|
Resolution number UH/2014/58
MOVED
by Chairperson BK Neeson, seconded by Member CK Rankin-MacIntyre:
That the
Upper Harbour Local Board:
a) do not support the use of local rates to fund core council
services, e.g. local driven initiatives and asset based services noting that:
i) local
rates can lead to inequity and affordability issues and can lock in legacy council
funding models.
b) note 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, as the Upper Harbour Local Board believe that 11 percent is not
enough.
c) support 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) request
that the engagement process and the work programme to address service level
equity issues (including asset provision) is agreed with the local boards and
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.
e) endorse 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) recommend
that the treatment of both the Waiheke and Great Barrier local boards
gradually be transitioned into a self sustainable model, as opposed to one of
subsidisation.
g) request
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 and are dominated by
overhead costs with little funding for programmes;
ii)
determine whether more activities and the
corresponding funding should sit in the locally driven initiatives category;
iii) investigate and identify programme budgets held by departments and
move these to local board budgets, given the key role for local boards in
community development;
iv) investigate and improve the methodology of allocating overheads
across the local boards as currently different approaches are used across
activities;
v)
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.
h) recommend
that general rate allocation scenarios are developed, as current locally
driven initiative allocations allow for minimal discretion for most local
boards and any reduction will impact on existing service levels.
i) recommend
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.
j) recommend
that with respect to the allocation methodology 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:
i)
and that an adjustment for rates
collected should also be applied;
ii) and that
the board does not support any model utilising deprivation or geographic
isolation as a driver for allocations.
k) forward
these resolutions to the Local Boards Funding Policy Political Working Party
and the Finance and Performance Committee for their consideration.
l) delegate
to the Deputy Chairperson, Lisa Whyte, to finalise the board’s feedback to
the Local Boards Funding Policy Political Working Party and Governing Body as
required.
CARRIED
|
