Howick Local Board

 

OPEN MINUTES

 

 

 

Minutes of a meeting of the Howick Local Board held in the Howick Local Board Meeting Room, Pakuranga Library Complex, 7 Aylesbury Street, Pakuranga on Thursday, 11 May 2023 at 2.17pm.

 

Te Hunga kua Tae mai | present

 

Chairperson

Damian Light

 

Deputy Chairperson

Bo Burns

 

Members

Katrina Bungard

From 2.18pm via electronic link

 

David Collings

 

 

Bruce Kendall

 

 

John Spiller

 

 

Mike Turinsky

Via electronic link

 

Adele White

Until 3.17pm

 

Peter Young, JP

 


Howick Local Board

11 May 2023

 

 

 

1          Nau mai | Welcome

 

The Chair opened the meeting and welcomed everyone present.

 

 

2          Ngā Tamōtanga | Apologies

 

There were no apologies

 

 

3          Te Whakapuaki i te Whai Pānga | Declaration of Interest

 

There were no declarations of interest.

 

 

Member K Bungard joined the meeting via electronic link at 2.18pm

 

 

4

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

 

Resolution number HW/2023/65

MOVED by Chairperson D Light, seconded by Deputy Chairperson B Burns:  

That the Howick Local Board:

a)      whiwhi / receive consultation feedback on the proposed Howick 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 Howick 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:

i)           the Board do not support maintaining the currently reduced number of public transport services (as of December 2022) for 2023/2024 to save $21 million:

A)         the Board note that making temporary service cuts permanent, when coupled with increased fares, could lead to greater emissions, congestion and safety issues.

B)         the Board support local feedback requesting more public transport, including local connector services and more express services.

ii)         the Board do not support reducing funding to Tātaki Auckland Unlimited to save a further $27.5 million:

A)         the Board do not support any move to a “user pays” focus for regional facilities, although it does support the reduction to the tourism arm of Tātaki Auckland Unlimited and economic development components given the lack of evidence that this has benefited East Auckland.

iii)        the Board support some reduction to 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:

A)         the Board does not support reduction in funding for the CAB service, although notes that they could be more cost effective and collaborative.

B)         the Board also suggest that the response to homelessness and other social issues are a central government issue and should be funded appropriately.

iv)        the Board do not support reducing local board funded activities across all boards to save $16 million:

A)         the Board note that reductions to Local Board Funding will further reduce delivery of local programmes and services and have a disproportionate impact on communities.

v)         the Board do not support reducing regional contestable grants to save $3 million.

vi)        the Board do not support no longer directly providing early childhood education services to save $1 million:

A)         the Board do not support this based on public feedback.

B)         the Board believe that the Long Term Plan would be a more appropriate opportunity to review the strategic fit of childcare provision.

vii)      the Board do not support the proposal to sell Auckland Council’s shares in Auckland International Airport:

A)         the Board do not support the sale of assets as a short term solution that fails to address the underlying issues of financial performance.

B)         the Board note that there was some public support for the partial sale, but this appears to be based on the misconception that maintaining 10% will provide the ability to influence or block decisions which is untrue, and that may have influenced the outcome of the consultation.

viii)     the Board encourage the Governing Body to consider other options for strategic long-term investment that may have better financial returns as part of the Long Term Plan discussion.

ix)        the Board support the proposal to increase rates by 4.66 percent, noting that this is below CPI and inflation rates.

x)         the Board support the proposal to increase debt by $75 million, supporting the limited use of short term debt based off public feedback.

xi)        the Board support the proposal to reduce the Natural Environment and Water Quality Targeted Rates, based on the proviso that the current funding pool will allow the continuation of current projects.

A)         the Board request that more projects utilising this fund be undertaken in the Howick Local Board area.

B)         the Board wants to signal its expectation that the full targeted rate will be reinstated in the 2024/25 budget.

xii)      the Board support the proposal to increase rates by an additional 1 per cent to fund a storm response fund based on public feedback, but would like more detail on what the proposed programmes are.

xiii)     the Board support the proposal to introduce a one-off fee for residents wishing to change bin sizes based on public feedback.

xiv)     the Board support the proposal to extend the food scraps targeted rate to new areas – on the basis that needs to be a regional system to be viable.

xv)      the Board support the proposal to change which bus services are funded by the Climate Action Targeted Rate based on public feedback.

xvi)     the Board support the proposal to increase fee for swimming pool/spa pool fencing compliance targeted rate based on public feedback.

xvii)   the Board support the proposal to amend the Community Occupancy Guidelines:

A)         the Board support this based on public feedback.

B)         the Board note that matters relating to community spaces should not be matter for the governing body. Local boards are responsible for decision making for community spaces and therefore any direction on policy or operations pertaining to these facilities should at the direction of the relevant local board.

C)         do not support any blanket implementation of lease application or renewals fees. Some community leaseholders provide valuable community services that should not be disincentivised by onerous fees i.e. will need to be applied at the direction of the relevant local board who are best placed to reflect local practices and priorities.

xviii)  the Board support the proposal to review fees for bookable spaces in council managed pool and leisure facilities based on public feedback.

xix)     the Board support the Tūpuna Maunga Authority Operational Plan 2023/24.

xx)      the Board support the proposal to pause the Long-Term Differential Strategy (LTDS) for one year.

xxi)     the Board support the proposal 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:

A)         protected from being sold out of Māori ownership.

B)         for the sole use of hapū/iwi.

d)      whakarite / provide the following advocacy on local initiatives for the Annual Budget 2023/2024 to the Governing Body:

i)           the Board advocate the building of the Flat Bush multi-use Library and Community Centre.

ii)         the Board advocate the retention of the Local Board Transport Capital Fund.

iii)        the Board advocate urgent upgrades to stormwater infrastructure.

iv)        the Board support Council advocacy for central government funding for social services.

v)         the Board advocate for an assurance that the Natural Environment and Water Quality Targeted Rates continue in the future and that the full targeted rates will be reinstated in the 2024/2025 budget. Pursuant to this:

A)         the Board further request greater visibility of current projects in the Howick Local Board area; and

B)         the Board also request more projects related to these targeted rates.

vi)        the Board support advocacy to Auckland Transport for:

A)         feeder bus services to enable better community access to existing public transport options.

B)         more bus services to serve all areas of the local board – particularly the fast growing areas of Flat Bush and Ormiston.

C)         more ferry, train, and in particular bus express bus services.

vii)      the Board request that adequate funding is secured in the 2023/24 budgets to ensure the bylaw and consent compliance teams are able to respond to all requests and complaints in a timely manner.

viii)     the Board request that proceeds of local assets that have been sold be provided to the relevant Local Board for reinvestment into new and existing assets as promised.

CARRIED

 

Ian Milnes – Senior Local Board Advisor was in attendance to speak to this item.

 

 

Member A White left the meeting at 3.17pm.

 

 

Member P Young left the room at 3.33pm

 

 

Member P Young returned to the room at 3.34pm

 

 

 

3.39 pm                                              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 Howick Local Board HELD ON

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

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