Agenda of Extraordinary Meeting of the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board

Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board

04 May 2021

Local board consultation feedback and input into the 10-year Budget 2021-2031

File No.: CP2021/04345

Te take mō te pūrongo

Purpose of the report

1. To summarise consultation feedback from the Aotea / Great Barrier local board area on:

· proposed priorities, activities and advocacy initiatives for the Aotea / Great Barrier local board agreement 2021/2022.

· regional topics for the 10-year Budget 2021-2031.

2. To recommend any local matters to the Governing Body, that they will need to consider or make decisions on in the 10-year Budget 2021-2031 process.

3. To seek input on the proposed regional topics in the 10-year Budget 2021-2031.

Whakarāpopototanga matua

Executive summary

4. Local board agreements set out annual funding priorities, activities, budgets, levels of service, performance measures and advocacy initiatives for each local board area. Local board agreements for 2021/2022 will be included in the Council’s 10-year Budget 2021-2031.

5. Auckland Council publicly consulted from 22 February to 22 March 2021 to seek community views on the proposed 10-year Budget 2021-2031. This included consultation on the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board’s proposed priorities for 2021/2022, and advocacy initiatives for 2021-2031 to be included in their local board agreement.

6. Auckland Council engaged with mana whenua on several occasions prior to and during the consultation period. Aotea / Great Barrier local board area received three submissions from three mana whenua entities (attachment A) and two submissions from mataawaka organisations (attachment B). Overall, mana whenua were supportive of the local priorities and advocacy initiatives.

7. Auckland Council received 19,965 submissions (18,975 written submissions plus 990 pieces of feedback from events/social media) in total across the region and 68 submissions were from the Aotea / Great Barrier local board area (attachment C). Key themes from the local consultation feedback included:

· Concerns for housing affordability and noting a lack of social, pensioner and rental availability

· Prioritisation of marine and potable water projects

8. In the 10-year Budget process there are matters where local boards provide recommendations to the Governing Body, for consideration or decision-making. This includes:

· any new/amended business improvement district targeted rates

· any new/amended local targeted rate proposals

· proposed locally driven initiative capital projects outside local boards’ decision-making responsibility

· release of local board specific reserve funds

· any local board advocacy initiatives.

The Governing Body will consider these items as part of the 10-year Budget decision-making process in May/June 2021.

9. Local boards have a statutory responsibility to provide input into regional strategies, policies, plans, and bylaws. This report provides an opportunity for the local board to provide input on council’s proposed 10-year Budget 2021-2031.

Ngā tūtohunga

Recommendation/s

That the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board:

a) receive consultation feedback on the proposed Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board priorities and activities for 2021/2022 and key advocacy initiatives for 2021-2031.

b) receive consultation feedback on regional topics in the 10-year Budget 2021-2031 from people and organisations based in the Aotea / Great Barrier local board area.

c) recommend any new or amended Business Improvement District (BID) 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) approve its advocacy initiatives for inclusion (as an appendix) to its 2021/2022 Local Board Agreement

g) recommend the release of local board specific reserve funds to the Governing Body.

h) provide input on regional topics in the proposed 10-year Budget 2021-2031 to the Governing Body.

Horopaki

Context

10. Each financial year Auckland Council must have a local board agreement (as agreed between the Governing Body and the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board) for each local board area. This local board agreement reflects priorities in the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board Plan 2020 through local activities, budgets, levels of service, performance measures and advocacy initiatives.

11. The local board agreements 2021/2022 will form part of the Auckland Council’s 10-year Budget 2021-2031.

12. Auckland Council publicly consulted from 22 February to 22 March 2021 to seek community views on the proposed 10-year Budget 2021-2031, as well as local board priorities and proposed advocacy initiatives to be included in the local board agreement 2021/2022.

13. Due to the impacts of the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic, significant pressure has been placed upon the council’s financial position. This has created significant flow on effects for the council’s proposed 10-year Budget 2021-2031, in particular in the first three years.

Tātaritanga me ngā tohutohu

Analysis and advice

14. This report includes analysis of consultation feedback, any local matters to be recommended to the Governing Body and seeks input on regional topics in the proposed 10-year Budget 2021-2031.

Consultation feedback overview

15. Auckland Council engaged with mana whenua on several occasions prior to and during the consultation period. Aotea / Great Barrier local board area received three written submissions from mana whenua entities: Ngāti Tamaterā, Ngāti Manuhiri and Ngāti Whanaunga, and two submissions from mataawaka organisations: Te Roopu Waiora and Whenua Warrior.

16. As part of the public consultation Auckland Council used a variety of methods and channels to reach and engage a broad cross section of Aucklanders to gain their feedback and input into regional and local topics.

17. In total, Auckland Council received feedback from 19,965 people in the consultation period. This feedback was received through:

· written feedback – 18,975 hard copy and online forms, emails and letters.

· in person – 607 pieces of feedback through 61 Have Your Say events (38 in person and 23 online webinars), one of which was held in the Aotea / Great Barrier local board area. Due to the Covid-19 lockdowns 26 events were affected (either cancelled, postponed or moved to an online platform).

· telephone interviews – two people made submissions via our telephone interview option.

· social media – 78 pieces of feedback through Auckland Council social media channels

18. The graphs below indicate the demographic categories people identified with from the written feedback received relating to the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board area. This information only relates to those submitters who provided demographic information.

Graphs 1 and 2: Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board area submitter demographics

Feedback received on the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board’s priorities for 2021/2022 and key advocacy initiatives

19. The Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board consulted on the following priorities for 2021/2022:

· Water security is our top priority. We will work alongside mana whenua, advocate to governing body to establish an emergency water supply and water security plan, and also support AoteaOra Trust with a drinking water refill programme.

· Food security is a big part of our island’s resilience. We will continue to progress community initiatives like seed banking, abattoir, island fish and farmers’ markets.

· Marine protection is important to us all. We will explore the mana whenua and community-led Ahu Moana approach, advocate to governing body for policy changes to prohibit marine dumping and advocate to central government for the reform for commercial fisheries.

· We will continue annual funding support for our community groups and environmental projects on the island.

20. The Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board also consulted on the following key advocacy initiatives:

· Expanding the renewable energy micro-grid of our council facilities to include Claris airport and also provide public electric vehicle charging facilities.

· Championing the implementation of Sea Change – Tai Timu Tai Pari to protect our Hauraki Gulf.

· Seeking a policy change to prohibit all marine dumping.

· Seeking better council procurement systems to enable local employment and business development.

· Establishing an emergency water supply and water plan for our island.

· Ensuring the protection of our International Dark Sky Sanctuary status by requesting Auckland Transport and Council use low-level night lighting in the region.

· Advocating for more priority to be given to the increasing issue of dust on unsealed roads, caused by climate change and record levels of drought.

· Investigate a potential visitor levy to respond to the impacts of tourism.

21. Of the three mana whenua submissions, Ngāti Tamaterā support all local priorities and Ngāti Manuhiri and Ngāti Whanaunga support most priorities. All mana whenua indicated a strong desire to work with the board on advocacy (and other) mahi moving forward. However, there were mixed views indicated on the investigation for a potential visitor levy.

22. Auckland Council received 58 public submissions on Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board’s priorities for 2021/2031 and key advocacy initiatives. Most local respondents supported the local board priorities.

Graph 3: Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board area feedback on local priorities for 2021/2031

23. Consultation feedback on local board priorities will be considered by the local board when approving their local board agreement between the 14-18 June 2021. Local board key advocacy initiatives will be considered in the current report.

Key themes

24. Key themes of note across the feedback received (through written and in-person channels) included:

· Concerns for housing affordability and noting a lack of social, pensioner and rental availability

· Prioritisation of marine and potable water projects

Overview of feedback received on regional topics in the 10-year Budget from the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board area

25. The proposed 10-year Budget 2021-2031 sets out Auckland Council’s priorities and how to pay for them. Consultation on the proposed 10-year Budget asked submitters to respond to five key questions on:

1. The proposed investment package

2. Climate change

3. Water quality

4. Community investment

5. Rating policy.

26. The submissions received from the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board area on these key issues are summarised below, along with an overview of any other areas of feedback on regional proposals with a local impact.

Key issue 1: Proposed investment package

27. Aucklanders were asked about a proposed $31 billion capital investment programme over the next ten years, allowing the council to deliver key services and renew our aging assets. The proposal includes a one-off 5 per cent average general rates increase for the 2021/2022 financial year, rather than the previously planned 3.5 per cent increase, before returning to 3.5 per cent increases over the remaining years.

28. The proposal also includes higher borrowings in the short term, a continuation of cost savings and the sale of more surplus property. Without the greater use of rates and debt, around $900 million of investment in Auckland would be delayed from the next three years.

29. The graph below gives an overview of the responses from the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board area which includes four proforma submissions opposing the proposed investment package. Key themes that emerged from the comments were for prioritising housing, climate change, water, and concerns for council overspending and of the rates increase being too high.

Graph 4: Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board area feedback on the proposed investment package

Key issue 2: Climate Change

30. Aucklanders were asked about a proposal to provide additional investment to respond to climate change challenges. This includes enabling a quicker transition from diesel to cleaner electric and hydrogen buses, diverting more waste from landfill and enabling significant planting initiatives.

31. The graph below gives an overview of the responses from the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board area. Key themes that emerged from the comments were for prioritising electric buses, waste and sea-level rise projects, and concerns about prioritising high spending on climate change projects.

Graph 5: Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board area feedback on Climate Change

Key issue 3: Water quality

32. Aucklanders were asked about a proposal to extend and increase the Water Quality Targeted Rate for another three years – from 2028 until 2031 – as well as increasing the targeted rate annually in line with proposed average increases in general rates. The Water Quality Targeted Rate funds projects to improve water quality in Auckland’s harbours, beaches and streams.

33. The graph below gives an overview of the responses from the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board area. Key themes that emerged from the comments were for prioritising marine and potable water projects and concerns about the high cost of fixing water infrastructure and Aotea being non-reticulated.

Graph 6: Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board area feedback on the Water Quality

Key issue 4: Community investment

34. Aucklanders were asked to provide feedback on a proposal that would see council adopt a new approach for community services to enable them to reduce building and asset maintenance related expenditure. The proposal involves consolidation of community facilities and services, increased leasing or shared facility arrangements, and an increased focus on providing multi-use facilities and online services in the future.

35. The graph below gives an overview of the responses from the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board area. Key themes that emerged from the comments were in support for shared spaces and concerns for library closures, future facility maintenance levels and the loss of physical spaces in favour of online services.

Graph 7: Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board area feedback on the Community Investment

Key issue 5: Rating policy

36. Aucklanders were asked for their feedback on a raft of proposed rating changes impacting different properties across Auckland differently. Proposed changes also included, for example, the extension of the Natural Environment Targeted Rate until June 2031, along with options to extend the Urban Rating Area and reinstatement of the Accommodation Provider Targeted Rate.

37. A brief overview of the responses from the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board area is outlined below:

· 50% of 44 responders supported extending the Natural Environmental Targeted Rate and 25% did not support

· 43% of 44 responders supported extending the Urban rating area and 41% did not support

· 47% of 45 responders supported Charging farm and lifestyle properties in the Urban Rating Area residential rates and 40% did not support.

· 37% of the 43 responders supported extending the City Centre targeted rate and 44% did not support

· 44% of the 41 responders supported introducing the Rodney Drainage Targeted Rate and 37% did not support

· One responder selected other for the Accommodation provider targeted rate question and in the comments box indicated non-support.

· One responder did not support the Electricity network resilience targeted rate,

· There were no responders to the Waitakere rural sewerage targeted rate and Clevedon water connection targeted rate questions.

Other feedback

38. Aucklanders were asked what is important to them and if they had any feedback on any other issues. Key themes that emerged from the comments were for prioritising housing and the environment.

Recommendations on local matters

39. This report allows the local board to recommend local matters to the Governing Body for consideration as part of the 10-year Budget process, in May 2021. This includes:

· any new/amended business improvement district targeted rates

· any new/amended local targeted rate proposals

· proposed locally driven initiative capital projects outside local boards’ decision-making responsibility

· release of local board specific reserve funds.

· approve its advocacy initiatives for inclusion (as an appendix) to its 2021/2022 Local Board Agreement

Local targeted rate and business improvement district (BID) targeted rate proposals

40. Local boards are required to endorse any new or amended locally targeted rate proposals or business improvement district (BID) targeted rate proposals in their local board area. Note that these proposals must have been consulted on before they can be implemented.

41. Local boards then recommend these proposals to the Governing Body for approval of the targeted rate.

Funding for Locally Driven Initiatives (LDI)

42. Local boards are allocated funding for local driven initiatives (LDI) annually, to spend on local projects or programmes that are important to their communities. Local boards have decision-making over the LDI funds but need approval from the Governing Body where:

· operational LDI funding is to be converted into capital LDI funding.

· the release of local board specific reserve funds is requested, which are being held by the council for a specific purpose.

· a LDI capital project exceeds $1 million.

These conditions do not apply to the Aotea / Great Barrier Local Board for the 2021/2022 financial year.

Local board advocacy

43. Local boards are requested to approve any advocacy initiatives for inclusion (as an appendix) to their 2020/2021 Local Board Agreement, taking into account the consultation feedback above. This allows the Finance and Performance Committee to consider these advocacy items when making decisions on the 10-year Budget 2021-2031 in May/June.

Local board input on regional topics in the 10-year Budget 2021-2031

44. 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 Auckland Council’s strategies, policies, plans, and bylaws, and any proposed changes to be made to them. This report provides an opportunity for the local board to provide input on council’s proposed 10-year Budget 2021-2031.

45. Local board plans reflect community priorities and preferences and are key documents that guide the development of local board agreements (LBAs), local board annual work programmes, and local board input into regional plans such as the 10-year Budget.

Tauākī whakaaweawe āhuarangi

Climate impact statement

46. The decisions recommended in this report are part of the 10-year Budget 2021-2031 and local board agreement process to approve funding and expenditure over the next 10 years.

47. Projects allocated funding through this 10-year Budget process will all have varying levels of potential climate impact associated with them. The climate impacts of projects Auckland Council chooses to progress, are all assessed carefully as part of council’s rigorous reporting requirements.

Ngā whakaaweawe me ngā tirohanga a te rōpū Kaunihera

Council group impacts and views

48. The 10-year Budget 2021-2031 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

49. The local board’s decisions and feedback are being sought in this report. The local board has a statutory role in providing its feedback on regional plans.

50. Local boards play an important role in the development of the council’s 10-year Budget. Local board agreements form part of the 10-year Budget. Local board nominees have also attended Finance and Performance Committee workshops on the 10-year Budget.

Tauākī whakaaweawe Māori

Māori impact statement

51. Many local board decisions are of importance to and impact on Māori. Local board agreements and the 10-year Budget are important tools that enable and can demonstrate the council’s responsiveness to Māori.

52. Local board plans, developed in 2020 through engagement with the community including Māori, form the basis of local board area priorities. There is a need to continue to build relationships between local boards and iwi, and the wider Māori community.

53. Analysis provided of consultation feedback received on the proposed 10-year Budget includes submissions made by mana whenua and the wider Māori community who have interests in the rohe / local board area.

54. 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.

55. Some projects approved for funding could have discernible impacts on Māori. The potential impacts on Māori, as part of any project progressed by Auckland Council, will be assessed appropriately and accordingly as part of relevant reporting requirements.

Ngā ritenga ā-pūtea

Financial implications

56. This report is seeking the local board’s decisions on financial matters in the local board agreement that must then be considered by the Governing Body.

57. The local board also provides input to regional plans and proposals. There is information in the council’s consultation material for each plan or proposal with the financial implications of each option outlined for consideration.

Ngā raru tūpono me ngā whakamaurutanga

Risks and mitigations

58. The council must adopt its 10-year Budget, which includes local board agreements, by 30 June 2021. The local board is required to make recommendations on these local matters for the 10-year Budget by mid May 2021, to enable and support the Governing Body to make decisions on key items to be included in the 10-year Budget on 25 May 2021.

Ngā koringa ā-muri

Next steps

59. The local board will approve its local board agreement and corresponding work programmes in June 2021.

60. Recommendations and feedback from the local board will be provided to the relevant Governing Body committee for consideration during decision making at the Governing Body meeting.

61. The final 10-year Budget 2021-2031 (including local board agreements) will be adopted by the Governing Body on 22 June 2021.

Ngā tāpirihanga

Attachments