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Manurewa Local
Board
11 May 2023
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Manurewa Local Board consultation feedback and input into the
Annual Budget 2023/2024
File No.: CP2023/05294
Te take mō te
pūrongo
Purpose of the report
1. To receive consultation feedback from the Manurewa Local Board area
on:
· proposed priorities and activities for the Manurewa 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 they 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.
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 publicly consulted from 28 February to 28 March
2023 to seek community views on the proposed Annual Budget 2023/2024. This
included consultation on the Manurewa Local Board’s proposed priorities
for 2023/2024 to be included in their local board agreement 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 1,582 submissions from the Manurewa local board area.
7. There is support for the local priorities for the Manurewa local
board area, with 80 per cent of respondents supporting all or most of the
priorities.
8. The top three local priorities to maintain funding for are:
· service levels for community centres and arts centres (Nathan
Homestead)
· youth programmes
· protection and restoration of local waterways, environmental
education, community climate action and sustainability.
9. In the Annual Budget process, there are financial matters where
local boards 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.
10. Local
boards have a statutory responsibility to provide input into regional
strategies, policies, plans, and bylaws. This report provides an opportunity
for the local board to provide input on council’s proposed Annual Budget
2023/2024.
Ngā tūtohunga
Recommendation/s
That the Manurewa Local Board:
a) receive consultation feedback on the
proposed Manurewa 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 Manurewa local board area.
c) provide input on regional topics in the proposed Annual Budget
2023/2024 and related policies to the Governing Body.
d) provide advocacy on any local initiatives for
the Annual Budget 2023/2024 to the Governing Body.
Horopaki
Context
11. 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 Manurewa Local Board Agreement sets out how the council
will reflect the priorities in the Manurewa 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.
12. The local board agreements 2023/2024 will form part of Auckland
Council’s Annual Budget 2023/2024.
13. Auckland Council publicly consulted from 28 February to 28 March
2023 to seek community views on the proposed Annual Budget 2023/2024, as well
as local board priorities and proposed activities to be included in the local
board agreement 2023/2024.
14. 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.
Tātaritanga me ngā
tohutohu
Analysis and advice
15. This report includes analysis of consultation feedback, any local
matters to be recommended to the Governing Body and seeks input on regional
topics in the proposed Annual Budget 2023/2024.
Consultation
feedback overview
16. As part of the public consultation, Auckland Council used a variety
of methods and channels to reach and engage a broad cross section of
Aucklanders to gain their feedback and input into regional and local
topics.
17. In total, Auckland Council received feedback from 41,147 people in
the consultation period. This feedback was received through:
· written feedback – 36,659 - hard copy (12 per cent) and online
forms (70 per cent), emails (five per cent) and letters/other (two per cent)
· in person – 4,488 pieces of feedback through online Have Your
Say events (five Council staff supported events and eleven elected member lead
events of which were held in the Manurewa local board area).
18. All feedback will be made available on an
Auckland Council webpage called ‘Submissions on the Annual Budget
2023/2024’ and will be accessible from 26 April 2023 through the
following link: https://akhaveyoursay.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/submissions-annual-budget-2023-2024
Feedback received for the
Manurewa Local Board for 2023/2024
19. One thousand and twenty-one (1,021)
submissions were received on Manurewa Local Board’s priorities for
2023/2024.
20. Seven submissions were received from mana
whenua iwi with interests in the Manurewa Local Board area, and feedback was
also received through an Ara Kōtui hui and the Huakina Marae Forum.
21. Thirty-seven submissions were received from
organisations, of which 18 were from local organisations that commented on
local priorities.
22. Consultation feedback on local board
priorities will be considered by the local board when approving their local
board agreement in June 2023.
Key priorities in Manurewa Local Board Area
in 2023/2024
23. The Manurewa Local Board consulted on the
following priorities for 2023/2024:
· maintain delivery of our contestable Community
Grants, Rangatahi Youth Grants and Lifelong Learning Fund. Provide free large
community events supporting greater community cohesion after the COVID-19
lockdowns over recent years
· work with mana whenua, Manurewa Marae and
Māori organisations to showcase and celebrate Māori culture,
aspirations, stories and identity
· progress renewals including the interior and
exterior of the grandstand at Gallaher Park, and upgrades at Manurewa Aquatic
Centre
· progress plans to renew play spaces at Tington
and Rowandale Reserves.
· work with community groups to deliver more
social and recreational activities that connect people across generations and
cultures
· fund local economic initiatives that support
local enterprise, work with our business associations, and connect local
people, including young people, with employment opportunities
· support initiatives that improve our
environment, clean our waterways, manage our waste and prepare our communities
to respond to climate change.
24. The majority of local respondents support all
(41 per cent) or most (39 per cent) priorities.
25. Ngāti Tamaoho would like a constant focus on our
people and te taiao (environment), enduring long term solutions, and budget
that adds value and impact to the lives of people and the environment.
26. Ngāti Te Ata gave feedback that
‘arts and culture’ and ‘environment’ especially
waterways and planting are high priorities.
27. Feedback from Ara Kōtui included:
· initiatives with direct Māori outcomes
are a priority
· there is a need for meaningful indicators to
measure the effectiveness of initiatives designed to deliver to Māori
outcomes
· Māori would like to be involved in the
design and delivery of Māori outcomes-focused initiatives
· Council processes that group feedback from
individual iwi into ‘mana whenua’ feedback are inappropriate
· to ‘pause’ initiatives with zero
budgets and retain line items in work programme to reinstate when funding
allows.
28. Feedback from the Huakina Marae Forum included:
· no cuts to funding for Māori outcome
initiatives – partnership projects and initiatives that benefit
Māori
· that the local board consider how to bring Te
Tiriti o Waitangi ‘partnership’ to life
· that the local board consider an equity lens
(to achieve positive outcomes for Māori) when making decisions
· Māori outcomes are best achieved through
involving Māori in design and delivery of initiatives
· request that naming, including road naming, be appropriate to the
area and the heritage of the area, and reflect tangata whenua status and te ao
Māori values
· ongoing regular engagement from board members with Huakina Marae
Forum.
Responding to the budget challenge
29. 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 Manurewa Local Board
to reduce its planned operating spend by $816,600.
30. To do this, local boards would need to make tough decisions,
prioritising what they do and where they invest. 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.
31. The top three priorities to retain funding for
were:
· service levels for community centres and arts centres (Nathan
Homestead).
· youth programmes
· protection and restoration of local waterways, environmental
education, community climate action and sustainability.
32. The table below gives an overview of the
responses from the Manurewa Local Board area.
Key themes
33. Key themes of note across the feedback
received included:
· community concerned about Nathan Homestead and
its future
· young people/youth programmes – provides
opportunities and reduces crime
· poor condition of Manurewa and the proposed
budget cuts would make it worse
· public transport/congestion concerns
· arts/community/culture/libraries very
important to the community
· concerns budget cuts will affect local
community adversely and remove community cohesion
· council needs to get back to basics.
34. Manurewa Youth Council consulted with rangatahi to
identify their priorities. Of the 60 rangatahi who gave feedback on this
question at the youth focus groups held at Manurewa High, Alfriston College and
Pizza Youth Submission events, the top priorities were:
· youth programmes
· local community events
· environmental restoration and pest control
programmes.
Information on submitters
35. The tables and graphs below indicate the
source of submissions.
36. Most submissions came from individuals (99 per
cent), via online (40 per cent).
37. The graphs below indicate the demographic
categories people identified with. This only relates to those submitters who
provided demographic information.
Requests for local funding
38. Requests for local funding through the Annual
Budget 2023/2024 consultation included:
· keep the ‘Green’ van (5)
· more youth spaces
· keep pools free/funded (4)
· community garden
· War Memorial Park lighting
· Manurewa Christmas in the Park
· Rata Vine playground upgrade
· tree protection
· Wattle Downs pedestrian crossing
· Movies in the Park.
Overview of feedback received on
regional topics in the Annual Budget 2023/2024 from the Manurewa Local Board
area
39. 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:
· operating spending reductions
· amending Auckland International Airport
Limited (AIAL) Shareholding Policy
· managing rates and debt
· storm response
· local board priorities (covered in
‘Feedback received on the Manurewa Local
Board for 2023/2024’ section above)
· changes to other rates, fees and charges.
40. Submitters were also encouraged to give feedback on any of the other
matters included in the Annual Budget 2023/2024 consultation document.
41. The
submissions received from the Manurewa 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
42. 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 Manurewa 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.
43. The graphs below give an overview of the
responses to this question from the Manurewa Local Board area which includes
feedback from 999 individuals, fourteen organisations and eight proforma
submissions. Of the individual responses 47 per cent of respondents do
not want to proceed with any reductions and 27 per cent only some reductions.
Key themes
44. Key themes of note from those who do not
support any reductions included:
· these funding cuts make it so much harder for
the most vulnerable to keep going, and they are the most important because they
are so at risk
· do not defund Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB)
· do not reduce public transport budgets
· reductions would result in relatively small
savings but significantly impact liveability of Auckland
· community services and things like youth centres
directly affect things like crime rate. They actively work to lower recidivism.
· don’t cut essential services – arts,
culture, community, youth, education and events
· consider raising rates rather than budget cuts
· do not reduce funding for childhood centres.
45. Key themes of note from those who do not
support some reductions included:
· we need to keep our arts and cultural funding
because these areas have suffered during COVID. The arts and music now provide
a huge asset to the mental health of those involved in the sectors to express
themselves, and for citizens to attend
· reduce rather than fully stop funding
· it is critical, if Auckland is to achieve its
climate change targets, that public transport is pushed and prioritised
· regional services, that's what keeps our
communities thriving and connected, and helps to create safe spaces for
vulnerable youth
· really important to keep supporting vulnerable
communities like ours can’t expect people to thrive if they are stripped
of services that support vulnerable people.
46. Mana whenua iwi with interests in the Manurewa
local board area gave feedback as follows:
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Specific Response
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Mana Whenua Entity
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Proceed with proposed reductions
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· Ngāti Pāoa Trust
Board
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Do not proceed with some reductions and instead further
increase rates and/or debt
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· Ngaati Whanaunga
Incorporated Society
· Ngāti Tamaoho Settlement
Trust
· Ngāti Tamaterā
Treaty Settlement Trust
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Do not proceed with any reductions and instead increase rates
and/or debt
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· Te Kawerau Iwi Settlement
Trust
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Other
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· Te Ākitai Waiohua
Settlement Trust
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I don’t know
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No Specific Response
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· Te Ara Rangatū o te
Iwi o Ngāti Te Ata – Waiohua
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47. Te Kawerau A Maki
submission detailed comments on the individual line items of this question. For
the purposes of this report their submission has been categorised as ‘do
not proceed with some reductions and instead future increase rates and/or
debt’. This is because they partially support, for example, a reduction
to Tātaki Auckland Unlimited and reduction in regional services. They also
propose rate increases as part of their feedback on budgetary implications for
local boards and regional services.
48. Ngāti Tamaoho support reductions to funding
of Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, while ensuring the procurement of Māori
business remains across all of Auckland Council; and that Tāmaki Herenga
Waka Festival continues. Continuing to invest in youth and intergenerational
elements, homelessness, community led solutions and marae-led recovery are
priorities. Support retaining local board funding, regional contestable grants,
and early childhood education funding.
49. Te Ākitai Waiohua has concerns about
accessibility for Māori, loss of staff with specific skills and capacity,
and potential detrimental impacts on relationships between iwi and Auckland
council. Their suggestion is to:
· develop more long term, enduring solutions
· build on models successfully employed during
COVID-19 and use funding to help Māori to help themselves.
50. Ngaati Whanaunga – support retaining
funding for local boards, regional services and regional contestable grants as
these help people and environment to thrive.
51. Auckland wide organisations that wanted their
feedback considered by the Manurewa Local Board included:
· Asian Family Services – opposed to cuts to
regional community services
· Beautification Trust – maintain funding
for flood resilience using green infrastructure; actions that reduce transport
emissions
· Save Our Venues – opposed to cuts to Tātaki Auckland Unlimited
(TAU) and regional services,
concerned about impact on live music, music venues, music programmes and music artists, and wider impact
on community well-being through music
· Youth Town – retain funding for youth
related initiatives.
Key Question 2: Amending Auckland International
Airport Limited (AIAL) Shareholding Policy
52. 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.
53. 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.
The graphs below give
an overview of the responses to this question from the Manurewa Local Board
area which includes feedback from 969 individuals and thirteen
organisations. 45 per cent of submitters do not want to sell shares and
further increase debt/rates with 27 per cent wanting to partially sell shares
of Auckland International Airport.
54. Key themes of note from those not in
support of the sale included:
· selling shares at a low point in the market
makes no sense
· don’t sell assets, keep them
· selling is short-sighted
· they are income generating
· the Auckland airport is the largest in NZ and
is a strategic asset that we should continue to have some control over.
55. Key themes of note from those in support of a partial
sale included:
· there is merit in selling some of the shares,
but not all of them
· will reduce some of debt and retain some
dividend
· we need to keep a stake in it as so have a say
in what goes on at the airport
· the partial sale makes the most sense.
Keeping majority and at the same time we still benefit as a community.
56. Mana whenua iwi with interests in the Manurewa
local board area gave feedback as follows:
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Response
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Mana Whenua Entity
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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
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· Ngāti Pāoa Trust
Board
· Ngāti Tamaoho
Settlement Trust
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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
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· Ngaati Whanaunga
Incorporated Society
· Ngāti Tamaterā
Treaty Settlement Trust
· Ngāti Tamaoho
Settlement Trust
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Don’t change the policy, keep all our shares, and
further increase rates and/or debt
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Other
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· Te Ākitai Waiohua
Settlement Trust
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I don’t know
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No Specific Response
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· Te Kawerau Iwi Settlement
Trust
· Te Ara Rangatū o te
Iwi o Ngāti Te Ata– Waiohua
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57. Ngāti Tamaoho – support partial
sale of shares, while also seeing the shares as a stable long-term investment,
with dividends that can support the recovery of the city.
58. Te Ākitai Waiohua – request an
evaluation of the merits of the proposal by widening the lens beyond finance
only to also factor people and environment into the equation, acknowledging
that success is about much more than money.
Key Question 3: Managing rates and debt
59. 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.
60. 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.
61. The graphs below give an overview of the
responses to this question from the Manurewa Local Board area.
Key themes
62. Key themes of note across the feedback received
from those in support of the rates proposal included:
· makes sense/realistic
· we need to maintain Auckland vs affordable for
rate payments
· consider this is the best balance to address the
situation
· if paying higher rates means less cuts for
community this is supported.
63. Key themes of note from those in support of
lower general rates and greater use of debt included:
· can afford a small increase
· capacity to take on more debt
· current affordability
· cost of living crisis.
64. Mana whenua iwi with interests in the Manurewa
local board area gave feedback as follows:
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Response
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Mana Whenua Entity
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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)
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· Ngaati Whanaunga
Incorporated Society
· Ngāti Pāoa Trust
Board
· Ngāti Tamaterā
Treaty Settlement Trust
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Set higher general rates increase
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· Te Kawerau Iwi Settlement
Trust
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Make greater use of debt
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Set lower general rates increase and make greater use of debt
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Make less use of debt and set higher general rates increase
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· Ngāti Tamaoho
Settlement Trust
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Other
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· Te Ākitai Waiohua
Settlement Trust
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|
I don’t know
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|
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No Specific response
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· Te Ara Rangatū o te
Iwi o Ngāti Te Ata – Waiohua
|
65. Ngāti Tamaoho – support lower
general rates and greater use of debt; that a cap be set for any increases once
debt is under control; need to decrease the stress caused by cumulative
‘tax’ increases to individuals and whanau, including a strategy
from the council to support those that cant afford proposed rates increases.
66. Ngaati Whanaunga – there is a need to
accommodate the needs of families that are already struggling financially.
67. Ngaati
Whanaunga Incorporated Society suggested that the Auckland Council should be
reviewed by external auditors to provide an independent view on Auckland
Council effectiveness and efficiency.
Key Question 4: Storm response
68. 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).
69. The graphs below give an overview of the
responses to this question from the Manurewa Local Board area.
Key themes
70. Key themes of note across the feedback received
included:
· future storms are likely to be as bad or worse
than the recent storms and Council needs to be able to deal with the effects
proactively beforehand and promptly when they occur
· climate change is here
· investment is needed
· better storm response is needed
· in 2023, with the climate crisis landing on
our doorstep, we’ve seen the results of decades of underinvestment in our
critical infrastructure. It’s high time we start investing in making
Auckland more resilient in the face of climate change and extreme weather
events
· investing in a climate resilient storm water
infrastructure is going to be cheaper and less damaging to Auckland's people in
the long run than having to clean up the mess and damage that would occur if
not done.
71. Mana whenua iwi with interests in the Manurewa
local board area gave feedback as follows:
|
Response
|
Mana Whenua Entity
|
|
Proceed with the proposal to increase our operating budget by
around $20 million each year
|
· Ngaati Whanaunga Incorporated
Society
· Ngāti Pāoa Trust
Board
· Ngāti Tamaoho
Settlement Trust
· Ngāti Tamaterā
Treaty Settlement Trust
· Te Kawerau Iwi Settlement
Trust
|
|
Do not proceed with the proposal
|
|
|
Other
|
· Te Ākitai Waiohua
Settlement Trust
|
|
Don’t know
|
|
|
No
|
|
|
No Specific response
|
· Te Ara Rangatū o te
Iwi o Ngāti Te Ata – Waiohua
|
72. Ngāti Tamaoho would prefer marae to be
funded to provide community-led initiatives to support the community as they
have intimate knowledge of the needs of communities and have provided ample
evidence that they can meet those needs.
73. Ngaati Whanaunga submitted there is a need to
work closely with iwi and local communities to find long-term solutions, and to
proactively address stormwater requirements.
Key Question 5: local board priorities
74. Aucklanders were asked for feedback on the local impacts of the
Annual Budget, feedback received on this is outlined in the ‘Feedback
received for the Manurewa Local Board for 2023/2024’ section above.
Key Question 6: changes to other rates,
fees and charges
75. 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.
76. The table below gives a summary of responses:
|
INDIVIDUALS & ORGANISATIONS
|
|
|
|
|
|
Waste Management Rates Change
|
Support
|
Do not support
|
Other
|
I don't know
|
|
Cost changes in waste management
|
402
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282
|
26
|
109
|
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Introduce
a one-off fee of $40 for those residents wishing to change their bin size
|
499
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145
|
9
|
49
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|
Extend
the food scraps targeted rate to the new areas that will receive the service
this year
|
392
|
172
|
18
|
118
|
|
Changes to other rates
|
Support
|
Do not support
|
Other
|
I don't know
|
|
Swimming
Pool/Spa Pool Fencing Compliance Targeted Rate
|
500
|
231
|
13
|
74
|
|
Change
which bus services are funded by the Climate Action Targeted Rate
|
380
|
223
|
21
|
173
|
Waste management rates changes
77. 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)
78. Introduction
of a fee for swapping bin sizes – majority in support with 499
submitters.
79. Extension of the food scraps targeted rate to
the new areas that will receive the service this year – majority in support
with 392 submitters.
80. Ngāti Tamaoho would prefer investment in
home composting systems and mara kai (community gardens) as people directly
benefit from these, and they are a long-term approach.
Changes
to other rates, fees and charges
81. 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 was supported by 380 submitters.
82. 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 was supported by 500 submitters.
83. Amendment
to Community Occupancy Guidelines comments received:
· Community Leisure Management (CLM) commented
‘This proposal will impact our club network significantly. Most
clubs operate on very low margins, and few have any reserves post COVID-19.
Starting each financial year needing to find $1,300 is potentially an
insurmountable challenge’
· Any increases to community leases will
directly impact our ability to deliver youth programmes to the community
· Community Leases are held by groups who may
well not be able to sustain rent increases.
84. There was no local feedback on other changes
in the proposal including changes to the Rodney Drainage District Targeted
Rate; establishment of a Business Improvement District (BID) and BID targeted
rate for Silverdale; animal management fees; building and resource consenting
fees; regulatory fees such as food licensing registration, micro-mobility
operator fees and swimming pool inspections; cemetery fees.
85. In relation to the review of fees for bookable
spaces in council managed pool and leisure facilities, a submission was
received from CLM Sport in opposition.
Other matters for feedback
86. 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.
87. Three comments were received to discontinue
funding and providing comments that reflect a lack of understanding of the
council’s obligations to Māori.
88. Mana whenua iwi with interests in the Manurewa
local board area gave additional general feedback as follows.
89. Ngaati Whanaunga:
· request to reconfigure the mana whenua funding
model to place a focus on engaging
· mana whenua to invest in their communities and
environment where they need it most
· to look past the budget decision figures to remember
the importance of enhancing the wellbeing of people and the environment
· request to work with them to enhance
Māori economic development, sustainable growth planning on Māori
land, and for Māori communities.
90. Te Ākitai Waiohua:
· Te Tiriti o Waitangi, equity and holistic
principles need to be fundamental to all decision-making
· more effort is needed to consider alternatives
that better reflect needs of people and the environment and addresses equity.
91. Aucklanders were also asked what else is important to them and if
they had any feedback on any other issues.
· consider selling golf courses
· equity lens should be used
· Manurewa being left behind
· roaming dogs
· saving Nathan Homestead and its significance to Manurewa.
Annual Budget 2023/2024
related policies
The
following proposals were consulted on alongside the Annual Budget:
Revenue and Financing Policy
92. The proposal to pause the Long-Term Differential Strategy (LTDS) for
one year would require an amendment to the Revenue and Financing Policy.
93. 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
94. One hundred and forty-six (146) submissions were received on the
proposal. 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 in a position to
afford the increase and the impact of rates on residential ratepayers.
95. Responses from those who did not support the proposal included the
view that business rates are too high.
96. 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.
97. 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
98. The 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).
99. This recognises the similarities between these properties and
papakāinga on Māori freehold land.
100. 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
101. There were 40 submissions from individuals. 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.
102. 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
103. 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.
104. 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
105. 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
106. 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.
107. 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 rigorous
reporting requirements.
Ngā whakaaweawe me
ngā tirohanga a te rōpū Kaunihera
Council group impacts and
views
108. 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
109. The local board’s decisions and feedback
are being sought in this report. The local board has a statutory role in
providing its feedback on regional plans and policies.
110. Local boards
play an important role in the development of the council’s Annual Budget.
Local board agreements form part of the Annual Budget. Local board nominees
have also attended Governing Body workshops on the Annual Budget.
Tauākī whakaaweawe
Māori
Māori impact statement
111. 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.
112. Local board plans, developed in 2020 through
engagement with the community including Māori, form the basis of local
board area priorities. There is a need to continue to build relationships
between local boards and iwi, and the wider Māori community.
113. Ongoing conversations between local boards and
Māori will assist in understanding each other’s priorities and
issues. This in turn can influence and encourage Māori participation in
the council’s decision-making processes.
114. 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.
115. 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.
116. Ngā Mātārae led the
Council-wide approach to engagement with Māori entities. This
included:
· preliminary email to mana whenua iwi and mataawaka organisations
providing information about the upcoming budget
· briefing workshops led by technical leads to clarify the proposal
and answer preliminary questions. This included two workshops for mana whenua,
and two for mataawaka organisations, both occurring prior to the public
consultation period
· one-on-one workshops
· technical support provided for those who needed help preparing their
oral and/or written submissions was provided through a consultant
· oral submissions from mana whenua were presented to the Governing
Body Have Your Say event on 24 March 2023.
117. Thirteen of the 19 (68
per cent) mana whenua entities responded to the Auckland Council’s
proposals for the Annual Budget 2023/2024. Out of a total of 93,925 people who
affiliate to mana whenua entities in the Auckland Region, 69,662 (74 per cent)
people are represented by the feedback received.
118. Mana whenua feedback
comprised 11 oral submissions to the Governing Body, and 13 written
submissions.
119. Six mana whenua
entities and eight mataawaka organisations provided informal feedback received
during the briefing workshops and one-on-one workshops.
120. Manurewa Local Board engaged locally with
Māori through:
· an Ara Kōtui hui focused on the Annual
Budget (combined with the other southern local boards and iwi mana whenua hui)
· attending a hui of the Huakina Marae Forum.
121. One hundred
and thirty-nine (139) submissions from people who identify as Māori were
received from people residing in the Manurewa Local Board area.
Ngā ritenga
ā-pūtea
Financial implications
122. 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.
123. 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
124. The council
must adopt its Annual Budget, which includes local board agreements, by 30 June
2023. In order 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
125. The local board will approve its local board
agreement in June 2023 and corresponding work programmes in July 2023.
126. Recommendations and feedback from the local
board will be provided to the Governing Body for consideration in its
decision-making.
127. The final
Annual Budget 2023/2024 (including local board agreements) will be adopted by
the Governing Body on 29 June 2023.
Ngā tāpirihanga
Attachments
There are no
attachments for this report.
Ngā kaihaina
Signatories
|
Author
|
Melissa Bidois - Local Board
Engagement Advisor
|
|
Authoriser
|
Carol McKenzie-Rex - Local Area
Manager Franklin Manurewa Papakura
|
