Howick Local Board

 

OPEN MINUTES

 

 

 

Minutes of a meeting of the Howick Local Board held in the Howick Local Board Meeting Room, Pakuranga Library Complex, 7 Aylesbury Street, Pakuranga on Thursday, 1 May 2025 at 1:32 pm.

 

Te Hunga kua Tae mai | present

 

Chairperson

Damian Light

 

Deputy Chairperson

Bo Burns

 

Members

David Collings

 

 

Bruce Kendall

 

 

John Spiller

 

 

Mike Turinsky

 

 

Adele White, JP

 

 

Peter Young, JP

From 1.45pm until 2.25pm

 

Te Hunga Kāore i Tae Mai | ABSENT

 

Member

Katrina Bungard

 

 


Howick Local Board

01 May 2025

 

 

 

1          Nau mai | Welcome

 

The chair opened the meeting and welcomed everyone present.

 

 

2          Ngā Tamōtanga | Apologies

 

Resolution number HW/2025/66

MOVED by Chairperson D Light, seconded by Member A White:  

That the Howick Local Board:

a)         whakaae / accept the apology from Member Katrina Bungard for absence.

b)        whakaae / accept the apology from Member Peter Young for lateness.

CARRIED

 

 

3          Te Whakapuaki i te Whai Pānga | Declaration of Interest

 

There were no declarations of interest.

 

 

Member P Young joined the meeting at 1.45pm

 

 

Member P Young left the meeting at 2.25pm

 

 

4

Annual Plan 2025-2026: Local Board Consultation Feedback and Input

 

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

 

Resolution number HW/2025/67

MOVED by Chairperson D Light, seconded by Member D Collings:  

That the Howick Local Board:

a)      whiwhi / receive consultation feedback on the proposed Howick Local Board priorities and activities for 2025/2026.

b)      whiwhi / receive consultation feedback on regional topics in the Annual Plan 2025/2026 from people and organisations based in the Howick Local Board area.

c)      tuku / provide the following input on regional topics in the proposed Annual Plan 2025/2026. The Board: 

i)          āhukahuka / acknowledge the concern around the proposed rates rises and the impact on those struggling with the cost of living and encourage Auckland Council to continue to do more to reduce waste and deliver more value, while noting the proposed rates increase was agreed in the Long Term Plan. 

ii)         āhukahuka / acknowledge the support for the plan in general (72% of the 641 individuals and 85% of the 7 organisations who responded to the question supporting all or most of the plan). 

iii)       tautoko / support in particular the increased funding and extension of the Natural Environment Targeted Rate in delivering pest plan, animal and pathogen control and restoration activities. 

iv)       tautoko / support the bed night visitor levy, based on strong public support of local residents (63% of the 641 individuals and 57% of the 7 organisations who responded to the question). 

d)        tuku / provide the following feedback in regard to other rates, fees, and charges in line with our previous feedback (HW/2024/209). The Board:

i)          tautoko / support a 3% increase to the overall waste management targeted rate for a typical household. 

ii)         whakatārewa / defer consideration on the introduction of the refuse targeted rate to the former districts of Rodney and Franklin to those respective local boards. 

iii)       do not support an increase in animal management fees, due to negative impacts on animal welfare and adoption rates, namely: 

A)        the proposed increase in the dog adoption fee from $350 to $450. 

B)        the proposed increase in the vet fee from $75 to $150. 

iv)       tautoko / support proposed changes to cemetery fees. 

v)         tautoko / support proposed realignment of bach fees into pricing tiers based on occupancy levels, capacity and location. 

vi)       tautoko / support proposed alignment of staff charge out rates with staff pay bands for services in regional parks. 

vii)      tautoko / support the proposed change in deposit levels for some regulatory services to better reflect actual final charges. 

e)         tuku / provide the following input as advocacy. The Board:

i)          advocate for the sufficient funding to design and build the Flat Bush Community Centre and Library as quickly as practically possible to deliver this critical asset to a growing community. 

ii)         tautoko / support all efforts to empower local boards to deliver differently, including ensuring there is sufficient resources to provide quality advice 

iii)       advocate for local boards to have greater oversight and input into projects that receive growth funding (schedule 8 of the Development Contributions Policy) to enable local boards to better utilise opex funding that complements growth funding. 

iv)       advocate for local boards to independently invest their portion of the Fix and Finish fund and focus on planning until projects are ready for delivery or sufficient budget has been acquired. 

v)         advocate for the Governing Body to champion the health, water quality, and status of the Tāmaki Estuary and Manukau Harbour.

vi)       advocate for sufficient resources and organisational structures to achieve these outcomes for the Tāmaki Estuary, similar to what presently exists for the Manukau Harbour.

vii)      advocate for major events to take place both within and beyond the city centre, enabling all of Tāmaki Makaurau to experience these events. 

viii)     advocate for increased regional funding for the restoration of our beaches, and to address the effects of erosion on our coastline due to climate change, sea level rise, severe weather, and man-made interventions.

ix)       advocate for: 

A)        increased compliance and enforcement through regional wardens 

B)        enabling local boards to contribute operational funding to increase enforcement above the regional level for local areas 

C)        seeking further central government funding for crime prevention to enable local boards to fund and respond to increasing local challenges 

CARRIED

 

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

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