Mayor Lydia Gliddon and Acting CEO Steve Gibling
Mayor Lydia Gliddon and Acting CEO Steve Gibling

Selwyn District Councillors concluded the majority of their Annual Plan 2026/2027 deliberations yesterday, confirming its core priorities and investments for the year ahead.

Following 964 submissions, almost 100 people presenting their views to Councillors in person, and robust debate, Mayor Lydia Gliddon says the Plan reflects community feedback and careful decision-making.

“We really value the time people took to consider our suggestions for how to manage growth, community needs, and keeping rates manageable. I’m pleased to see how involved our community is.”

“Thank you to everyone who made a submission, asked a question and talked with us about what’s important to them in the year ahead,” says Gliddon.

The 2026/2027 consultation saw one of the highest levels of Annual Plan engagement the Council has ever received.

Key feedback themes were on land drainage and stormwater, and suggestions for Council to invest more in this area. At the same time, submitters were clear that affordability matters and they wanted to keep rates as low as possible.

“The feedback shows a clear majority of submitters want a rates increase of 4.9% or lower. We’ve been upfront throughout that we wanted to reduce the proposed increase where we could, and we’ve listened to that,” explains Gliddon.

Key decisions the Council has agreed for 2026/2027 include:

  • A request for staff to model a 4.9% or lower rates increase, to inform an updated position in early June.
  • A commitment to invest more in land drainage and to develop a fully integrated stormwater plan through the Council’s Long-Term Plan.
  • Approval of $160,000 to support the Sheffield Pool through the community trust, once the settlement for the land and pool is completed.
  • A reduction in funding for council events saving $107,000 and a commitment to seek event sponsorship.
  • A request for the Council’s funding panel to recommend how the Council can best support groups to deliver outcomes for the community.
  • Adopting a user pays approach in some areas, for example increases of $8 for dog registrations and about 60 cents for some classes.

Mayor Gliddon says, “This Plan keeps us investing in what matters to the community and appropriate planning for growth, balanced with a disciplined and prudent approach to managing rates.”

The final Annual Plan 2026/2027 will be formally adopted by Council at a public meeting to be held on 30 June, before coming into effect on 1 July 2026. Council staff will be working through plans to implement the Annual Plan from 1 July.

The submissions can be viewed at: Selwyn District Council - Annual Plan

Recordings of the submissions and deliberations can be viewed at: Selwyn District Council - YouTube

Last modified: 22 May 2026 3:51pm