|
Maungakiekie-Tāmaki
Local Board
05 May 2020
|
|
Local
board decisions and input into the Annual Budget 2020/2021
File No.: CP2020/05316
Te take mō te
pūrongo
Purpose of the report
1. To
recommend to the Governing Body the approval of local financial matters for the
local board agreement 2020/2021, as part of the Annual Budget 2020/2021
process, that are outside of the local board’s allocated authority.
2. To
seek feedback on the proposed regional topics in the Annual Budget 2020/2021
(Consultation part 1).
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. These proposals are not affected by the changes being considered by the
council and therefore will not be subject to further consultation. Local boards
are requested to make recommendations on financial matters and provide feedback
on regional proposals in consultation part 1 to the Governing Body for consideration.
This must be done before consultation part 2 can get underway, so the scope of
consultation part 2 is clear.
7. This report requests the local board make recommendations to the
Governing Body on local financial matters for the local board agreement, that are outside of allocated local board decision-making,
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 Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board priorities for
2020/2021
10. The local board consulted on the following priorities:
· Priority 1: continue to support multi-year projects
· Priority
2: increase our focus on walking and cycling connections
· Priority
3: protecting our environment for future generations.
11. 123 submissions were received on Maungakiekie-Tāmaki
Local Board priorities for 2020/2021, showing that the majority of people
either support most (48 per cent) or support all (43 per cent) of the local
board’s priorities.
Feedback on
regional proposals in the proposed Annual Budget 2020/2021 from the
Maungakiekie-Tāmaki 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
· the draft
Tūpuna Maunga o Tamaki Makaurau Authority – Operational Plan
2020/2021
· other budget
information.
13. Local board views on these regional matters will be
considered by the Governing Body (or relevant committee) before final decisions
are made on the Annual Budget 2020/2021.
14. Out of the 4673 submissions received on the regional
proposals in the Annual Budget 2020/2021, 160 submissions were from people
living in the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board area.
15. The waste management targeted rate was overall supported
by Maungakiekie-Tāmaki submitters with 72 per cent in support, 25 per cent
opposed, and 3 per cent marked ‘other’.
16. There was overall support for the proposal to increase the refuse collection in former
Auckland City and Manukau City targeted rate with
71 per cent in support, 23 per cent in opposition, and 6 per cent marked
‘other’.
17. The Waitākere rural sewerage service and targeted
rate was overall supported by Maungakiekie-Tāmaki residents with 67 per
cent in support of continuing the service, 24 per cent opposed, wanting to end
the service, and 9 per cent opposed, wanting to continue the service as is.
18. Seven of the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki submissions
provided feedback on the draft Tūpuna Maunga Authority – Operational
Plan 2020/2021, mostly raising their concerns regarding the plans to fell
exotic trees on the maunga.
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.
|
Ngā tūtohunga
Recommendation/s
That the
Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board:
a) receive consultation feedback on the
proposed Maungakiekie-Tāmaki 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
Maungakiekie-Tāmaki 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.
|
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. Local boards have been asked by
the Governing Body to provide formal views on priorities for consideration in
the ‘emergency budget’. Local boards will have until 12 May 2020 to
provide their views, noting that staff are developing advice on potential local
areas for cost saving, and that this will take some time to finalize.
25. 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.
26. 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.
27. 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.
28. This report includes analysis of the consultation feedback on the
Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board priorities for 2020/2021, and on the
regional proposals in the Annual Budget 2020/2021 from people or organisations
based in the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki local board area.
Local financial matters for the local
board agreement
29. This report
asks the local board to agree its input and recommend any 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
30. 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).
31. The expansion of the Glen Innes Business Improvement District was
consulted on. However, the Glen Innes Business Association has decided to
postpone their BID expansion ballot until May 2020 so that engagement with
businesses in the proposed expansion area can be improved. Under the BID
Policy, the business association have until the end of March 2021 to complete
the ballot. If successful, the expansion will be considered as part of the
2021/2022 Annual Budget consultation process.
Funding for Locally Driven Initiatives (LDI)
32. 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 that amount require approval from the
Governing Body.
33. 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.
34. There are no
LDI projects over $1 million, or projects requiring the release of local board
specific reserve funds in the local board area at this stage.
Local board input on regional plans
35. 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.
36. 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
37. 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.
38. Auckland
Council also consulted on the review of CCOs during the same period as the
Annual Budget, from 21 February to 22 March 2020.
39. After
receiving feedback, the panel will report on key issues, community and
stakeholder feedback to the council in May 2020.
40. The panel
will provide a final report and recommendations to the council in July 2020.
Types of feedback
41. Overall
Auckland Council received feedback from 4,673 people in the consultation
period. This feedback was received through:
· Written
feedback – 3,728 hard copy and online forms, emails and letters
· In
person – through two Have Your Say events and one community event.
Tātaritanga me ngā
tohutohu
Analysis and advice
Feedback received on
Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board priorities for 2020/2021
42. The Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board consulted on the
following priorities:
· Priority
1: continue to support multi-year projects
· Priority
2: increase our focus on walking and cycling connections
· Priority
3: protecting our environment for future generations.
43. Key themes across all feedback received (through written
and in person channels) were:
· increasing
safe cycling connections throughout the local board area
· stronger
priority for protecting the environment
· greater
investment on the environment
Feedback received
44. 123 submissions were received on Maungakiekie-Tāmaki
Local Board priorities for 2020/2021, showing that the majority of people
either support most (48 per cent) or support all (43 per cent) of the local
board’s priorities.
45. The Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board held two Have
Your Say events and one community event.
Feedback on other local topics
46. Key themes across feedback received on other local topics
include:
· Theme
1: closing the loop and keeping the community informed on project progress and
timeframes.
· Theme
2: support for town centres and local businesses post COVID19
· Theme
3: opportunity for local social enterprises to support positive environmental
outcomes
· Theme
4: support focus on climate change
Requests for local funding
47. There were no requests for local funding in all the
feedback received.
Information on submitters
48. The tables and graphs below indicate what demographic
categories people identified with. This information only relates to those
submitters who provided demographic information.
Overview of feedback received on the
Annual Budget from Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board area
49. 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.
50. The submissions received from the
Maungakiekie-Tāmaki 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
51. 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.
52. The graph below gives an overview of the responses from the
Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board area.
53. Of the 160 submissions form the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki
Local Board area, 127 responded to the waste management targeted rate. This
proposal was overall supported by Maungakiekie-Tāmaki submitters.
54. Key themes in the comments for those that opposed this
proposal was support for initiating pay as you throw across the region, concern
that this will cause an increase in illegal dumping, and support for a product
stewardship scheme.
Refuse collection in former Auckland City and Manukau
City
55. 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.
56. The graphs below give an overview of the responses from the
Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board area.
57. 126 of Maungakiekie-Tāmaki submissions responded to
the proposal to increase the
refuse collection in former Auckland City and Manukau City targeted rate. There was overall support for this proposal.
58. However, key themes in the comments for those that
opposed this proposal was concern that this will cause an increase in illegal
dumping, support for education/campaigns on reducing household waste, and
support for local social enterprises within this industry.
Waitākere rural sewerage service and targeted
rate
59. 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.
60. The graphs below give an overview of the responses from the
Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board area.
61. 109 of the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki submissions responded
to the Waitākere rural sewerage service and targeted rate. The proposal
was overall supported by Maungakiekie-Tāmaki submitters.
62. Of the 33 per cent that opposed this proposal the main
theme in their comments was that this is individual households’
responsibility not councils.
Feedback on the draft Tūpuna Maunga o Tamaki
Makaurau Authority – Operational Plan 2020/2021
63. Seven comments were received from the
Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board area on the draft Tūpuna Maunga o
Tamaki Makaurau Authority – Operational Plan 2020/2021, mostly raising
their concerns regarding the plans to fell exotic trees on the maunga.
Feedback on other regional proposals with a local
impact
64. Feedback
was received from the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board area on other
regional proposals, the graph below shows the areas
covered by this feedback.
|
Theme
|
Count
|
|
6-Transport
|
17
|
|
7-Water
|
0
|
|
8-Regional
Community Services
|
8
|
|
9-Regional
planning
|
5
|
|
10-Other
Regional Services
|
26
|
|
11-Rating and
Funding
|
22
|
|
12-Revenue
and Finance
|
2
|
|
13-Tupuna
Maunga
|
7
|
|
14-Council
Controlled Services
|
2
|
|
15-General
Comments
|
2
|
65. Majority of the feedback received on other regional
proposals was regarding the transport, other regional services, and rating and
funding themes.
66. Most of the transport feedback was regarding the need for
walking and cycling improvements across Auckland and in the local board area.
67. The feedback received on other regional services primarily
supported the need for further climate action.
68. The feedback received on the rating and funding theme was
regarding concern on council spending and the affordability of the rates
increase.
Tauākī whakaaweawe
āhuarangi
Climate impact statement
69. 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.
70. 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.
71. 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
72. 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
73. 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.
74. 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
75. 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.
76. 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.
77. The analysis included submissions made by mana whenua and the wider
Māori community who have interests in the rohe / local board area.
78. 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.
79. 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
80. This report
is seeking local board recommendations on financial matters in local board
agreements that require approval by the Governing Body.
81. Local boards
are also providing input into 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
82. 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 (consultation part 1) in May.
Ngā koringa ā-muri
Next steps
83. Recommendations and feedback from local boards will be provided to
the relevant Governing Body committees for consideration during decision making
on the Annual Budget (consultation part 1). The dates of these decision-making
meetings are yet to be determined as the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and
lockdown are taken into account.
84. Local boards are requested by
the Governing Body to provide formal views on priorities for consideration in
the ‘emergency budget’ (consultation part 2) by 12 May 2020. Staff
are currently developing advice on potential local areas for cost saving.
85. Local boards
will approve their local board agreements and corresponding work programmes for
FY 2020/2021. The dates for local board workshops and business meetings, as
part of this process, 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
|
Author
|
Mal Ahmu - Local Board Advisor - Mngke-Tmk
|
|
Authorisers
|
Louise Mason - GM Local Board Services
Nina Siers - Relationship Manager for
Maungakiekie-Tamaki Puketapapa
|
