Development of key policies

I would like to talk about policy development in the six priority areas.
 

We will strive to develop endogenous industries that make use of the rich natural environment of Niseko Town, promote collaboration between agriculture, tourism, and commerce and industry, and utilize the energy that exists in the region and the circulation of the economy within the region. In addition, we will promote efforts toward self-sustaining local economies through various collaborations with companies, universities, research institutes, etc. that share and empathize with the philosophy of urban development.

The global spread of the coronavirus and Russia's invasion of Ukraine have created an unstable social situation. The situation surrounding agricultural (dairy farming) management is becoming increasingly severe, such as the reduction of management stabilization measures and the adjustment of sugar beet production. I'm here.
　
Currently, in response to changes in the global food situation, increasing food security risks, global environmental issues, and the expansion of overseas markets, the government is considering revising the Basic Act on Food, Agriculture, and Rural Areas, which was enacted 20 years ago, and is working to make the Green Food System Strategy, published in 2021, a pillar of the country's agricultural policy.
　
Based on these national agricultural policies, the town will continue to promote clean agriculture and recycling-oriented agriculture, and will work to establish a crop rotation system based on soil preparation. In order to promote this, with the cooperation of related organizations, we will consider the way of agricultural production suitable for Honmachi. At the same time, we believe that it is important to secure sales channels that make use of our strengths as a tourist resort based on the technical capabilities that enable the production of multiple items, which is a feature of Honcho agriculture.

On the other hand, however, along with the aging of agricultural workers, in addition to the existing shortage of human resources, there is a remarkable rise in employment costs due to the impact of wage increases in the regional tourism industry. The introduction of machinery has also become important. For this reason, we will promote measures to secure human resources, taking into account the stable acceptance of foreign trainees and measures to secure a collaborative labor force in the JA Yotei area.
This year, we will continue to support the sustainability of agriculture suitable for Niseko Town while utilizing the national system, such as improving the management environment for agriculture and strengthening the management structure.
　
In 2023, we will continue to work on preserving prime farmland, with the National Emergency Farmland Reorganization and Development Project at its core, and advance the Green Food System Strategy. We will also implement projects to improve farmers' incomes, such as promoting safe and secure "clean agriculture" that is in harmony with the environment, consolidating farmland use, improving agricultural infrastructure, promoting profitable farming, developing agricultural leaders, and promoting sixth-sector industrialization. Furthermore, in order to practice diverse and sustainable agriculture, we will continue to work on soil improvement measures such as subsidizing fully-matured compost and encouraging green manure crops, regional branding measures for local products linked to tourism, sixth-sector industrialization support, and support for the introduction of new cultivation techniques.

In 2022 (FY2022), there was also the arrival of the seventh wave due to the highly infectious mutant form of the new coronavirus, but with the launch of projects such as nationwide travel support, tourists are gradually returning to Honmachi. In addition, the Niseko Resort Tourism Association has strengthened the acceptance of educational trips as part of its land-based travel development project, and the number of guests staying in the town has recovered significantly, and the number of tourists from overseas is gradually recovering.

Since the 2021 (FY2021), the town has embarked on an initiative to create a sustainable tourism area in line with the standards of the Global Sustainable Tourism Association (GSTC), and as a result of this initiative, it has been selected as one of the "Top 100 Sustainable Tourist Destinations in the World" sponsored by Green Destinations, an international certification body, along with Kyoto City and others. It was elected for two consecutive years from the year before last. In addition, it has been awarded the "Best Tourism Village" by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) as an "Best Example of a Tourist Destination in the World" for the 2022 time (2022). In recognition of this series of efforts, we were able to receive the honor of being the only local government to receive the "Tourism Agency Commissioner's Commendation" in October last year.

In order to increase recognition both domestically and internationally as a "sustainable tourism destination" that is attracting increasing attention worldwide, and to ensure that Niseko Town will continue to be the destination of choice in the future, we will promote initiatives based on the "Tourism Promotion Vision" established in the fiscal year 2021 (FY2021), and will also introduce a "lodging tax" as a source of revenue in order to create an environment for sustainable tourism. In addition, we will promote the introduction of a "lodging tax" as a source of revenue to create an environment for sustainable tourism. We will also continue to make proposals for the establishment of a "Digital Nomad Visa," which we have been requesting from the government since last year.
　
With Kutchan Town and Rankoshi Town, the "Niseko Tourism Area", which is being worked on in a wide area, is a place to solve and practice many common issues such as the future image of transportation within the area, the promotion system for businesses in the area, and the utilization of hot springs. We will work together to ensure that
　
This fiscal year, we will continue to work with related local governments and private organizations such as the Niseko area and the foot of Mt. We will continue to work together.

In order to maintain a snow resort where tourists can feel safe, safety measures are important. We are doing this in cooperation with institutions. The town is actively promoting safety measures for winter mountains, such as supporting the development of human resources for avalanche research institutes. Together, we will strengthen our support for the avalanche research institute.
　
Regarding the redevelopment of the "Roadside Station Niseko View Plaza", which was designed last year, we are currently strongly requesting the government to establish a financial support system specializing in the redevelopment of the roadside station. increase. In the future, we will make comprehensive decisions on maintenance, etc., taking into account the securing of this financial resource and the situation of highway interchanges currently being considered by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

With the spread of the new coronavirus, the local economy has been severely damaged, with a particularly large impact on commercial and industrial businesses. In addition, a chronic shortage of human resources has made it difficult for them to conduct their business activities. In light of these difficult circumstances, the town would like to take up the challenge of introducing the "Specific Regional Development Business Cooperative System" institutionalized by the government in conjunction with the immigration promotion measures. In addition, based on the "Ordinance for the Promotion of Small and Medium Enterprises, etc." enacted in the 2022 fiscal year (FY2022), we will support the activities of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Niseko Town which is the core organization for the promotion of commerce and industry, and continue to support small-scale entrepreneurship by "holding business seminars" and "operating a consultation service for entrepreneurs" in cooperation with the government and financial institutions, etc., in order to foster diverse businesses in the region to We aim to improve the vitality of the region by fostering a variety of business enterprises.
　
This year, we will continue to actively promote activities to attract companies, and aim to expand them based on securing business entities that are lacking in the region and sustaining the economic cycle within the region.
In addition, we will continue to support the "Kids Card Business" run by the Kira Card Association, and strive to increase consumption within the region by increasing contact points between local stores, consumers, and tourism businesses. In addition, we will support efforts to enable early cooperation and operation with “e-travel tax payment” and the new sympathetic local currency “Niseko eumo” so that hometown tax payment will lead to regional economic revitalization.

Regarding consumer protection measures, we will promote the expansion of consultation activities, PR and awareness-raising activities so that the functions of the "Yotei Area Consumer Affairs Counseling Service" established in seven neighboring towns and villages, including Niseko Town, can be more effectively utilized, so that residents do not suffer from unfair solicitations and other problems.

In order to create a society where all of the townspeople can live healthy and fulfilling lives, we aim to solve various issues such as health, medical care, welfare, child-rearing, and education. We will promote various initiatives from a strategic perspective.

We will work with the Board of Education to create an environment where children, who will lead the next generation, can play and learn with peace of mind, and where parents can lively raise their children.

In addition, taking advantage of the fact that Honmachi has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Japan Committee for UNICEF as a "child-friendly town development practice municipality", we will continue to work on "children's participation in town development" based on Article 11 of the Basic Town Development Ordinance. We will continue to take into consideration the human rights of children so that each and every child can develop their potential and grow healthily.

In terms of improving the child-rearing environment, we will continue to make medical care free for all children up to the age of 18, and from this fiscal year, we will provide escort-type consultation support and economic support through the national childbirth and child-rearing support subsidy system. increase. In addition to holding three interviews from the time of notification of pregnancy, we will provide 50,000 yen for each time of pregnancy and childbirth, and provide economic support and create an environment where pregnant women and families with children can give birth and raise children with peace of mind. .

In addition, we will continue to implement health checkups for children, maternal and child health programs, and medical care for premature babies.
 

In order to enable the elderly and people with physical disabilities to live safely in the areas they are familiar with, we will strive to improve welfare based on the "8th Shiribeshi Regional Union Long-Term long-term care insurance Business Plan," "8th Elderly Health and Welfare Plan," and "3rd Basic Plan for Persons with Disabilities/6th Disability Welfare Plan."
Part of the operating expenses will be subsidized for the "elderly group home Kirari" operated by the Niseko Welfare Association and the "home care support office" that creates care plans (nursing care support plans). In addition, in order to improve the management soundness of the Niseko Fukushikai, we conducted an analysis survey last year with the aim of improving management, and this year we will cooperate with the Niseko Fukushikai to make improvements.

At the "Regional Comprehensive Support Center", in cooperation with related organizations, we will support elderly people who have problems and implement preventive projects to maintain their health. In addition, the “Initial Intensive Support Team for Dementia,” which is responsible for dealing with dementia patients, who are increasing year by year, provides comprehensive and concentrated initial support to people with dementia and their families under the guidance of dementia specialists. We will continue to support independent living.
Regarding the community activity support center "Niseko Life House", it is a facility that plays a central role in supporting people with disabilities who have difficulty in daytime activities. In order to ensure that the "Regional Life Support Project" proceeds smoothly, we will support part of the operating costs in cooperation with welfare-related organizations.

The Social Welfare Council is responsible for important activities as a welfare promotion organization, such as promoting community welfare, providing welfare services for the elderly, and establishing the Town Life Support Center, which is responsible for consultation services for dementia, which is on the rise. We will provide operational support for In addition, we will start work towards the formulation of the "Elderly Person Health and Welfare Plan" and the "Basic Plan for Persons with Disabilities/Disability Welfare Plan" that will start in 2024.

Regarding health promotion, based on the "Third Health Promotion Plan", we will mainly carry out projects related to diet, exercise, mental health, dental health and lifestyle-related diseases.

In the vaccination project, we will continue to vaccinate children, and for general inoculations, we will continue to implement tests such as rubella antibody tests. In addition, regarding cervical cancer vaccines, we continue to provide regular vaccinations (from the first year of junior high school to the first year of high school) and catch-up vaccinations (from the second year of high school to the age of 26). will do.

Regarding the health checkup business, in order to improve the health checkup rate, we will newly implement a business that gives Kira points to those who have undergone specific health checkups and various cancer screenings, and hold health classes and lectures. We will also continue the "echinococcal extermination measures" that are being implemented with the cooperation of the townspeople.

Based on medical expense estimates for the entire prefecture, Hokkaido determines the total amount and tax rate of the National Health Insurance tax required for Niseko Town, and the town determines the "insurance tax rate" based on this. The tax rates for fiscal 2023) are a 0.91% decrease in the income tax rate, a 4,491 yen increase in the flat rate, and a 3,415 yen decrease in the equal rate, and the maximum assessment amount has been increased by 20,000 yen to match the national system. In addition, for specific health checkups under the National Health Insurance, we will award Kira points to those who undergo them, in an effort to increase the number of people taking them.

In order to compensate for the deficits of Kutchan Kosei Hospital in areas such as regional medical care, securing emergency medical care, and psychiatric care, we will support Kutchan Town, where the hospital is located, and the towns and villages at the foot of Mt. Yotei for operating expenses. Regarding renovation and maintenance, we will bear the maintenance cost in cooperation with related municipalities.
In addition, for Niseko Clinic, which plays an important role as a home doctor for the townspeople, part of the maintenance and inspection costs for the CT and X-ray equipment introduced in 2013 will be supported based on the agreement. I will

For Honmachi, where rich nature and landscapes support our lives and economic foundations, we believe that building a sustainable society in harmony with nature will increase the value of Niseko Town and lead to autonomous town development. I'm here.
As a resort area where agriculture and tourism are the main industries and where people can be proud to live, we aim to reduce the burden on the global environment, realize a decarbonized society, and respond to climate change, while at the same time building a recycling society with a local economy. We will strive to achieve both.
 

In order to maintain a life in harmony with nature while cherishing the beautiful natural environment of Niseko Town, we are working to realize "Environmental Creation City Niseko" based on the 2nd Environmental Basic Plan, Global Warming Countermeasures Action Plan, etc. to proceed.
Development plans for tourism facilities, etc. are planned in the future, starting with the area around the foot of Landscape Ordinance Annupuri in Niseko. We will properly operate systems such as the Groundwater Conservation Ordinance and strive to induce "orderly development."
　
Regarding waste disposal measures, the seven towns and villages at the foot of Mt. Yotei are working together to outsource the processing of combustible waste to solid fuel to a private business operator in Kutchan Town. Volume is expected to increase.
In the town, in order to reduce the amount of garbage and thoroughly separate discharge, we have been operating the "garbage sorting app service" that can be used on smartphones and other devices from 2020 degree (2020), but we continue to frequently disseminate the dissemination of separate discharge, and in recent years, garbage disposal costs have increased, and the financial burden of the town has been increasing, so we will focus on business waste. We will start considering the revision of the garbage disposal fee.

Night soil is being treated at the Yotei Sanroku Environmental Sanitation Association Yotei Sanitation Center. Aiming to start operation, we are preparing various plans.
 

As a "Eco-Model City" and "SDGs Future City", the town has been promoting initiatives for sustainable living and community development in the future, aiming to reduce environmental impact and revitalize the region. In 2018, the "World Mayors Pledge/Japan" was signed, and in 2020 (2020), the "Climate Emergency Declaration" was made, and in 2021 (2021), it was signed We have enacted the "Ordinance on the Proper Promotion of Renewable Energy Business" and the "Ordinance on Promoting the Appropriate Use of Bicycles". This fiscal year, in order to promote environmental policy, we will formulate the "3rd Basic Environmental Plan", "Decarbonization Action Plan", and "Local Government Action Plan", and aim to enact ordinances as soon as possible to popularize buildings with high energy-saving performance.
 

In 2018, it was selected by the government as an SDGs future city, and we are working on the NISEKO life / model district "Niseko Mirai", which is the core business. This fiscal year, we are planning to build a rental housing as a wooden collective housing with energy saving, high airtightness and high heat insulation, and we aim to complete it in March 2024. We will support efforts that will serve as a model for the realization of a healthy, comfortable and comfortable living environment that reduces utility costs, reduces the burden of snow removal and management.
In addition, we will promote diverse collaboration based on the environment, promote decarbonization and regional revitalization, and promote sustainable town development together with "Niseko Town Co., Ltd.".
 

Forests are important local resources that make up the natural environment and scenery that form the foundation of towns, and they bring “richness” to the lives of residents. In order to maintain the beautiful landscape and pass it on to the future, it is necessary to systematically develop it, add value to wood, circulate the economy, and work on forest development with the whole community.

This fiscal year, in line with the "Niseko Town Forest Vision," which set out the basic philosophy and direction for the town's forest development in 2021 (2021), we will support companies that have been launched to promote concrete forest development to be passed on to future generations, and we will strive to develop human resources, train people, and promote tree education so that the townspeople's rich forest resources can be conveyed to the townspeople and utilized. In addition, we will promote forestry promotion efforts so that the multifaceted functions of forests can be continuously demonstrated by coordinating with Niseko Town forest maintenance plans and other measures, and strive to promote the development of private forests, plant projects in town-owned forests, and manage work roads.

While working closely with the board of education and related organizations, we will strive to create an educational environment where children can grow up in good health, and we will strive to support the development of diverse cultural and sports activities through the independent actions of everyone in the town. increase.
 

For education, we will support the projects undertaken by the Board of Education in line with the "Fifth Town Comprehensive Plan", "Niseko Town Education Outline", and "Town Education Promotion Basic Plan (late measures)".

In order to ensure that everyone can easily participate in cultural activities and become familiar with sports, we will support various projects in social education and social sports in line with the "7th Medium-term Plan for Social Education" that started in 2020 2020. In addition, we will cooperate with Hokkaido and Sapporo City in the bid for the Winter Hokkaido Olympic and Paralympic Games based on the request of Hokkaido and Sapporo City, which has concluded a MICE agreement.
 

The central warehouse group plays a major role as a place for community activities and exchanges, and we will continue to designate it as a facility that can be easily used by many people as a place where people can feel at home and as a base for regional development and telework in the town. We will help the administrator.

About local community center which we maintained by village restructuring, we carry out improvement of facilities of each local community center sequentially. In addition, we will work to make the Nishitomi District Townspeople Center a facility that can be used by as many people as possible, in addition to serving as a base for community activities and disaster prevention in the Nishitomi area.

Exchange projects by Coordinators for International Relations (CIRs) have so far been carried out by 20 foreign staff, including those who are currently active. We are engaged in a wide range of international exchange activities, such as supporting the This year, with the support of the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR), we will assign five Coordinators for International Relations to promote understanding of multicultural coexistence and implement various international exchange projects.
 

We will continue to improve and strengthen disaster prevention measures and comprehensively improve the infrastructure for living and social infrastructure so that residents and visitors can live and spend their time with peace of mind.

In recent years, natural disasters have become more frequent Niseko Town have caused enormous damage all over the country. Based on this, we have been working to improve disaster prevention and mitigation functions, including the maintenance of disaster prevention equipment, while ensuring a crisis management system as a municipality. This year as well, we will work on creating a voluntary disaster prevention organization with the cooperation of residents' associations and carry out disaster prevention drills.
Regarding nuclear disaster prevention measures, based on the "Regional Disaster Prevention Plan/Nuclear Disaster Prevention Plan", we will continue to work closely with the national government, Hokkaido, and related local governments, and continue to provide information to the townspeople.

The government office building, which has a disaster prevention center function that began to be used two years ago, contributes to the safety and security of the townspeople as a base for disaster prevention measures, and is designed to be a friendly and easy-to-use government building. I will continue.
Regarding firefighting, we will strive to strengthen firefighting capabilities while working with the Mt.

Community FM "Radio Niseko" plays a major role as a means of providing information in the event of a disaster, and in November 2022 (2022), we were able to relocate radio transmission equipment with the cooperation of private hotel operators with the aim of eliminating hearing loss areas. This fiscal year, in order to more reliably provide information essential for securing the lives and property of townspeople, such as information on damage in the event of a disaster, we will begin a survey to establish a reserve transmission station at the town hall building, and aim to complete it by the time of Reiwa 6 (FY2024).
In the future, we will continue to support the operation of "Radio Niseko", which is loved by the townspeople as "not just listening, but radio!" I will continue.

So far, in order to alleviate the chronic housing shortage, efforts have been made to improve the living environment by subsidizing the construction costs of private rental housing, subsidizing energy-saving housing renovations, subsidizing earthquake-resistant renovations, and extending the life of public housing. rice field. This fiscal year, we will utilize the national subsidy system to implement a long-life composite improvement work for public housing central housing complex No. 5, and at the same time, support Niseko Mirai's collective housing development implemented by Niseko Machi Co., Ltd. To do.
 

Regarding town roads, many of the roads have been developed for a considerable number of years, so the deterioration of pavement and damage to protective fences are progressing. We will strive to maintain and manage while planning the utilization of. This year's development of town roads is "Implementation design for maintenance of sidewalk in front of town road office", "Town road Motomachi Yonsen-dori improvement paving work", and for bridges, following last year, "Bridge life extension inspection commissioned work" and "Ogawa bridge repair work along the Makkari River on the town road". Regarding snow removal during the winter, we will work to ensure the safety of winter roads with the cooperation of the townspeople.

In order to build a sustainable transportation system that supports the lives of local residents and tourism in the area, this year, we will formulate the "town area public transportation plan" as a master plan for public transportation policy. In addition to improving convenience for the elderly, commuting students and tourists, we will strive to maintain and secure public transportation, with an eye on the transportation network after the opening of the Hokkaido Shinkansen in Sapporo. In addition, we will continue to expand the business content of the support for "mutual assistance transportation" and the operation of the "Niseko Area Circuit Bus" that have been implemented since FY2019.

With the opening of the Hokkaido Shinkansen Sapporo, measures to secure regional transportation between Nagamanbe and Otaru on the Hakodate Main Line, which will be a parallel conventional line, were confirmed to be a "bus system" at the Hokkaido Shinkansen Parallel Conventional Line Countermeasures Council Goshi Block Meeting in March 2022 2022. In the future, as soon as the contents of the discussions between Hokkaido, JR Hokkaido, and bus operators are known, we will notify you as appropriate and take care to improve convenience.
In addition, we will pay attention to how the planned routes and interchanges of the "Rankoshi-Kutchan" section of the Hokkaido Odan Expressway, which is currently being evaluated at the planning stage, will be decided, and we will request the government to provide information as soon as possible. increase.
 

Based on the "Town Vacant House Countermeasures Plan," which was revised in 2022, it is expected that the number of vacant houses, such as homes and vacation homes of elderly households, will increase in the future, so we will continue to consider strengthening preventive measures to prevent vacant houses from becoming vacant.

In the water supply business, we have been implementing projects for renewal of water pipeline facilities and measures for aging facilities since 2020 fiscal year (FY2020), and will continue to proceed with the water distribution pipe renewal work in the Urban Area. In addition, this fiscal year, the water distribution pipe renewal work in the Miyata district and the implementation survey design for the expansion of new water volume and distribution facilities in the urban district will be carried out.

Regarding the sewerage business, including the agricultural settlement drainage business, in order to appropriately update and maintain the facilities, based on the "sewerage business stock management plan" and the "agricultural settlement drainage facility optimum development plan", the government subsidized project was utilized. We will proceed with the renewal work of sewerage facility machinery and electrical equipment.
In addition, the agricultural community drainage business, which has been conducted under the special account, will be integrated into the sewerage business from 2023 fiscal year (FY2023) to improve administrative efficiency. In addition, since it is obligatory to shift the system from special accounting to public enterprise accounting by the end of 2023 fiscal year (the end of FY2023), we will proceed with the procedures for the transition, such as amending the ordinances.

In addition to implementing clerical work based on various plans such as the "Town Comprehensive Plan" and "Autonomy Revitalization Comprehensive Strategy," we aim to make effective use of administrative assets and resources owned by the town, and create an efficient and effective local government management base. We will strive to establish
 

The "5th Niseko Town Comprehensive Plan" and "Niseko as an Environmentally Creative City" formulated in 2012 will end in the 2023 fiscal year (FY2023), and the "6th Niseko Town Comprehensive Plan" will be newly formulated this year for the 12 years from FY2024 to FY2035. As the highest level plan in the town administration, the plan is designed to clarify the philosophy of Niseko Town town development and the vision for the future, as well as to sustain "sound finances".

In order to expand the related population as outlined in the Comprehensive Strategy for Local Government Revitalization, we will further publicize the use of "Hometown Juminhyo (Resident Certificate)" and strive to disseminate information and promote exchanges so that the thoughts of donors can be connected to the local community and used to create attractive towns.

In November last year, travelers can donate with their smartphones, etc., and as a return gift, they can receive the electronic currency "NISEKO eumo" that can be used at member stores in the town. Travel tax)" has started operation. This system is characterized by the ability to communicate with the community through the SNS function, and we will work to spread this system, expand the related population who sympathize with the town's efforts, and expand the hometown tax.
 

As a result of various projects implemented based on the "Second Comprehensive Strategy for Local Government Revitalization" formulated in 2020, the population is currently trending at roughly the expected scale, but we will continue to strengthen our efforts to address the future population decline and revitalize the local economy.In addition, we will expand the deployment of local revitalization cooperation volunteers as leaders in town development, support their settlement and entrepreneurial activities, and also make use of the village supporter system.
Furthermore, in order to promote sustainable town development, we will promote various collaborations with “Niseko Machi” and new forest companies, and strive to expand the related population through corporate versions of hometown tax payments.

Based on the "comprehensive management plan for public facilities" and "individual facility plan", we will strive for planned maintenance and repair, integration and abolition of similar facilities, extension of life, review of facility management and consideration of abolition. In addition, we will consider the effective use of assets owned by the town, such as selling and lending, and strive to maintain the financial soundness of the town. In terms of facility development, we will focus on "life cycle cost" and "sustainability", and will promote the development of social infrastructure with an eye on the future, while maximizing the use of various government support systems, including the compactification and integration of facilities. increase.

Regarding regional administration, we will consider ways to better utilize the functions of the Shiribeshi Regional Association, which handles administrative tasks related to tax delinquency settlement, national health insurance, long-term care insurance, and the Administrative Appeals Board. Furthermore, the Yotei Sanroku Fire Department Association and the Yotei Sanroku Environmental Sanitation Association are facing increasing burdens such as common expenses, and we will work with the constituent towns and villages to discuss ways to prevent these burdens from increasing and becoming a constant problem.








 
This fiscal year, as in previous years, we will continue to invest in children, who will lead the next generation, and expand the environment in which it is easy to raise children. Circulation of , 2. Energy circulation, 3. Regional economy circulation ”, Niseko Town will be autonomous and sustainable for the future. I will try.