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Resolution
number AE/2022/219
MOVED by Chairperson M Watson, seconded by Deputy
Chairperson K Smith:
That
the Albert-Eden Local Board:
a) whakarite / provide the following feedback on
potential regional consultation topics and policies for the Annual Budget 2023/2024:
Rates
i)
suggest consulting
on the following rates changes as an interim one-year approach so more work
can be done for the long-term plan on how to address the changing financial
situation for Auckland.
ii)
support consulting
on reducing the Natural Environment Targeted Rate and Water Quality Targeted
Rate for 2023/2024 by two-thirds and utilising reserve funds to continue the
delivery of work funded by these rates.
iii)
support consulting
on pausing the long-term differential strategy for business property rates.
iv)
support consulting
on the proposed 7 per cent general rates increase noting this equates to a
4.66 per cent rates increase overall if ii) and iii) are approved for
consultation and the Affordability Measure would sit as 3.53 per cent which
is well below the threshold for household affordability.
Debt
v)
as a principle do
no support utilising debt for operating funding, however given the circumstances
support consulting on allowing a small amount of debt for the short term up
to a maximum of $75 million, and to be used only if required.
Operating
Expenditure
vi)
partially support
consulting on the proposed reduction in operational savings.
vii) support consulting on a reduction in operating
expenditure, focusing on identifying savings in organisational areas (for
example, support services and group costs) and not community-facing services
or funding.
viii) support the proposed reduction of Auckland
Transport budgets by $25 million, and request current public transport
schedule are reviewed through the long-term plan.
ix)
support Tataki
Auckland Unlimited addressing expenditure by decreasing opening hours and investigating
balanced user pays model and options, to ensure equity of access, at regional
facilities.
x)
do not support
discontinuing all general rates funded, regional, contestable grants but
suggest a 50 per cent reduction for one year until the impact can be reviewed
during the long-term plan process.
xi)
note our concern
with reductions in other departments operational budgets which may have an
impact on the ability to deliver local board work programme activities -
noting that, under Section 77 of the Local Government Act, local board
decisions must be informed by technical advice from staff and that it is
essential that local boards have adequate staff support to ensure compliance
with this provision and that decisions impacting communities are robust and evidence
based.
xii) do not support reduction in governance support
to local boards given the comprehensive work programme, the drive to
subsidiarity and the increased decision-making being rolled out to local
boards.
xiii) do not support proposed 5 per cent reduction in
local board funding noting that:
A)
local board
operational budgets are a very small proportion of the overall Auckland
Council budget and that the Albert-Eden Local Board operational budget is
>1 per cent of the total Council budget and the Albert-Eden Local
Board’s Local Discretionary Budget (LDI) is >0.1 per cent of the
total Council’s budget and funds critical programmes and projects that
deliver to the four well-beings for communities.
B)
request this
reduction is discussed in the long-term plan consultation, to enable detailed
advice and proposals to be provided on reduction on ABS budget options are
included to inform decision-making.
C)
It is likely the
reduction will results in a significant (example, 50 per cent) reduction to
discretionary (Locally-driven Initiatives) budgets as the complexity of
cutting operational (Asset-based Services) budgets related to facilities is
unlikely to be feasible for the 2023/2024 financial year and will have a
significant negative impact on our 2 most publicly valued services being
parks and libraries.
D)
there is an
agreement and commitment on increasing local board decision-making and
reducing budgets significantly will impact the ability of local boards to
fulfil their statutory functions.
xiv) request that consultation information be
specific and where proposed reductions to services would be, so the community
understand the impacts and consequences.
Strategic Assets
xv) support consulting on changing the policy to
enable the sale of Auckland International Airport Limited shares.
xvi) do not support a full sale (18.09 per cent) of
the shareholding in Auckland International Airport Limited.
xvii) support retention of a minimum of a 10 per
cent share to ensure we retain blocking stake in sale for Auckland
International Airport Limited shares and to continue to receive the income
from dividends in the future.
xviii) support the request for Port Of Auckland
Limited to return an additional $10 million dividend on the condition it does
not negatively impact on site or worker safety.
b) note there are no active recreation bookable
spaces in the Albert-Eden area.
c) support consulting on the establishment of standardised
baseline fees for services in the Active Communities – Bookable Spaces
portfolio across Auckland.
d)
suggest amendment to the proposed discount framework across Auckland by
consulting on all discounts being guided by the relevant local board.
e)
support consulting on proposed changes to the following other fees and
charges:
i) animal management.
ii) some building and resource consenting.
iii) other regulatory fees such as food licensing
registration, micro-mobility operator fees and swimming pool inspections.
iv) cemetery fees.
v) increasing all fees and charges by the
Consumer Price Index rate for 2023/2024.
f)
support consulting on the proposed changes to the following rating policies:
i) amendments to Community Occupancy
Guidelines.
ii) targeted rate charges for non-standard
refuse bins.
iii) introduction of a fee for swapping bin sizes.
iv) rollout of food scraps service and further
standardisation of waste services and targeted rates.
v) changes to Waste management targeted rates.
vi) support for papakāinga development on
general title land.
vii) changes to swimming/spa pool inspections targeted rate
and fees.
viii) changes to the bus services projects funded by the Climate
Action Targeted Rate
g)
encourage Council to secure more funding partnerships and relationships.
h) encourage
working alongside central government to secure funding for the region noting
Auckland delivers 40 per cent of Aotearoa New Zealand’s Gross Domestic
Product and is home to 30 per cent of Aotearoa New Zealand’s population
and that the four well beings cannot be delivered by Auckland Council alone without
central government partnership and funding.
i) request
that note is taken of our C-40 obligations and Te
Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri: Auckland’s Climate Plan and that no
budget changes should negatively impact on those commitments
j)
whakaae / approve an additional meeting to be held at 1.00pm, on
Tuesday, 24 January 2023, at the Albert-Eden Local Board office (114 Dominion
Road, Mt Eden).
k)
thank Emma Reed – Senior Local Board Advisor, Oliver Fawcett –
Lead Financial Advisor and Canela Ferrara – Local Board Advisor, for their
input and advice.
CARRIED
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