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Resolution number MT/2014/60
MOVED
by Chairperson SD Randall, seconded by Deputy Chairperson CL Makoare:
That the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board:
c)
notes that council has moved towards a single rating system
resulting in the region being rated on an equal basis. However, equity in
asset and service provision has not yet been addressed.
d)
notes that locally driven initiatives and local asset based
services account for approximately one and ten percent, respectively, of
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.
e)
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.
f)
requests that the engagement process and the work programme to
address service level equity issues and asset provision is agreed with the
local boards.
g)
endorses the process and timelines for the Local Boards Funding
Policy, provided that the work on service level equity issues and asset
provision is progressed in parallel to the local boards
funding policy.
h)
requests that the work programme to address service level
equity issues and 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.
i)
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 policy.
j)
requests that work be undertaken to:
i.
determine whether more activities and
the corresponding funding should sit in the locally driven initiatives
category.
ii.
understand which council business units
have corporate overheads, activity and programming budgets that have a direct
relationship with the role of local boards and their decision-making (in
particular budgets held by the Community Development, Arts and Culture
department), with a view to shift these budgets to local boards, or increase
their ability to influence and change budgets to deliver services that
reflect their communities.
iii.
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.
k)
supports work to 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.
l)
notes that current locally driven initiative allocations allow
for minimal discretion for most local boards and any reduction will impact on
existing service levels.
m)
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.
n)
recommends that general rate allocation scenarios are developed
where no local board receives any reduction in funding for consideration.
o)
notes that a targeted rate is available to enhance service
levels above an agreed standard service level, once standard service levels
are established
p)
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.
q)
notes that local rates can lead to inequity and affordability
issues and can lock in legacy council funding models.
r)
recommends that with respect to the allocation method for
locally driven initiatives under general rate funding, agree that population
should be the main factor, as population tends to be a key driver of the
demand for services: [other options for boards to consider including]
i.
and that an adjustment for deprivation
should also be applied, as areas of deprivation have characteristics that may
indicate a greater dependency on local services.
ii.
and that an adjustment for geographic
isolation should also be applied.
s)
forward 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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