Budget Committee

 

OPEN MINUTES

 

 

 

Minutes of a meeting of the Budget Committee held in the Reception Lounge, Auckland Town Hall, 301-305 Queen Street, Auckland on Tuesday, 18 November 2014 at 1.30 pm.

 

present

 

Chairperson

Mayor Len Brown, JP

 

Deputy Chairperson

Cr Penny Webster

 

Members

Cr Cameron Brewer

 

 

Cr Dr Cathy Casey

 

 

Cr Ross Clow

 

 

Cr Linda Cooper, JP

 

 

Cr Chris Darby

 

 

Cr Alf Filipaina

 

 

Cr Hon Christine Fletcher, QSO

Until 4.18 pm, item 13

 

Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse

From 1.43 pm, item 11

 

Cr Mike Lee

From 1.35 pm, item 11

 

Cr Calum Penrose

 

 

Member Josie Smith

 

 

Cr Sir John Walker, KNZM, CBE

From 2.23 pm, item 11

 

Cr Wayne Walker

 

 

Cr John Watson

 

 

Cr George Wood, CNZM

 

 

APOLOGIES

 

 

Cr Bill Cashmore

For absence

 

Cr Denise Krum

For absence

 

Cr Dick Quax

For absence

 

Member David Taipari

For absence

 

Member John Tamihere

For absence

 

 

 


Budget Committee

18 November 2014

 

 

 

1          Apologies

 

Resolution number BUD/2014/60

MOVED by Chairperson LCM Brown, seconded by Cr CM Penrose:  

That the Budget Committee:

a)         accept the apologies from Cr B Cashmore, Cr D Krum, Cr D Quax, Member DE Taipari and Member J Tamihere for absence.

CARRIED

 

2          Declaration of Interest

 

There were no declarations of interest.

 

3          Confirmation of Minutes

 

Resolution number BUD/2014/61

MOVED by Chairperson LCM Brown, seconded by Cr CM Penrose:  

That the Budget Committee:

a)         confirm the ordinary minutes of its meeting, held on Wednesday, 5 November and Thursday, 6 November 2014,  as a true and correct record.

CARRIED

 

4          Petitions

 

There were no petitions.

 

5          Public Input

 

There was no public input.

 

6          Local Board Input

 

There was no local board input.

 

7          Extraordinary Business

 

There was no extraordinary business.

 

8          Notices of Motion

 

There were no notices of motion.

 

Precedence of Business

Resolution number BUD/2014/62

MOVED by Chairperson LCM Brown, seconded by Cr CE Fletcher:   

That the Budget Committee:

a)         agree that item 11 Rates transition management option be accorded precedence at this time.

CARRIED

 

 

11

Rates transition management option

 

Cr ME Lee entered the meeting at 1.35 pm.

Deputy Mayor PA Hulse entered the meeting at 1.43 pm.

Cr JG Walker entered  the meeting at 2.23 pm.

Cr RI Clow left the meeting at 2.46 pm.

Cr RI Clow returned to the meeting at 2.57 pm.

 

 

 

MOVED by Chairperson LCM Brown, seconded by Deputy Chairperson MP Webster:  

That for the purposes of developing the draft Long-term Plan 2015-2025 for consultation, the Budget Committee:

a)         agree not to adopt a rates transition management policy (Option 1).

 

 

 

MOVED by Cr CM Casey, seconded by Cr ME Lee an amendment by replacement to the original recommendation as follows:

a)         agree to request an urgent legislative change to allow Option 4 [increases capped at 10% and decreases capped at -2.1%] to be adopted.

 

A division was called for, voting on which was as follows:

For

Cr CE Brewer

Cr CM Casey

Cr C Darby

Cr CE Fletcher

Cr ME Lee

Cr WD Walker

Cr J Watson

Cr GS Wood

Against

Chairperson LCM Brown

Cr RI Clow

Cr LA Cooper

Cr AM Filipaina

Cr PA Hulse

Cr CM Penrose

Member J Smith

Cr JG Walker

Deputy Chairperson MP Webster

Abstained

 

The amendment was declared lost by 8 votes to 9.

 

 

 

MOVED by Cr CE Brewer, seconded by Cr CE Fletcher an amendment by replacement to the original recommendation as follows:

a)         agree to adopt Option 3: Remission for residential increases above 20% for 2015/2016 only and option 1 (no transition from 2016/2017).

 

A division was called for, voting on which was as follows:

For

Cr CE Brewer

Cr CM Casey

Cr LA Cooper

Cr C Darby

Cr CE Fletcher

Cr ME Lee

Cr WD Walker

Cr GS Wood

Against

Chairperson LCM Brown

Cr RI Clow

Cr AM Filipaina

Cr PA Hulse

Cr CM Penrose

Member J Smith

Cr JG Walker

Cr J Watson

Deputy Chairperson MP Webster

Abstained

The amendment was declared lost by 8 votes to 9.

 

 

 

 

Resolution number BUD/2014/63

MOVED by Chairperson LCM Brown, seconded by Deputy Chairperson MP Webster the following substantive motion:

That for the purposes of developing the draft Long-term Plan 2015-2025 for consultation, the Budget Committee:

a)      agree not to adopt a rates transition management policy (Option 1).

A division was called for, voting on which was as follows:

For

Chairperson LCM Brown

Cr RI Clow

Cr AM Filipaina

Cr PA Hulse

Cr CM Penrose

Member J Smith

Cr JG Walker

Cr WD Walker

Cr J Watson

Deputy Chairperson MP Webster

Against

Cr CE Brewer

Cr CM Casey

Cr LA Cooper

Cr C Darby

Cr CE Fletcher

Cr ME Lee

Cr GS Wood

Abstained

The motion was declared carried by 10 votes to 7.

CARRIED

 

9

Solid Waste targeted rates and fees 2015/2016 and Waste Management and Minimisation funding through transition

 

Resolution number BUD/2014/64

MOVED by Cr LA Cooper, seconded by Cr CM Penrose:  

That for the purposes of developing the draft Long-term Plan 2015-2025 for consultation, the Budget Committee adopt the proposed changes to solid waste services funding set out below:

a)   the indicative targeted rates for waste services, including the pre-booked, on-property inorganic collection in the former council areas for the 2015/2016 year as set out below:

i.    Auckland and Manukau $242[1] (adjusted as appropriate in Auckland to provide for the rates where a ratepayer has opted out of either or both of refuse and recycling services) [[1] The Auckland & Manukau targeted rate is likely to be in the range of $240 to $245, and may fall by around $10 over time per property dependant on decisions around gulf islands subsidies, and the ability of certain property types to opt out of service provision.]

ii.   North Shore and Waitakere $80

iii.  Rodney $90

iv.  Franklin and Papakura $100 (adjusted as appropriate in rural Franklin where a ratepayer does not receive a recycling service).

b)        to phase out the subsidy for solid waste services for Hauraki Gulf Island in equal steps over three years

c)   a targeted rate for the provision of solid waste services, including the pre-booked, on-property inorganic collection for the Hauraki Gulf Islands of $418 for 2015/2016

d)   the introduction of user charges, billed to the property owner, for refuse for the former Auckland and Manukau City areas be gradually introduced from 2016/2017 financial year.

CARRIED

 

Secretarial Note:         Pursuant to Standing Order 3.15.5, Councillors Brewer and Lee requested their dissenting votes against resolutions b) and c) be recorded and Councillors Casey, Darby and W Walker requested their dissenting votes against resolutions a)-d) be recorded.

 

Resolution number BUD/2014/65

MOVED by Cr CM Penrose, seconded by Cr C Darby:   

That the Budget Committee:

a)         agree that item 9: Solid Waste targeted rates and fees 2015/2016 and Waste Management and Minimisation funding through transition lies on the table, and discussion continues after item 10: Solid Waste: Inorganic Collection Service methodology and funding: Long Term Plan 2015-2025.

CARRIED

 

 

10

Solid Waste: Inorganic Collection Service methodology and funding: Long Term Plan 2015-2025.

 

MOVED by Cr CM Penrose, seconded by Cr AM Filipaina:  

That for the purposes of developing the draft Long-term Plan 2015-2025 for consultation, the Budget Committee adopt the proposed changes to the inorganic collection service methodology and funding as set out below:

 

a)    the introduction of an annual standard pre-booked on property inorganic collection  service

b)    the proposed targeted rates for Solid Waste services include the cost of an annual regional, pre-booked, on-property inorganic collection commencing 1 July 2015.

 

 

 

MOVED by Cr C Darby, seconded by Cr LA Cooper an amendment to the original recommendation as follows:

a)         The introduction of a standard pre-booked, biennial on property inorganic collection service.

b)         The proposed targeted rates for Solid Waste services include the cost of a regional, pre- booked, biennial on-property inorganic collection commencing 1 July 2015.

A division was called for, voting on which was as follows:

For

Cr CE Brewer

Cr LA Cooper

Cr C Darby

Cr CE Fletcher

Cr PA Hulse

Cr ME Lee

Deputy Chairperson MP Webster

Against

Chairperson LCM Brown

Cr CM Casey

Cr RI Clow

Cr AM Filipaina

Cr CM Penrose

Member J Smith

Cr JG Walker

Cr WD Walker

Cr J Watson

Cr GS Wood

Abstained

 

The amendment was declared lost by 7 votes to 10.

 

 

 

 

 

Resolution number BUD/2014/66

MOVED by Cr CM Penrose, seconded by Cr AM Filipaina the following substantive motion:

That for the purposes of developing the draft Long-term Plan 2015-2025 for consultation, the Budget Committee adopt the proposed changes to the inorganic collection service methodology and funding as set out below:

 

a)    the introduction of an annual standard pre-booked on property inorganic collection  service

b)    the proposed targeted rates for Solid Waste services include the cost of an annual regional, pre-booked, on-property inorganic collection commencing 1 July 2015.

A division was called for, voting on which was as follows:

For

Chairperson LCM Brown

Cr RI Clow

Cr LA Cooper

Cr AM Filipaina

Cr PA Hulse

Cr CM Penrose

Member J Smith

Cr JG Walker

Cr GS Wood

Against

Cr CE Brewer

Cr CM Casey

Cr C Darby

Cr CE Fletcher

Cr ME Lee

Cr WD Walker

Cr J Watson

Deputy Chairperson MP Webster

Abstained

The motion was declared carried by 9 votes to 8.

CARRIED

 

Secretarial Note:                  Discussion on Item 9 - Solid Waste targeted rates and fees 2015/2016 and Waste Management and Minimisation funding through transition continued at this point.

 

 

12

Rates Remission and Postponements

 

This item has been withdrawn.

 

Cr CE Fletcher left the meeting at 4.18 pm.

 

 

13

Performance measures and targets

 

Staff tabled a further document with amendments to performance measures contained within the report.

 

A copy of the tabled document has been placed on the official minutes and can be viewed on the Auckland Council website as a minutes attachment.

 

 

Resolution number BUD/2014/67

MOVED by Cr GS Wood, seconded by Cr CM Penrose:  

That the Budget Committee for the purpose of developing the draft Long-term Plan 2015-2025 for consultation:

a)    agree the revised set of levels of service statements, performance measures and targets, including amendments tabled for each group of activity (with the exception of Transport which will be agreed at the 27 November Governing Body Committee)

b)    note the local indicative targets, which will be considered by local boards in November/December and will form part of the supporting material for consultation adopted by the Governing Body on 18 December 2014.

CARRIED

 

Attachments

a     Amendments to performance measures

 

 

14

Significance and Engagement Policy

 

Staff tabled a replacement for page 96 in the agenda and a revised version of Attachment B of the report.

 

Copies of the tabled documents have been placed on the official minutes and can be viewed on the Auckland Council website as a minutes attachment.

 

 

Resolution number BUD/2014/68

MOVED by Cr C Darby, seconded by Cr GS Wood:  

That the Budget Committee:

a)      receive the feedback report on the draft Significance and Engagement Policy and approve the revisions made as a result of that feedback

b)      note that not all local board feedback has been received but will be included as part of the report to the Governing Body

c)      authorise the Chairperson and the lead officer to be able to make minor changes to the policy based on analysis of further local board input or minor amendments

d)      recommend that the Governing Body adopt the Significance and Engagement Policy (as amended).

CARRIED

 

Attachments

a     Page 96 - He mihi

b     Revised version of Attachment B

 

15        Consideration of Extraordinary Items

 

There was no consideration of extraordinary items.

  

 

4.32 pm                                              The Chairperson thanked Members for their attendance and attention to business and declared the meeting closed.

 

CONFIRMED AS A TRUE AND CORRECT RECORD AT A MEETING OF THE Budget Committee HELD ON

 

 

 

DATE:.........................................................................

 

 

 

CHAIRPERSON:........................................................