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Resolution
number WH/2020/150
MOVED by Chairperson K Thomas, seconded by Member C
Farmer:
That
the Whau Local Board:
a) approve
local consultation document content (Attachment A) and local supporting
information content (Attachment B) for inclusion in the 10-year Budget
2021-2031 consultation material.
b) delegate
authority to the local board Chair to approve any changes required to
finalise the local consultation document and supporting information content
for the Whau Local Board for the 10-year Budget 2021-2031.
c) agree to hold one Have
your Say event on Tuesday,
9 March 2021 at 6.30pm at the Bay Olympic Football Club and one drop-in event
on Saturday, 27 February 2021 at 10am at Archibald Park.
d) delegate authority to the local board Chair to approve
any changes required to the Have Your Say event.
e) 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” in relation to the local board agreement at the
council’s public engagement events during the consultation period for
the 10-year Budget 2021-2031:
i) local
board members and chairperson
ii) General
Manager Local Board Services, Local Area Manager, Local Board Senior Advisor,
Local Board Advisor, Local Board Engagement Advisor
iii) any additional staff approved by the General Manager
Local Board Services or the Group Chief Financial Officer.
f) welcome the opportunity to provide the
following feedback on the Mayoral proposal (included in the Minutes
Attachments) and potential regional consultation topics for the 10-year Budget 2021-2031.
g) note the recommendation
in Mayoral proposal for a one-off 5 per cent increase to
general rates for the 2021/2022 financial year, and support public
consultation on this proposal.
h) reiterate its feedback
as resolved in relation to the 2020/2021 Emergency budget regarding the
financial levers available to Auckland Council, noting in particular:
i) the local board supports increasing debt given
low interest rates and
Auckland Council’s
currently high credit rating
ii) the local board views capital expenditure deferrals
as its second-most
preferred
lever
iii) cuts to operational budgets are not preferred
as a lever for the local board
and only
minimal reductions would be tolerated, noting that such cuts
would have the
most visible impact on communities and in particular the
most vulnerable
iv) sale of assets is the least preferred lever
for the local board, noting
significant concerns
around privatisation and selling income-generating
assets.
i) support the
extension of the Natural Environment Targeted rate and Water Quality Targeted
rate, noting that both preventing the spread of Kauri Dieback Disease and
improving water quality of the Whau River and Manukau Harbour are among the
issues of highest concern to our communities.
j) support the
retention in the 2021-2031 Long-term Plan of the Whau Aquatic and Recreation
Facility (the Whau Local Board’s One Local Initiative) and note that
there are relatively few community assets and no under-performing assets in
the Whau Local Board area which could be sold or optimized to offset the cost
of this project.
k) support the climate
change component of the Mayoral proposal, noting that significant investment
to accelerate action against climate change has been identified as a key
issue for our communities.
l) support water
strategy reform, as this is becoming an increasingly urgent issue in the face
of both climate change and population growth and intensification, noting in
particular:
i)
support for the
recommended option for investment in Healthy Waters that
would see continuation of the status quo for
investment levels, noting the lack of available funding for new capital
projects, but enabling new / growth projects from 2025 and support to Kāinga
Ora areas provided that Kāinga Ora are willing to contribute to
community outcomes to support growth and intensification
ii) support the WaterCare Board recommended
investment scenario if
feasible, noting that it is not yet clear how this will be funded, as this is
the
best option for growth readiness, certainty of supply and clean beaches
and waterways.
m) express significant concern
around the proposals set out in respect of community investment and support
the alternative option for significant additional investment to keep the
asset portfolio the same size and keep service levels the same, noting:
i) the
board’s view as stated above that cutting operational expenditure,
including local community services and the maintenance, operations and
renewals of our community assets, will have the most significant and most
visible impact on those who are the most vulnerable.
ii) the Whau
Local Board area has relatively few community assets and relatively high
levels of deprivation, and it would be devastating for our communities if
assets were lost, or services reduced or fundamentally changed, particularly
in the context of COVID-19 and its economic and social impacts.
iii) the local board sees the retention of a
permanent, fixed physical presence
for
our community services (including local board offices) as critical to maintain
a high level of service and retain the trust and confidence of the community
iv) Auckland has
an aging population and the local board supports reducing barriers
to participation for our older residents and for those with disabilities,
and is concerned that possible changes associated with this proposal,
which might include replacing asset-based services with “pop-
up” or
online/technology-based initiatives will have the opposite effect.
n) note the recommendations
around Panuku’s funding model and support a more focused role for
Panuku with a shift away from asset disposals in favour of rates and debt
funding, noting in particular its concern around the lack of progress in implementing
the New Lynn Urban Plan, the Crown Lynn development and the Merchant Quarter
and requesting that staff investigate the options around delivery of a New
Lynn multi-storey park-and-ride, including whether Panuku could consider this
as an optimisation activity.
o) support increased
investment in Māori outcomes and note that Auckland Council will not be
able to deliver on its stated commitments to Māori without significant
investment.
CARRIED
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