|
Resolution
number HB/2023/44
MOVED by Deputy Chairperson J Parfitt, seconded by Member
L Willis:
That
the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board:
a) receive consultation
feedback on the proposed Hibiscus and Bays Local Board priorities and activities for 2023/2024
including proposed local activities
to discontinue, reduce spending on, or increase fees, to meet the reduction
in local board funding proposed by the Governing Body
b) receive consultation feedback on regional topics in the Annual
Budget 2023/2024 and related policies from people and organisations based in
the Hibiscus and Bays local board area
c) provide
the following input on regional topics in the proposed Annual Budget
2023/2024 and related policies to the Governing Body
Operating
spending reductions – public transport
i)
do not support maintaining
the currently reduced number of public transport services (as of December
2022) for 2023/2024 Annual Budget to save $21 million, as our
communities’ have told us they value efficient public transport
systems
ii)
express concern that
public transport services in the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board area were
substantially cut in December 2022 and the community trust in public
transport is eroding as frequency remains low and cancellations are on-going
iii)
note the impacts of infrequent and unreliable public transport has
resulted in community reports of children not arriving at school on time and
leaving children in unsafe environments due to infrequent and cancelled
services
iv)
note concern of the climate impact that reduced investment in
public transport, will reduce patronage, and increase reliance on private
vehicle usage, thereby not enabling Auckland to meet its emissions reduction
targets
v)
note mana whenua feedback aligns with the Hibiscus and Bays
Local Board, in stating the importance of public transport as a vital service
for low-income groups in our local board area
Operating
spending reductions – Tātaki Auckland Unlimited
vi) support
a smaller reduction of funding to Tātaki Auckland Unlimited than the
proposed $27.5 million and request all ongoing activities focus on maximising
return-on-investment as well as ensuring that the benefit of spend is
equitable across the region, as currently much activity is focussed in the
central or southern regions of Auckland
vii) note
a preference for Tātaki Auckland Unlimited to prioritise the role in and
investment for bidding on major events to come from overseas and support the
continuation of promoting Auckland as a tourism destination to stimulate
Auckland’s economy and liveability
viii) request
Tātaki Auckland Unlimited promote their services to ensure greater
public understanding of their role on a regional and local level, noting that
Hibiscus and Bays Local Board submitters demonstrated a lack of understanding
of this council-controlled organisations services
ix) request
future investment from Tātaki Auckland Unlimited to include north of the
bridge and in the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board area in particular
x) express
concern over the lack of Tātaki Auckland Unlimited funded events and
economic development programmes north of the bridge and note the lack of
funding reduces the value of this entity to our local communities
Operating
spending reductions – other regional services
xi) do
not support reducing regional services funding for education services and
request the Youth Leaders programme be scheduled in the Hibiscus and Bays
Local Board area in the future
xii) request
regional services continue to fund COMET to meet immediate objectives and
seek Auckland Council staff to work with alongside this organisation to
assist them to move towards a more sustainable funding model, and reduce
future reliance on council funding
xiii) do
not support reducing regional services funding for services that address
homelessness and advocate for additional funding from central government to
assist with cost of co-ordination in this service area
xiv) acknowledge
the importance of locally coordinated homelessness services to address
specific issues and needs in the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board area
xv) do
not support reducing regional services funding for Citizens Advice Bureau as
they provide essential services to our residents
xvi) request
that Auckland Council advocate for greater local funding of Citizens Advice
Bureau services by central government
xvii) support
the continuation of regional services funding for youth and environmental
initiatives that have local benefits and as a priority address greatest need
areas
xviii) continue
to support youth services and the Hibiscus Coast Youth Centre as a valuable
asset in the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board and the wider area
xix) support
a reduction in regional services funding for regional events and note our
local board currently funds and delivers local events to ensure a connection
to our communities
xx) request
further information showing how many of the regionally funded services are
delivered or cater for the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board area
Operating
spending reductions – local boards
xxi) do
not support reducing local board funded activities across all local boards to
save $16 million and acknowledge more than 75 per cent of Hibiscus and Bays
submitters support all or most of the local board priorities we have
consulted upon
Operating
spending reductions – regional constestable grants
xxii) do
not support reducing regional contestable grants to save $3 million as this
will place increasing demand on local board contestable grants, and
xxiii) request
the prioritisation of youth, sports and environmental grants if there are reductions
for regional contestable grants funding
xxiv) note
the benefit for recipients to utilise grants as a leveraging mechanism to
seek funding from external organisations
Operating
spending reductions – early childhood education centres
xxv) do
not support cutting early childhood education services from the council
portfolio as Hibiscus and Bays submitters value these as affordable and
flexible services within our communities
xxvi) note
financial information for our local early education centres has been
requested numerous times and is yet to be provided to the local board, and
request this data to be shared with the local board as soon as possible
xxvii) request
consideration be given to reviewing the financial model of early childcare
centres and seek staff support to move these centres towards a financially
self-sustainable model
Amending
Auckland International Airport Limited Shareholding Policy
xxviii) express mixed
views as submissions from the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board area provided no clear
mandate to support the sale of Auckland Council’s shares in Auckland
International Airport Limited
Managing
rates and debt
xxix) support
an increase in rates by 4.66 per cent to ensure council maintains reasonable
service levels across the region and note the majority (53 per cent) of
Hibiscus and Bays Local Board submitters are in favour of a rates increase,
with only 25 per cent against
xxx) acknowledge
mana whenua feedback does not support rates increase and note the negative
implication for low-income households
xxxi) support
the pausing of the long-term differential strategy for one year
xxxii) support
the prudent ability to use debt (that is, increasing) as a tool only as
needed
xxxiii) do not
support a reduction of the Natural Environment and Water Quality Targeted
Rates as Hibiscus and Bays Local Board submitters consider these as essential
areas to fund
xxxiv) support
increasing rates by an additional one per cent for a storm response fund and
note the high level of local support (67 per cent) for this proposed increase
xxxv) request
the storm response fund become a targeted rate to ensure funding goes towards
proactive and preventative infrastructure and request funding is equitably
distributed across the region and that reporting back is a priority
Changes to
other rates, fees and charges
xxxvi) support
the re-prioritisation of the additional bus service expenditure, specifically
the allocation of funding to the north/west bus services and note the north
has been significantly impacted by cuts to public transport since December
2022 and continues to be adversely affected more than other areas
xxxvii) do not
support the higher fee charges to be passed onto community providers proposed
under the Community Occupancy Guidelines and seek for local board discretion
to set suitable fees within the local board area
xxxviii)support
waste management rates changes and request a council service for waste
management on the Hibiscus Coast with urgency
xxxix) support
the establishment of a Business Improvement District
(BID) in Silverdale and request the striking of a BID targeted rate for
Silverdale
d) advocate for the following local initiatives
for the Annual Budget
2023/2024 to the Governing Body:
i)
advocate to the
Governing Body for Auckland Transport to receive sufficient funding to
continue with the Local Board Transport Capital Fund
ii)
advocate to the
Governing Body for Auckland Transport to receive an increase in funding to go
towards footpath improvements in support of active modes of transport
iii)
advocate to the
Governing Body for Auckland Transport to receive sufficient funding for the
Whangaparāoa Bus Station Interchange in the next Regional Land Transport
Plan
iv)
advocate to Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency for
sufficient funding in the Regional Land Transport Plan for the Glenvar Road
and East Coast Road Improvements project to be delivered as soon as possible
v)
advocate for
funding to be provided to Auckland Transport for better conditions, including
safety, for bus drivers to make the job more attractive to address
recruitment issues and seek Auckland Transport to prioritise bus driver
safety
vi)
advocate to
Auckland Council and council-controlled organisations to strongly work with
central government to ensure funding sources, such as the regional fuel tax,
are retained and spent in order to reduce the impact upon rate-payers and
broaden the funding pool
vii)
request that
Healthy Waters and Watercare investigate presenting an annual scope of
proposed work or work programme, to local boards, similar to that currently
done by Auckland Transport, to enable visibility of future infrastructure
work, and local views to be included
viii)
continue to
advocate to the Governing Body for improved compliance and enforcement of
Auckland Council bylaws and legislative responsibilities under the Resource
Management Act (1991).
CARRIED
|
