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Resolution
number WTM/2020/86
MOVED by Chairperson R Northey, seconded by Member A
Bonham:
That
the Waitematā Local Board:
a)
note from the
consultation feedback on the Waitematā Local Board priorities for
2020/2021 that there was strong support for environmental, climate change and
Access for Everyone proposals, for the restoration of the Leys Institute
Buildings and for St Georges Bay Road and Faraday Street enhancements.
b)
provide feedback on
the proposals in the Annual Budget 2020/2021 consultation part 1 as follows:
i)
support increasing
the annual waste management targeted rate by $19.97 to recover the additional
costs of recycling paper, cardboard and plastics
ii)
support increasing
the refuse collection targeted rate in former Auckland City and Manukau City
to cover the cost of collection
iii) support continuing the Waitākere rural
sewerage service and increasing the targeted rate to cover the cost of the
septic tank pumpout service
iv) support replacing the swimming pool onsite
inspection cost with an annual targeted rate.
c)
confirm its One
Local Initiative and its advocacy to secure funding, resource and support to
deliver the community’s agreed vision and chosen design for Ponsonby Park,
254 Ponsonby Road as soon as practicable.
d)
approve its top
five advocacy initiatives as follows:
i)
advocate to the
Governing Body and Auckland Transport to take appropriate actions to halve
our carbon emissions by 2030, and to be at net zero emissions by 2050
ii)
advocate to the
Governing Body, Auckland Transport, Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic
Development (ATEED) and Panuku to provide business continuity response and
recovery plans through pandemics, extreme weather events, major disasters and
emergencies, and all major transformation projects to include a business
continuity plan and development response programme
iii) advocate to the Governing Body and Panuku
Development Auckland to ensure Auckland Council actively builds or enables
others to provide affordable housing through appropriate mechanisms and tools
iv) advocate to the Governing Body to prioritise
Leys Institute for funding to retain, strengthen and reopen for library and
community use
v)
advocate to the
Governing Body and Auckland Transport to include the revitalisation of St
Georges Bay Road and Faraday Street in the list of Regional Land Transport
Projects (RLTP) prioritised projects and seek the Governing Body to fund the
streetscapes improvement as set out in the Parnell Plan vision document.
e)
approve its other
advocacy positions as tabled at the meeting.
f)
note that since the
Annual Budget 2020/2021 consultation was undertaken, the COVID-19 pandemic
has exerted significant pressure on the council’s financial situation,
which will have flow on effects for the proposed budget for the 2020/2021
financial year.
g)
support the
decision of the Emergency Committee to grant relief to those ratepayers
facing hardship by not requiring its May 2020 quarterly payment of the
Accommodation Providers Targeted Rate and enabling residential and business
ratepayers to postpone their May payment until the end of August 2020.
h)
support council
advocacy to Central Government to enhance its Rates Rebate scheme to assist
low income ratepayers
i)
note that the
Emergency Committee has directed that a part 2 consultation will be
undertaken to ask Aucklanders for their views on certain aspects of Auckland
Council’s proposed ‘emergency budget’ and that the proposed
council savings options are not yet available.
j)
note that the
Governing Body will now be making final decisions on the reprioritisation for
the ‘emergency budget’ on 21 May 2020 and that the updated
positions and savings options will be made available to local boards on the
14 May 2020 for formal input by 19 May 2020.
k)
agree to adopt the
following high priority in-principle views and forward them to the Finance
and Performance Committee and the Emergency Committee to inform their
consideration on budget options:
i)
maintain Council
spending and resources and avoid services cuts principally through the avenue
of additional short-term borrowing, and exploring increased revenue streams
and alternate funding vehicles
ii)
maintain council
staffing levels at the current appropriate level and ensure that there is
budget provision for a ‘living wage’, look to reduce the use of
consultants and outsourcing, and focus on enabling local jobs and employment
to help boost economy.
iii) ensure a long-term view of potential savings
is taken, including reviewing current commitments to identify which projects
may deliver savings in the long term or where stopping would create longer
term costs
iv) climate action analysis to be central to the
process in considering savings so that climate emergency response is
prioritised and such implications, benefits and trade-offs are understood
v)
continue to care
for the environment (water quality, biodiversity, pest control)
vi) protect service levels for libraries, pools,
marae, community centres, community houses, recreation centres, playgrounds,
parks, sports fields, green initiatives, climate change projects, cleaning
streams, environmental partnerships, renewals and general activities that
provide local jobs and help towards the recovery and mental and physical
health
vii) refocus ATEED funding primarily towards the
recovery as an economic development agency (including support for BIDs and
town centres) while retaining a longer-term role for revenue generating
economic activities such as films, and domestic eco-tourism
viii) prefer providing relief in the form of access
to appropriate rates postponement policies and systems being made available
for residents and businesses facing hardship rather than making significant
cuts to many Council services and projects.
l)
agree to circulate
the following in-principle views to the Finance and Performance Committee and
the Emergency Committee to inform their consideration on savings options:
i)
acknowledge that
local board funding is a small percentage of the overall council group budget
but is a vital and highly responsive support avenue for a variety of
community initiatives that help support resilient communities
ii)
that the delivery
of the four well beings – social, economic, environmental and cultural
should continue to be “core” services for Auckland Council
iii) continue to focus funding towards building
community capacity to support the recovery and ensure the inequity divide
across the region does not worsen
iv) support for vulnerable communities such as the
elderly, deprived/low income communities, youth and Maori/Pasifika
communities should be maintained or enhanced through the Emergency Budget as
they are disproportionately affected by health and economic emergencies
v)
continue the
existing value for money review to ensure cost effectiveness and efficiency
gains of our services
vi) ensure all major transformation projects
include business continuity plans and a development response programme to
mitigate further financial pressure on local businesses
vii) limit the reduction of services or deferment
of capital projects only to those whose priority is affected by controls on
entry to New Zealand and restrictions on large-scale events
viii) investigate the use of local procurement and
supporting local services/businesses and community organisations for the
delivery of council projects and services.
m) note that at the 19 May 2020 Waitematā
Local Board business meeting, we intend to agree formal feedback on the
emergency budget proposed savings and ratings and revenue options for tabling
at the 21 May 2020 Governing Body meeting.
CARRIED
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