From today, councils will incur financial penalties for delays in resource consent processing.The Resource Management (Discount on Administrative Charges) Regulations 2010 require councils to apply a minimum 1% discount for each day a consent is processed
From today, councils will incur financial penalties for delays in resource consent processing.
The Resource Management (Discount on Administrative Charges) Regulations 2010 require councils to apply a minimum 1% discount for each day a consent is processed beyond the 20-working day statutory requirement up to a maximum of 50%.
The regulations are intended to reduce delays and help the economic recovery, Environment Minister Nick Smith said in a press release today.
“I know some councils are uncomfortable with these financial penalties for lateness but if it is good enough for the goose it is good enough for the gander,” he said.
“Councils put penalties on rates if they are paid late so it is fair enough that when councils are late, they too face financial penalties.”
According to the release, between 1999 and 2008, councils granted themselves an extension on 25% more permits, and the numbers of those processed late grew by 13%. Historically, less than half of consents have been processed within the 20-day statutory period.
Ministry for the Environment officials attended council presentations in all regions to explain the new regulations. Dr Smith said feedback from the sessions indicates that councils are now considering how to improve their timeliness.
