Agenda of Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board

Chairperson I Fordham will open the meeting held by Skype for Business and welcome

everyone in attendance. Member V Toki will lead a karakia.

At the close of the agenda no apologies had been received.

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.

4 Confirmation of Minutes

That the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board:

a) confirm the ordinary minutes of its meeting, held on Tuesday, 26 May 2020, as a true and correct record.

5 Leave of Absence

At the close of the agenda no requests for leave of absence had been received.

6 Acknowledgements

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

7 Petitions

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

8 Deputations

Standing Order 7.7 provides for deputations. Those applying for deputations are required to give seven working days notice of subject matter and applications are approved by the Chairperson of the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board. This means that details relating to deputations can be included in the published agenda. Total speaking time per deputation is ten minutes or as resolved by the meeting.

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

9 Public Forum

A period of time (approximately 30 minutes) is set aside for members of the public to address the meeting on matters within its delegated authority. A maximum of 3 minutes per item is allowed, following which there may be questions from members.

At the close of the agenda no requests for public forum had been received.

10 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.”

Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board

15 June 2020

Draft Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2020

File No.: CP2020/07056

Te take mō te pūrongo

Purpose of the report

1. To approve the draft Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2020 and statement of proposal for public consultation.

Whakarāpopototanga matua

Executive summary

2. The Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009 requires that each local board complete a local board plan for adoption by 31 October of the year following election and uses the special consultative procedure (SCP) to engage with their communities.

3. The consultation period for the SCP will take place from 13 July to 13 August 2020.

4. The draft Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2020 has been developed using feedback obtained before COVID-19. There is a risk in approving the draft Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2020 for public consultation while the full social and economic effects of COVID-19 on the community are not yet determined.

5. The consultation process will seek the views and aspirations of the public to inform the final plan.

Ngā tūtohunga

Recommendation/s

That the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board:

a) adopt the draft Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2020 in Attachment A and the statement of proposal in Attachment B for public consultation using the special consultative procedure.

b) delegate authority to the Chairperson and/or other nominated member(s) of the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board to approve final changes to the draft Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2020 and statement of proposal.

c) delegate authority to the Chairperson and/or other nominated member(s) to approve the type of engagement events to take place, the number of events and the dates of the engagement events.

d) delegate to the following elected members and staff the power and responsibility to hear from the public through ‘spoken’ (or New Zealand sign language) interaction, at the council’s public engagement events, during the consultation period for the local board plan:

· local board members and chairperson

· General Manager Local Board Services, Local Board Relationship Manager, Local Board Senior Advisor, Local Board Advisor, Local Board Engagement Advisor

· any additional staff approved by the General Manager Local Board Services or the Group Chief Financial Officer.

e) approve to hold an extraordinary meeting of the local board, if required, at a suitable date and time during the weeks of 26 October to 2 November 2020 to adopt the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2020.

Horopaki

Context

6. The Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009 states that each local board must:

· adopt their local board plan by 31 October of the year following an election

· use the special consultative procedure (SCP) to engage with their communities.

7. Local board plans are strategic documents developed every three years. They set a direction for local boards and reflect community priorities and preferences. They provide a guide for local board activity, funding and investment decisions. They also influence local board input into regional strategies and plans, including annual budgets.

8. The plans inform the development of the council’s 10-year budget. They also form the basis for development of the annual local board agreement for the following three financial years and subsequent work programmes.

Timeframes

9. The consultation period for the local board plans was due to be held in June and July 2020. The implementation of COVID-19 alert levels 3 and 4 required a change in the direction of the draft plans to ensure they responded to the effects of COVID-19. Restrictions on public gatherings also required a shift in planning how engagement events could occur. Planning for these took time, which has forced the consultation period to be moved to July and August 2020.

10. Section 83 of the Local Government Act 2002 requires the consultation period to be a minimum of one month. The COVID-19 Response (Further Management Measures) Legislation Act 2020, which came into force on 16 May 2020, permits a council to modify its SCP and conduct a shorter period of consultation than one month (but no less than 7 days).

11. The threshold for a council being able to modify its consultation period under this Act is high. According to the Act, a council can only take a modified approach to “the extent that it is satisfied to do is necessary or desirable to support measures taken to contain or mitigate the outbreak of COVID-19 or its effects, including, without limitation, by addressing the impacts and consequences of the outbreak for any aspect of the well-being of the community”.

12. While it may be possible to shorten the consultation period, it is important that the community is given a reasonable time of one month to provide feedback on the draft plan in which to indicate their priorities and aspirations.

13. Whilst every effort will be made to adopt the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2020 in October 2020, the unavoidable change to the dates of the consultation period may require a small extension of time. This is to ensure the local board has sufficient time to consider the submissions received.

14. It is recommended that provision be made for an extraordinary meeting to adopt the final plan during the weeks of 26 October to 2 November 2020, should it be required. Adoption of the final plan will be no later than 30 November.

Tātaritanga me ngā tohutohu

Analysis and advice

15. The draft Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2020 (refer Attachment A) has been developed by considering:

· previous community engagement, including engagement on the 2017 Local Board Plan, 2018-2028 Long-term Plan and prior annual plans

· the uncertainty of the impact of COVID-19 on Auckland Council’s budget and service levels

· subject matter expert advice from council and other council organisations

· mana whenua and mataawaka views through hui at Kawa marae.

16. Targeted consultation was also undertaken in February to April 2020 through various community events and meetings with local community groups.

17. The draft Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2020 has been developed while the impacts of COVID-19 are not yet fully determined. It is possible that some of the aspirations and desires may need to change as a result.

Key features

18. Due to the recent impacts of the pandemic, the drought and climate change, the draft Aotea / Great Barrier Local Plan 2020 focuses on one key outcome for island resilience.

19. There are fourteen objectives that are listed beneath this outcome. Key features include:

· Support for mana whenua and community groups

· Responding to climate change impacts

· Ensuring the local economy remains strong and stable

· Protecting the environment and coastline

· Futureproof our infrastructure and investigate housing opportunities

Engagement plan for the SCP

20. The consultation period will run from 13 July to 13 August 2020.

21. The engagement approach focuses on engagement through print, radio and online platforms.

22. The COVID-19 alert system has certain restrictions on public gatherings, which has varying implications for consultation under the SCP. Due to the uncertainty of knowing which COVID-19 alert level Aucklanders will be under at the time of the consultation period, in person meetings will be held by request only at this stage.

Consultation documentation and translations

23. To support Aucklanders to be able to provide feedback in a way that suits them information will be provided online and in hard copy.

24. Hard copies and feedback forms will be available at the Claris service centre, or on request by calling 09 301 0101.

25. The draft local board plan will be available to view online at www.akhaveyoursay.nz.

Methods for obtaining feedback

26. Feedback will be gathered as described below. These may be subject to change depending on the rules and requirements around COVID-19 alert levels:

· online submission via www.akhaveyoursay.nz.

· written submissions, for example pro formas and letters received by post or email

· verbal submission through telephone by calling 09 301 0101 or board members (as outlined in attachment B)

· social media comments which are in scope of the engagement, although people will be encouraged to go to the online form to make a formal submission

· face-to-face engagement events (spoken interaction) or in person meetings will be held by request only at this stage. If an event is scheduled details will be communicated closer to the time.

Processing feedback

27. Feedback will be analysed and collated for local board members to consider prior to making decisions on the final local board plan.

Tauākī whakaaweawe āhuarangi

Climate impact statement

28. The draft Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2020 reflects the impacts of predicted climate change. It considers such impacts as increasing temperatures, rising sea levels and changing rainfall patterns on the local board area.

29. The plan includes a specific objective responding to the impacts of climate change which has eleven initiatives including:

· Seeking to lower carbon emissions through delivery of an Aotea Ecological Footprint and restoring freshwater eco-systems

· Establishing an element of water security through an emergency water system

· Investigating food security for the island starting with a feasibility study

· Protecting coastal roads and infrastructure from sea level rise

30. The impact on the climate from the process of engagement has been considered. Digital feedback will be encouraged where possible. The ability to provide feedback from any location reduces the need to travel to a specific location.

Ngā whakaaweawe me ngā tirohanga a te rōpū Kaunihera

Council group impacts and views

31. The approval of the draft Aotea / Great Barrier local board plan 2020 for public consultation will provide the local board with feedback on the communities’ aspirations on the direction the local board intends to take. Planning and operational areas of the council have taken part in the development and review of the draft plans.

Ngā whakaaweawe ā-rohe me ngā tirohanga a te poari ā-rohe

Local impacts and local board views

32. The local board’s views have informed the development of the draft Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2020 through a series of workshops from November 2019 to May 2020.

Tauākī whakaaweawe Māori

Māori impact statement

33. In January 2020 a letter was sent to all iwi authorities inviting participation in local board discussions to ensure key messages were captured early in the planning process.

34. The local board and staff engaged with mana whenua and mataawaka in 15 February 2020 to seek their views and values in relation to the area at a hui at Kawa marae.

35. The local board has also considered existing feedback on several matters from mana whenua and mataawaka.

36. Aspirations and priorities are weaved throughout the plan, however, the plan includes an objective specifically for mana whenua that has eight initiatives including:

· Improving relationship networks and agreeing collaborative projects

· A rangatahi leadership programme

· Protection for waahi tapu sites and coastal infrastructure

· Capacity building for mana whenua enterprises

37. These views have been incorporated into the draft Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2020.

Ngā ritenga ā-pūtea

Financial implications

38. Budget to implement initiatives and projects is confirmed through the annual plan budgeting process. The local board plans inform this process.

39. The total engagement budget is $12,000 per local board, which is provided for in the Local Board Services group budget.

Ngā raru tūpono me ngā whakamaurutanga

Risks and mitigations

40. There is a risk in approving the draft Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2020 for public consultation while the full social and economic effects of COVID-19 on the community are not yet determined. The consultation process will seek the views and aspirations of the public to inform the final plan.

Ngā koringa ā-muri

Next steps

41. Following approval, the draft Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2020 and statement of proposal will be available for public consultation from 13 July to 13 August 2020.

Ngā tāpirihanga

Attachments