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Resolution number AE/2025/20
MOVED by Chairperson K Smith, seconded by Deputy
Chairperson M Watson:
That
the Albert-Eden Local Board:
a) provide
the following requests and feedback on the draft Storm Affected Land Use
Policy to the Governing Body, for consideration by the Policy and Planning
Committee at its upcoming meeting:
i)
the draft Storm Affected Land Use Policy has not been developed as per
Auckland Council’s own policy framework which gives effect to the local
board’s right to provide input into the development of policies that
impacts its areas, as required under the Section 48(J) of the Local
Government Act 2002, Section 15 of the Local Government (Auckland Council)
Act 2009
ii) the process outlines community benefit as
one of the matters to be considered however without local boards being part
of the process for policy development and decision, local views and
preferences could be limited and not reflect wider community needs
iii) the Transport, Resilience and Infrastructure
Committee endorsed in principle (Resolution number TICCC/2025/12) the draft
policy on the 13 February 2025 without giving consideration to local board
views as required by legislation
iv) given these issues, the local board’s time
and ability to provide feedback has been negatively impacted.
b)
provide the following requests and feedback on the Draft Storm-affected Land
Use Policy to the Governing Body, for consideration by the Policy and
Planning Committee at its upcoming meeting:
General matters relating to the policy
i)
request that the definition of
Category (b) includes an explicit reference to Local Board Plans so that
other locally determined priorities that go beyond core service needs may be
considered
ii) enable local boards to acquire
Category (a) properties for any local activities or community priorities
provided they have a viable funding plan, for example, a service optimisation
business case or local rates proposal
Policy principles
iii) strengthen the policy principles by
amending Principle 2 (Make best use of storm-affected land) to include an
explicit reference to Local Board Plans or community priorities, thereby
broadening and maximising the community value derived from the programme
iv) request an additional policy
principle being ‘engage early, and often, with both arms of
Council’s shared governance structure on land use opportunities’
noting that local boards are key to good outcomes and will become governors
of service assets and land
Decision-making roles
and responsibilities
v) welcome further discussion on
the management of residual land and land retained for hazard management
purposes, acknowledging that all council land within local board areas are
vital components of local open space networks and ecological corridors
vi) establish a clear escalation process
when local board views on land use differ from staff recommendations,
ensuring such matters are referred for a political decision through the
Governing Body, rather than being resolved through staff delegation
vii) request
that the composition of the Storm Recovery Political Advisory Group which
currently consists of the mayor, deputy mayor, a representative of Houkura (formerly the Independent Māori Statutory
Board), the chair of the Planning, Environment and Parks Committee and the chair of the Transport and Infrastructure Committee, initiates the inclusion of local board
representatives from significantly impacted local boards
Local
Board funding requirements
viii)
remove the requirement for local boards to commit operational funding (opex)
as a precondition for the internal transfer of properties already assessed as
meeting a service need by the Auckland Council Group. This requirement
creates an unnecessary barrier to addressing service gaps
ix)
request that if a property meets a service need and local boards support
retaining or repurposing it, the Governing Body should expect that the
necessary maintenance costs will be incorporated into the local boards
existing maintenance contracts with any budget top-up requirements to be
considered by the local board as part of its work programme process
x)
request that if land is retained to meet a service need and it requires
remediation, that the Governing Body, which holds statutory responsibility
for the network of facilities and service capacity, should fund or contribute
to the remediation rather than leaving these costs to local boards
xi)
acknowledge that where local boards wish to retain land for a community
outcome that goes beyond core service needs, it is entirely appropriate to
provide upfront assurance of funding availability
Implementation
approach
xii)
ensure that service needs assessments consider not only Local Board Plans but
any other relevant service needs assessments and plans undertaken by local
boards
xiii)
support the expedient removal of building from purchased properties, noting
the number of properties purchased in the Albert-Eden Local Board area, and
the negative impact empty and damaged buildings have on neighbours and the
local community
Wider
considerations: Private properties outside buy-out scheme
xiv)
request investigation into properties which did not opt-in to the buyout
scheme, but may now be open to sale through regular council acquisition
processes. These should be focused to where purchase of an additional
property may be strategically beneficial to Auckland Council, for example,
creates a sensible cluster of contiguous properties, meets a service need
xv)
request advice on the approach to ensure an acceptable level of maintenance
and upkeep for properties which may appear ‘abandoned’, to ensure
they do not become derelict, safety hazards or a risk to the wider community,
or attract illegal dumping.
c)
ensure surrounding neighbours are all kept informed and consulted about
Auckland Council’s plans.
d) tono
/ request that the local board receive information relating to the number and
location of affected properties in the local board area.
e) tono
/ request that the above resolutions are circulated to all local boards and
governing body members for their information.
CARRIED
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