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Māngere-Ōtāhuhu
Local Board
10 May 2023
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Local
board consultation feedback and input into the Annual Budget 2023/2024
File No.: CP2023/05575
Te take mō te
pūrongo
Purpose of the report
1. To
receive consultation feedback from the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local
Board area on:
· proposed
priorities and activities for the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board
Agreement 2023/2024
· proposed
local activities to discontinue, reduce spending on, or increase fees to meet
the Governing Body’s proposed reduction in local board funding
· regional
topics and related policies for the Annual Budget 2023/2024.
2. To
recommend any local matters to the Governing Body that it will need to consider
or make decisions on in the Annual Budget 2023/2024 process.
3. To
provide input on the proposed regional topics in the Annual Budget 2023/2024 to
the Governing Body as provided in Attachment A.
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 2023/2024 will be included in Auckland
Council’s Annual Budget 2023/2024.
5. Auckland
Council consulted from 28 February 2023 to 28 March 2023 to seek community
views on the proposed Annual Budget 2023/2024, including the board’s proposed
priorities and proposed local activities to discontinue, reduce spending on, or
increase fees to meet the Governing Body’s proposed reduction in local
board funding.
6. Auckland
Council received 41,147 submissions in total across the region and 1,389
submissions from the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu local board area.
7. In the Annual Budget process, local boards are required to provide
recommendations to the Governing Body, for consideration or decision-making.
This includes any local board advocacy initiatives. The
Governing Body will consider these items as part of the Annual Budget
decision-making process in June 2023. Local boards have a statutory
responsibility to provide input into regional strategies, policies, plans, and
bylaws.
Ngā tūtohunga
Recommendation/s
That the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu
Local Board:
a) whiwhi / receive consultation feedback on
the proposed Māngere-Ōtāhuhu 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) whiwhi / receive consultation feedback on regional topics in the
Annual Budget 2023/2024 and related policies from people and/organisations
based in the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu local board area.
c) whakarite / provide input on regional topics in the proposed Annual
Budget 2023/2024 and related policies to the Governing Body.
d) whakarite / provide advocacy on any local
initiatives for the Annual Budget 2023/2024 to the
Governing Body.
Horopaki
Context
8. Auckland Council has faced ongoing budget challenges and recent and
rapid increases in inflation and interest rates has placed significant
pressure on the council’s financial position. A forecast budget
deficit of $295 million needs to be addressed in the council’s proposed
Annual Budget 2023/2024. Council consulted publicly from 28
February 2023 to 28 March 2023 to seek community views.
9. 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 Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board Agreement sets out
how the council will reflect the priorities in the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu
Local Board Plan 2020 in respect to the local activities to be provided
in the local board area. It includes information relating to budgets, levels of
service, and performance measures.
10. The local
board agreements 2023/2024 will form part of Auckland Council’s Annual
Budget 2023/2024.
11. In
total, Auckland Council received feedback from 41,147 people
in the consultation period. This feedback was received through:
· 28,805 online forms
· 5,006 pieces of
feedback through paper copy Have Your Say forms
· 1,909 pieces of
feedback through emails, including letters
· 4,488 pieces of feedback received through events and additional 939 submissions received through other
channels.
12. A total of 1,389 submissions
were received for Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local area, of which 1,355
were from individual and 34 from community organisations. A total of 684
submissions were received in hard copy, 640 online, 62
through events, 12 via email and 53 through other channels.
13. The Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board hosted three
‘Have Your Say’ events as part of its Annual Budget consultation. A
community hui was held on the 16 March 2023, followed by a community partner
led hui by Māngere East Community Services on 22 March 2023. A youth
activation took place on 25 March 2023 at
Māngere Town Centre, delivered by the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu
Interfaith Youth Group. Over 600 people participated in
the above events. In addition, Community Leisure
Management (CLM) Sports carried out engagement at the Māngere East
Community Festival on 26 March 2023 to gather youth feedback.
14. Mana whenua engagement included a hui with southern local boards on 14 March 2023 through Ara Kōtui rōpū and was
attended by three iwi representatives including Ngāti Paoa Trust Board,
Ngāti Whatua and Ngā Mana Whenua o Tāmaki-Makaurau.
15. Regionally, two mana whenua workshops were held on 28 February 2023
followed by one on 3 March 2023. 13 of the 19 mana whenua entities responded to
Auckland Council’s proposals for the Annual Budget 2023/2024 which
included representatives from Ngaati Whanaunga
Incorporated Society, Ngāti Pāoa Trust Board, Ngāti Rehua - Ngātiwai Ki Aotea Trust, Ngāti Tamaoho Settlement Trust, Ngāti Tamaterā Treaty Settlement Trust, Te Ahiwaru Trust, Te
Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua, Te
Kawerau Iwi Settlement Trust, Te Whakakitenga
o Waikato Incorporated, Te Ākitai Waiohua
Settlement Trust, Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust, Ngātiwai
Trust Board, Te Ara Rangatū o te Iwi o
Ngāti Te Ata – Waiohua.
16. Several other engagement events took place across the local area
which included a seniors forum held at Haumaru Housing on 22 March 2023 with around 60 seniors and a
Pasifika Fono on 14 March 2023 at the Papatoetoe Town Hall. Local libraries
were also used to submit feedback, both through paper copy forms and online.
17. This Annual Budget saw the highest number of engagement from Pacific
communities locally with 60 per cent of the submitters indicating ethnic
identity as Pacific (of these 524 were Samoans, followed by 136 Tongans). Other
ethnicities included 420 European submitters, followed by 144 who identified as
Asians and 142 as Māori. The local board also received 34 submissions from
community groups.
18. There were 790 female submitters and 527 males, while 8 selected
other. The highest number of participations was from 25-34 age group (23 per
cent of submitters), followed by 15-24 years at 16 per cent and 45-54 years at
15 per cent. It’s worth noting that the local board received 94
submissions from under 15-year-olds and 46 submissions from over 75-year-olds.
19. Of the 1,389 submissions, 684 were made
online, while 640 were submitted in hard copy while the remaining 65 came
through email and events. The consultation shows that local communities are
adopting online methods, but at the same time prefer paper copy feedback forms
and consultation materials when compared to the region as a whole.
20. All feedback is available on an Auckland Council
webpage called “Submissions on the Annual Budget 2023/2024” through
the following link: https://akhaveyoursay.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/submissions-annual-budget-2023-2024
Tātaritanga me ngā
tohutohu
Analysis and advice
Feedback received for the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board for 2023/2024
Key priorities in Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board Area in 2023/2024
21. The
Māngere-Ōtāhuhu
Local Board consulted on the following
priorities for 2023/2024:
· Priority 1: Investing in initiatives to reduce the impact
of climate change, including tree planting, education programmes and
environmental volunteers
· Priority
2: Continue to provide residents with better quality facilities, parks and open
spaces
· Priority
3: Promoting activities to showcase our local arts and culture talent into
career pathways
· Priority
4: Continue to identify procurement, quality employment and
social enterprise opportunities for our residents
· Priority
5: Improving the well-being of our locals by supporting our
local economy to become more efficient, resilient, and sustainable through our
reduced budget.
22. Of the 1,067 submitters who commented on the local board priorities,
789 either supported all or most of the proposed priorities of the local board.
|
Count
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I support all priorities
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I support most priorities
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I do not support most
priorities
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I do not support any
priorities
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Other
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Don’t know
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Total
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Individuals
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452
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301
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109
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83
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62
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14
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1021
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Organisations
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19
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17
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2
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0
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7
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0
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45
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Māori entities
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0
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0
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0
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0
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1
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0
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1
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23. Consultation
feedback on local board priorities will be considered by the local board when
approving their local board agreement between 20-22 June 2023.
Responding
to the budget challenge
24. The
council’s proposed response to mitigate the budget pressures for
2023/2024 included a proposed reduction of $16 million to local board
operational funding – this would require the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu
Local Board to reduce its planned operating spend by $1.2 million.
25. Aucklanders
were asked for their priorities given the proposed reduction would mean
some local activities would have to be discontinued, have reduced spending, or
increased fees.
26. The table
below gives an overview of the responses from the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu
Local Board area with top 7 themes outlines in the table.
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Themes
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Individuals
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Organisations
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Protection
and restoration of local waterways
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315
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6
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Youth programmes
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286
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11
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Arts and culture
programmes
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249
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11
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Library opening hours
and services
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243
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4
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Community climate
action and sustainability
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236
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5
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Pest Free Urban South
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217
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9
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Local grants e.g.
Community Grants programme and contestable grants
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188
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20
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Key themes
27. Key
themes of note across the feedback received included:
· strong support from
Māngere Taiao groups on environment and climate action initiatives, citing
the recent weather events impact felt in the local area
· support for community
programmes, especially for youth, community led delivery opportunities and stronger
collaboration with service providers
· partnership and
co-governance with mana whenua iwi
· maintenance of facilities
and recreational spaces for community use.
Information on submitters
28. The tables below indicate the demographic categories people identified
with. This information only relates to those submitters who provided
demographic information.
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Ethnicity
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#
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%
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European
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420
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31%
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Pākehā/NZ
European
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368
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28%
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|
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Other European
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52
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4%
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Māori
|
|
142
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11%
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Pasifika
|
|
802
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60%
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|
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Samoan
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524
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39%
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|
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Cook Islands Māori
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70
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5%
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|
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Tongan
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136
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10%
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|
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Other Pasifika
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72
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5%
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Asian
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144
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11%
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Chinese
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48
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4%
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|
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Southeast Asian
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37
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3%
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|
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Korean
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4
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0%
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|
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Indian
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43
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3%
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|
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Other Asian
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12
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1%
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African/Middle
Eastern/Latin
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30
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2%
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Other
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4
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0%
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Total
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1338
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115%
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Age
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Male
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Female
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Another gender
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Total
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% of feedback
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Under 15
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46
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45
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1
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94
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7%
|
|
15-24
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88
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117
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2
|
210
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16%
|
|
25-34
|
121
|
181
|
2
|
310
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23%
|
|
35-44
|
90
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161
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1
|
258
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19%
|
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45-54
|
69
|
122
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1
|
199
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15%
|
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55-64
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55
|
80
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0
|
136
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10%
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65-74
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35
|
62
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0
|
98
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7%
|
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75+
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23
|
22
|
1
|
46
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3%
|
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Total
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527
|
790
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8
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1351
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100%
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Overview of feedback received on regional topics in the Annual
Budget 2023/2024 from the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board area
29. The
proposed Annual Budget 2023/2024 sets out Auckland Council’s priorities
and how the Council plans to pay for them. Consultation on the proposed Annual
Budget asked submitters to respond to key questions on:
1.
operating spending reductions
2. amending Auckland International
Airport Limited (AIAL) Shareholding Policy
3. managing
rates and debt
4. storm
response
5. local
board priorities (covered in ‘Feedback received on the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board for 2023/2024’ section above)
6. changes
to other rates, fees and charges.
30. Submitters
were also encouraged to give feedback on any of the other matters included in
the Annual Budget 2023/2024 consultation document.
31. The submissions received from the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu 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: operating spending reductions
32. Aucklanders
were asked for feedback on a proposal to save $125 million through reductions
including:
· maintaining
the current reduced number of public transport services for 2023/2024 to save
$21 million
· reducing
funding to Tātaki Auckland Unlimited to save a further $27.5 million with
effects on service delivery (including economic development and tourism
promotion) and pricing at venues it manages such as Auckland Zoo, Auckland Art
Gallery, and stadiums
· reducing
regional services such as community and education programmes, arts and culture
programmes, regional events, economic development, and other social services
activities such as homelessness funding, community empowerment and funding for
youth centres to save $20 million
· reducing
local board funded activities across all boards to save $16 million (feedback
received on local impacts of the reduction is outlined in the ‘Feedback
received for the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu
Local Board for 2023/2024’ section
above)
· reducing
contestable grants to save $3 million
· no
longer directly providing early childhood education services to save $1
million.
33. A total of 964 submitters responded to this question, 649
opted for do not proceed with any and/or some reductions and instead further
increase rates and/or debt. A total of 10 out of 13 iwi (77 per cent) responded
to this proposal with 7 opting for do not proceed with any and/or some
reductions and instead further increase rates and/or debt as well.
34. The
table below gives an overview of the responses to this question from the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board area.
|
Proceed with the proposed
reductions
|
Do not proceed with some
reductions and instead further increase rates and/or debt
|
Do not proceed with any
reductions and instead further increase rates and/or debt
|
Other
|
I don't know
|
Total
|
|
Individuals
|
132
|
284
|
365
|
95
|
53
|
929
|
|
Org
|
2
|
9
|
13
|
6
|
1
|
31
|
|
Māori entities
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Pro formas
|
0
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
4
|
Key themes
35. Key
themes of note across the feedback received included:
· support
for retention of local board funded activities
· the
low level of service around public transport services in the local area and the
negative impact of maintaining the service reduction, especially for students
and workers
· partial
support for reducing funding to Tātaki Auckland Unlimited as it brings
local tourism and events to South Auckland especially Pasifika festival
· strong
advocacy from community organisations on retaining regional services for
example funding for Citizens Advice
Bureau with further support on reducing arts and culture programmes if
needed
· support
for maintaining the current contestable grants especially around sports and
recreational programmes
· mana
whenua entities who elected to support all priorities emphasised the importance
of local board funding to further initiatives to enhance the wellbeing of
people and the environment
· overall
support for council to increase borrowings.
Key
Question 2: Amending Auckland International Airport Limited (AIAL) Shareholding
Policy
36. Aucklanders
were asked about a planned change to the AIAL Shareholding Policy which will
allow the sale of some or all of Auckland Council’s shares in AIAL. The
proposal is to sell all the shareholding (currently around 18 per cent of
shares in Auckland Airport) which would reduce debt by around $1.9 billion. This
is projected to reduce interest costs by $87 million per year.
37. Other options
were considered, including keeping all the shares or a partial sale. These
options would contribute less towards the budget reduction target and require
other actions such as further increasing rates or debt.
38. Of
the 936 submitters who responded to this question, 353 opted for don’t
change the policy, followed by 240 responses with enable a partial sale of our
shares and, 188 submitters saying proceed with the proposal to enable the sale
of all shares. A total of 9 of the 13 iwi (69 per cent) responded to this
proposal with 7 opting for full and/or partial sale of the shares.
39. The table
below gives an overview of the responses to this question from the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu
Local Board area.
|
Proceed with the proposal
to enable the sale of all our shares in AIAL and use the proceeds to reduce
debt and therefore annual interest costs by around $87 million per year
|
Enable a partial sale of
our shares, maintaining a 10 per cent shareholding in AIAL (reducing our
interest costs by around $40 million per year), and further increase rates
and/or debt
|
Don’t change the
policy, keep all our shares and further increase rates and/or debt
|
Other
|
I don't know
|
Total
|
|
Individuals
|
188
|
240
|
353
|
54
|
73
|
908
|
|
Organisations
|
3
|
2
|
16
|
4
|
3
|
28
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Key themes
40. Key
themes of note across the feedback received included:
· exploration
of other assets for sale such as golf courses and aging facilities which
doesn’t meet communities needs
· mana
whenua identified the sale of AIAL shares as an opportunity for mana whenua
entities to invest
· increase
borrowing and managing rates appropriately rather than selling shares.
Key
Question 3: Managing rates and debt
41. Aucklanders were asked to provide feedback on a
proposal of a total rates increase for the average value residential property
of around 4.66 per cent or $154 per year. This would be achieved through:
· an
average increase in general rates of 7 per cent
across all existing properties, including non-residential
· reducing the Natural Environment Targeted Rate (NETR) and
Water Quality Targeted Rate (WQTR) by around two thirds and using the money
already collected from these rates to continue delivering these work programmes
as planned in 2023/2024
· pausing the long-term differential strategy (the split
between business and residential rates) for one year. Under the current policy,
annual increases to general rates for business properties are less than for
non-business properties so that over time the share of general rates paid by
business properties is fairer.
42. Aucklanders
were also asked about the proposal to increase council’s use of debt by
up to $75 million in the 2023/2024 year. The proposal involves using the debt to fund some capital
expenditure that is currently planned to be funded by operating revenue.
43. Of
the 1,278 responses on this question, 444 submitters opted for setting lower
general rates increase and make greater use of debt with 251 respondents
choosing proceeding with the proposed increases to rates and debt. A total of
11 of the 13 iwi (85 per cent) responded to this proposal with 5 in support of
the proposed increase.
44. The
table below gives an overview of the responses to this question from the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board area.
|
Proceed
with the proposed increases to rates (4.66 per cent overall for the average
value residential property) and debt (up to $75 million of additional debt)
|
Set a
higher general rates increase
|
Make
greater use of debt
|
Set a
lower general rates increase and make greater use of debt
|
Set a
higher general rates increase and make less use of debt
|
Other
|
I don't
know
|
Total
|
|
Individuals
|
251
|
95
|
166
|
444
|
82
|
133
|
74
|
1245
|
|
Organisations
|
6
|
0
|
1
|
7
|
0
|
13
|
2
|
29
|
|
Pro
formas
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
4
|
0
|
4
|
Key themes
45. Key
themes of note across the feedback received included:
· wider preference for Council to borrow more to meet the immediate
infrastructure and social service needs
· higher rates increase
could result in wider disparity in the local area through rise in rental
housing
· regardless of the position, all Māori entities raised concerns
regarding people who do not have the means to service rates increase(s)
· proposed increased rates, together with higher borrowing could be
supported if essential services are retained such as community programmes,
access to facilities, libraries and pools.
Key
Question 4: Storm response
46. Aucklanders were asked about a proposal to
increase council’s operating budgets by around $20 million each year to
improve the ability to prepare for and respond to future storms. This would
likely require rates to increase for 2023/2024 by around an additional 1 per
cent (on top of the 4.66 per cent increase proposed to address the budget
shortfall).
47. Of the 994
submitters who responded to this question, 558 said to proceed with the
proposal with 258 not in favour. A total of 11 of the 13 iwi (85 per cent)
responded to this proposal with 9 in supporting the proposal. The recent storm
had extensive impact in Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board area, which
was reflected in the community feedback. Services provider groups such as
Māngere Taiao made joint submissions around better response to storm
events locally.
48. The table below gives an overview of the responses to
this question from the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board area.
|
Proceed with the proposal
to increase our operating budget by around $20 million each year
|
Do not proceed with the
proposal
|
Other
|
I don't know
|
Total
|
|
Individuals
|
558
|
258
|
68
|
77
|
961
|
|
Organisations
|
21
|
3
|
3
|
2
|
29
|
|
Pro formas
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
4
|
Key
themes
49. Key themes of
note across the feedback received included:
· maintenance
of stormwater systems, drainages, and other assets
· review
of recourse consenting process/use of flood plains
· flood
prevention strategy for Māngere (multiagency approach)
· work
in partnership with Mana Whenua iwi to understand the flood plains and resource
consent area for new builds
· regardless
of their stance, Mana Whenua encouraged Auckland Council to help Māori
help themselves by providing resourcing for community led initiatives.
Key
Question 5: local board priorities
50. The feedback
received on this is outlined in the ‘Feedback received for the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board for 2023/2024’ section above.
Key
Question 6: changes to other rates, fees and charges
51. Aucklanders were asked for feedback on proposals
to increase some targeted rates and other
regulatory fees and charges as set out below. If the changes are not
made, then general rates may need to be higher than proposed.
Waste management rates changes
· A 10.6 per cent increase to the base rate and targeted rate
charges for non-standard refuse bins (in the former Auckland (ACC) and Manukau
(MCC) city council areas)
· introduction of a fee for swapping bin sizes
· extension
of the food scraps targeted rate to the new areas that will receive the service
this year.
Changes to other rates, fees
and charges
· re-prioritisation
of additional bus service expenditure which was planned to be funded by the
Climate Action Targeted Rate (CATR) for the 2023/2024 year
· Swimming
Pool/Spa Pool Fencing Compliance Targeted Rate: increases to reflect the actual
costs of the service, and an increase in the fee for follow up inspections
· amendment to Community Occupancy Guidelines
· changes to the Rodney Drainage District Targeted Rate
· establishment of a Business Improvement District (BID)
and BID targeted rate for Silverdale
· animal management fees
· some building and resource consenting fees
· other regulatory fees such as food licensing registration,
micro-mobility operator fees and swimming pool inspections
· cemetery fees
· review of fees for bookable spaces in council managed
pool and leisure facilities.
52. Of the 3,589 responses on this question, 67 per cent were
in support of the proposed increase. Six out of 13 (46 per cent) Mana Whenua
entities elected to respond to this question. For those who elected to respond,
there is general support. Four entities elected either “Do Not
Support,” “Other,” or “I don’t know” in
response to the proposals.
53. The tables
below give an overview of the responses to this question from the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board area.
|
Individuals
|
|
|
|
|
|
Waste Management Rates
Change
|
Support
|
Do not support
|
Other
|
I don't know
|
|
Cost changes in waste management
|
51%
|
33%
|
3%
|
12%
|
|
Introduce a one-off fee
of $40 for those residents wishing to change their bin size
|
67%
|
25%
|
2%
|
6%
|
|
Extend the food scraps
targeted rate to the new areas that will receive the service this year
|
60%
|
21%
|
4%
|
15%
|
|
Changes to other rates
|
Support
|
Do not support
|
Other
|
I don't know
|
|
Swimming Pool/Spa Pool
Fencing Compliance Targeted Rate
|
56%
|
31%
|
2%
|
10%
|
|
Change which bus
services are funded by the Climate Action Targeted Rate
|
46%
|
30%
|
3%
|
21%
|
|
Organisations
|
|
|
|
|
|
Waste Management Rates
Change
|
Support
|
Do not support
|
Other
|
I don't know
|
|
Cost changes in waste
management
|
45%
|
31%
|
7%
|
17%
|
|
Introduce a one-off fee
of $40 for those residents wishing to change their bin size
|
61%
|
25%
|
0%
|
14%
|
|
Extend the food scraps
targeted rate to the new areas that will receive the service this year
|
56%
|
26%
|
0%
|
19%
|
|
Changes to other rates
|
Support
|
Do not support
|
Other
|
I don't know
|
|
Swimming Pool/Spa Pool
Fencing Compliance Targeted Rate
|
71%
|
21%
|
0%
|
7%
|
|
Change which bus
services are funded by the Climate Action Targeted Rate
|
35%
|
46%
|
0%
|
19%
|
Other
matters for feedback
54. Aucklanders
were asked to feedback on the Tūpuna Maunga Authority Operational Plan
2023/2024 which sets out a framework in which the council must carry out the
routine management of 14 Tūpuna Maunga.
55. Four mana whenua entities gave feedback on the Tūpuna
Maunga Authority Operational Plan which included Te Ākitai Waiohua
Settlement Trust, Ngāti Tamaterā Treaty Settlement Trust, Te
Whakakitenga o Waikato Incorporated and Ngaati Whanaunga Incorporated Society.
The response included that the Plan has been
well consulted and provides a good example
of co-governance in action as it comprises land subject to Crown redress that
mana whenua have shared with all Aucklanders.
56. Aucklanders
were also asked what else is important to them and if they had any feedback on
any other issues.
|
Key
themes
|
Feedback
|
|
Regional
community places and services (funding)
|
81
|
|
Environmental
services (maintaining programmes)
|
63
|
|
General comments about
the plan (poor design and complex use of language)
|
60
|
|
Regional arts, culture
and events
|
45
|
|
General financial
strategy
|
38
|
|
Transport (public
transport)
|
37
|
|
Governance and support
|
33
|
|
Organisational support
|
23
|
|
Stormwater
|
22
|
|
Regional libraries
|
21
|
|
Local Board Funding
policy
|
20
|
Annual Budget 2023/2024 related policies
The following proposals were
consulted on alongside the Annual Budget:
Revenue and
Financing Policy
57. The proposal
to pause the Long-Term Differential Strategy (LTDS) for one year would require
an amendment to the Revenue and Financing Policy.
58. Under
the current rating policy, businesses pay a greater share of rates than
non-business properties. Businesses make more use of council services like
transport and stormwater. They also place more demand on these services.
Council previously decided that the level of business rates is too high and
should be reduced gradually over time. The LTDS currently lowers the total
amount of general rates (UAGC and value-based general rate) for businesses in
equal steps, from 31 per cent in 2022/2023 to 25.8 per cent by 2037/2038.
Feedback
59. 146
submissions were received on the proposal regionally. Of these, 99 supported
the proposal and 41 did not support the proposal. A further six either provided
another response or did not know. Comments from those in support included
businesses being able to afford the increase and the impact of rates on
residential ratepayers.
60. Responses
from those who did not support the proposal included the view that business
rates are too high.
61. Eight of the
146 responses were from people who identified as Māori with four in
support of the proposal, three not in support and one who did not know.
62. The
Property Council did not support the proposal citing concern for increased
costs on businesses and business rates being too high.
Māori Land
Rates Remission and Postponement Policy
63. Council is
proposing to amend the Māori Land Rates Remission and Postponement Policy
to provide a partial remission of rates to general title papakāinga, where
that land is:
· protected
from being sold out of Māori ownership
· for
the sole use of hapū/iwi (tribe).
64. This
recognises the similarities between these properties and papakāinga on
Māori freehold land. The proposed remission would apply a discount of up
to 10 per cent of the rateable land value. This is similar to what is applied
to Māori freehold land.
Feedback
65. There were 40
submissions from individuals received regionally. Of these 20 were in support
of the proposal and 20 did not support the proposal. Responses in support
included the positive benefits to Māori in retaining land. Responses from
those who did not support included Māori not having special treatment, and
concern about the costs to other Aucklanders.
66. Eight of the 40 responses were from individuals who
identified as Māori, all of whom supported the proposal. Ngāti
Whātua Ōrākei also submitted in support of the proposal.
Local board advocacy
67. Local boards can also provide approved advocacy
initiatives which considers the consultation feedback above. This allows the
Governing Body to consider these advocacy items when making decisions on the
Annual Budget 2023/2024 to the Governing Body in June 2023.
68. The
advocacy initiatives approved by the local board will be included as an
appendix to the 2023/2024 Local Board Agreement.
Local board input on regional topics in the Annual Budget
2023/2024
69. 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 the council’s proposed Annual Budget
2023/2024, proposed changes to the Revenue and Financing Policy and Māori
Land Rates Remission and Postponement Policy
Tauākī whakaaweawe
āhuarangi
Climate impact statement
70. The decisions recommended in this report are part of the
Annual Budget 2023/2024 and local board agreement process to approve funding
and expenditure over the next year.
71. Projects allocated funding or proposed to have reduced 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 the council’s
reporting requirements.
Ngā whakaaweawe me
ngā tirohanga a te rōpū Kaunihera
Council group impacts and views
72. The Annual Budget 2023/2024 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
73. The local board’s decisions and feedback are being
sought in this report.
74. Local board nominees have also attended Governing Body workshops on
the Annual Budget.
Tauākī whakaaweawe
Māori
Māori impact statement
75. 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.
76. Local board plans, developed in 2020 through engagement
with the community including Māori, form the basis of local board area
priorities.
77. 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.
78. The Annual Budget 2023/2024 and related policies includes a proposed
amendment to the Māori Land Rates Remission and
Postponement Policy covered in the ‘Annual Budget related
policies’ section above.
Ngā ritenga
ā-pūtea
Financial implications
79. 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.
80. The local board also provides input to regional plans and policies.
There is information in the council’s consultation material for each
proposal with the financial implications of each option outlined for
consideration.
Ngā raru tūpono me
ngā whakamaurutanga
Risks and mitigations
81. The council must adopt its Annual Budget, which includes local board
agreements, by 30 June 2023. To meet this timeframe, the local board is
required to make recommendations on these local matters for the Annual Budget
by mid-May 2023 and present to the Governing Body to make decisions on key
items to be included in the Annual Budget on 8 June 2023.
Ngā koringa ā-muri
Next steps
82. The
local board will approve its local board agreement and corresponding work
programmes in June 2023.
83. Recommendations
and feedback from the local board will be provided to the Governing Body for
consideration in its decision-making.
84. The
final Annual Budget 2023/2024 (including local board agreements) will be
adopted by the Governing Body on 29 June 2023.
Ngā tāpirihanga
Attachments
|
No.
|
Title
|
Page
|
|
a⇩
|
Input on the proposed regional topics in the Annual
Budget 2023/2024 to
the Governing Body
|
23
|
Ngā kaihaina
Signatories
|
Author
|
Shoma Prasad – Local Board Engagement Advisor
|
|
Authoriser
|
Manoj Ragupathy - Local Area Manager
|
