)
A plan for a specific asset, such as a building or a road or other major facility, showing what work will be undertaken on the asset in each year covered by the plan and the estimated cost.

Capital expenditure
An expenditure for the acquisition, replacement, renewal, modernisation, or expansion of an asset.

Capital value
Value of land including any improvements.

Community boards
Local elected bodies set up under the Local Government Act. Community boards are constituted by the Council and can represent community concerns to the Council. New Plymouth District Council has four community boards.

Carry forwards
These are projects and works not completed during the preceding financial year and will be completed during the following financial year.

Community Outcome
A desired result or state of affairs the community has identified as being important.

Community Plan (LTCCP -  Long-Term Council Community Plan)
A 10-year plan that describes the activities of the local authority, the community outcomes and long-term focus for the decisions and activities of the local authority.

Community Plan Work Programme
An annual statement which sets out for the forthcoming year the actions and activities of the Council and the budgets and finances associated with this.

Council activity
A major, separately recognisable service provided to the community by the Council.

Council allocations
Funding allocated to each activity from Council funds, primarily rates and loans.

Council-controlled organisation
An entity in which the Council directly or indirectly controls more than 50 per cent of votes at its meetings.

Depreciation
The wearing out, consumption or other loss of an asset. Depreciation charges serve to reduce the value of the asset to show its current service potential.Return to top

District Plan
A plan that sets out the rules and principles for management and use of land resources in the district. The Council is required to produce this under the Resource Management Act 1991.

Employee costs
Expenditure on staff. This includes wages, salaries and related taxes, training and recruitment costs.

Expenditure
Spending of the Council, including loan repayments.

Financial costs
Included in financial costs are interest on loans.

Financial year
The Council's financial year is 1 July to 30 June.

Income
Funding received by the Council which is used to pay for expenditure.

Infrastructural assets
Pipes, structures and equipment used to help provide services (e.g. underground water pipes, roads).

Level of service
A standard, and level of provision of service delivery, and the defined quality for a particular activity or service against which performance may be measured.

Land value
Value of land, excluding any improvements.

Loans funds
Any funding used by the Council that has been acquired by way of raising a loan.

LRR/SF (Loan Redemption Reserve/Sinking Fund)
Funds available for use in repaying debt.

Local Government Act 2002
The law that defines the powers and responsibilities of territorial authorities like the Council.

National Research Bureau (NRB) survey
An independent annual survey to identify community satisfaction with the Council's services and actions.

Outcome
A desired result or state of affairs the community has identified as being important.

Objectives
A specific description of intent that supports the achievement of an outcome. Objectives are usually stated in ways that allow the amount or type of achievement to be measured.

Operational assets
Tangible assets that are dealt with as part of normal operations. These assets include land, buildings, motor vehicles, plant and furniture and library resources.Return to top

Operating expenditure
Expenditure for the normal day to day operation of Council services (excluding costs relating to the capital expenditure of assets or repayment of loans).

Performance measures
Specific measures that outline how an activity is performing against set targets or standards.

Projected expenditure and income
The amount of money the Council expects to spend and receive for the following financial years. These projections are made in "dollars of the day", i.e. include projected inflation.

Prospective financial statement
This is a 10-year plan for the Council's revenue and expenditure, cash flows and borrowing programme.

Rates
Funds collected by the Council from levies on property. These are based on the land value or capital value of the property. The legal term 'rates' also includes uniform annual charges (UACs) and water by meter charges.

Recoveries
A form of income that is payment by one Council group to another in return for a service provided.

Renewals
Expenditure that results in the replacement of deteriorating assets with new assets that have the same service potential as the originals.

Reserves
Funds the Council sets aside for specific purposes.

Restricted assets
Assets that cannot be disposed of because of legal or other restrictions, and that provide a benefit or service to the community. These assets include reserves vested under the Reserves Act, and endowments and other property held in trust for specific purposes.

Revenue
Total Council income.

Significance
Degree of importance of the issue, proposal, decision or matter as assessed by the local authority in terms of its likely consequences for the current and future economic, cultural, environmental and social well-being of the community.

Special funds
Funding which has been set aside for a predetermined purpose.

Uniform annual charges (UACs)
Yearly fixed charges for water supply, sewage disposal and refuse collection. Only properties that receive these services pay the charges. (Also known as service charges.)

User charges
Income to the Council through fees paid by those who use specific services provided by the Council.

• Council services contact details
• Library and Service Centre contact details and hours.