|
Rodney Local
Board
11 May 2022
|
|
Local
board consultation feedback and input into Annual Budget 2022-2023
File No.: CP2022/05825
Te take mō te
pūrongo
Purpose of the report
1. To
receive consultation feedback from the Rodney Local Board area on:
· proposed
priorities and activities for the Rodney Local Board Agreement 2022/2023
· regional
topics for the Annual Budget 2022/2023.
2. To
recommend any local matters to the Governing Body, that they will need to
consider or make decisions on in the Annual Budget 2022/2023 process.
3. To
provide input on the proposed regional topics in the Annual Budget 2022/2023.
Whakarāpopototanga matua
Executive summary
4. Local
board agreements set out annual funding priorities, activities, budgets, levels
of service, performance measures and initiatives for each local board area.
Local board agreements for 2022/2023 will be included in the council’s
Annual Budget 2022/2023.
5. Auckland Council publicly consulted from 28 February to 28 March
2022 to seek community views on the proposed Annual Budget 2022/2023.
This included consultation on the Rodney Local Board’s proposed
priorities for 2022/2023 to be included in their local board
agreement.
6. In
total, Auckland Council received feedback 11,550 pieces of feedback in the
consultation period. This feedback was received through:
· written feedback – 9,464 online or hard copy forms,
emails or letters
· in person – 2,086 pieces of feedback through online
Have Your Say events, or independently managed phone interviews. All events
(except one which didn’t have any attendees) were moved to an online
platform or cancelled due to the red COVID-19 traffic light setting.
7. Of the 9,464 written submissions received in total across the
region, 499 were from the Rodney Local Board area. Some submitters did not
provide feedback to all the questions.
8. Four
hundred and fifty-six (456) submissions from the Rodney Local Board area were
received on the local board’s priorities. Of those, 74 per cent of
submitters either supported all or most priorities proposed by the Rodney Local
Board.
9. Four
hundred and seventy-nine (479) submissions from the Rodney Local Board area
were received on the proposed Climate Action Targeted Rate showing a majority
of submitters (56 per cent) supported the proposal.
10. Close to the
majority of Rodney Local Board area submitters supported specific proposals in
the budget, such as the proposal to manage ongoing spending (50 per cent of 417
submissions received) and prioritise operational spending (46 per cent of 395
submissions received) compared to those that did not support 29 per cent and 22
per cent respectively.
11. Four hundred
and thirty-eight (438) submissions on the standardisation of waste management
proposal were received for the Rodney Local Board area. Of those, 38 per cent
of submitters supported the proposal to move to a rates funded system while 50
per cent of submitters did not support the proposal and preferred a
pay-as-you-throw system.
12. In the annual budget process there are financial matters where local
boards provide recommendations to the Governing Body, for consideration or
decision-making. This includes:
· 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 annual budget decision-making process in June 2022.
13. 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 Annual Budget 2022/2023.
Ngā tūtohunga
Recommendation/s
That the Rodney Local Board:
a) receive
consultation feedback on the proposed Rodney Local Board priorities and
activities for 2022/2023.
b) receive
consultation feedback on regional topics in the Annual Budget 2022/2023 from
people and organisations based in the Rodney local board area.
c) recommend
that the Governing Body approves any proposed locally driven initiative capital
projects, which are outside local boards’ allocated decision-making
responsibility.
d) recommend
the release of local board specific reserve funds to the Governing Body.
e) provide
input on regional topics in the proposed Annual Budget 2022/2023 to the
Governing Body.
f) provide
its advocacy initiatives for the Annual Budget 2022/2023 to the Governing Body.
Horopaki
Context
14. Each
financial year Auckland Council must have a local board agreement (as agreed
between the Governing Body and the local board) for each local board area. The
Rodney Local Board Agreement 2022/2023, sets out how the council will reflect
the priorities in the Rodney Local Board Plan 2020 in respect to the local
activities to be provided in the Rodney Local Board area and includes
information relating to budgets, levels of service, and performance measures.
15. The local
board agreements 2022/2023 will form part of the Auckland Council’s Annual
Budget 2022/2023.
16. Auckland
Council publicly consulted from 28 February to 28 March 2022 to seek community
views on the proposed Annual Budget 2022/2023, as well as local board priorities and proposed activities to be included in the
Local Board Agreement 2022/2023.
17. 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 Annual Budget
2022/2023.
Tātaritanga me ngā
tohutohu
Analysis and advice
18. 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 Annual Budget 2022/2023.
19. The
feedback submissions can be found in the following link:
https://akhaveyoursay.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/submissions-annual-budget-2022-2023
Consultation feedback overview
20. 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.
21. In
total, Auckland Council received 11,550 pieces of feedback during the
consultation period. This feedback was received through:
· written
feedback – 9,464 online and hard copy forms, emails and letters
· in
person – 2,086 pieces of feedback through online Have Your Say events, or
independently managed phone interviews. All events (except one which
didn’t have any attendees) were moved to an online platform or cancelled
due to the red COVID-19 traffic light setting.
22. Of the 9,464 written submissions received in total across the
region, 499 were from the Rodney Local Board area.
Information on submitters
23. The tables and graphs below indicate the demographic categories people
identified with. This information only relates to those submitters who provided
demographic information.
24. 
The information in
Graph 1 below shows the distribution of submissions from individuals and
organisations in the Rodney Local Board area by feedback method:
Graph 1. Number of submitters by feedback method
25. 
The information in
Graph 2 below shows the number of submissions from individuals and
organisations in the Rodney Local Board area:
Graph 2. Number of submissions from individuals and organisations
26. The nine organisations that provided submissions
were:
· Marine Deals Limited
· Ninja Kiwi
· Matakana School
· Sandspit Residents and Ratepayers Association
· The Northern Action Group Incorporated
· Fight the Tip: Tiaki te Whenua Incorportaed
· Kumeu Arts
· Matakana Coast Trail Trust
· Warkworth Area Liaison Group.
27. Graphs 3 and 4 below provide an overview of demographic
categories individuals identified with. This information only relates to those
Rodney Local Board submitters who provided demographic information:
Graph 3. Age and Gender
Graph 4.
Ethnicity
Feedback received on the Rodney Local Board’s priorities
for 2022/2023
28. The Rodney Local Board consulted on the following
priorities for 2022/2023:
· continue to deliver upgrades to our village and town
centres, including town centre planting, furniture maintenance, and uplifting
shared open spaces
· progress maintenance, upgrades and construction of key
community facilities, including the new
playground in Dida Park Drive, Huapai, the optimisation of Riverhead War
Memorial Park, the Goodall Reserve skate park rebuild, the new central park
development in Milldale, and the renewal of the larger assets in Wellsford Centennial
Park
· continue to improve our freshwater ecosystems through
riparian fencing and planting to reduce sediment
· improve our local biodiversity and natural environment by
eradicating pests, and carrying out restoration work
· continue to progress the outcomes identified in the Green
Road Master Plan, particularly park maintenance and concept planning.
29. Four hundred
and fifty-six (456) submissions from the Rodney Local Board area were received
on the local board’s priorities for 2022/2023. Of those, 74 per cent of
submitters either supported all or most priorities proposed by the Rodney Local
Board.
Graph 5. Rodney Local
Board area submissions on local board priorities
30. Consultation feedback on local board priorities will be
considered by the local board when approving their local board agreement on 22
June 2022.
Key
themes
31. The analysis of comments provided by submitters on the
local board priorities had no clear themes however a few repeated comments have
been noted:
· Environmental projects: support for environmental
projects, especially improving freshwater ecosystems and eradicating pests
· Town centre improvements: some support was received in
regards to the proposed town centre improvements. However, the timing and
appropriateness of these projects due to the current financial circumstances
was questioned
· Community facilities: only a few comments were received
in regards to the proposed works on community facilities.
Feedback
on other local topics
32. Two key themes across feedback received on other local
topics included:
· cycling and walking infrastructure: significant support
for received for increased walking and cycling infrastructure, largely focussed
on the Matakana Coast Trail
· road sealing and maintenance: support for more road
sealing and to address the associated safety concerns.
Overview of feedback received on regional topics in the Annual
Budget 2022/2023 from the Rodney Local Board area
33. The proposed Annual Budget 2022/2023 sets out Auckland
Council’s priorities and how to pay for them. Consultation on the
proposed annual budget asked submitters to respond to four key questions on:
1. Climate.
2. Budget
Pressures.
3. Operating
Spending Prioritisation.
4. Waste
Service Standardisation.
34. The submissions received from the Rodney 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
Question 1: Climate
35. Aucklanders were asked about a proposed climate action
package which will be funded by a targeted rate. The climate action package
includes investments in low-carbon public transport, active walking and cycling
networks; and urban ngahere (forest) canopy cover.
36. This is proposed to be funded through $574 million from a
targeted rate over the next 10 years as well additional government co-funding.
37. Four hundred
and seventy-nine (479) submissions from the Rodney Local Board area were
received on the proposed Climate Action Targeted Rate showing a majority of
submitters (56 per cent) supported the proposal.
38. Graph 6 below provides an overview of the responses from
the Rodney Local Board area.
Graph 6. Climate Action Targeted Rate
Rodney responses
Key themes
39. Key themes of note across the feedback received included:
· of the 221 comments in support of the Climate Action
Targeted Rate more than half spoke to the need to urgently take action on
climate change
· apart from a call to action, the most prominent theme
that emerged from those in support of the targeted rate was for increasing
provision for walking and cycling, with two thirds of these submissions
referencing the Matakana Coast Trail
· amongst those that did not support the Climate Action
Targeted Rate, the most stated reasons were that either they felt it was too
expensive/potentially unaffordable or that they felt they would not benefit
from services delivered by the proposed targeted rate in Rodney.
Key
Question 2: Budget Pressures
40. Aucklanders were asked about a range of levers proposed
to manage on-going budget pressures. Council are forecasting a budget shortfall
of $85 million for 2022/2023 compared to what was budgeted for in the 10-year
Budget 2021-2031. This is due to on-going impacts of COVID-19 on revenue and
growing inflationary pressure.
41. A range of levers are proposed to manage the budget
pressures including:
· using
the Government’s Better Off support package funding
· changing
the timing of some capital spending
· implementing
cost reductions in the form of efficiency savings and a potential reduction in
some services
· keeping
the previously agreed general rates increase of 3.5 per cent for 2022/2023
· continuing
work on the sale or long-term lease of non-strategic assets as required.
42. Fifty per
cent of submitters from the Rodney Local Board supported the proposal to manage
ongoing spending compared to 29 per cent that did not support.
43. Graph 7 below provides an overview of the responses from
the Rodney Local Board area.
Graph 7. Managing on-going budget pressures Rodney responses
Key themes
44. Key themes of note across the feedback received included:
· across
both those that support and do not support the proposal to keep the general
rates increase of 3.5 per cent for 2022/23 concern was expressed about the
already high cost of living
· in
regards to the proposed efficiency savings and potential reduction in some
services, feedback focussed on the need for this to be done internally within
Auckland Council through staffing structures, more cost efficient work
practices and less wasteful spending
· relatively
few comments were received in relation to the other proposed levers.
45. Since
consultation, further reduction
in revenue caused by the COVID-19 omicron outbreak and rising interest and
inflation costs has compounded budget pressures.
Key Question 3: Operating Spending Prioritisation
46. Aucklanders were asked to provide feedback on a
proposal that would see council prioritise
operating spending to help manage on-going budget pressures. A set of criteria
to be used when making decisions about cost reductions, including those that
could reduce, stop or change some services, was proposed.
47. The proposal involves implementing $15
million of additional permanent cost reductions in the form of efficiency
saving and low-priority service reductions across the group in 2023/2024,
growing to $30 million per annum from 2024/2025 onwards.
48. Forty six per
cent of submitters in the Rodney Local Board area supported the proposal to
prioritise operational spending compared to 22 per cent that did not support.
49. 
Graph 8 below provides an overview of the responses from
the Rodney Local Board area.
Graph 8. Prioritising operating spending
Rodney responses
Key themes
50. Key themes of note across the feedback received included:
· for
both those that supported and did not support felt that the proposal was too
broad and lacking in detail
· some
of those that supported the proposal to prioritise operating spending felt that
the community should play more of a role in defining what are the priorities
and essential services
· as
with the budget pressures question, submitters commented that more should be
done to prevent wasteful spending within Auckland Council.
Key
Question 4: Waste Service Standardisation
51. Aucklanders were asked about a proposal to standardise waste services and charges
across Auckland. The proposal would involve a move to a region-wide rates
funded refuse collection service and see a choice of three bin sizes (with
different pricing for each) to accommodate different household needs.
52. Auckland Council are also proposing to
include standardising which properties can opt-out of waste management services
and charges across Auckland.
53. Four hundred
and thirty-eight (438) submissions on the standardisation of waste management
proposal were received for the Rodney Local Board area. Of those, 38 per cent
of submitters supported the proposal to move to a rates funded system while 50
per cent of submitters did not support the proposal and preferred a
pay-as-you-throw system.
54. Graph 9 and table 1 below provide an overview of the
responses from the Rodney Local Board area.
Graph 9. Standardising Waste Management
Rodney responses
|
Proposal
|
Support
|
Do Not Support
|
Other
|
I don’t know
|
|
Standardise the opt-out
rules for residential multi-unit developments
|
43.5%
|
22.6%
|
2.8%
|
31%
|
|
Standardise the opt-out
rules for residential and lifestyle properties with between two and nine
units
|
41%
|
23%
|
2.6%
|
33%
|
|
Standardise the opt-out
rules for non-residential properties
|
43%
|
23%
|
2.6%
|
31%
|
|
Apply a minimum base
charge to every separately used or inhabited part of a property
|
28%
|
43%
|
1.9%
|
27%
|
Table 1. Standardising Waste Management
Rodney responses opt-out
Key themes
55. Key themes of note across the feedback received included:
· supporters
for the standardisation of waste management felt that the proposal was fair and
equitable
· those that did not support standardising waste management
felt that it would remove the incentive to reduce waste and would be unfair on
those that already produce less waste
· very few comments were received in relation to question
4B on opt-out rules.
Other feedback
56. Aucklanders were asked what is important to them and if
they had any feedback on any other issues.
· local board decision-making over local community services
· Tūpuna Maunga Authority Operational Plan 2022/2023
· changes to fees and charges.
Recommendations on local matters
57. This report allows the local board to recommend local
matters to the Governing Body for consideration as part of the annual budget
process, in June 2022. This includes:
· proposed
locally driven initiative capital projects outside local boards’
decision-making responsibility
· release
of local board specific reserve funds.
· local advocacy initiatives.
Funding
for Locally Driven Initiatives
58. Local boards are allocated funding for locally 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.
59. These
conditions do not apply to the Rodney Local Board for the 2022/2023 financial
year.
Local
board advocacy
60. Local boards are requested to provide approved advocacy
initiatives which considers the consultation feedback above. This allows the
Finance and Performance Committee to consider these advocacy items when making
recommendations on the Annual Budget 2022/2023 to the Governing Body in June.
61. The advocacy initiatives approved by the local board will
be included as an appendix to the Local Board Agreement2022/2023.
Local board input on regional topics in the Annual Budget
2022-2023
62. 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 Annual Budget 2022/2023.
Tauākī whakaaweawe
āhuarangi
Climate impact statement
63. The decisions recommended in this report are part of the
Annual Budget 2022/2023 and local board agreement process to approve funding
and expenditure over the next year.
64. Projects allocated funding through this annual 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
65. The Annual Budget 2022/2023 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
66. 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.
67. Local boards play an important role in the development of
the council’s annual budget. Local board agreements form part of the
annual budget.
Tauākī whakaaweawe
Māori
Māori impact statement
68. 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 the council’s
responsiveness to Māori.
69. 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.
70. Analysis provided of consultation feedback received on
the proposed annual budget includes submissions made by mana whenua and the
wider Māori community who have interests in the rohe/local board area.
71. 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 the
council’s decision-making processes.
72. 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.
73. The Rodney Local Board did not receive any submissions
directly from mana whenua or matawaaka.
Ngā ritenga ā-pūtea
Financial implications
74. 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.
75. 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
76. The council must adopt its annual budget, which includes
local board agreements, by 30 June 2022. The local board is required to make
recommendations on these local matters for the Annual Budget 2022/2023 by
mid-May 2022 and present to the Finance and Performance Committee on 25 May
2022, to enable and support the Governing Body to make decisions on key items
to be included in the annual budget on 7 June 2022.
Ngā koringa ā-muri
Next steps
77. The local board will approve its local board agreement
and corresponding work programmes in June 2022.
78. Recommendations and feedback from the local board will be
provided to the Finance and Performance committee for consideration ahead of
that committee making recommendations to the Governing Body for decision.
79. The final Annual Budget 2022/2023 (including local board
agreements) will be adopted by the Governing Body on 29 June 2022.
Ngā tāpirihanga
Attachments
There are no attachments for
this report.
Ngā kaihaina
Signatories
|
Authors
|
Zigi Yates – Senior Local Board Advisor
|
|
Authorisers
|
Lesley Jenkins - Local Area Manager
|
