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Resolution number DT/2014/81
MOVED by Chairperson MA Cohen, seconded by Deputy Chairperson JM
Bergin:
That the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board:
a)
notes that Auckland Council has moved
towards a single rating system resulting in the region being rated on the same
basis, however, equity in asset and service provision has not yet been
addressed.
b)
notes that locally driven initiatives
and local asset based services account for approximately one and ten percent,
respectively, of Auckland Council’s total operating costs, and recommend that
further work is undertaken to determine whether 11 percent of Auckland
Council’s budget is an appropriate share for local activities.
c)
supports the 20 February 2014 Finance
and Performance Committee resolution directing staff to consider service
level equity issues for local asset based services as part of the development
of the Long Term Plan and asset management plans, and engage with local
boards on this and report back on a timetable.
d)
requests that the engagement process
and the work programme to address service level equity issues (including
asset provision) is agreed with local boards.
e)
endorses
the process and timelines for the Local Boards Funding Policy, provided that
the work on service level equity issues (including asset provision) is
progressed in parallel to the Local Boards Funding Policy.
f)
requests that the work programme to
address service level equity issues (including asset provision) includes a
staging of the key deliverables, with prioritised asset classes and service
levels for review be presented to the Local Boards Funding Policy Political
Working Party on 6 May 2014.
g)
recommends that clarity on the
treatment of both the Waiheke and Great Barrier local boards, and
understanding the implications for the other local boards is required prior
to the adoption of the Local Boards Funding Policy.
h)
requests
that work be undertaken to:
i)
determine the appropriate amount of budget for local boards to
successfully deliver upon their role, noting the current allocation is based
on legacy council budgets.
ii)
determine whether more activities and the corresponding funding
should sit in the locally driven initiatives category.
iii)
identify programme budgets to move to local board budgets, as
current local budgets are dominated by overhead and direct Auckland Council staffing
costs with little funding for programmes.
iv)
investigate programme budgets held by the Community Development,
Arts and Culture department in particular, given the key role for local
boards in community development.
v)
investigate and improve the
methodology of allocating overheads and direct Auckland Council staffing
costs across the local boards as currently different approaches are used
across activities.
vi)
determine whether Business
Improvement District (BIDs) corporate overheads should be shifted to local
asset based services, as the administrative components (i.e. staffing) are
allocated based on the rate collected via the BID, and agreed by the BID and
the governing body, not the local boards.
i)
notes that current locally driven
initiative allocations allow for minimal discretion for most local boards and
any reduction will impact on existing service levels.
j)
notes that each of the general rate
reallocation scenarios (scenarios A, B and F) will lead to funding increases
and decreases across the local boards.
k)
recommends that general rate allocation
scenarios are developed where no local board receives any reduction in
funding for consideration.
l)
notes a targeted rate is already
available as provided by legislation, but should not be relied upon to
enhance service levels above an agreed standard service level once standard
service levels are established.
m) expresses its concern that it may have to impose a targeted rate
to retain current service levels in the event that the governing body sets
the new regional service levels at a level that is below the current service
level in the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board area.
n)
recommends
that:
i)
asset based service levels are funded
by the general rate.
ii)
locally driven initiatives are funded
via the general rate as local initiatives are core
council activities, essential to cohesive communities and Auckland being the
world’s most liveable city.
o)
notes that
the proposed local rates are an inadequate funding model that can lead to
inequity and affordability issues.
p)
recommends that, with respect to the allocation methodology for locally
driven initiatives under general rate funding, agrees that population should
be the main factor, as population tends to be a key driver of the demand for
services, and:
i)
that the effect of population include
resident population within a local board area as well as non-resident
population (e.g. working, studying, recreating and visiting populations).
ii)
that an adjustment for geographic
isolation should also be applied.
iii)
advise Auckland Council that if it
decides to include deprivation in any funding formula, a corresponding adjustment
for amount of rates collected should also be applied.
q)
forwards these resolutions to the Local
Boards Funding Policy Political Working Party and the Finance and Performance
Committee for their consideration.
CARRIED
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