Agenda of Economic Development Committee

I hereby give notice that an ordinary meeting of the Economic Development Committee will be held on:

Date:

Time:

Meeting Room:

Venue:

Tuesday, 24 March 2015

10.00am

Level 26
135 Albert Street
Auckland

Economic Development Committee

OPEN AGENDA

MEMBERSHIP

Chairperson	Cr Anae Arthur Anae
Deputy Chairperson	Cr Ross Clow
Members	Cr Cameron Brewer
	Cr Bill Cashmore
	Member Precious Clark
	Cr Linda Cooper, JP
	Cr Hon Christine Fletcher, QSO
	Cr Denise Krum
	Member Kris MacDonald
	Cr Dick Quax
	Cr Penny Webster
Ex-officio	Mayor Len Brown, JP
	Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse

(Quorum 6 members)

Louis Dalzell

Democracy Advisor

18 March 2015

Contact Telephone: (09) 890 8135

Email: louis.dalzell@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Website: www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Areas of Activity

· Providing strategic oversight and direction to economic development in Auckland

· Management, monitoring and reporting on the performance of Auckland’s economy and the coordination of Auckland’s Economic Development Strategy

· Proposing, supporting and reviewing strategic projects and programmes which will deliver on Auckland’s Economic Development Strategy

· Facilitating partnerships and collaborative funding models to support economic development initiatives

· Providing a point of engagement for the Council with the government, business and business organisations and local economic development agencies in relation to all economic policy and strategy matters

· Evaluating the balance of economic development policies, programmes and initiative across Auckland and ensuring an appropriate balance between rural and urban opportunities

Responsibilities

Within the specified area of activity the Committee is responsible for:

· In accordance with the work programme agreed with the parent committee, developing strategy and policy, including any agreed community consultation, to recommend to the Regional Strategy and Policy Committee

· Acting as a community interface for consultation on policies and as a forum for raising community concerns, while ensuring community engagement is complementary to that undertaken by local boards

· Making decisions within delegated powers

Powers

All powers necessary to perform the Committee’s responsibilities

Except:

(a) powers that the Governing Body cannot delegate or has retained to itself (see Governing Body responsibilities)

(b) where the Committee’s responsibility is limited to making a recommendation only

(d) the approval of expenditure that is not contained within approved budgets

(e) the approval of expenditure of more than $2 million

(f) the approval of final policy

(g) deciding significant matters for which there is high public interest and which are controversial

(h) the commissioning of reports on new policy where that policy programme of work has not been approved by the Regional Strategy and Policy Committee

EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC – WHO NEEDS TO LEAVE THE MEETING

Members of the public

All members of the public must leave the meeting when the public are excluded unless a resolution is passed permitting a person to remain because their knowledge will assist the meeting.

Those who are not members of the public

General principles

· Access to confidential information is managed on a “need to know” basis where access to the information is required in order for a person to perform their role.

· Those who are not members of the meeting (see list below) must leave unless it is necessary for them to remain and hear the debate in order to perform their role.

· Those who need to be present for one confidential item can remain only for that item and must leave the room for any other confidential items.

· In any case of doubt, the ruling of the chairperson is final.

Members of the meeting

· The members of the meeting remain (all Governing Body members if the meeting is a Governing Body meeting; all members of the committee if the meeting is a committee meeting).

· However, standing orders require that a councillor who has a pecuniary conflict of interest leave the room.

· All councillors have the right to attend any meeting of a committee and councillors who are not members of a committee may remain, subject to any limitations in standing orders.

Staff

· All staff supporting the meeting (administrative, senior management) remain.

· Only staff who need to because of their role may remain.

Local Board members

· Local Board members who need to hear the matter being discussed in order to perform their role may remain. This will usually be if the matter affects, or is relevant to, a particular Local Board area.

Independent Māori Statutory Board (IMSB)

· Members of the IMSB who are appointed members of the meeting remain.

· Other IMSB members and IMSB staff remain if this is necessary in order for them to perform their role.

Council-controlled Organisations (CCOs)

· Representatives of a CCO can remain only if required to for discussion of a matter relevant to the CCO.

Economic Development Committee

24 March 2015

ITEM TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE

1 Apologies 7

2 Declaration of Interest 7

3 Confirmation of Minutes 7

4 Petitions 7

5 Public Input 7

5.1 COMET Auckland 7

5.2 Sentiment Survey - 2H 2014 8

6 Local Board Input 8

7 Extraordinary Business 8

8 Notices of Motion 9

9 Chief Economist Unit Report 11

10 Economic Development - Post CPO Review 13

11 Youth Employability Passport 15

12 Ultrafast Broadband and Rural Broadband Initiative Extension: Registration of Interest 17

13 Consideration of Extraordinary Items

1 Apologies

Apologies from Chairperson AJ Anae and Deputy Mayor PA Hulse have 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 a member and any private or other external interest they might have.

3 Confirmation of Minutes

That the Economic Development Committee:

a) confirm the ordinary minutes of its meeting, held on Wednesday, 8 October 2014, as a true and correct record.

4 Petitions

At the close of the agenda no requests to present petitions had been received.

5 Public Input

Standing Order 3.21 provides for Public Input. Applications to speak must be made to the Committee Secretary, in writing, no later than two (2) working days prior to the meeting and must include the subject matter. The meeting Chairperson has the discretion to decline any application that does not meet the requirements of Standing Orders. A maximum of thirty (30) minutes is allocated to the period for public input with five (5) minutes speaking time for each speaker.

5.1 COMET Auckland

Purpose

1. To update the Economic Development Committee on COMET Auckland’s current and planned actions and outcomes towards Economic Development Strategy (EDS) targets for 2014/15, with a particular focus on youth employability, science and technology education, and local board skills planning.

Background

2. Susan Warren, Chief Executive, and Brian Putt, board member, COMET Auckland, will present to the committee.

Recommendation

That the Economic Development Committee:

a) thank Ms Susan Warren and Mr Brian Putt for their presentation and attendance.

5.2 Sentiment Survey - 2H 2014

Purpose

1. Mr Trevor Hipkins, of AECOM, will present their six monthly ‘Sentiment’ (Infrastructure and Buildings Construction) survey results for the committee’s information.

Background

2. Mr Hipkins presented the 1H 2014 survey to the Economic Development Committee in October 2014 and will present the latest survey, Sentiment 2H 2014.

Recommendation

That the Economic Development Committee:

a) receive the presentation and thank Mr Trevor Hipkins for his attendance.

6 Local Board Input

Standing Order 3.22 provides for Local Board Input. The Chairperson (or nominee of that Chairperson) is entitled to speak for up to five (5) minutes during this time. The Chairperson of the Local Board (or nominee of that Chairperson) shall wherever practical, give two (2) days notice of their wish to speak. The meeting Chairperson has the discretion to decline any application that does not meet the requirements of Standing Orders.

This right is in addition to the right under Standing Order 3.9.14 to speak to matters on the agenda.

At the close of the agenda no requests for local board input had been received.

7 Extraordinary Business

Section 46A(7) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (as amended) states:

“An item that is not on the agenda for a meeting may be dealt with at that meeting if-

(a) The local authority by resolution so decides; and

(b) The presiding member explains at the meeting, at a time when it is open to the public,-

(i) The reason why the item is not on the agenda; and

(ii) The reason why the discussion of the item cannot be delayed until a subsequent meeting.”

Section 46A(7A) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (as amended) states:

“Where an item is not on the agenda for a meeting,-

(a) That item may be discussed at that meeting if-

(i) That item is a minor matter relating to the general business of the local authority; and

(ii) the presiding member explains at the beginning of the meeting, at a time when it is open to the public, that the item will be discussed at the meeting; but

(b) no resolution, decision or recommendation may be made in respect of that item except to refer that item to a subsequent meeting of the local authority for further discussion.”

8 Notices of Motion

At the close of the agenda no requests for notices of motion had been received.

Economic Development Committee

24 March 2015

Chief Economist Unit Report

File No.: CP2015/03927

Purpose

1. To introduce Chris Parker, Auckland Council’s new Chief Economist. The Chief Economist will outline some focus areas for his Unit, and summarise some output to date.

Executive Summary

2. The Chief Economist will outline:

· His vision for the Chief Economist Unit, and what success looks like.

· The Auckland Economic Quarterly report. Economic performance and the feature article on property prices.

· Work to support the production of quality regulatory impact analysis (and section 32 reports) for the Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan (PAUP).

· Some areas of work coming up for the committee’s information.

Recommendation

That the Economic Development Committee:

a) receive the presentation from the Chief Economist.

Comments

3. A PowerPoint presentation will be given to provide further information for the consideration of the committee.

Attachments

There are no attachments for this report.

Signatories

Author	Chris Parker – Chief Economist
Authoriser	Jacques Victor - GM Auckland Plan Strategy and Research

Economic Development Committee

24 March 2015

Economic Development - Post CPO Review

File No.: CP2015/03809

Purpose

1. This report introduces a presentation on economic development following the review of the Chief Planning Officer’s division implemented in late 2014.

Executive Summary

2. Wayne Brown, Lead Strategic Advisor, will provide an overview of economic development following the review of the Chief Planning Officer’s division. This overview will include the distribution of the former teams of the Economic Development Department.

Recommendation

That the Economic Development Committee:

a) receive the presentation on economic development following the review of the Chief Planning Officer’s division.

Attachments

There are no attachments for this report.

Signatories

Author

Wayne Brown - Lead Strategic Advisor Strategic Scanning

Authorisers

Denise O’Shaughnessy - Manager Strategic Advice

Jacques Victor - GM Auckland Plan Strategy and Research

Economic Development Committee

24 March 2015

Youth Employability Passport

File No.: CP2014/25853

Purpose

1. This report introduces a presentation to inform the committee of work on the development of a Youth Employability Passport.

Executive summary

2. Shirley Johnson, Skills Manager, COMET, will make a presentation on the development of a Youth Employability Passport – to enable young Aucklanders (14-24 years) to understand their employability skills and build a measured set of competencies to assist in gaining employment.

3. The presentation will outline high level objectives, deliverables and time-frames, explain how skills will be developed and assessed and how the process will contribute to employers’ successful recruitment of young people.

Recommendation

That the Economic Development Committee:

a) thank Shirley Johnson for her presentation on the Youth Employability Passport.

Attachments

There are no attachments for this report.

Signatories

Author

Wayne Brown - Lead Strategic Advisor Strategic Scanning

Authorisers

Denise O’Shaughnessy - Manager Strategic Advice

Jacques Victor - GM Auckland Plan Strategy and Research

Economic Development Committee

24 March 2015

Ultrafast Broadband and Rural Broadband Initiative Extension: Registration of Interest

File No.: CP2015/03999

Purpose

1. To update the committee about progress on resolution number ECO/2014/34, to outline the opportunity to leverage additional central government funding for telecommunications infrastructure, and request the committee endorse council’s Digital Advisors to develop a registration of interest.

Executive Summary

2. On 12 March 2015 central government announced an additional $152 to $210 million to extend Ultrafast Broadband (UFB) coverage, $100 million to extend Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI) coverage, and $50 million to address mobile blackspots.

3. Central government has invited local government to register their interest.

4. This would include providing information about underserved rural communities, prioritising those communities, and either indicating or making a commitment regarding what Auckland Council can do to facilitate the deployment of infrastructure under these programmes.

5. Submissions are due 3 July 2015.

Recommendations

That the Economic Development Committee:

a) request council’s Digital Advisors to develop a registration of interest for central government’s Rural Broadband Initiative and Ultrafast Broadband extensions

b) request council’s Digital Advisors to develop a digital enablement plan in line with central government recommendations

c) appoint four councillors including the chair to a political working party with delegated authority to draft the submission

d) request the council’s submission be reported to the Regional Strategy and Policy Committee for approval or retrospective approval if already submitted.

Comments

6. In July 2014 the Economic Development Committee passed resolution number ECO/2014/34 directing council’s Digital Advisors to investigate options to address the undersupply of broadband infrastructure in rural and coastal Auckland.

7. The importance of this was also highlighted in council’s Briefing to the Incoming Government in November 2014.

8. During 2014 Digital Advisors worked with the Bethells Beach Internet Action group to explore options for addressing the undersupply of infrastructure in communities that did not receive an infrastructure upgrade under the original Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI) or Ultrafast Broadband (UFB) programme.

9. It was established that community and council funding of an upgrade to privately owned infrastructure was not appropriate, and that community funding was not viable.

10. It was determined that the proposed extension to the RBI, announced in the lead-up to the general election 2014, was the most appropriate option.

11. Central government announced the details of this extension on 12 March 2015.

12. The UFB extension will extend coverage from 75% to approximately 80% or New Zealanders using between $152 and $210 million drawn from the Future Investment Fund.

13. The RBI extension will draw an additional $100 million from the Telecommunications Development Levy.

14. In addition $50 million, also drawn from the Telecommunications Development Levy, will be allocated to address mobile phone coverage blackspots.

15. Network operators have been invited to bid for the proposals.

16. Central government has indicated that local government has an important role to play and has requested registrations of interest (ROI) outlining the scope and scale of communities that would benefit from an upgrade under either the UFB or RBI extension.

17. Central government also requested that this ROI include information about and / or a commitment regarding how local government can / will facilitate the deployment of broadband infrastructure under these programmes.

18. Submission of the ROI is due by 3 July 2015 giving a tight timeframe in which to deliver a significant piece of work.

19. Short timeframes for the ROI make it likely that the submission will require retrospective approval from council. Political oversight of the development of the submission could be achieved through a political working party with authority delegated by the Economic Development Committee.

20. Given their involvement to date and interest in broadband and / or rural Auckland this working party could include Cr. Anae, Cr. Cooper, Cr. Cashmore, and Cr. Webster.

21. Central government have also requested that local government authorities develop a digital enablement plan that outlines how they will support their communities realising the benefits of broadband infrastructure once it is developed. This would be developed separately and is not due until 18 September 2015.

Consideration

Local Board views and implications

22. Registering interest is essential if Auckland’s rural communities are to receive broadband infrastructure upgrades.

23. A memo discussing what was known about the opportunity at the time, and requesting Local Board support for identifying and liaising with communities was sent to the Rodney, Franklin, Waitakere Ranges, and Great Barrier Local Boards on 5 March 2015.

24. Local boards will be updated following central government’s announcement but are expected to be generally supportive of this proposal based on engagement to date.

25. Council’s Digital Advisors will work with Local Board services to ensure that Auckland’s Rural Local Boards are involved in the development of the registration of interest.

Māori impact statement

26. Broadband infrastructure has an impact on marae and papakainga development. Whether or not broadband is available will determine how easily these developments can be connected to 21^st century services.

27. Through council’s relationship with central government’s Māori Broadband Working Group, Ngā Pū Waea, it is understood that there is interest in leveraging broadband internet access to support marae become 21^st century community facilities.

28. Engagement with Iwi and the Independent Māori Statutory Board will form an important part of developing the registration of interest.

29. Digital Advisors are setting a time to meet with Te Waka Angamua to discuss this involvement.

Implementation

30. Development of the registration of interest will be led by council’s Digital Advisors.

31. This will involve working with elected members to identify underserved communities, engaging directly with underserved communities to understand the value proposition the broadband represents, identify opportunities to facilitate the rollout of broadband infrastructure, and codifying this information in a formal registration of interest.

32. Council’s Digital Advisors will work with local board services and communications and engagement to liaise with communities, and with consents to identify opportunities to facilitate the deployment of infrastructure.

Attachments

There are no attachments for this report.

Signatories

Author	Robert Lundberg - Digital Advisor
Authoriser	Jacques Victor - GM Auckland Plan Strategy and Research