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Manurewa Local
Board
07 May 2020
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Local
board decisions and input into the Annual Budget 2020/2021
File No.: CP2020/05322
Te take mō te
pūrongo
Purpose of the report
1. To
seek approval for local financial matters for the local board agreement
2020/2021, which need to be considered by the Governing Body in the Annual
Budget 2020/2021 process.
2. To
seek feedback on the proposed regional topics in the Annual Budget 2020/2021.
Whakarāpopototanga matua
Executive summary
3. Our
Annual Budget contains 21 local board agreements which are the responsibility
of local boards to agree with the Governing Body. These agreements set out local
funding priorities, budgets, levels of service and performance measures.
4. Auckland
Council publicly consulted from 21 February to 22 March 2020 to seek community
views on the proposed Annual Budget 2020/2021 and local
board priorities to be included in the local board agreements (consultation
part 1).
5. Since
this consultation was undertaken, the COVID-19 pandemic has exerted significant
pressure on the council’s financial position, which will have flow on
effects for the proposed budget for the 2020/2021 financial year. The council
is now considering what those impacts are likely to be, and plan to ask
Aucklanders for their views on certain aspects of Auckland Council’s
proposed ‘emergency budget’ in response to the financial impacts of
COVID-19 (consultation part 2).
6. Local
boards are required to receive the feedback on the proposals in consultation
part 1, which are not affected by the changes being considered by the council
and therefore will not be subject to further consultation, and make decisions
on them. This must be done before consultation part 2 can get underway, so the
scope of consultation part 2 is clear.
7. This
report seeks decisions on local financial matters for the local board
agreement, including:
a) any
new/amended Business Improvement District (BID) targeted rates
b) any
new/amended local targeted rate proposals
c) proposed
Locally Driven Initiative (LDI) capital projects outside local boards’
decision-making responsibility
d) release
of local board specific reserve funds.
8. The
council received feedback in person at community engagement events and through
written forms, including online and hard copy forms, emails and letters.
9. This
report summarises consultation feedback on the proposed Annual Budget
2020/2021, including on local board priorities for 2020/2021.
Feedback on Manurewa Local Board priorities for 2020/2021
10. The
local board consulted on the following priorities:
· Priority 1: Support the expansion of the Manurewa
Business Improvement District
· Priority 2: Continue to respond to community-led activity
including Maori aspirations, events, and waste minimisation initiatives
· Priority 3: Oversee the provision of quality parks and
playgrounds, libraries, community and recreation facilities
· Priority 4: Continue to provide free access to Manurewa
Pool and Leisure Centre for those ages 65 and over, adults supervising
children, and people with disabilities
· Priority 5: Focus on the regeneration of Puhinui and
Papakura streams and other environmental priorities.
11. One hundred
and ninety-six submissions were received on Manurewa local board priorities for
2020/2021, showing that the majority (92 per cent) of people support most of
the local board’s priorities.
Feedback on regional proposals in the
proposed Annual Budget 2020/2021 from the Manurewa local board area
12. This
report seeks local board views on the proposed regional Annual Budget topics
including:
· the changes to rates
and fees, key proposals:
o waste management
targeted rate
o refuse collection in
former Auckland City and Manukau City
o Waitākere rural
sewerage service and targeted rate
o the draft Tūpuna Maunga o
Tamaki Makaurau Authority – Operational Plan 2020/2021
o other budget information.
13. Local board
views on these regional matters will be considered by the Governing Body (or
relevant committee) before making final decisions on the Annual Budget 2020/2021.
14. Out of the
2522 submissions received on the regional proposals in the Annual Budget
2020/2021, 196 submissions were from people living in the Manurewa local board
area.
15. Waste
management targeted rate: majority of respondents (68 percent) support the
proposed waste management targeted rate, 13 percent did not support, and 19
selected other.
16. Refuse
collection in former Auckland City and Manukau City: over half of the
submitters (52 percent) supported the refuse collection in former Auckland City
and Manukau City targeted rate increase, 33 percent did not support and 15
percent selected other.
17. Waitākere
rural sewerage service and targeted rate: a strong majority of respondents
supported the proposal (73 percent), 15 per cent opposed it with comments to
end the service and 12 percent were against the proposal with comments to
continue the service as is.
18. No feedback
was received on the draft Tūpuna Maunga o Tamaki Makaurau Authority
– Operational Plan 2020/2021.
19. Auckland Council also consulted on the Council-Controlled
Organisations (CCO) Review at the same time. The feedback received on this will
be presented at a later date.
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Ngā tūtohunga
Recommendation/s
That the Manurewa Local Board:
a) receive consultation feedback on the
proposed Manurewa Local Board priorities for 2020/2021.
b) receive consultation feedback on regional proposals in the Annual
Budget 2020/2021 from people or organisations based in the Manurewa local
board area.
c) recommend any new or amended Business Improvement District
targeted rates to the Governing Body.
d) recommend any new or amended local targeted rate proposals to the
Governing Body.
e) recommend that the Governing Body approves any proposed Locally
Driven Initiative (LDI) capital projects, which are outside local
boards’ allocated decision-making responsibility.
f) recommend the release of local board specific reserve funds to the
Governing Body.
g) provide feedback on the proposed Annual Budget 2020/2021.
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Horopaki
Context
20. Local board
agreements form part of the Auckland Council’s Annual Budget and set out
local funding priorities, budgets, levels of service and performance measures.
21. Auckland
Council publicly consulted from 21 February to 22 March 2020 to seek community
views on the proposed Annual Budget 2020/2021 and local
board priorities to be included in the local board agreements. This is now
referred to as consultation part 1.
22. Since this
consultation was undertaken, the COVID-19 pandemic has exerted significant
pressure on the council’s financial position, which will have flow on
effects for the proposed budget for the 2020/2021 financial year. Work to date
on the proposed Annual Budget will need to be adjusted to consider the new
financial realities facing Auckland.
23. The financial
report presented to the Emergency Committee during April 2020 indicated
potential reductions in cash revenue of $350-650m for financial year 2020/2021,
depending on the length and extent of the disruption caused by COVID-19. The Emergency
Committee requested staff provide further information to the Governing Body on
the impacts of the various scenarios modelled against a rates increase of
between 0 per cent and 3.5 per cent. They also resolved that further public
consultation on the Annual Budget would include considering whether to adopt a
2.5 per cent rather than 3.5 per cent general rates increase for the 2020/2021
financial year, among a
suite of other measures aimed at offering support to all ratepayers,
including businesses, facing hardship due to the impacts of COVID-19.
24. The council
is planning to ask Aucklanders for their views on certain aspects of Auckland
Council’s proposed ‘emergency budget’ in response to the
financial impacts of COVID-19. It is anticipated this will be carried out from
late May until mid-June 2020. This will be in addition to the Annual Budget
2020/2021 consultation we have already carried out from February to March 2020.
This is referred to as consultation part 2.
25. Consultation
part 2 is unlikely to revisit any of the specific proposals in consultation
part 1. Therefore, the local boards and the Governing Body are required to
receive the feedback on these proposals and make decisions on them. This must
be done before consultation part 2 can get underway so it is clear what
decisions have already been made, and what decisions will be made after
consultation part 2.
26. Further, some
of the proposed changes to fees and charges required a Special Consultative
Procedure (SCP) and the requirements for this were met in consultation part
1. It is important to complete this statutory process, especially where
consultation part 2 will not be relevant to the decisions on these fees and
charges.
27. This
report includes analysis of the consultation feedback on the Manurewa Local
Board priorities for 2020/2021, and on the regional proposals in the Annual
Budget 2020/2021 from people or organisations based in the Manurewa local board
area.
Local financial matters for the local
board agreement
28. This report
allows the local board to agree its input and recommend other local financial
matters to the Governing Body in May 2020. This is to allow time for the
Governing Body to consider these items in the Annual Budget process.
Local targeted rate and Business Improvement District
(BID) targeted rate proposals
29. Local
boards are required to endorse any new local targeted rate proposals or BID
targeted rate proposals in their local board area (noting that any new local
targeted rates and/or BIDs must have been consulted on before they can be
implemented).
Funding
for Locally Driven Initiatives (LDI)
30. Local boards
are allocated funding annually to spend on local projects or programmes that
are important to their communities. Local boards can approve LDI capital
projects up to $1 million. Projects over this amount require approval from the
Governing Body.
31. Local boards
can recommend to the Governing Body to convert LDI operational funding to
capital expenditure for 2020/2021 if there is a specific need to do so.
Governing Body approval may be needed for the release of local board specific
reserve funds, which are funds being held by the council for a specific
purpose.
Local board input on regional plans
32. Local boards
have a statutory responsibility for identifying and communicating the interests
and preferences of the people in its local board area in relation to the
context of the strategies, policies, plans, and bylaws of Auckland
Council. This report provides an opportunity for the local board to
provide input on the proposed Annual Budget.
33. Local Board
Plans reflect community priorities and preferences and are key documents that
guide both the development of local board agreements and input into regional
plans.
Council-controlled organisation (CCO)
review
34. An
independent panel was appointed by Auckland Council to examine three areas: (1)
the CCO model, roles and responsibilities, (2) the accountability of CCOs, and
(3) CCO culture. Local boards had the opportunity to provide input into this in
March 2020.
35. Auckland
Council also consulted on the review of CCOs during the same period as the
Annual Budget, from 21 February to 22 March 2020.
36. After
receiving feedback, the panel will report on key issues, community and
stakeholder feedback to the council in May 2020.
37. The panel
will provide a final report and recommendations to the council in July 2020.
Types of feedback
38. Overall
Auckland Council received feedback from 4765 people in the consultation period.
This feedback was received through:
· written
feedback – 3828 hard copy and online forms, emails and letters.
· in
person – through 58 Have Your Say and community events.
Tātaritanga me ngā
tohutohu
Analysis and advice
Feedback received on Manurewa Local Board priorities for
2020/2021
39. The
Manurewa Local Board consulted on the following priorities:
· Priority
1: Support the expansion of the Manurewa Business Improvement District.
· Priority
2: Continue to respond to community-led activity including Maori aspirations,
events, and waste minimisation initiatives.
· Priority
3: Oversee the provision of quality parks and playgrounds, libraries, community
and recreation facilities.
· Priority
4: Continue to provide free access to Manurewa Pool and Leisure Centre for
those ages 65 and over, adults supervising children, and people with
disabilities.
· Priority
5: Focus on the regeneration of Puhinui and Papakura streams and other
environmental priorities.
40. Key themes
across all feedback received (through written and in person channels) were:
· Environment
· Parks,
sport and recreation
· Community
services
Feedback received
41. One
hundred and ninety-six submissions were received on Manurewa local board
priorities for 2020/2021, showing that the majority of people (48 per cent)
support most of the local board’s priorities as shown in graph 1
below.
Graph 1: support for Manurewa local
board priorities
· Results
show that the majority (48 per cent) of submitters supported most of the local
board’s priorities and a further 42 per cent of respondents supported all
the priorities.
· Five
per cent of submitters did not support most of the priorities and an additional
four per cent did not support any of the priorities.
· Most
comments received from the 48 per cent of submitters who supported most of the
board’s priorities referred to addressing environment issues, town centre
improvements, youth initiatives and cultural diversity.
· Comments
relating to the environment and youth initiatives were the main remarks from
the 42 per cent of respondents who supported all the priorities.
· Responses
recorded from submitters (5%) who did not support most of the priorities citied
better utilisation of spending, suppress investment in Southmall and increase
funding for youth initiatives.
· Those
who did not support any of the priorities (four per cent) commented on
prioritisation of funding and a focus on core business such parks and road
maintenance as opposed to events.
42. The
Manurewa Local Board held one Have Your Say event on Saturday 7 March at Totara
Park. Feedback was received from 61 people.
Table 1: Response to local board
priorities
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Response
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Count
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Support all
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38
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Support most
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22
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Do not support most
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1
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· Feedback
from respondents who either supported all or most of the local board’s
priorities requested more support for youth initiatives, more rubbish bins,
upgrading playgrounds, splash pads and free access to community facilities.
· One
comment that opposed most of the priorities believed a stronger focus on mental
health was needed.
Feedback on other local topics
43. Key
themes across feedback received on other local topics include:
· Local
community services: main comments from
respondents focussed on increased support for youth related initiatives, town
centre beautification and acknowledging all cultures within Manurewa.
· Local
parks, sport and recreation: submitters
appealed for free access to pools for all ages and upgrades of parks and
playgrounds including basketball courts.
· Local
arts, culture and events: concerns were
raised around focusing solely on Māori aspirations and
excluding other cultures. Furthermore, an emphasis on core council business was
highlighted as more essential than events.
· Local
planning: respondents mentioned concerns
around traffic congestion, support for town centre beautification and housing
affordability.
· Local
economic development: an emphasis on addressing
socioeconomic issues such as homelessness and crime, and requests to upgrade
town centres were the main responses.
· Local
environmental management: submitters
supported efforts around clean waterways and pest free programmes.
Requests for local funding
44. Requests
for local funding included:
· Netball
Manurewa: Request for various building maintenance issues were received.
Information on submitters
45. The
tables and graphs below indicate what demographic categories people identified
with. This information only relates to those submitters who provided
demographic information.
Table 2: Gender demographic of submitters
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Gender
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Count
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Male
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71
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Female
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119
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Gender diverse
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0
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Graph 3: Age demographic of submitters
Graph 4: Ethnic breakdown of submitters
· Of the 190 people
who provided demographic information, 119 were female, 71 were male and 0 were
gender diverse, as shown in table 2. Graph 3 also shows that the age group with
the highest submission rates were those between 15 – 24 and 24 – 34.
Fifty three percent of the submissions came from respondents who identified as Māori, followed by Pacific (25 per
cent), European (25 per cent), Asian (nine per cent) and other (one per cent).
Overview of feedback received on the
Annual Budget from the Manurewa local board area
46. The
proposed Annual Budget 2020/2021 sets out our priorities and how we're going to
pay for them. The regional consultation on the proposed Annual Budget focused
on changes to rates and fees, the key proposals were:
· waste
management targeted rate
· refuse
collection in former Auckland City and Manukau City
· Waitākere
rural sewerage service and targeted rate.
47. The
submissions received from the Manurewa Local Board area on these key issues is
summarised below, along with an overview of any other areas of feedback on
regional proposals with a local impact.
Waste management targeted rate
48. Aucklanders were asked about a proposal to increase the waste
management targeted rate.
Question
1: Waste management targeted rate
The
cost of responsibly dealing with our kerbside recycling (paper, cardboard and
plastics) has increased due to international market conditions.
To pay
for this we propose to charge only those who use the service by increasing the
targeted rate by $19.97 a year or $0.38 a week (the total cost changing from
$121.06 to $141.03 incl. GST).
If we
do not do this, we would have to fund the shortfall by increasing general rates
for all ratepayers, including those who don’t get a kerbside collection
service.
49. The graph below gives an overview of the responses from the Manurewa
local board area.
Graph 5:
Responses to waste management targeted rate
· A strong majority of respondents (68 per cent) support a waste
management targeted rate and believe improvements to the current system
including alternative ways to reduce waste without increasing rates are needed.
Some respondents supported a ‘pay as you throw’ system as opposed
to spreading the costs to those who do not use the service. Others considered
the increase to be reasonable given the significance of the issue and queried
how revenue generated would be spent.
· Submitters who
responded with ‘other’ (19 per cent) commented on methods to
improve the current system and the financial implications on lower income
residents. Respondents who did not support the proposal (13 per cent) also
cited concerns on already high costs of living, reprioritisation of existing
council funding to negate the need for a targeted rate, and a view that those
who produce the most waste should pay equitably.
Refuse collection in former Auckland City and Manukau
City
50. Aucklanders were asked about a proposal to increase the refuse
collection in former Auckland City and Manukau City targeted rate.
Question
2: Refuse collection in former Auckland City and Manukau City
In the
old Auckland City and Manukau City Council areas, households pay for rubbish
through a targeted rate. In other parts of the city, residents pay for their
collection via Pay As You Throw. The targeted rate for the Auckland City and
Manukau City Council areas no longer meets the cost of collection.
To
cover this extra cost we propose increasing the targeted rate in these areas by
$14.23 a year or $0.27 a week for a 120 litre bin (the total cost changing from
$129.93 to $144.16 incl. GST), and an additional $6.68 a year or $0.13 a week
for a large 240 litre bin (the total cost changing from $191 to $211.91 incl.
GST).
If we
do not do this, we would have to increase general rates for all ratepayers,
including those living outside these two areas who would subsidise residents of
old Auckland and Manukau cities.
51. The graph below gives an overview of the responses from the Manurewa
local board area.
Graph 6: Responses to refuse collection in
former Auckland City and Manukau City
· Just
over half of respondents (52 per cent) support the proposal to increase refuse
collection in the former Auckland City and Manukau City area, with commentary
centered on endorsing user pays and the inequity for residents outside these
areas disbursing for this service. Some respondents noted the impact of the
increased costs on low income households and felt more education campaigns on
reducing waste is needed.
· Those who did not support the focus areas (33 per cent)
raised concerns around unaffordability for lower income residents, who already
feel stretched by existing tax/rates policy and cost of living. In addition,
some respondents urged the
council to find alternative solutions while others felt the increase in cost
will only encourage illegal dumping.
· The 15 per cent who selected ‘other’ proposed a variety
of explanations for waste management challenges and ways to address it, such as
pay as you throw across the entire region and cleaner disposing of waste to
produce energy.
Waitākere rural sewerage service and targeted
rate
52. Aucklanders were asked about a proposal to increase the
Waitākere rural sewerage service and targeted rate.
Question
3: Waitākere rural sewerage service and targeted rate
Last
year we consulted on removing the septic tank pumpout service funded by a
targeted rate. While feedback indicated a willingness to go ahead with the
removal of this service in the Henderson-Massey and Upper Harbour local board
areas, residents of the Waitākere Ranges local board area said they wanted
to keep the service. The cost of delivering this service is higher than the
current targeted rate of $198.43.
Our
proposal, for those in the Waitākere Ranges local board area who want the
service, is to recover the full cost by increasing the targeted rate to between
$260 and $320 a year (incl. GST). This increase would apply from July 2021.
If we
do not do this, the council could end the service, or continue to subsidise the
cost of the service to septic tank users in the Waitākere Ranges local
board area from all general ratepayers, including those who don’t use the
service.
53. The
graph below gives an overview of the responses from the Manurewa local board
area.
Graph
7:Responses to Waitakere rural sewerage service and targeted rate
· A clear majority of submitters support the proposal, citing user pay
as the main reason as residents outside Waitakere should not have to compensate
for a service they are not using. Some respondents who did not support this
proposal also held similar views to those stated above and others felt users
should carry the cost privately like other rural areas.
Other feedback
54. Aucklanders
were asked what is important to them and if they had any feedback on any other
issues. This could include the key topics of how we charge for pool fencing
inspections, and adjusting our fees and charges.
55. The
table below shows the number of responses from the Manurewa local board area on
the Auckland Botanic Gardens fees and charges proposal.
Table 3: Responses to international
visitor fees at Auckland Botanic Garden
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Response
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Count
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Support
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2
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Do not support
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12
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Other
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10
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· Respondents
who supported the proposal generally agreed but considered the fee to
expensive.
· Those
who did not support raised concerns on where revenue generated would be spent,
felt the fees were exorbitant and would subsequently drive visitors away.
· Submitters
who responded with ‘other’ also believed the charge was excessive
and would prove challenging to enforce.
Feedback on the draft Tūpuna Maunga o Tamaki
Makaurau Authority – Operational Plan 2020/2021
56. No
feedback was received from the Manurewa local board area on the draft
Tūpuna Maunga o Tamaki Makaurau Authority – Operational Plan
2020/2021.
Feedback on other regional proposals with a local
impact
57. Feedback
was received from the Manurewa local board area on other regional proposals.
The table below shows the areas covered by this feedback.
Table 3: Responses to regional proposals
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Theme
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Count
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Transport
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7
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Water
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1
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Regional Community Services
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6
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Regional planning
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2
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Other Regional Services
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5
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Revenue and Finance
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5
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· Transport:
respondents raised concerns around improving roading infrastructure to support
Auckland’s growth and alleviate traffic congestion. Further comments
alluded to footpath maintenance and improving public transport.
· Water: the lone
response promoted a wastewater tariff for sports groups and not for profit
organisations.
· Regional community services: submitters commented on addressing crime, as well as
improving safety in public spaces.
· Regional planning:
respondents referred to prioritising housing/affordable housing and upgrading
dated infrastructure.
· Other regional services: most comments received centred on addressing waste
management issues, such as reinstating kerbside inorganics, providing all
households with compost bins and waste disposal initiatives.
· Revenue and finance:
submitters placed focus on prioritising core business, supporting the
council’s living wage policy and other fees and charges proposals.
Tauākī whakaaweawe
āhuarangi
Climate impact statement
58. The decisions
recommended in this report are procedural in nature. New targeted rates and the
release of reserve funds will not have any climate impacts themselves.
59. Some of the
proposed projects these would fund may have climate impacts. The climate
impacts of any projects Auckland Council chooses to progress with as a result
of this, will be assessed as part of the relevant reporting requirements.
60. Some of the
proposed projects these would fund will be specifically designed to mitigate
climate impact, build resilience to climate impacts,
and restore the natural environment.
Ngā whakaaweawe me
ngā tirohanga a te rōpū Kaunihera
Council group impacts and views
61. The Annual Budget is an Auckland Council Group document and
will include budgets at a consolidated group level. Consultation items
and updates to budgets to reflect decisions and new information may include items
from across the group.
Ngā whakaaweawe
ā-rohe me ngā tirohanga a te poari ā-rohe
Local impacts and local board views
62. Local
board decisions and feedback are being sought in this report. Local boards have
a statutory role in providing local board feedback on regional plans.
63. Local
boards play an important role in the development of the Annual Budget. Local
board agreements form part of the Annual Budget. Local board nominees have also
attended Finance and Performance Committee workshops on the Annual Budget.
Tauākī whakaaweawe
Māori
Māori impact statement
64. Many local board decisions are of importance to and impact on
Māori. Local board agreements and the Annual Budget are important tools
that enable and can demonstrate council’s responsiveness to Māori.
65. Local board plans, which were developed in 2017 through engagement
with the community including Māori, form the basis of local priorities. There is a need to continue to build
relationships between local boards and iwi, and the wider Māori community.
66. The analysis included submissions made by mana whenua and the wider
Māori community who have interests in the rohe / local board area.
67. Ongoing conversations between local boards and Māori will
assist to understand each other’s priorities and issues. This in turn can
influence and encourage Māori participation in council’s
decision-making processes.
68. Some of the
proposed projects these would fund may have impacts on Māori. The impacts
on Māori of any projects Auckland Council chooses to progress with as a
result of this, will be assessed as part of the relevant reporting
requirements.
Ngā ritenga
ā-pūtea
Financial implications
69. This report
is seeking local board decisions on financial matters in local board agreements
that need to then be considered by the Governing Body.
70. Local boards
are also providing input to regional plans. There is information in the
consultation material for each plan with the financial implications of
different options.
Ngā raru tūpono me
ngā whakamaurutanga
Risks and mitigations
71. Local boards
are required to make recommendations on these local financial matters for the
Annual Budget by 15 May 2020, to enable the Governing Body to make decisions on
them when considering the Annual Budget in May.
Ngā koringa ā-muri
Next steps
72. Local boards
will approve their local board agreements and corresponding work programmes.
73. Recommendations and feedback from local boards will be provided to
the relevant governing body committees for consideration during decision making
at the Governing Body meeting.
74. The dates of these meetings are yet to be determined as the impacts
of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown are taken into account.
Ngā tāpirihanga
Attachments
There are no attachments for
this report.
Ngā kaihaina
Signatories
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Authors
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Beth Corlett - Advisor Plans & Programmes
Shelvin Munif-Imo - Local Board Engagement Advisor
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Authorisers
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Manoj Ragupathy - Relationship Manager Manurewa &
Papakura
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