Agenda of Manurewa Local Board - Thursday, 14 September 2023

1 Nau mai | Welcome

A board member will lead the meeting in prayer.

2 Ngā Tamōtanga | Apologies

At the close of the agenda no apologies had been received.

3 Te Whakapuaki i te Whai Pānga | Declaration of Interest

Members are reminded of the need to be vigilant to stand aside from decision making when a conflict arises between their role as a member and any private or other external interest they might have.

4 Te Whakaū i ngā Āmiki | Confirmation of Minutes

That the Manurewa Local Board:

a) confirm the ordinary minutes of its meeting, held on Thursday, 17 August 2023, including the confidential section, as a true and correct record.

5 He Tamōtanga Motuhake | Leave of Absence

At the close of the agenda no requests for leave of absence had been received.

6 Te Mihi | Acknowledgements

At the close of the agenda no requests for acknowledgements had been received.

7 Ngā Petihana | Petitions

At the close of the agenda no requests to present petitions had been received.

8 Ngā Tono Whakaaturanga | Deputations

Standing Order 7.7 provides for deputations. Those applying for deputations are required to give seven working days notice of subject matter and applications are approved by the Chairperson of the Manurewa Local Board. This means that details relating to deputations can be included in the published agenda. Total speaking time per deputation is ten minutes or as resolved by the meeting.

At the close of the agenda no requests for deputations had been received.

9 Te Matapaki Tūmatanui | Public Forum

A period of time (approximately 30 minutes) is set aside for members of the public to address the meeting on matters within its delegated authority. A maximum of three minutes per speaker is allowed, following which there may be questions from members.

At the close of the agenda no requests for public forum had been received.

10 Ngā Pakihi Autaia | Extraordinary Business

Section 46A(7) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (as amended) states:

“An item that is not on the agenda for a meeting may be dealt with at that meeting if-

(a) The local authority by resolution so decides; and

(b) The presiding member explains at the meeting, at a time when it is open to the public,-

(i) The reason why the item is not on the agenda; and

(ii) The reason why the discussion of the item cannot be delayed until a subsequent meeting.”

Section 46A(7A) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (as amended) states:

“Where an item is not on the agenda for a meeting,-

(a) That item may be discussed at that meeting if-

(i) That item is a minor matter relating to the general business of the local authority; and

(ii) the presiding member explains at the beginning of the meeting, at a time when it is open to the public, that the item will be discussed at the meeting; but

(b) no resolution, decision or recommendation may be made in respect of that item except to refer that item to a subsequent meeting of the local authority for further discussion.”

Manurewa Local Board

14 September 2023

Approval of the maintenance budget allocation in the 2023/2024 Manurewa Local Board Customer and Community Services work programme

File No.: CP2023/13022

Te take mō te pūrongo

Purpose of the report

1. To seek approval for a the addition of a new “Full Facilities Contracts Park Bins Top-up” activity in the Parks and Community Facilities work programme 2023/2024.

Whakarāpopototanga matua

Executive summary

2. The Governing Body approved operational cost reductions in the 2023/2024 financial year through the proposed optimising and reducing of full facility maintenance contracts, namely changes in turf and gardens and reduction in public litter bins in low use areas.

3. While the Governing Body is responsible for full facility maintenance contracts and minimum service levels and setting of budgets, local boards have a role in setting the local service levels and keeping oversight on maintenance.

4. Due to this allocation of responsibilities between the Governing Body and local boards, the savings identified from these contracts were not factored into the $16 million in savings proposed and consulted on from local board budgets.

5. One area with the potential for cost-effective savings is the maintenance of rubbish bins. The staff proposal for achieving region-wide savings through a reduction in bins is included as Attachment A.

6. Updated local board budget allocations for maintenance were provided to local boards as part of their annual work programme discussions. Should the board now wish to top-up this budget allocation to increase outcomes, this needs to be done through the addition of a new activity line to the local board work programme to be funded by a reallocation of Locally Driven Initiatives (LDI) operating expenditure from elsewhere in the work programme.

Ngā tūtohunga

Recommendation/s

That the Manurewa Local Board:

a) whakaae / approve the amendment including budget, to its adopted 2023/2024 Customer and Community Services work programme, specifically:

i) addition of a new activity line – Full Facilities Contracts Park Bins Top-up, utilising $66,368 from the Locally Driven Initiatives (LDI) operating expenditure during the 2023/2024 financial year.

Horopaki

Context

7. The Mayoral direction and subsequent Governing Body meeting on 15 December 2022 directed staff to achieve operational cost reductions of approximately $12 million and approved as part of those savings optimising and reducing full facility maintenance contracts as part of these reductions (GB/2022/134, resolution b(i)(c)).

8. Full facilities maintenance contracts are agreements with third-party providers responsible for the maintaining and preserving of council assets throughout the region. These contracts are structured on a regional and subregional level to leverage economies of scale. They represent a significant portion of council budgets, making them prime candidates for review and optimisation when there is a need to find savings.

9. While these contracts are funded from multiple funding sources including contributions from all 21 local boards, it is important to note that the Governing Body holds the ultimate decision-making responsibility for the contracts with respect to budget and minimum service levels.

10. Staff acknowledge that due to the fast-paced nature of the budget savings exercise and the complex and overlapping responsibilities between the Governing Body and local boards, discussions were primarily focused on the Governing Body. Consequently, the anticipated savings from these contracts were accounted for separately in the budget and not included in the calculation of the consultation document proposal $16 million target (5% of local budgets) that was requested from local boards. This was noted with local board members at a briefing with the Financial and Business Performance Department on 5 May 2023.

11. Staff assessed aspects of the five full facility maintenance contracts to identify cost-effective savings that minimised the risk and impact on the communities’ use and enjoyment of parks, facilities, and town centres. The assessment considered specific criteria in different areas.

12. Three areas of potential savings were identified: the number of bins, garden maintenance and turf maintenance. The expected savings from the cost of these maintenance contracts through efficiencies in these areas have been calculated to be approximately $5 million per annum overall.

13. The review identified that there are currently over 10,000 bins throughout the Auckland region. Through careful assessment, it was determined that a 30% reduction in the number of rubbish bins has the potential to yield ongoing savings of approximately $1.5 million per annum, while still maintaining an acceptable level of quality in local parks, sports fields, and town centres.

14. The staff proposal for implementing cost savings in this area considered various factors. Areas considered to be good candidates for a reduced bin service include areas that:

· have multiple bins in close proximity to each other,

· are low usage areas and locations where users are more likely to carry out their own rubbish (pack in/pack out), and

· neighbourhood parks that receive active care and attention from residents.

15. Areas that need to be prioritised for bin retention (no or less reductions) include:

· places with amenities that encourage users to spend extended periods of time, such as shelters, toilets, destination or large-scale playgrounds, carparks, and sports infrastructure,

· locations associated with activities that generate rubbish such as popular dog parks, BBQ areas and community venues,

· destination sites including popular beaches, centres of community events/activities and destination parks, and

· areas co-located with other infrastructure such as bus stops in the streetscape.

16. These considerations have informed the proposed reductions and site-specific proposals outlined in Attachment A.

Tātaritanga me ngā tohutohu

Analysis and advice

17. During a workshop conducted on 10 August 2023, the local board indicated a preference to retain all rubbish bins. The board intend to utilise their Locally Driven Initiatives (LDI) operating expenditure budget to maintain the ongoing provision of the current level of service. However, the local board has emphasised the need for more nuanced metrics and accurate cost estimates. The lack of empirical data and analysis has made it difficult for the local board to make a full commitment at this time.

18. The board anticipates that advice will be provided as a deliverable of this programme. This advice will inform decisions tailored to specific locations and must reflect the needs and challenges of Manurewa.

19. The estimated annual expenditure to maintain the current bin infrastructure and service level is $66,368. This commitment requires allocating resources from the board's Locally Driven Initiatives (LDI) Operational Expenditure (Opex), as specified in table one. The board has indicated its endorsement for the allocation of $66,368, noting that it is highly unlikely the board will fund additional budget increases. It's important to note the cost presented is an indicative estimate and is subject to change.

Table one: Outline of the key considerations and economic analysis

Description

Estimated Annual Cost

Details

Retention of Rubbish Bins - Budget Allocation

Budget Source: Locally Driven Initiatives (LDI) Opex

$66,368 (annual)

Please note that the cost presented is an indicative estimate and is subject to change in future years as a result of inflation.

The indicative cost estimate of $66,368 for the 2023/2024 financial year covers the retention of 136 bins.

Utilisation Analysis and Ongoing Monitoring

20. In order to provide well-informed advice backed by empirical data and user feedback, staff will undertake a thorough utilisation analysis.

21. To align the chosen course of action with the community's needs, our staff are committed to an ongoing analysis of utilisation rates. This analytical process encompasses:

· Ongoing Utilisation Analysis: Staff will conduct periodic analysis throughout the year to assess performance. A comparative analysis against historical and real-time data, pertaining to loose litter and dumping, will be conducted to identify areas of improvement/decline. This will enable performance assessment and will assist in identifying areas of underperformance. Ongoing assessment of reported problems will highlight trends. This methodology will ensure Parks and Community Facilities can make data driven recommendations to best inform the local board.

· Monitoring User Feedback: Staff will closely monitor user feedback to assess the impact on the community.

22. Staff will provide formal updates to the local board regarding the delivery maintenance programme through quarterly performance reports. Additionally, Parks and Community Facilities will provide informal monthly updates on work programme performance.

Tauākī whakaaweawe āhuarangi

Climate impact statement

23. The council's climate goals as set out in Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri: Auckland’s Climate Plan are:

· to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to reach net zero emissions by 2050 and

· to prepare the region for the adverse impacts of climate change.

24. The reduction in bins will likely reduce collection needs and associated transport requirements. Staff consider this beneficial due to the potential for reduced carbon emissions.

Ngā whakaaweawe me ngā tirohanga a te rōpū Kaunihera

Council group impacts and views

25. The overall 2023/2024 Customer and Community Services work programme was developed through a collaborative approach by operational council departments, with each department represented in an integrated team.

26. Staff collaboration will be ongoing throughout the life of this maintenance activity to ensure integration into the operational maintenance and asset management systems.

Ngā whakaaweawe ā-rohe me ngā tirohanga a te poari ā-rohe

Local impacts and local board views

27. On 7 June 2023, staff disseminated the memorandum to the Manurewa Local Board, outlining the proposed implementation of the rubbish bin reductions.

28. Subsequently, staff discussed the proposal to retain the rubbish bins with the local board at a workshop held on August 10, 2023. During this workshop, the local board expressed unanimous endorsement for the funding of the rubbish bins. They intend to utilise their locally driven initiative operating expenditure (LDI: Opex) budget to maintain the ongoing provision of the current level of service.

29. While the board has provided bin-by-bin feedback to the best of their ability given the circumstances, they do not believe that either the time allowed for this feedback process or the depth of analysis presented sufficiently justifies the reasons for removing these bins.

30. The board is interested in ascertaining whether any analysis has been conducted regarding the relative cost savings of removing bins from parks and streetscapes, as opposed to the cost of collecting more loose litter or handling illegally dumped rubbish. The board holds concerns that any unintended consequences of this decision will be borne by the local board to fund.

Tauākī whakaaweawe Māori

Māori impact statement

31. Auckland Council is committed to meeting its responsibilities under Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its broader obligations to Māori. These commitments are articulated in the council’s key strategic planning documents, the Auckland Plan, the Long-term Plan 2021-2031, the Unitary Plan, Whiria Te Muka Tangata Māori Responsiveness Framework, and Local Board Plans.

32. The initiative discussed in this report will benefit Māori and the wider community through the provision of clean and well-maintained environments that contribute to the overall health and well-being of Māori and the wider community. By properly managing litter bins, Māori and the wider community can ensure that public spaces are kept clean and safe for everyone to enjoy.

Ngā ritenga ā-pūtea

Financial implications

33. The proposal to incorporate a new activity line in the 2023/2024 Customer and Community Services: Parks and Community Facilities work programme is detailed in table two.

Table two: New work programme activity to be added to the 2023/2024 Customer and Community Services work programme

Activity Name

Department

Budget Source

Proposed Budget Allocation

Full Facilities Contracts Bins Top Up

CCS: Parks and Community Facilities

LDI: Opex

$66,368

34. The proposed change to the work programme will ensure the ongoing services and maintenance of rubbish bins for the financial year 2023/2024. LDI Opex will need to be allocated annually through the work programme development to continue upkeep of the bin maintenance.

35. The recommended changes have been agreed with the local board’s lead financial advisor.

Ngā raru tūpono me ngā whakamaurutanga

Risks and mitigations

36. The existing full facility maintenance contracts include a loose litter collection service, which operates alongside the bin collection and other maintenance services to ensure the cleanliness and hygiene in public spaces. There are no proposed changes to this service level, so it is anticipated that this service will play a role in mitigating any potential adverse effects of reducing bins in affected areas which is considered a low risk due to selection criteria. The loose litter collection service not only manages loose litter but helps minimise the risk of pests that may be attracted to litter in the absence of bins.

37. Staff recognise that customers’ perception of service quality may be influenced by the proposed reduction in the number of bins and expect that this may result in an increase in customer complaints. By closely monitoring parks and facilities user feedback, staff can assess the actual impact of the proposal and take appropriate measures to address concerns or issues that arise and manage the number of complaints received.

38. Minor additional costs may be necessary to cover the installation of signage and messaging that encourages members of the public and facility users to take their rubbish and recycling home. Staff will look for opportunities to cover these costs, if any, from other existing budgets, as they allow.

39. Bins removed will also be stored if in good condition to be reused when bins are renewed.

Ngā koringa ā-muri

Next steps

40. Subject to the local board’s decision on the proposal outlined in this report, the local board’s work programme will be amended to reflect the decision and the ongoing service and maintenance will continue.

Ngā tāpirihanga

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a ⇩	Manurewa Local Board bin removal locations	13

Ngā kaihaina

Signatories

Authors

Linda Pillay - Manager Area Operations

Authorisers

Taryn Crewe - General Manager Parks and Community Facilities

Georgina Gilmour - Senior Local Board Advisor

Manurewa Local Board

14 September 2023

Local board feedback on Māori seats for Auckland Council

File No.: CP2023/11860

Te take mō te pūrongo

Purpose of the report

1. For local boards to provide feedback to the Governing Body on whether Māori seats should be established for Auckland Council for the 2025 local elections.

Whakarāpopototanga matua

Executive summary

2. Auckland Council is undertaking public consultation on whether to establish Māori seats for the 2025 local elections.

3. Local board views and preferences are being sought concurrently as there is a statutory deadline of 23 November 2023 under the Local Electoral Act 2001.

4. Consultation is open from 21 August to 24 September 2023. Feedback provided through consultation will be reported to the Governing Body at their October 2023 meeting where a decision will be sought.

5. The materials developed to support consultation on this matter are attached to this report and include a full consultation document, summary document and feedback form (Attachments A, B and C). They are also available at akhaveyoursay.nz/maoriseats

6. The current legislation allows for one to two elected Māori ward seats on the Governing Body only. There are currently no provisions for Māori seats on local boards and no ability to make appointments to the Governing Body.

7. This report provides local boards with the consultation materials and seeks feedback to inform a Governing Body decision on Māori seats in October 2023.

Ngā tūtohunga

Recommendation/s

That the Manurewa Local Board:

a) whakarite / provide feedback to the Governing Body on whether Māori seats should be established for Auckland Council for the 2025 local elections.

Horopaki

Context

8. On 27 April 2023, the Governing Body agreed to seek the views and preferences of Māori and the wider public on Māori seats for Auckland Council.

9. Feedback received through this consultation will inform decision-making on whether to establish Māori seats for the 2025 local elections. This decision needs to be made in October 2023 to both align with the Governing Body meeting schedule and meet the Local Electoral Act 2001 deadline.

10. The material to support this consultation received approval from the Governing Body on 22 June 2023 and is attached to this report (Attachments A, B and C).

11. Local board feedback on Māori representation has been provided previously. In September 2022, Auckland Council submitted feedback on the Local Government Electoral Legislation Bill. Within this omnibus bill are proposed changes to the provisions for Māori representation in local government.

12. In preparation of this submission, staff sought feedback from local boards. 13 of the 19 local boards that provided feedback on the omnibus bill requested that Māori representation at the local board level was investigated.

Tātaritanga me ngā tohutohu

Analysis and advice

13. Māori seats are designated seats on a council for Māori representatives. Seats can be filled by election or by appointment, although in Auckland there is no ability to make appointments to the Governing Body. A change to legislation would be needed to do this.

14. Auckland Council has to date faced two challenges in introducing Māori seats: a binding poll provision and a set number of councillors for Auckland Council. The binding poll provision was repealed in 2021 and proposed legislative changes to the Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009, currently before the House, will remove the set number of councillors.

15. The removal of the set number will allow Auckland Council to determine the total number of councillors on the Governing Body between five and 29, in line with other councils in Aotearoa New Zealand.

16. Since 2017, the Governing Body has previously agreed ‘in-principle’ support for establishing one or more Māori wards (using the ‘Parliamentary model’) once the set number of councillors had been removed. This position remains the Governing Body’s preference on record to date. The Independent Māori Statutory Board has supported the ‘Royal Commission’ model for Māori representation on Auckland Council since 2021.

17. The ‘Parliamentary model’ (Māori wards) only includes elected seats. This model reflects how the Parliamentary Māori electorates are established. The ‘Royal Commission’ model that has received some support includes both elected and mana whenua appointed seats. This model would require changes to legislation as noted above.

18. Staff undertook preliminary engagement with mana whenua and mataawaka in 2022 on Māori seats for Auckland Council. Feedback from participants in this process was that neither the ‘Parliamentary’ nor the ‘Royal Commission’ model were suitable for Tāmaki Makaurau, however the ‘Royal Commission’ model received slightly stronger support for its inclusion of an appointed mana whenua seat.

19. The only model of Māori representation that is available under existing legislation is the ‘Parliamentary model’. This model includes a formula for determining the number of elected members representing Māori based on the number of voters on the Māori electoral roll and the total number of ward councillors. For Tāmaki Makaurau, this model would result in one or two elected Māori representatives depending on the total number of councillors. Any other model would require legislative change.

20. While the feedback from mana whenua and mataawaka contained a unanimous recognition that the status quo is no longer an option, it also emphasised that timing constraints to investigate and pursue legislative change should not deter investigating a bespoke approach for Tāmaki Makaurau.

Consultation on Māori seats for Auckland Council

21. The decision on Māori seats for Auckland Council is a significant one. It is about how Māori are represented in Auckland and how Aucklanders are represented by their Governing Body. As such, consultation with Aucklanders on this matter will consist of:

· regionwide consultation

· five-week consultation window (21 August-24 September 2023)

· two streams of engagement: a Māori engagement stream and a wider public engagement stream.

22. A range of engagement methodologies will be used including ‘in person’ and virtual with both hard copy and digital materials available. Engagement methods will include:

· marketing (Radio ads, social media, media releases)

· AK Have Your Say webpage

· webinars

· interest group events

· raising awareness of the consultation amongst diverse groups through community partner networking

· hard copy consultation materials at libraries, local board offices and Māori service provider sites

· dedicated mana whenua and mataawaka engagement

23. A key part of the consultation process is seeking input from local boards and presenting these views to the Governing Body for consideration in October 2023. This report seeks feedback to contribute towards decision-making.

Tauākī whakaaweawe āhuarangi

Climate impact statement

24. While a decision about Māori seats does not in itself impact on climate, the introduction of Māori ward representatives as Auckland Council decision-makers may improve consideration of te ao Māori views on climate change and council-led responses.

Ngā whakaaweawe me ngā tirohanga a te rōpū Kaunihera

Council group impacts and views

25. This matter affects the composition of the Governing Body and does not impact the group.

Ngā whakaaweawe ā-rohe me ngā tirohanga a te poari ā-rohe

Local impacts and local board views

26. This report seeks the views and preferences of local boards on Māori seats for Auckland Council’s Governing Body. This feedback will be provided to the Governing Body for consideration when a decision is sought on the matter in October 2023.

27. While the decision to be made in October 2023 is whether to establish Māori seats on Auckland Councils’ Governing Body, local boards have previously provided feedback on establishing Māori seats at the local board level.

28. Māori representation at the local board level is outside of the Local Electoral Act and legislative change would be required to introduce Māori seats on local boards. In the process of seeking local board views on the Local Government Electoral Legislation Bill, 13 of the 19 local boards that provided feedback requested that Māori representation at the local board level was investigated.

29. Not all local boards who wish to introduce Māori representation would be eligible for Māori seats under the ‘Parliamentary model’ formula. If legislation were amended to allow for Māori representation on local boards, the formula would only allow for nine out of 21 local boards (43 per cent) to have Māori subdivisions based on current member numbers.

Tauākī whakaaweawe Māori

Māori impact statement

30. Auckland Council has legal obligations to seek and consider Māori views on matters that Māori will be particularly affected by or interested in. The Local Government Act 2002 requires local governments to maintain and improve opportunities for Māori to contribute to decision-making processes and to consider the views and preferences of the persons likely to be affected by or have an interest in a matter. There are also common law obligations to consider Treaty principles, including partnership, rangatiratanga, active protection and informed decision-making.

31. The Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009 requires the council to consider the Independent Māori Statutory Board’s advice on matters. The Independent Māori Statutory Board’s Schedule of Issues of Significance to Māori in Tāmaki Makaurau recognises that increasing Māori representation is a priority action for enhancing Māori leadership and participation in local government decision making. The schedule advocates for council to ensure that Māori are enabled to contribute actively and meaningfully to the long-term future of Auckland through representation on council.

32. Kia Ora Tāmaki Makaurau – the Auckland Council Group’s Māori Outcomes Performance Measurement Framework - includes ten priority outcomes areas to direct council group investment and resource towards delivering Māori Outcomes in Tāmaki Makaurau.

33. The framework includes Kia Ora Te Hononga (effective Māori participation) and is underpinned by the ‘Mana’ outcome objective to ensure that “mana whenua and Māori are active partners, decisionmakers and participants alongside the Auckland Council Group”.

34. The Auckland Plan 2050 includes the outcome area of ‘Māori Identity and Wellbeing’. Council is committed to recognising and providing for te Tiriti o Waitangi outcomes, enabling Māori to exercise rangatiratanga in decisions that matter to and affect them.

Ngā ritenga ā-pūtea

Financial implications

35. As this report is seeking the views and preferences of local boards for Governing Body consideration, there are no financial implications associated with this report.

Ngā raru tūpono me ngā whakamaurutanga

Risks and mitigations

36. There are two key known risks associated with consultation on Māori seats for Auckland Council:

· there may be an increased risk of legal challenge due to the high level of public interest in the decision

· the set number of councillors is not removed for Auckland Council.

37. The risk of legal challenge can be mitigated through the commitment of appropriate budget and resourcing to deliver a robust consultation process.

38. As previously reported, the Local Government Electoral Legislation Bill is currently in front of the House and has progressed to the Committee of Whole House stage. Among other legislative changes, the Bill proposes a removal of the set number of councillors for Auckland Council. This change, when it is enacted, will allow council to determine any number of councillors between five and 29, in line with all other councils in New Zealand.

39. Previously, Governing Body has agreed ‘in-principle’ support for establishing Māori seats subject to the removal of the set number of councillors.

Risk

Mitigation

Legal challenge

Failing to undertake a robust consultation process may increase the risk of legal challenge. This risk involves both reputational and financial consequences and may require the consultation to be repeated, resulting in additional costs to the council.

Ensure that the consultation process is robust and effective. This requires budget and resource commitment at a time when council is working within a constrained environment. However, staff strongly advise that this robust process is required.

Legislative change not enacted

The Local Government Electoral Legislation Bill may not be enacted before parliament rises, meaning that Auckland Council is uncertain whether or not it will be able to determine the total number of councillors on the Governing Body.

This could impact the decision of the Governing Body to proceed with Māori wards as it will mean that a general ward would need to be disestablished in order to add a Māori ward.

Council cannot fully mitigate this risk.

However, we have provided coverage of this possibility in the consultation material to ensure that Māori and the wider public are appropriately informed when providing feedback.

Staff will monitor the progress of the Bill closely in order to provide accurate advice on options.

Ngā koringa ā-muri

Next steps

40. Staff will report feedback from Māori, the wider public and local boards along with analysis to the Governing Body in October 2023 and seek a decision on establishing Māori seats for Auckland Council.

Ngā tāpirihanga

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a ⇩	Māori Seats Consultation Document	25
b ⇩	Māori Seats Consultation Summary Document	41
c ⇩	Māori Seats Consultation Feedback Form	47

Ngā kaihaina

Signatories

Authors

Libby Orr - Advisor Governance Services

Authorisers

Rose Leonard - Manager Governance Services

Louise Mason - General Manager Local Board Services

Georgina Gilmour - Senior Local Board Advisor

Manurewa Local Board

14 September 2023

Government Policy Statement on Land Transport 2024

File No.: CP2023/12884

Te take mō te pūrongo

Purpose of the report

1. To seek feedback on the proposed direction of the 2024 draft Government Policy Statement on Land Transport 2023/24-2033/34 (draft GPS 2024).

Whakarāpopototanga matua

Executive summary

2. The Ministry of Transport has released the draft Government Policy Statement on Land Transport 2023/24-2033/34 (draft GPS 2024) for public consultation.

3. The draft GPS 2024 sets out the priorities for a 10-year period to 2034 and is updated every three years. It outlines what the government wants to achieve in land transport, and how it expects to see funding allocated between types of activities across the land transport system.

4. The draft GPS 2024 identifies six strategic priorities that the government wants its investment programme to achieve:

a) Maintaining and Operating the System: Focuses on efficiently maintaining the condition of the existing transport system to meet the current and future needs of users.

b) Increasing Resilience: Aims to enhance the transport system's ability to withstand natural and human-made hazards.

c) Reducing Emissions: Aims for a transition to a lower carbon transport system to address climate change.

d) Safety: Aims to significantly improve safety across all modes of transportation.

e) Sustainable Urban and Regional Development: Aims to provide accessible and reliable transport options to support social, cultural, and economic opportunities. Also emphasizes developing low-emission transport and reducing congestion.

f) Integrated Freight System: Focuses on designing and operating efficient, resilient, and low-carbon transport corridors and hubs to support economic activities.

5. The draft GPS proposes an increase in National Land Transport Fund (NLTF) revenue from $15.5 billion in 2021/22-2023/24 to $20.8 billion in 2024/25- 2026/27, an increase of $5.3 billion (34 per cent).

6. Submissions are due on Friday 15 September 2023, which is after Parliament rises for the 2023 General Elections. Submissions will therefore be received by the incoming government, and it is likely that changes will be made to the GPS 2024 as a result.

Ngā tūtohunga

Recommendation/s

That the Manurewa Local Board:

a) whakarite / provide feedback on the proposed direction of the draft Government Policy Statement on Land Transport 2024.

Horopaki

Context

7. The draft GPS 2024 outlines what the government wants to achieve in land transport, and how it expects to see funding allocated between types of activities (for example, roading, public transport and road safety) across the land transport system. The GPS 2024 sets out the priorities for a 10-year period to 2034 and is updated every three years. Auckland Council made a submission on the GPS 2021 in May 2020.

Discussion

Summary of strategic priorities

8. The draft GPS 2024 identifies six strategic priorities that the government wants its investment programme to achieve (Attachment A):

· Maintaining and operating the system – the condition of the existing transport system is efficiently maintained at a level that meets the current and future needs of users.

· Increasing resilience – the transport system is better able to cope with natural and anthropogenic hazards.

· Reducing emissions – transitioning to a lower carbon transport system.

· Safety – transport is made substantially safer for all.

· Sustainable urban and regional development – people can readily and reliably access social, cultural, and economic opportunities through a variety of transport options. Sustainable urban and regional development is focused on developing resilient and productive towns and cities that have a range of low-emission transport options and low congestion.

· Integrated freight system – well-designed and operated transport corridors and hubs that provide efficient, reliable, resilient, multi-modal, and low carbon connections to support productive economic activity.

Discussion of strategic priorities

9. The government’s priorities for GPS 2021 are safety; better travel options; improving freight connections; and climate change. An overview of the draft GPS and related documents can be found here.

10. The draft GPS 2024 removes the specific priority around travel options with this largely, although less explicitly, being incorporated into the urban development strategic priority.

11. Sustainable urban and regional development is a new strategic priority in the draft GPS 2024. Previously, economic and development objectives were less explicit and were spread across the freight and travel options priorities.

12. Maintaining and operating the system is also a new priority. In contrast to GPS 2021 which emphasises transformation (as opposed to “business as usual”), the draft GPS 2024 seeks to boost funding for maintenance to address what it sees as significant under-investment.

13. The climate change priority in GPS 2021 has been separated into two components, reflecting the need to both mitigate (reducing emissions) and adapt to climate change and other events (increasing resilience).

14. The priorities guide investment decisions by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (Waka Kotahi) and the crown.

Summary of GPS funding

15. The draft GPS proposes an increase in NLTF revenue from $15.5 billion in 2021/22-2023/24 to $20.8 billion in 2024/25- 2026/27, an increase of $5.3 billion (34 per cent).

16. This requires a funding package of $7.7 billion, because revenue over 2021/22-2023/24 was augmented by a $2 billion Crown loan.

17. The proposed between $7-8 billion funding package is made up of:

· Increases in fuel taxes over three years ($1.4 billion)

· Crown grants of $2.9 billion, including $500 million from the Climate Emergency Recovery Fund (CERF), which would be added to the walking and cycling activity class

· Hypothecating traffic infringement fee revenue to the NLTF to increase the safety activity class

· A $3.1 billion Crown loan.

18. Key changes in activity class allocations include:

· The public transport services activity class increases by 50 per cent

· The local road maintenance and renewals activity class increases by 35 per cent

· The safety activity class decreases by 37 per cent. Note that this is due to the reallocation of funding for safety related infrastructure improvements to the State Highway and Local Road Maintenance activity classes. The government expects this will enable safety improvements to be delivered as part of a wider improvement programme.

Strategic Investment Programme

19. The draft GPS 2024 also sets out a series of projects that the government considers strategically important for the development of New Zealand’s transport system in the coming decades. Projects identified in the Auckland region are:

· Warkworth to Whangārei – State Highway 1

· Auckland Northwest Rapid Transit

· Auckland rail third and fourth Mains Expansion

· Avondale to Onehunga rail link

· Level Crossing Upgrade and Removal Programme.

20. The Waka Kotahi Board approves projects funded from the NLTF, but by highlighting these projects, the government expects that their strategic importance will be given particular consideration during the development of the National Land Transport Plan.

Auckland Council submission process

21. The Ministry of Transport has provided four weeks for consultation on the draft GPS 2024, with submissions closing on Friday, 15 September 2023.

22. Auckland Council staff will draft the submission, with input from AT. Because submissions close before the next Transport & Infrastructure Committee meeting on 21 September, staff will propose that members of the Governing Body and representatives of the AT Board and IMSB, be given delegation to approve the submission.

23. A report summarising the draft GPS 2024 and proposing approval delegations to a sub-committee will be presented to the Governing Body at its next meeting on 24 August 2023.

Government consideration of feedback

24. The delay in publication of the draft GPS 2024 means that the consultation period overlaps with Parliament rising on 31 August 2023, in the lead-up to the 14 October 2023 General Election. This means that feedback will be received by the next government.

25. The Green, National and Act parties have all identified different transport priorities to those outlined in the draft GPS 2024. Changes, potentially of a substantial nature, could be made by the incoming government. It is not clear whether an additional round of consultation will be held should substantive changes be made. Accordingly, staff advise proceeding on the assumption that this may be the only formal opportunity for council to provide feedback to the government on GPS priorities, issues and opportunities.

Ngā koringa ā-muri

Next steps

26. The timeframe for next steps in the submission process are set out in the table below:

Dates	Events
24 August	· Governing Body meets: o Approval sought to delegate approval of the submission to members of the Governing Body and representatives of the AT Board and IMSB
1 September	· Anticipated first draft to all elected members and IMSB members for feedback, and Local Board members for information and feedback
6 September	· Councillors and IMSB members feedback due
14 September	· Delegated group feedback on second draft due · Local Board views to append to Governing Body submission due
15 September	· Finalise submission · Delegated group approval · Lodge submission

Ngā tāpirihanga

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a ⇩	Draft Government Policy Statement on Land Transport 2024	55

Ngā kaihaina

Signatories

Authors

Jacob van der Poel - Advisor Operations and Policy

Authorisers

Carol Hayward - Team Leader Operations and Policy

Louise Mason - General Manager Local Board Services

Georgina Gilmour - Senior Local Board Advisor

Manurewa Local Board

14 September 2023

Submissions and feedback on the draft Manurewa Local Board Plan 2023

File No.: CP2023/12697

Te take mō te pūrongo

Purpose of the report

1. To provide an overview of feedback and submissions received from public consultation on the draft Manurewa Local Board Plan 2023.

Whakarāpopototanga matua

Executive summary

2. The Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009 requires that each local board adopt a local board plan by 31 October of the year following election and uses the special consultative procedure (SCP) to engage with its communities.

3. In June 2023, the local board approved a draft Manurewa Local Board Plan 2023 for public consultation. The consultation period ran from 13 July to 14 August 2023.

4. A total of 342 pieces of stakeholder and community feedback was received for Manurewa Local Board, including 82 submissions through the online survey tool, 10 hard copy submissions, 13 email submissions and 237 pieces of feedback through Have Your Say events.

5. Mana whenua were sent a copy of the draft local board plan in June 2023 and encouraged to provide written feedback. No formal submission feedback was received from mana whenua.

6. Staff have prepared a Summary of Feedback report (Attachment A) summarising the results of the consultation. This will be made available for the public to view on the AK Have your say website.

7. All feedback submissions will also be available on the Auckland Council website at akhaveyoursay.nz/local-board-plans-2023-feedback

8. The Manurewa Local Board Plan has been generally well received with 71 per cent of individual submitters agreeing that the plan meet’s the communities needs very/quite well. Most of the feedback received was very much in-line with previous feedback gathered during the pre-engagement period.

The most common themes raised in the consultation were:

· Crime, and safety

· Waste reduction and rubbish in the area

· Road/footpath maintenance

· Public transport

· Speed calming measures/bumps

· Plan setup comments

· Youth, homelessness, cost of living

· Climate Actions/flooding

· Playgrounds/sports fields and parks.

9. The Manurewa Local Board should consider the submissions and feedback prior to adopting the final local board plan in October 2023. Any changes and/or responses to feedback will be detailed in the report to adopt the plan.

Ngā tūtohunga

Recommendation/s

That the Manurewa Local Board:

a) wihiwhi / receive submissions and feedback on the draft Manurewa Local Board Plan 2023

b) kohuki / consider feedback when finalising the Manurewa Local Board Plan 2023.

Horopaki

Context

10. The Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009 requires that each local board must:

· adopt its local board plan by 31 October of the year following an election

· use the special consultative procedure (SCP) to engage with their communities.

11. On 22 June 2023, Manurewa Local Board approved the draft Manurewa Local Board Plan 2023 for public consultation.

12. Early engagement with the community helped inform the draft local board plan as did feedback from the Annual Budget consultation.

13. The key features of the draft Manurewa Local Board Plan 2023 were:

· Māori Outcomes - Māori heritage, identity, participation is an intrinsic part of who we are and what we experience every day with cultural diversity. Young people are engaged, have a voice, contribute positively to local life with the skills and training needed for positive employment. Our communities strengthen their resilience to disasters and climate change effects. Water quality is improving, and we protect and regenerate our environment, Family, whānau and social wellbeing is strengthened with play for children. Māori and Pasifika are engaged in creating and sharing the benefits of a fairer economy for south Auckland.

· Climate Action - Family, whānau and social wellbeing is strengthened with people feeling connected in their neighbourhoods and playing a key part in shaping Manurewa. Our communities strengthen their resilience to disasters and climate change effects and we are a low-carbon community with zero waste. Our communities experience food security with climate change and sustainability initiatives that are visible within our local facilities. Transport options encourage mode shift and are easy to access and meet diverse community needs.

· Our People - Our people are resilient, connected and engaged. We take pride in Manurewa, enjoying quality of life, diversity and a sense of safety and connection.

· Our Environment - Our environment is protected, restored and enhanced. We care for our natural treasures, restored waterways and flourishing urban forest. We’re reducing our carbon footprint, greenhouse gas emissions and waste, and building community resilience to climate change effects.

· Our Community - Our communities enjoy responsive services and facilities that enable great participation. Our facilities and public places are popular gathering points that adapt well to changing community needs. They offer choices for people from different backgrounds and life-stages to take part in sports, recreation, creativity and play.

· Our Places - Our urban development attracts quality employment, community and sustainability outcomes that meet the needs of our growing population. Our transport network is accessible, affordable, offers choice and makes it easy to move around.

· Our Economy - Our local economy is strong, and our town centres are thriving. People can live, work and play close to home. Businesses want to invest here, local people can get quality local jobs, and young people are well prepared for, and engaged in, the workforce.

14. In addition to understanding the needs and aspirations of the community, feedback was sought on:

· Our draft local board plan proposes investment to improve maintenance and cleanliness standards for council parks and facilities in the Manurewa area. Do your support or not support this proposal?

How we consulted

15. The consultation was held between 13 July and 14 August 2023. A communications campaign encouraged people to “Help Shape the Future’ of the Manurewa Local Board area and to “Tell us what’s important”. This was promoted through libraries and council facilities, Our Auckland Online, Facebook Manurewa Local Pages, Stuff Suburban newspapers, hoardings, signage, videos, community partners, emails, community networks and stakeholders.

16. A range of engagement activities were undertaken to encourage the public to have their say, with a focus on digital and online platforms:

· Public submissions: These were hard copy and online collected via email, post, and through libraries, service centres, local board offices, People’s Panel members and the online engagement platform akhaveyoursay/localboardplans.

· Have Your Say: one face-to-face event (spoken interaction) was held on Saturday 29 July 10am at Manurewa Library.

· Translations: the summary of the draft plan was translated into the following languages for the Manurewa Local Board: Samoan, Togan and Punjabi. Some information was also available in Te Reo Māori and New Zealand Sign Language through the Ak Have Your Say website.

17. The following community partners held events to support the consultation:

· Falelalaga Cultural and Education Centre

· Manurewa Youth Council.

18. In response, the local board received the following feedback:

· 82 submissions through the online survey tool

· 10 hard copy submissions

· 13 email submissions

· 237 pieces of feedback via Have Your Say events.

Tātaritanga me ngā tohutohu

Analysis and advice

Summary of consultation feedback

19. The results and analysis of the public consultation should be considered by the local board when developing the final local board plan.

20. Staff have prepared a Summary of Feedback report (Attachment A) summarising the results of the consultation. The key messages of the report are described in Table 1 below.

Table 1

Consultation question	Themed feedback
Q1 How important are the following objectives to you in the Our People activity area?	Common themes received were; · More focus on seniors/elders needed · Homelessness concerns and support for people · Support -youth spaces, youth council and youth centre · Beautification of Manurewa, being proud, lifting the area · Roaming dog concerns and safety · Crime concerns – safety, dirt bike, gangs, tagging, train stations unsafe, drug dealing, lighting
Q2 How important are the following objectives to you in the Our Environment activity area?	Common themes received were; · Pest, animal and plants control continuation · Shoreline protection, properties protected by coastal erosion measures, streams and rivers restored to natural states, harbour protections, Pahurehure regeneration · Waste concerns · Maintenance of drains/flooding · More tree planting
Q3 How important are the following objectives to you in the Our Community activity area?	Common themes received were; · Basketball courts and playground upgrades – Anderson Park, War Memorial park, Nathan Homestead playground · Maintenance in our parks/facilities – paths, toilets, changing rooms, water fountains · Food security concerns · Nathan Homestead – Café upgrades
Q4 How important are the following objectives to you in the Our Places activity area?	Common themes received were; · Pothole/road/footpath maintenance concerns · Speed calming/Speedbumps/Crossings – support, complaints · Create more spaces for Māori/Pasifika to connect and celebrate culture · Parking and intensifications development concerns · Cycling comments - Separated cycleways, make it safer · Advocacy and community voice to Auckland Transport from the board · Too many liquor and vape stores
Q5 How important are the following objectives to you in the Our Economy activity area?	Common themes received were; · Beautifying the look of the Manurewa town centre · Public Transport options and reliability · Further support of our local business during the recession · Space for Māori and Pasifika to connect more in the community · Nathan Homestead comments – upgrades, more investment, upgrades, use · A specific focus on creating opportunities for employment and increasing business opportunities for Māori and Pacific in Manurewa
Q6 Our draft local board plan proposes investment to improve maintenance and cleanliness standards for council parks and facilities in the Manurewa area. Do you support this proposal or not?	93% of submitters supported the proposal Common themes received were; · Unequivocable support from the community that they would like the Manurewa Local Board to invest more in maintenance and cleanliness standards for the Manurewa area, with · General waste/rubbish concerns · Playgrounds/facilities need to be maintained · Public toilet comments · Being proud of the area and making it great again · War Memorial Park – Upgrades and current standards NB. Percentage is all submitters – individual, organisations and events
Q7 How well do you think our plan reflects your needs and aspirations for our community over the next three years?	71% of submitters agreed that the plan meet the needs of the community very or quite well. Common themes received were; · Comments around plan setup – Needs to be brief and practical not too many objectives, how do we track it? Submitters commenting on either too broad or the plan is good overall · Great priorities · Funding comments NB. Percentage is all submitters – individual, organisations and events
Q8 Do you have any other feedback on the draft plan? Have we got it right? Have we missed anything?	Common themes received were; · Public Transport · Roading – road calming measures, pedestrian crossings, maintenance · Climate change · Youth · Homelessness · Food Security · Playgrounds and sports facilities upgrades · Crime concerns · Disabled and Elderly concerns/inclusion · Parking

Publishing the results of public consultation

21. To conclude the consultation phase of the local board plan development, staff recommend that the local board receive the submissions and feedback for consideration.

22. All feedback is available on the Auckland Council website at akhaveyoursay.nz/local-board-plans-2023-feedback

23. The Summary of Feedback (Attachment A) report will also be available on the AK Have your say website following approval of this report.

Tauākī whakaaweawe āhuarangi

Climate impact statement

24. Receiving the submissions and feedback has a neutral climate impact. The submissions are available online to reduce the printing of hard copies.

25. The draft Manurewa Local Board Plan 2023 contained a specific Climate Action section, focusing on the scope of challenges posed by climate change. It considered such impacts as increasing temperatures, rising sea levels and changing rainfall patterns on the local board area.

26. No specific consultation questions were asked but below are responses received in general relating to Climate Action outcomes:

· shoreline adaption, erosion concerns, harbour and Pahurehure inlet restoration

· housing around Manurewa Marae. Manurewa marae is an urban marae. The position of the marae on the foreshore is concern because of climate change. How would this effect housing?

· we should have a greener environment by using less gas and EV cars for the environment

· implement a plan to use more renewable energy such as using more solar power or build more electric car charge stations

· waste education/management.

27. The climate impact of any initiatives the Manurewa Local Board chooses to progress will be assessed as part of the relevant reporting requirements and project management processes.

Ngā whakaaweawe me ngā tirohanga a te rōpū Kaunihera

Council group impacts and views

28. Workshops were held with the board and the board had the opportunity to attend briefings on a range of topics including community investment, Māori outcomes, local economy and climate action. Written advice was also provided to the board on a number of topics including strategic context and environmental services.

29. Subject matter experts from across the council, Auckland Transport and Tātaki Auckland Unlimited were also given the opportunity to peer review the draft local board plan and provide advice.

30. Staff will work closely with the local board in the development of the final plan.

Ngā whakaaweawe ā-rohe me ngā tirohanga a te poari ā-rohe

Local impacts and local board views

31. The Manurewa Local Board should consider all submissions and feedback to the draft Manurewa Local Board Plan 2023 prior to adopting the final local board plan in October 2023. Any changes and/or responses to feedback will be detailed in the report to adopt the plan.

32. Feedback received from community in the Annual Budget consultation was used to shape the draft plan.

33. The following local community groups were involved in either the early engagement or through the consultation period:

· Bike Te Whenua Group

· Manurewa Youth Council – Youth focus groups through High Schools

· Manurewa Sikh Community Leaders

· Manurewa Community Network

· Hillpark Residents and Ratepayers

· Baptist Church

· Weymouth Rugby Club

· The Solomon Group.

Tauākī whakaaweawe Māori

Māori impact statement

34. The draft Manurewa Local Board Plan 2023 was developed with consideration given to existing feedback from mana whenua and mataawaka. This included seeking their views and values throughout the development of the local board plan 2023.

35. Two online information sessions for mana whenua were held on 8 and 13 June 2023. These sessions provided an opportunity for mana whenua to hear about Local Board Plans, how the perspective of Māori could be reflected through their input, the feedback process and timelines.

36. Mana whenua organisations were asked which (of the 21) draft local board plans they wanted to review, and those requested were shared, along with tailored feedback forms.

37. The Manurewa draft Local Board Plan was shared with Ngai Tai Ki Tāmaki, Ngāti Tamaoho, Te Akitai Waiohua, Ngāti Te Ata Waiohua, Ngāti Paoa Trust Board, Ngaati Whanaunga, and Ngāti Tamaterā.

38. Waikato-Tainui suggested that engagement was best through local marae.

39. The five southern local boards (Manurewa, Manurewa, Franklin, Māngere-Otahuhu, Ōtara-Papatoetoe) and mana whenua collectively discussed local board plans at Ara Kōtui hui on 6 June and 15 August 2023.

40. No specific feedback for the Manurewa Local Board Plan was received from the Ara Kōtui hui, but some general comments, suggestions and advice were offered for the local board to consider:

· recognition of te Tiriti and the partnership it creates between mana whenua and local boards

· clear recognition of and support for the role of mana whenua iwi and their marae within the community

· support for existing mana whenua projects, especially where they overlap with (or duplicate) local board projects and outcomes

· strengthening mutual understanding and knowledge of each other’s views when giving feedback to council and other organisations (e.g. to Kainga Ora)

· working in partnership with mana whenua on environment and climate change projects, acknowledging the special role of mana whenua as kaitiaki in addressing our challenges

· potential for partnering with mana whenua to attract 3rd party funding to help get applications over the line

41. 19 submissions were received from those identifying as Māori, comprising 16 per cent of submissions that identified as Māori overall.

Ngā ritenga ā-pūtea

Financial implications

42. There are no direct financial implications associated with receiving the submissions and feedback.

43. The budget to implement initiatives and projects is confirmed through the annual plan budgeting process.

Ngā raru tūpono me ngā whakamaurutanga

Risks and mitigations

44. The local board will consider all submissions and feedback before making changes to the draft Manurewa Local Board Plan 2023.

Ngā koringa ā-muri

Next steps

45. The submissions and feedback are available on the Auckland Council AK Have Your Say website.

46. The Manurewa Local Board will adopt the Manurewa Local Board Plan 2023 on 19 October 2023.

Ngā tāpirihanga

Attachments

No.	Title	Page
a ⇩	Manurewa draft Local Board Plan 2023 - Summary of Feedback report	141

Ngā kaihaina

Signatories

Authors	Melissa Bidois - Local Board Engagement Advisor
Authorisers	Georgina Gilmour - Senior Local Board Advisor

Chairperson	Glenn Murphy
Deputy Chairperson	Matt Winiata
Members	Joseph Allan
	Heather Andrew
	Anne Candy
	Angela Cunningham-Marino
	Andrew Lesa
	Rangi McLean