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Annual Plan
Hearings - Albert-Eden
20 March 2013
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Summary
of public submissions on the Annual Plan 2013/2014 for Albert-Eden Local Board
File No.: CP2013/04730
Purpose
1. This
report provides a high-level analysis of key themes contained in submissions on
the Draft Annual Plan 2013/2014 relevant to the Albert-Eden Local Board. The
report also provides high-level analysis of the regional submissions on the
Draft Annual Plan 2013/14.
Executive Summary
2. 3,894
submissions were received on the Draft Annual Plan 2013/2014. The Draft Annual
Plan includes the Albert-Eden Draft Local Board Agreement.
3. As
Great Barrier Island was given an extension on the submission deadline until 13
March 2013, final submission numbers and statistics may vary slightly from the
numbers provided in this report.
4. Legislation
requires that submitters to the Draft Annual Plan be given reasonable
opportunity to be heard.
5. Submissions
that cover both regional and local content are heard at local board hearings,
with at least the ward councillor present to hear the regional content. For the
Albert-Eden Local Board, there were a total of 202 submissions, with 22
submitters requesting to be heard.
6. Local
issues arising from the submissions include overall support for the Albert-Eden
Local Board’s priorities, with some concerns raised over various local
transport issues, and mixed support to the proposed change to increase the
budget for public art and upgrading community facilities.
7. The
most significant regional issues arising from the submissions were the
responses to the TelstaClear Pacific Centre Stage 2 development and comments
about rates. Over 2,500 submitters (at least 240 of which were from
outside Auckland) gave opinion on the project with 48% agreeing and 48%
disagreeing to the proposal. The majority of comments about rates
suggested rates are too high and should either be capped to the level of
inflation or should be decreasing given the current economic climate.
There was also notable support for the SkyPath project, notable opposition to
fluoridation of the water supply, and a high number of comments on the level
and/or nature of Council expenditure (generally requesting Council to reduce
the level of expenditure and borrowing).
8. The
submissions relevant to the Albert-Eden Local Board area are to be circulated
separately.
9. The
local board will consider all submissions relevant to the local board area at
decision-making meetings on the Draft Annual Plan and Albert-Eden Draft Local
Board Agreement in April and June 2013.
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Recommendation/s
That the Annual Plan Hearings - Albert-Eden:
a) Receive
the submissions on the Draft Annual Plan 2013/2014, including the Albert-Eden
Draft Local Board Agreement, relevant to the Albert-Eden Local Board
b) Hear
the relevant submissions on the Draft Annual Plan 2013/2014
c) Thank
submitters for their verbal presentations
d) Consider
any potential amendments to the Draft Annual Plan, including the Albert-Eden
Draft Local Board Agreement.
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Discussion
Context
10. The
Local Government Act 2002 and Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009
require Council to use the special consultative procedure in adopting the Draft
Annual Plan. This includes ensuring any person submitting on the Draft Annual
Plan is given reasonable opportunity to be heard.
11. The
Strategy and Finance Committee agreed at the meeting on 19 December 2012, that
submissions containing both regional and local content would be heard at local
hearings.
12. This
report provides statistics on submissions received regionally and locally, and
a brief high-level analysis of key themes and topics. This report provides this
information.
13. More
detailed analysis of submissions will be provided to the local board
deliberation meeting on Wednesday 3 April 2013.
14. The
consultation period for the Annual Plan 2013/2104, incorporating the
Albert-Eden Draft Local Board Agreement was from 24 January to 4pm 25 February
2013.
15. As
Great Barrier Island was given an extension on the submission deadline until 13
March 2013, final submission numbers and statistics may vary slightly from the
numbers provided in this report.
Submissions
16. Council
received and processed 3,894 submissions, of which 202 are relevant to the
Albert-Eden Local Board area. Of the submissions relevant to the local board
area, 22 submitters requested to be heard.
17. Copies
of the submissions for the Albert-Eden Local Board area are to be circulated
separately.
Overview of the feedback on submissions relevant for
the Albert-Eden Local Board area
18. The
submission form asked two questions about local communities, which are
particularly relevant to the local board. These covered local board priorities
for 2013/2014 and the local board’s proposed changes. Table 1 below shows
whether respondents agree, disagree or partially agree/disagree to the
priorities and changes.
Table 1 - Albert-Eden priorities and changes
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Topic
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Agree
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Partially agree/disagree
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Disagree
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Number
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%
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Number
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%
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Number
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%
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Local board
priorities
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77
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73%
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21
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20%
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8
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8%
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Local board
proposed changes
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61
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65%
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18
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19%
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15
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16%
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Local board
advocacy areas[1]
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0
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0%
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5
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71%
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2
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29%
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19. Statistics
on submitters’ views on each local board priority and change are in Attachment
A. This attachment also provides information on submissions against each local
activity.
20. Key
themes and topics in the submissions are outlined below.
· Overall support for
the Albert-Eden Local Board’s priorities
· Concerns over
various local transport issues, with 7% of submitters from the local board
raising a number of issues, most commonly supportive of public transport and
cycling initiatives
· Mixed support in
regards to increasing the budget for public art and upgrading community
facilities, with 11 submitters (5%) commenting specifically on the proposed
change, 5 in support and 6 in opposition.
Regional submissions
21. There
were 463 regional submissions, with 199 requesting to be heard. High-level
information on the regional submissions is provided below. 61% of these were
from individual submitters, with a further 24% being from the community sector
and 16% from organisations.
22. The most common regional topics are shown in table 2. Statistics on submitters’ views for each regional consultation
question are in Attachment C. Table 2 provides information on submission
points raised against regional activities, with a summary of the most significant
issues below.
Table 2.
Regional topics
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Topic Description
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Number of submissions commenting on topic
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% of total submissions
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Auckland Transport
– Harbour Bridge/SkyPath
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164
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4%
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Financial Strategy – Expenditure
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143
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4%
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Watercare Services – Fluoridation
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134
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4%
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Auckland Transport
– Public Transport
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69
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2%
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Auckland Transport
– Roads
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66
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2%
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Regional Governance and Democracy
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65
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2%
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Environmental Strategy and Policy
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61
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2%
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Spatial, Strategic and Infrastructure Planning
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46
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1%
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Economic Strategy and Initiatives
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39
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1%
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Auckland Transport
– Key Projects (e.g. CRL, AMETI)
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37
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1%
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23. Auckland Transport – Harbour Bridge/SkyPath – virtually all of the 164
submitters that commented on the SkyPath requested the project be adopted in
this Annual Plan. Given the timing of these submissions it appears to
have been a coordinated campaign.
24. Financial Strategy – Expenditure – of the 143 submitters that commented on Council
expenditure, the general theme of comments was that the level of Council expenditure should be reduced and that borrowing
should be kept to a minimum. A common feature in most comments was that
Council should spend within its means, cut back on the big projects and focus
on core services.
25. Watercare Services – Fluoridation – all of the 134 submissions regarding
fluoridation came via a pro forma outlining their objection to the fluoridation
of the water supply. The points raised outline a believed violation of
human rights in that ratepayers have no choice as to whether their water is
treated to include fluoride chemicals. The form also outlines a perceived
health risk and that fluoride should be obtained through toothpaste only.
Next steps
26. Decisions
on the final Albert-Eden Local Board Agreement will be made at the
deliberations meeting on Wednesday 3 April 2013. Members may require
additional information to support this decision-making. Officers’
responses to requests for information will be tabled at the deliberation
meeting.
Consideration
Local Board Views
27. The
local board will consider all submissions relevant to the local board area at
decision-making meetings on the Draft Annual Plan and Albert-Eden Draft Local
Board Agreement in April and June 2013.
Maori Impact Statement
28. Iwi
were sent a letter about the consultation process.
29. Te
Reo Maori summaries and submission forms were available, as well as translators
for submissions received in, and/or submitters wishing to speak at the hearing
in, Te Reo Maori.
30. The
impact on Maori will need to be considered when decisions are taken by the
Albert-Eden Local Board and the governing body, at their respective
decision-making meetings, on the Draft Annual Plan, and the Albert-Eden Draft
Local Board Agreement.
Implementation Issues
31. Implementation issues on the various matters raised in submissions
will be considered when making decisions at
decision-making meetings on the Draft Annual Plan and Albert-Eden Draft Local
Board Agreement in April and June 2013.
Attachments
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No.
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Title
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Page
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a⇩ 
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Statistics for the individual local
board priorities and changes
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11
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b⇩ 
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Statistics on the regional
consultation questions
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13
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Signatories
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Authors
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Helen Dodd, Advisor, Local Board
Services
Dean McIntosh,
Governance Analyst, Democracy Services
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Authorisers
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Karen Lyons,
Manager, Local Board Services
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