33 27 February 2017
25 January 2017
File: (17/63)
Report no: PRC2017/1/49
Local Governance Statement
Purpose of Report
1. This report seeks Council’s approval to make publicly available the Council’s current Local Governance Statement, amended to bring it up-to-date.
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Recommendations It is recommended that the Committee recommends that Council: (i) notes that under the Local Government Act 2002, all local authorities are required to prepare and make publicly available within six months of a triennial general election a Local Governance Statement;
(ii) agrees that the Council’s current Local Governance Statement, amended to bring it up-to-date, be made publicly available; and
(iii) authorises the Chief Executive to make modifications to the document during the course of this triennium, which reflect any changes to Council policies, practices or structures. |
Background
2. This Local Governance Statement provides information about the processes through which Council engages with its residents, how the Council makes decisions and how citizens can influence these processes.
3. The Council is required to produce such a statement under section 40 of the Local Government Act 2002 and must update it within six months following each triennial election. The Council may also update this Local Government Statement at any other time.
4. The Local Government Statement supports the stated purpose of local government by promoting the understanding of local democracy.
5. The purpose of local government is set out in section 10 of the Act, as follows:-
(a) to enable democratic local decision-making and action by, and on behalf of, communities; and
(b) to meet the current and future needs of communities for good-quality local infrastructure, local public services, and performance of regulatory functions in a way that is most cost-effective for households and businesses.
6. In the Act, good-quality, in relation to local infrastructure, local public services, and performance of regulatory functions, means infrastructure, services, and performance that are—
(a) efficient; and (b) effective; and (c) appropriate to present and anticipated future circumstances.
7. Accordingly, the Local Governance Statement provides the public with information under the following broad categories:-
· Functions, responsibilities and activities of the local authority
· Bylaws
· Electoral arrangements
· Governance structure and processes
· The way elected members make decisions and relate to each other and to the management of the local authority
· Key policies of the local authority
6. The statement is written for the information of the general public. The Local Governance Statement must be updated over the course of the triennium to reflect changes to Council policies, practices or structures.
7. Council may also wish to include other information not legally required but which may be of interest to the public.
Discussion
8. The Council’s first Local Governance Statement was prepared in December 2003 and has been reviewed and updated. A copy of the main document is attached as Appendix 1.
9. Amendments made to the main document and the appendices are a result of decisions made by Council at its meetings held in the last triennium and at its meeting held on 15 December 2016.
10. The final Local Governance Statement will be available on the Council website. A certain number of hard copies will be available for display at all Hutt City libraries and the Hutt City Council Administration building. All elected members will be provided with electronic copies and copies will be made available to the public on request.
11. Officers will review the Local Governance Statement six monthly to ensure it remains up-to-date.
Consultation
12. Relevant officers have been consulted and provided feedback.
Legal Considerations
13. Section 40 of the Local Government Act 2002 requires that a territorial authority must prepare and make publicly available a Governance Statement.
14. Section 274 of the Local Government Act 2002 required that the first Governance Statement be made publicly available by 31 December 2003, and within six months of each triennial general election thereafter.
Financial Considerations
15. There are minor costs associated with printing the Local Governance Statement which will be met from within existing budgets.
Other Considerations
16. In making this recommendation, officers have given careful consideration to the purpose of local government in section 10 of the Local Government Act 2002. Officers believe that this recommendation falls within the purpose of the local government in that it sets out how Council does its business and the processes that Council uses to engage with the City’s residents and ratepayers.
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1View |
Appendix 1 Local Governance Statement (Under Separate Cover) |
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2View |
Appendix 2 Legislation Affecting Local Government (Under Separate Cover) |
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3View |
Appendix 3 Policy on Functions and Roles of Council and Community Boards (Under Separate Cover) |
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Appendix 4 Code of Conduct for Elected Members (Under Separate Cover) |
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5View |
Appendix 5 Committee Structure (Under Separate Cover) |
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6View |
Appendix 6 Terms of Reference for Council (Under Separate Cover) |
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7View |
Appendix 6a Functions and Delegations Community Boards 2016-2019 (Under Separate Cover) |
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8View |
Appendix 7 Significance and Engagement policy 2015-2018 (Under Separate Cover) |
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9View |
Appendix 8 The Special Consultative Procedure (Under Separate Cover) |
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10View |
Appendix 9 Consultation Policy (Under Separate Cover) |
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11View |
Appendix 10 Mayor, Councillors and Community Representatives (Under Separate Cover) |
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Author: Kathryn Stannard
Divisional Manager, Secretariat Services
Approved By: Joycelyn Raffills
General Manager, Governance and Regulatory