I hereby give notice that an ordinary meeting of the Annual Plan Hearings - Albert-Eden will be held on:
Date: Time: Meeting Room: Venue:
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Wednesday, 20 March 2013 9.00am Albert-Eden
Local Board Office |
Annual Plan Hearings - Albert-Eden
OPEN AGENDA
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MEMBERSHIP
Chairperson |
Member Peter Haynes |
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Deputy Chairperson |
Member Margi Watson |
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Member |
Member Pauline Anderson |
Arthur Anae |
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Member Helga Arlington |
Member Cameron Brewer |
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Member Lee Corrick |
Cr Dr Cathy Casey |
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Member Graeme Easte |
Cr Hon Chris Fletcher, QSO |
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Member Simon Mitchell |
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Member Tim Woolfield |
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(Quorum members)
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Michael Mendoza Democracy Advisor
15 March 2013
Contact Telephone: (09) 623 6090 Email: Michael.Mendoza@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz Website: www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
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Annual Plan Hearings - Albert-Eden 20 March 2013 |
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1 Apologies 5
2 Declaration of Interest 5
3 Summary of public submissions on the Annual Plan 2013/2014 for Albert-Eden Local Board 7
1 Apologies
At the close of the agenda no apologies had been received.
At the close of the agenda no requests for leave of absence had been received.
2 Declaration of Interest
Members are reminded of the need to be vigilant to stand aside from decision making when a conflict arises between their role as an elected representative and any private or other external interest they might have.
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.
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
Topic |
Agree |
Partially agree/disagree |
Disagree |
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Number |
% |
Number |
% |
Number |
% |
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Local board priorities |
77 |
73% |
21 |
20% |
8 |
8% |
Local board proposed changes |
61 |
65% |
18 |
19% |
15 |
16% |
Local board advocacy areas[1] |
0 |
0% |
5 |
71% |
2 |
29% |
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
Topic Description |
Number of submissions commenting on topic |
% of total submissions |
Auckland Transport – Harbour Bridge/SkyPath |
164 |
4% |
Financial Strategy – Expenditure |
143 |
4% |
Watercare Services – Fluoridation |
134 |
4% |
Auckland Transport – Public Transport |
69 |
2% |
Auckland Transport – Roads |
66 |
2% |
Regional Governance and Democracy |
65 |
2% |
Environmental Strategy and Policy |
61 |
2% |
Spatial, Strategic and Infrastructure Planning |
46 |
1% |
Economic Strategy and Initiatives |
39 |
1% |
Auckland Transport – Key Projects (e.g. CRL, AMETI) |
37 |
1% |
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.
No. |
Title |
Page |
a⇩ |
Statistics for the individual local board priorities and changes |
11 |
b⇩ |
Statistics on the regional consultation questions |
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Signatories
Authors |
Helen Dodd, Advisor, Local Board Services Dean McIntosh, Governance Analyst, Democracy Services |
Authorisers |
Karen Lyons, Manager, Local Board Services |
[1] Note: as there was no specific question on the submission form on local board advocacy areas, these figures are taken from any other submission points that refer to advocacy areas.