Rodney Local Board

 

OPEN MINUTES

 

 

Minutes of an extraordinary meeting of the Rodney Local Board on Wednesday 10 May 2023. Due to the state of emergency declared on 9 May 2023, this meeting was held online via Microsoft Teams.

 

Te Hunga kua Tae mai | present

 

Chairperson

Brent Bailey

 

Deputy Chairperson

Louise Johnston

 

Members

Michelle Carmichael

 

 

Mark Dennis

 

 

Tim Holdgate

 

 

Ivan Wagstaff

 

 

Guy Wishart

 

 

Te Hunga Kāore i Tae Mai | ABSENT

 

Member

Geoff Upson

 

 

 


 

 

1          Nau mai | Welcome

 

The chairperson opened the meeting and welcomed those in attendance. Member M Carmichael led a karakia.

 

 

2          Ngā Tamōtanga | Apologies

 

Resolution number RD/2023/52

MOVED by Member M Dennis, seconded by Deputy Chairperson L Johnston:  

That the Rodney Local Board:

a)         accept the apology from Member C Smith for absence.

CARRIED

 

 

 

3          Te Whakapuaki i te Whai Pānga | Declaration of Interest

 

There were no declarations of interest.

 

 

4          He Tamōtanga Motuhake | Leave of Absence

 

There were no leaves of absence.

 

 

5          Te Mihi | Acknowledgements

 

There were no acknowledgements.

 

 

6          Ngā Petihana | Petitions

 

There were no petitions.

 

 

7          Ngā Tono Whakaaturanga | Deputations

 

There were no deputations.

 

 

8          Te Matapaki Tūmatanui  | Public Forum

 

There was no public forum.

 

 

9          Ngā Pakihi Autaia | Extraordinary Business

 

There was no extraordinary business.


 

 

 

10

Local board consultation feedback and input into the Annual Budget 2023/2024

 

Resolution number RD/2023/53

MOVED by Member M Carmichael, seconded by Member G Wishart:   

That the Rodney Local Board:

a)      whiwhi / receive consultation feedback on the proposed Rodney 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 Rodney Local Board area

c)      whakarite / provide the following input on regional topics in the proposed Annual Budget 2023/2024 and related policies to the Governing Body

Operating spending reductions

i)             kahore au e tautoko / 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 for the following reasons:

A)           successful public transport services need to be frequent, reliable, affordable, and safe

B)           rural communities require a more flexible approach to public transport, such as on demand services and responding to peak demand is needed

C)           ongoing concerns about the climate impact that reduced investment in public transport causes, as it reduces patronage, and increases reliance on private vehicle usage, thereby putting at risk Auckland’s ability to meet its emissions reduction targets

ii)            kahore au e tautoko / do not support the reduction of $27.5 million to Tātaki Auckland Unlimited as we value the Auckland Art Gallery, Auckland Zoo, venues and stadiums as these facilities are valued by our communities

iii)          kahore au e tautoko / do not support reducing regional services such as community and education programmes, arts and culture programmes, regional events and other social service activities such as homelessness funding, community empowerment and funding for youth centres, to save $20 million as regional services are crucial for an inclusive and vibrant city

iv)          kahore au e tautoko / do not support reducing local board funded activities across all local boards to save $16 million for the following reasons:

A)           the Rodney Local Board believes the proposed $16 million of opex savings allocated across the 21 local boards using the locally driven initiatives formula is inequitable, as this disadvantages local boards that have high levels of deprivation and/or have a large land mass area, as opposed to more advantaged local boards with more assets and therefore more asset-based services funding

B)           the Rodney Local Board area faces historical funding deficits, which local board funding helps address

v)            kahore au e tautoko / do not support reducing regional contestable grants to save $3 million for the following reasons:

A)           these grants help fund volunteer organisations that have limited revenue and with the looming economic recession these grants will be an essential lifeline for these organisations and the Rodney Local Board acknowledges the work that they do across Auckland

B)           if there is a reduction to regional contestable grants, seek to ensure youth, sports and environmental grants are prioritised to receive grants

C)           there is a benefit for recipients to utilise regional grants as a leveraging mechanism to seek further funding from external organisations

Amending Auckland International Airport Limited Shareholding Policy

vi)           tautoko / support the sale of Auckland Council’s shares in Auckland International Airport Limited and acknowledge the significant capital gain that holding these shares have made for Auckland

Managing rates and debt

vii)          tautoko / support an additional one per cent increase in rates, which would remove the need to cut local board funding, therefore helping the Rodney Local Board deliver local outcomes

viii)        kahore au e tautoko / do not support increasing debt by $75 million

ix)           kahore au e tautoko / do not support reducing the Natural Environment and Water Quality Targeted Rates as environment progamming is a key concern for the Rodney Local Board area community, and a reduction in programming has the potential of having long-term environmental consequences

      Storm response

x)             tautoko / 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 fund

xi)           request the storm response fund be directed to increase resilience of rural and vulnerable communities

Changes to other rates, fees and charges

xii)          tautoko / support the introduction of a one-off fee for residents wishing to change bin sizes

xiii)        tautoko / support to extend the food scraps targeted rate to new areas (this only applies to urban areas)

 

xiv)         kahore au e tautoko / do not support changing which bus services are funded by the Climate Action Targeted Rate

xv)          tautoko / support the increase to fees for swimming pool/spa pool fencing compliance targeted rate

xvi)        kahore au e tautoko / do not support the proposed amendment to the Community Occupancy Guidelines as this could negatively impact on community groups ability to deliver activities

xvii)       acknowledge that community volunteer organisations provide local activities across Auckland on a cost effective basis and council needs to enable these activities to continue

xviii)      tautoko / support the review of fees for bookable spaces in council managed pool and leisure facilities

xix)         tautoko / support any other proposed changes to rates, fees and charges

Related policies

xxi)         tautoko / support pausing the Long-term Differential Strategy for one year

d)    advocate for the following local initiatives for the Annual Budget 2023/2024 to the Governing Body:

i)                     tautoko / support the significant increases in road maintenance and renewals in Auckland Transport’s draft annual budget for 2023/2024

ii)                   express concern that Waka Kotahi may remove the subsidies for Auckland Transport road maintenance and renewals in favour of greater investments in state highways nationwide

iii)                  tono / request where possible to use local contractors for council work and support these contractors to be Auckland Council procurement ready

 

iv)                  tono / request for increased regional civil defence budgets to improve local community emergency resilience

 

v)                   manaaki / advocate for the funding of flood mitigation work in areas where homes and main transport routes are continuously flooded, and are causing commuters and communities to be significantly adversely affected or isolated by flood waters.

CARRIED

 

 

 

11        Te Whakaaro ki ngā Take Pūtea e Autaia ana | Consideration of Extraordinary Items

 

There was no consideration of extraordinary items.

 

 

 

 

10.12 am                                            The chairperson thanked members for their attendance and attention to business and declared the meeting closed.

 

CONFIRMED AS A TRUE AND CORRECT RECORD AT A MEETING OF THE Rodney Local Board HELD ON

 

 

 

DATE:.........................................................................

 

 

 

CHAIRPERSON:.......................................................