24 Aug 2017

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The Council has endorsed a funding agreement with the Crown that says both parties will contribute $3.07 million each so a shared equity home ownership programme can be set up in Christchurch.

A new housing initiative aims to help modest-income families buy their own homes.

The programme is one of the initiatives to result from the Christchurch Housing Accord and is designed to help families on modest incomes buy their own home by providing them with a second mortgage, interest free, of up to 40 per cent of the house purchase price.   

The target market is low to medium income households who can afford to service a modest level of mortgage debt but who would currently struggle to buy a modestly priced home as their income levels are insufficient to service the full cost of bank funding.

The programme will prioritise households at or below the median income level for Christchurch, who have children, and who have some existing savings.

The Council's $3.07 million contribution to the programme is subject to confirmation in the 2018-28 Long Term Plan. 

If the Council does not match the Crown's contribution, it will have to repay the Crown's funding.

Cost Sharing Agreement refreshed

The Council has given its approval to some refreshes to the Cost Sharing Agreement with the Crown. Under the refreshes the Council will take ownership of the Margaret Mahy Playground, the Ōtākaro/Avon River Precinct, the Bus Interchange and the residential red zone land purchased by the Crown on the Port Hills and in Brooklands and Southshore.  It will pay the Crown $75 million for the assets. That payment has already been factored into the Council's budgets. 

Easter Sunday trading hours

The Council has decided not to set its own Easter Sunday trading policy, meaning shops in Christchurch will remain shut on Easter Sunday.

Territorial authorities can set their own Easter Sunday trading policies following the passing last year of the Shop Trading Hours Amendment Act. However, the Council has decided not to do this as the majority of locals surveyed said they were happy with the status quo. However,  Council staff have been asked to maintain a watching brief for public expressions of interest in having a policy and, if support does emerge, to report back to the Council with further options.  

Southshore report deferred

The Southshore Floodplain Management Short Term Options Report has been deferred until 9am next Thursday, 31 August, to give elected members more time to consider this issue. Jo Hooker, from the Avon Heathcote Estuary Ihutai Trust, spoke at the start of today's meeting and asked the Council to consider the natural environment of the estuary in planning flood protection, following damage to plantings from emergency works during the flood event last month.