Agenda of Policy and Regulatory

POLICY AND REGULATORY COMMITTEE

Membership: 11

Meeting Cycle: Meets on a six weekly basis, as required or at the
requisition of the Chair

Quorum: Half of the members

Membership Hearings: Minimum of either 3 or 4 elected members (including the Chair) and alternates who have current certification under the Making Good Decisions Training, Assessment and Certification Programme for RMA Decision-Makers. The inclusion of an independent Commissioner as the rule rather than the exception

Reports to: Council

PURPOSE:

• To assist the Council monitor the development of strategies and policy that 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.

• To consider matters relating to the regulatory and quasi-judicial responsibilities of the Council under legislation. This includes, without limitation, matters under the RMA including the hearing of resource management applications.

Determine:

· Maintain an overview of work programmes carried out by the Council's Environmental Consents, Regulatory Services and strategy and policy development activities.

• Draft policies for public consultation, excluding those that will subsequently be required to follow a statutory process

• Approval and forwarding of submissions on matters related to the Committee’s area of responsibility

• Hearing and deciding notified resource consent applications.

• Hearing and deciding objections to conditions imposed on resource consents

• Hearing and deciding any matter notified under the Local Government Act 2002

• Hearing and deciding objections to the classification of dangerous dogs under section 31 of the Dog Control Act 1996 and abatement notices regarding barking dogs under section 55 of that Act

• Hearing and deciding objections to the classification of dogs as menacing dogs under sections 33A and 33C of the Dog Control Act 1996

• Hearing objections to specified traffic matters where the community board wishes to take an advocacy role

• Exercising the power of waiver under section 42A (4) of the Resource Management Act of the requirement to provide parties with copies of written reports prior to hearings

• Authorising the submission of appeals to the Environment Court on behalf of Council

• To appoint a subcommittee of suitably qualified persons to conduct hearings on behalf of the Committee. The Chair of the Policy and Regulatory Committee is also delegated this function.

• All statutory requirements under the Reserves Act 1977 that require the Department of Conservation to ratify.

Conduct of Hearings:

• To conduct hearings where these are required as part of a statutory process[1].

• Hearing of submissions required on any matters falling under the Terms of Reference for this committee or delegating to a panel to undertake hearings (this delegation is also held by the Chair of the Policy and Regulatory Committee).

General:

• Any other matters delegated to the Committee by Council in accordance with approved policies and bylaws.

NOTE:

The Ministry for the Environment advocates that Councils offer specialist RMA training in areas of law which are difficult to grasp or where mistakes are commonly made. This is to complement the Good Decision Making RMA training that they run (which is an overview and basic summary of decision making, rather than an in-depth training in specific areas of the RMA). Therefore in order to facilitate this, the RMA training run for councillors that wish to be hearings commissioners is mandatory.

Reasons for the importance of the training:

1 Hearings commissioners are kept abreast of developments in the legislation.

2 Legal and technical errors that have been made previously are avoided (many of which have resulted in Environment Court action which is costly, time consuming and often creates unrealistic expectations for the community).

3 The reputation of Council as good and fair decision makers or judges (rather than legislators) is upheld.

9 25 September 2017

Policy and Regulatory

29 August 2017

File: (17/1335)

Report no: PRC2017/4/223

Smoke-free Policy – Report Back on First Year of Implementation

Purpose of Report

1. Report on the first year of implementation of the smokefree outdoor public places policy

Recommendations

It is recommended that the Committee recommend that Council:

(i) notes the report of the first 12 months of implementing the Smokefree Lower Hutt Action Plan 2016-19;

(ii) notes the decision of the Wainuiomata Community Board to work to increase awareness and support of current smokefree areas before adding new areas;

(iii) agrees to Scott Court in Stokes Valley being designated as a smokefree area under clause j of the policy; and

(iv) notes that officers will continue to explore designating areas in suburban shopping centres as smokefree. In 2017/18 we will explore the following areas: the CBD, Jackson Street, Taita, Naenae, Moera and Queen Street (Wainuiomata). Officers will report back to Council with recommendations in relation to the areas.

For the reasons:

Designating Scott Court in Stokes Valley as a smokefree area increases the number of smokefree outdoor public places with a particular focus on areas where children and families congregate and socialise and where the impact from the visibility of smoking is greatest. It also supports the rejuvenation work that the Community Services Group is doing to coincide with the opening of the Community Hub in October 2017.

Explore designating CBD, Jackson Street, Taita, Naenae, Moera and Queen Street (Wainuiomata) as smokefree areas is because these are centres that either have high foot traffic or high rates of smoking.

Background

2. In May 2016 Council adopted a comprehensive smokefree outdoor public places policy. The goal of the policy is to support smokers to quit while raising a smokefree generation. The objectives of the policy are to:

· further denormalise smoking for children and young people by reducing its visibility in public places;

· contribute to improved health and wellbeing by reducing smoking and the impacts of second-hand smoke.

3. From 1 July 2016 the following areas in Lower Hutt are smokefree:

a. Playgrounds;

b. Outdoor swimming pool complexes;

c. Parks and sports grounds, including skate parks;

d. Bus shelters;

e. Train stations;

f. Beaches;

g. Outdoor public areas around council buildings and facilities;

h. Smokefree Council run and funded events. Council will work with event organisers to encourage events for which it provides funding to be smokefree;

i. Outdoor pavement dining areas;

j. Explore designating areas in town centres as smokefree areas.

4. The policy is focused on discouraging smoking in public through signage, promotion and marketing, and work in communities across the city. The focus for signage is on the most popular areas, areas where children and families congregate or socialise, and areas where smoking rates are high.

Discussion

Implementation

5. Led by Healthy Families Lower Hutt, Council is implementing the policy through the Smokefree Lower Hutt Action Plan 2016 - 2019. In order to get wider input into implementing the policy Healthy Families Lower Hutt participates in the Takiri Mai te Ata Regional Stop Smoking Steering Group Forum.

6. Healthy Families Lower Hutt agreed to lead implementation of the Action Plan to ensure there was a focused and coordinated approach to delivery of the policy across Council. This has required ongoing engagement with relevant teams and officers including Parks and Gardens, Road and Traffic, Communications and Marketing, Human Resources, City Events, Community Facilities, CBD Development and Environmental Health. Effectiveness of implementation depends on these teams and officers embedding aspects of delivery into business as usual and progress has been made in this regard.

7. Progress of implementation is reported against actions in the Smokefree Lower Hutt Action Plan 2016 – 2019, as attached as Appendix 1 to the report.

Communication and engagement

8. Maximising the visibility of smokefree messaging, through signage, promotion and marketing, is crucial to communicating the policy and a key part of demonstrating Council leadership.

9. In partnership with Council’s Communication Team, Healthy Families Lower Hutt developed a ‘Lower Hutt proud to be smokefree’ brand which includes positive messaging and links to quit smoking support (Takiri Mai te Ata Regional Stop Smoking Service and Quitline). In terms of the design, location, and placement of signage, Council has engaged with internal and external stakeholders to establish the most appropriate and acceptable signs for each setting e.g.

· Green metal signs for parks, reserves, playgrounds, sportsgrounds, and beaches

· ‘Proud to be’ signs at Council facilities e.g. swimming pools, libraries, community halls, and hubs

· Small green smokefree stickers for GWRC and Adshell bus shelters

· Additionally, the smokefree logo is to be included in any permanent signage.

10. Promotion has included advertising Council’s smokefree message on the Wainuiomata and Stokes Valley routes in October 2016, use of digital notice boards at Council facilities, media releases and articles in local newspapers, and developing a Smokefree Lower Hutt webpage.

11. Healthy Families Lower Hutt has engaged with sports clubs about promoting the message around clubrooms and as part of Council run and sponsored events e.g. Te Ra, Polyfest, and Wellness in Wainui.

Smokefree areas and events

12. Signs are being progressively installed across parks, sportsgrounds and beaches using the following criteria:

· High use parks, reserves and sportsgrounds

· Suburbs with high smoking rates: Wainuiomata, Moera, Stokes Valley, Naenae, Taita & Pomare

13. To date signage has been placed at locations including Avalon Park, Bishop Park, Days Bay Beach, Delaney Park, Fraser Park, Frederick Wise Park, Hikoikoi Reserve, Honiana Te Puni Reserve, Hugh Sinclair Park, Hutt Recreation Ground, Lions Park, Melling Skate Park, Memorial Park, Naenae Park, North Park, Parkway Family Playground, Petone Beach, Petone Recreation Ground, Queen Street Reserve, Richard Prouse Park, Riddiford Gardens, Shortt Park, Sladden Park, Speldhurst Park, Te Whiti Park, Trafalgar Park, Walter Mildenhall Park, Walter Nash Park, Williams Park, and Wise Park.

Playgrounds and outdoor swimming pools

14. New smokefree signs have been installed at approximately a quarter of the playgrounds in the city with many situated on the parks listed above. All swimming pools have had ‘proud to be’ signs installed.

Smokefree train stations and bus shelters

15. Transport hubs and public transport shelters in the city are used by thousands of residents each day and therefore important in terms of the visibility of smokefree messaging. Healthy Families Lower Hutt has worked with GWRC to ensure that smokefree signage is installed at all stations in Lower Hutt. Smokefree stickers have been developed for GWRC bus shelters and GWRC has also agreed to the installation of ‘proud to be ‘stickers at all shelters. Progress is being made in relation to placing stickers in the city’s bus shelters. Adshell agreed to installation of small green smokefree stickers in all their shelters.

Smokefree outdoor pavement dining and drinking areas

16. Implementation of this aspect of the policy has been one of the most difficult to date. There has been slow uptake of signage by businesses who offer outdoor pavement dining and drinking areas.

17. Healthy Families Lower Hutt engaged with Hospitality NZ, Jackson Street Project, and the City Development Team, to develop an Information Sheet for businesses that have outdoor pavement dining and drinking areas. A package including the information sheet, quit smoking support contacts and sample signs, was mailed out in October 2016. In June 2017, an updated package was personally delivered to businesses in Petone and the CBD by the Jackson Street Project Coordinator and CBD Development Manager.

18. One highlight has been World Smokefree Day 2017 which was celebrated at MoTown café in Moera to celebrate the café being 100% smokefree and displaying signage provided by Council. The celebration was attended by the Associate Minister of Health and Co-leader of the Māori Party.

19. There is an opportunity as part of the current review of Council’s policy on encroachments to ensure that the contract for leasing public land from Council includes that the area is designated as smokefree. The current contract allows Council to include clauses to reflect Council policy.

Smokefree outdoor areas in town centres

20. As part of the 2016 policy Council requested that officers explore designating areas in town centres as smokefree public places. The work done under this section of the policy has included identifying relevant suburban shopping centres and developing suitable engagement processes.

21. Designating smokefree public places in town centres are also opportunities to promote the smokefree message overall in communities across the city.

22. During the first year, work has been done in Wainuiomata and Stokes Valley. Wainuiomata was chosen because there is strong local support in relation to reducing smoking levels. In Stokes Valley, there was an opportunity to work with the Community Services Projects and Relationships Team on designating Scott Court smokefree in conjunction with the opening of the new community hub.

23. Healthy Families Lower Hutt led the local engagement work in Wainuiomata and provided support to the Community Services Projects and Relationships Team led work in Stokes Valley.

Wainuiomata

24. Healthy Families Lower Hutt engaged with the Wainuiomata Community Board and local stakeholders to develop a local engagement and consultation process. This included a survey on a Smokefree Queen Street being conducted as well as some engagement with businesses in the area. The survey was conducted online, through the local paper, and was circulated widely e.g. through schools.

25. 489 people responded to the survey and 82% supported Queen Street being smokefree. The survey highlighted that a number of people were not aware of the city’s current outdoor public places smokefree areas. The full report of the engagement is available. At a subsequent meeting the Wainuiomata Community Board resolved to work to increase awareness and support of current smokefree areas before adding new areas. The Board resolved to work alongside Healthy Families Lower Hutt, community organisations and members of the community to review, enhance and promote the current designated smokefree areas in Wainuiomata.

Stokes Valley

26. In Stokes Valley, the Community Services Projects and Relationship Team has focused on engaging with retailers in order to create a smokefree Scott Court to coincide with the opening of the Community Hub in October 2017.

27. The team visited all 23 shops and businesses in and around the Scott Court area to discuss their views on designating Scott Court smokefree. There was unanimous support for doing this among the local businesses. Several businesses commented that, as Council was taking a non-regulatory approach to smokefree areas, it was important that there was good signage and promotion in relation to designating the area smokefree.

Smokefree Council events

28. City Events has developed flags that include smokefree messaging for events and has included the promotion of smokefree events in its funding application process.

Smokefree outdoor public areas around Council buildings, including the Civic Centre

29. Community hubs, libraries, swimming pools, community halls and swimming pools have had ‘proud to be’ signage installed. There is a process for including signage at new buildings.

30. Work to include signage at the Civic Centre has taken longer than anticipated. It is important to prioritise this to demonstrate Council’s leadership and commitment to reducing the visibility of smoking in public places and to the goal of a Smokefree Aotearoa by 2025.

Cessation Support

31. In conjunction with implementing the policy Healthy Families Lower Hutt has worked with Human Resources on quit support for Council staff and developed a smokefree page on OurSpace which links staff to quit support services.

32. In terms of residents in the city, messaging around the policy and signage includes contact details of the Regional Stop Smoking Service and Quitline. The Smokefree Lower Hutt webpage also includes links to quit services.

Engagement with central government and local government partners

33. In response to Council wanting to ‘work with Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) to lobby central government for changes to legislation that better enables Councils to enforce smokefree areas’ (Council meeting on 24 May 2016), we investigated how we might work through LGNZ to strengthen relevant legislation. A motion put forward to an LGNZ Metro Sector meeting on 20 May 2016 by Palmerston North City Council called for ‘central government [to] give local government enforcement powers with regard to smokefree outdoor areas and that such powers would include the ability to ban smoking from certain areas and make it an infringement offence to smoke in such areas.’ However this remit did not receive support at the Metro Sector meeting and no further progress has been made on this aspect during the year.

34. In terms of lobbying for legislative change, we have found that LGNZ received a motion in 2015 with regard to legislation to prohibit smoking outside cafes, restaurants and bars, and that it discussed this with the Associate Minister of Health. Although sympathetic to the intention of a motion, Government’s view was that local Councils already have some ability to regulate public spaces outside bars and cafes. An example might be the public places bylaw in Palmerston North which designates outdoor dining smokefree. LGNZ will be approaching the new Minister of Health following the September 2017 General Election and we will report back on this.

35. As part of the current review of its encroachment policy, Hutt City Council could require that the contract between Council and businesses in relation to pavement areas for the purposes of outdoor dining are smokefree and that smokefree signs are required to be displayed on tables. This would reflect Council’s policy.

36. We have continued to engage with Wellington City Council and are also sharing learnings and resources with Upper Hutt City Council. Healthy Families Lower Hutt is also working closely with GWRC in relation to signage and messaging at bus shelters and train stations. During the first year we have also been in contact with George Thompson, Department of Public Health, University of Otago Wellington, in relation to monitoring and our approach to smokefree public places.

Develop monitoring, review and evaluation of the policy

37. Healthy Families Lower Hutt and Strategy and Planning have responsibility for monitoring and evaluation of the policy. We are monitoring the practical implementation of the policy in terms of:

· areas identified as smokefree

· Council run and supported events being smokefree

· the response of businesses and stakeholders to the policy.

38. We will arrange public perception surveys which will include exploring the awareness of smokefree areas. Observational work in relation to the prevalence of smoking in outdoor pavement dining areas, and transport hubs and bus shelters were conducted in October/November 2016. Follow-up work will be conducted in 2017 and 2018.

39. Census data will be used to monitor levels of smoking in the city and progress towards the goal of Smokefree Aotearoa 2025.

Next Steps

40. Healthy Families Lower Hutt will continue to lead implementation of the policy with teams across Council. As well as the practical work around signage, communication, and promotion, there will be particular focus on certain aspects of the policy during the next 12 months.

a. It has become clear that buy-in from some settings and communities requires more intensive engagement. This particularly applies to outdoor pavement dining as well as work to designate outdoor areas in town centres smokefree. In response, and through discussions with the Ministry of Health, Healthy Families Lower Hutt has been able to secure funding towards recruiting an additional 12-month fixed-term position to support implementation of the policy. In 2017-18 this role will assist with the work to explore designating the following suburban shopping centres as smokefree areas: CBD, Jackson Street, Taita, Naenae, Moera and Queen Street (Wainuiomata). These centres have been prioritised as they either have high foot traffic or high rates of smoking. The role will also assist with engagement with businesses that offer outdoor pavement dining. We also explore the opportunity to ensure that the encroachment contract – for businesses leasing pavement areas from Council – reflects Council’s policy that these areas should be smokefree. The contract already allows Council to adapt the contract to reflect Council policies.

b. In 2017-2018 implementation will include a smokefree summer campaign to raise awareness of smokefree areas.

c. We will continue to oversee the roll-out of signage in all priority communities and all playgrounds, as well as complete signage installation at all GWRC bus shelters.

d. In terms of smoking cessation Healthy Families Lower Hutt will initiate or support engagement with smokers to gain further insights for effective implementation of the policy in a way that does not ostracise smokers.

e. During the first year of implementation the use of electronic cigarettes, particularly in outdoor public places, has been raised by stakeholders. In response to the issue officers will further explore the research and advice on e-cigarettes and submit a report to Council for consideration in early 2018.

f. In 2018/19, officers will explore designating areas in the remaining suburban shopping centres within Lower Hutt as smokefree areas.

Consultation

41. We have engaged with communities and stakeholders and recommendations contribute to wellbeing. Smokefree environments – particularly areas where children and families socialise – have public support.

Legal Considerations

42. There are no legal considerations.

Financial Considerations

43. Any funding implications will be covered by an annual Smokefree Lower Hutt budget for three years up to 2019.

Other Considerations

44. 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:

a. Reducing the visibility of smoking can contribute to de-normalising the behaviour for children and young people and therefore contribute to the health and wellbeing of future generations.

b. The policy does this in a way that is cost-effective because it can contribute to reducing the prevalence of smoking over the longer-term and therefore reduce health and other costs. Effective implementation is dependent on good promotion. The policy does not rely on council officers enforcing the approach, which would not be practical or cost-effective.

Appendices

No.	Title	Page
1 ⇩	Smokefree Outdoor Public Places Policy (Includes Action Plan) - 13 June 2016	18

Author: Barry Gall

Settings Coordinator

Reviewed By: Hayley Goodin

Manager, Healthy Families Lower Hutt

Approved By: Matt Reid

General Manager Community Services

Attachment 1

Smokefree Outdoor Public Places Policy (Includes Action Plan) - 13 June 2016

Smokefree Outdoor Public Places Policy

Division	Strategy and Planning
Date created	May 2016
Publication date	June 2016
Review period	July 2019
Owner	John Pritchard
Approved by	Wendy Moore

Version	Author	Date	Description
V 1.0	John Pritchard	13/06/2016	Resolution approved by Council.
V 2.0	Name	DD/MM/YYYY	Reviewed.

Contents

1. Introduction. 3

2. Objectives. 3

3. Smokefree areas: 3

4. Implementation. 4

5. Smokefree Lower Hutt action plan 2016 - 2019. 4

6. Review.. 5

Appendix 1. 6

1. Introduction

Hutt City Council is taking a leadership role to ensure that Lower Hutt:

§ is a healthy community;

§ has a healthy natural environment with clean air, water and land; and

§ has a built environment that is attractive, safe, and healthy.

Smokefree outdoor public places can contribute toward further denormalising smoking in Lower Hutt, and achieving the goal of a smokefree Aotearoa 2025 by reducing the uptake of smoking. Hutt City Council will work with partners in the city and region to implement the policy.

There is strong public support for designating public areas in the city smokefree. 90 per cent of respondents to the Council’s Citizen’s Panel survey supported the city becoming increasingly smokefree and 86 per cent of people thought smoking should be banned in areas where children are likely to be. 81 per cent of people were frustrated when people smoked near them when they were dining outside at cafes or restaurants.

Hutt City Council is the lead provider for Healthy Families Lower Hutt. Healthy Families Lower Hutt is a Government funded initiative to promote health and wellbeing in the places where people live their lives. As the lead provider Council is working with Healthy Families Lower Hutt on a range of approaches that will contribute to improved health and well-being, including approaches to smokefree outdoor public places.

2. Objectives

§ further denormalise smoking for children and young people by reducing its visibility in public places;

§ contribute to improved health and wellbeing by reducing smoking and the impacts of second-hand smoke.

3. Smokefree areas:

From 2016 the following areas in Lower Hutt will be smokefree:

a. Playgrounds;

b. Outdoor swimming pool complexes;

c. Parks and sports grounds, including skate parks;

d. Bus shelters;

e. Train stations;

f. Beaches;

g. Outdoor public areas around council buildings and facilities;

h. Smokefree Council run and funded events. Council will work with event organisers to encourage events for which it provides funding to be smokefree;

i. Outdoor pavement dining areas;

j. Explore designating areas in town centres as smokefree areas.

4. Implementation

The policy is focused on discouraging smoking in public places in Lower Hutt through signage, promotion and marketing, and work in communities across the city.

The focus for signage will be on the most popular areas, areas where children and families congregate or socialise, and areas where smoking rates are high.

Council will also work with local government partners to lobby central government for changes to legislation that better enables Councils to enforce smokefree outdoor areas.

5. Smokefree Lower Hutt action plan 2016 - 2019

Led by Healthy Families Lower Hutt, Council will implement the policy through an action plan. As part of the action plan Council will work with partner agencies and communities in the city to implement the policy.

Communication, engagement, and monitoring	Responsibility
Develop a communication plan that includes: § signage and messaging, to include cessation support messaging where appropriate § identify opportunities and channels for smokefree messaging	Healthy Families Lower Hutt, City Promotions
Establish an action plan group to support the implemetation of the policy	Healthy Families Lower Hutt
Develop monitoring, review and evaluation of the policy	Action Plan Group
Engage with central government for strengthened smokefree legislation	Healthy Families Lower Hutt Governance Group, and Strategy & Planning (S&P).
Explore opportunities to work with neighbouring councils and partners on smokefree activities and communication	Action Plan Group
Smokefree areas and events	Responsibility
Designate parks and beaches smokefree	Parks & Gardens (P&G) and Healthy Families Lower Hutt
Review signage for playgrounds and outdoor swimming pools and add or renew signage	Healthy Families Lower Hutt, Leisure Active and P&G
Work with Greater Wellington Regional Council to designate bus shelters and train stations smokefree	Healthy Families Lower Hutt and Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC)
Work with businesses to designate outdoor pavement dining and drinking areas smokefree	Healthy Families Lower Hutt and City Development
Explore designating outdoor areas in town centres smokefree	Healthy Families Lower Hutt and S&P
Work to make Council events smokefree	City Promotions, Council Teams, and Action Plan Group
Designate outdoor public areas around Council buildings smokefree, including the civic centre	Community Facilities Manager, Parks Asset Manager, and Healthy Families Lower Hutt
Cessation support	Responsibility
Help link smokers to cessation support	Human Resources and Action Plan Group

6. Review

The policy will be reviewed from mid-2019.

Appendix 1

Council Resolution

Resolved: Minute No. C 16209(2)

“That Council:

(i) agrees to increase the number of smokefree areas as follows:

In addition to playgrounds and swimming pool complexes, from 2016 the following areas would become smokefree:

a) Parks and sports grounds, including skate parks – the focus for signage would be on the most popularly used parks and parks in areas where smoking rates are high;

b) Bus shelters – officers will work with GWRC on signage and promotion for smokefree bus shelters in the city;

c) Train stations;

d) Beaches;

e) Outdoor public areas around Council buildings and facilities;

f) Smokefree Council run and funded events;

g) Outdoor pavement dining; and

h) Explore designating areas in town centres as smokefree areas;

(ii) agrees that, led by Healthy Families Lower Hutt, Council will develop an action plan to deliver the proposed Smokefree Outdoor Public Places Policy;

(iii) notes that Healthy Families Lower Hutt will work with City Promotions and partners across the City to promote a Smokefree Lower Hutt;

(iv) agrees to work with Local Government New Zealand to lobby central government for changes to legislation that better enables Councils to enforce smokefree areas;

(v) recommends that the Community Plan Committee make provision for a budget of $14,000 per year for the three years from 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2019 to provide for bilingual signage/stickers; and

(vi) notes that Lower Hutt is taking a leadership role in healthy living.”

24 25 September 2017

Policy and Regulatory

11 September 2017

File: (17/1393)

Report no: PRC2017/4/237

Hutt City Council - Parking Policy

Purpose of Report

1. Propose a parking policy for Hutt City Council.

Recommendations

It is recommended that the Committee:

(i) agrees to the proposed parking policy attached as Appendix 1 to the report; and

(ii) directs officers to consult publicly on the policy.

Background

2. Council has been conducting a review of its approach to parking in the city in 2017. This review has included exploring Council’s internal processes and procedures, approaches in other areas of New Zealand and internationally, and the technology available to manage parking.

3. As part of the review officers were directed to develop a parking policy to guide Council’s approach to parking resources in the city and to ensure that decisions relating to parking support Council’s strategic direction and its investment in the planning and design of the city.

4. This paper introduces a proposed parking policy to manage the use of Council’s on-street and off-street parking.

5. Work on developing the policy has been conducted in two stages. Stage 1, to explore the objectives to which the effective management of parking contributes and the mechanisms that can be used to manage parking, was reported to the Policy and Regulatory Committee on 31 July 2017. This meeting agreed the proposed objectives for the supply and management of parking. Work in stage 2 has focused on developing the parking hierarchy and mechanisms to be used to manage parking in the city.

Introduction

6. Effective parking management is critical to a safe and efficient transport system providing access to destinations and activities in the city and also strategically important to shaping Hutt City for the future.

7. Hutt City Council has a central role in the supply and management of parking. Council is responsible for on-street parking across the city and has off-street parking in locations such as the Riverbank carpark and in areas around the Civic Centre in Laings Road and in Petone. Council’s Parking Services Team enforces compliance with parking restrictions in order to ensure good access to the city.

8. Council’s focus is on more effectively managing the city’s parking resources rather than creating more supply.

9. Both the approach to transport planning and people’s expectations in relation to transport and the infrastructure that supports it are changing. While the transport system is currently dominated by provision for private vehicular transport, research recognises that factors such as limited network capacity, demographic change, a focus on resilience and urban intensification, the emergence of driverless vehicles and growing use of transport as a service, will radically change the way people travel, influence vehicle ownership, and affect parking requirements. Council is responding to these challenges by developing an integrated approach to the city’s transport system that includes improving the road network and active transport connections and infrastructure, as well as more effective parking management.

10. The availability, cost, and any restrictions placed on parking influence decisions regarding the mode of transport used which in turn affects the level of congestion in an area and travel time to destinations. Parking management facilitates safe and efficient access to destinations and activities and therefore to creating a thriving liveable city for residents and visitors, reducing car travel, supporting greater use of public transport, and enhancing the experience of the built environment in the city.

11. Using mechanisms such as pricing or time restrictions where required, Council will ensure that parking is available and enables access to employment, retail and leisure opportunities. Similarly, our approach to parking management will support and enable our work to improve the use of active and other modes of transport.

12. Development of the parking hierarchy was led by officers in the Road & Traffic Division and involved prioritising the use of road space in the city according to the New Zealand Transport Authority (NZTA) one road network classification and land uses in the city. The hierarchy sets out the types of areas – by land use and road network – and identifies the uses of road space that are given priority in order to support the particular area.

13. The hierarchy does not mean that users/uses with lower priority will not have access to on-street parking. However, their access may be limited and restrictions could be implemented to ensure that the available space is attractive and available for users with higher priority.

14. The hierarchy does not mean there will need to be intervention in parking management e.g. pricing, time restrictions, etc. Interventions will be based on the objectives of the policy, priorities in the hierarchy, land use in the area, and data on the use of on-street parking.

15. Mechanisms to directly manage parking include pricing and time restrictions. Applying the policy could mean introducing parking fees in some areas, changing parking fees, introducing or changing time restrictions, and establishing permit schemes to provide exemptions from time restrictions e.g. in residential areas. Council would use these mechanisms, alongside working to facilitate greater use of public transport and active transport, to ensure that parking resources contribute to its strategies for the city.

16. The policy intersects with and supports Council’s work on improving access to the city via active modes of transport and public transport. Infrastructure to support these modes are given priority in the parking/road space hierarchy and, as an influencer of transport decisions, parking and the management of parking can contribute to greater use of other modes and subsequently lead to reduced parking demand.

Options

17. See proposed parking policy in Appendix 1.

Consultation

18. During stage 2 officers have worked with colleagues in Road and Traffic and others to develop the operational approaches to the policy. We have also met with the Chair and Deputy Chair of Petone Community Board to discuss the policy and work to develop the hierarchy and mechanisms. Public consultation will follow if Council agrees the proposed policy.

Legal Considerations

19. None at this stage.

Financial Considerations

20. None.

Other Considerations

21. 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 deals one of Council’s core activities i.e. a component of the city’s transport system and access to the city.

22. A consistent approach to parking management will mean that the transport network overall will be more efficient and responsive to changing need in the city and contribute to shaping the city for the future. It does this in a way that is cost-effective because it seeks to make the best use of current parking resources, contributes to improving access to the city by other transport modes, and ensures that Council’s approach to parking contributes to economic growth and resilience.

Appendices

No.	Title	Page
1 ⇩	Parking policy 20 September 2017 Version ix	28

Author: John Pritchard

Senior Research/Policy Advisor , Strategy and Planning

Approved By: Wendy Moore

Divisional Manager, Strategy and Planning

Attachment 1

Parking policy 20 September 2017 Version ix

Hutt City Council – parking policy

19 September 2017

Executive Summary

Successful cities depend on a safe and efficient transport system. Parking is a key resource in this system and facilitates access to activities and attractions in the city, such as employment, shopping, and social opportunities. The management of parking influences people’s decision to drive or to use other transport modes, and also affects safety and congestion on the roads.

Hutt City Council’s parking policy has been developed to provide the strategic direction for the supply and management of parking in the city. Council’s approach to parking contributes to its long-term strategies in terms of:

· safe and efficient movement of people and goods;

· supporting economic performance – ensuring parking is well-used and also regularly available;

· contributing to environmental sustainability and the resilience of our infrastructure;

· shifting transport choices ;

· supporting Council’s work to enhance walkability and a cycle-friendly environment; and

· delivering high-quality customer service.

The policy provides the overarching framework to ensure that the response to parking supply and management is integrated with Council’s strategies and consistent across the city.

1. Introduction

Effective parking management is critical to a safe and efficient transport system providing access to destinations and activities in the city and also strategically important to shaping Hutt City for the future.

Hutt City Council has a central role in the supply and management of parking. Council is responsible for on-street parking across the city and has off-street parking in locations such as the Riverbank carpark and in areas around the Civic Centre in Laings Road. Council’s Parking Services Team enforces compliance with parking restrictions in order to ensure good access to the city.

Council’s focus is on more effectively managing the city’s parking resources rather than creating more supply.

Both the approach to transport planning and people’s expectations in relation to transport and the infrastructure that supports it are changing. While the transport system is currently dominated by provision for private vehicular transport, research recognises that factors such as limited network capacity, demographic change, a focus on resilience and urban intensification, the emergence of driverless vehicles and growing use of transport as a service, will radically change the way people travel, influence vehicle ownership, and affect parking requirements. Council is responding to these challenges by developing an integrated approach to the city’s transport system that includes improving the road network and active transport connections and infrastructure, as well as more effective parking management.

The availability, cost, and any restrictions placed on parking influence decisions regarding the mode of transport used which in turn affects the level of congestion in an area and travel time to destinations. Parking management facilitates safe and efficient access to destinations and activities and therefore to creating a thriving liveable city for residents and visitors, reducing car travel, supporting greater use of public transport, and enhancing experience of the built environment in the city.

Using mechanisms such as pricing or time restrictions where required, Council will ensure that parking is available and enables access to employment, retail and leisure opportunities. Similarly, our approach to parking management will support and enable our work to improve the use of active and other modes of transport.

2. Objectives for the supply and management of parking

The policy seeks to ensure that people are able to access the city and interact with its activities effectively by whichever mode of transport they choose, and enables Council to take a consistent approach across the city. Hutt City Council’s objectives for the supply and management of parking are:

1. A safe city – prioritising the safe and efficient movement of people, goods and services.

2. A liveable and thriving city – supporting place-making, amenity, and economic growth.

3. A city that is environmentally resilient – reflecting Council’s work in leading environmental stewardship and resilience.

4. A city that has equity of access – supporting Council’s work to create a walkable and people-friendly city accessible to all transport modes.

5. A high level of customer service – delivering a quality experience for residents and visitors.

3. Parking/road space hierarchy

The road corridor is a key public space that is managed by Council. This space is limited and using it effectively is crucial to enabling the safe and efficient movement of people and goods and to the city’s social, economic and environmental, success. There are many competing demands for road-space and while provision for parking vehicles is important it is not the only possible use of this space.

Council uses the hierarchy shown below to help manage the demand for and use of the city’s road-space according to the policy objectives in section 2 and the needs of particular areas. The hierarchy assists Council to ensure that parking in a particular area serves the main purposes and land-use of that street or area and facilitates consistent decision-making with regard to our parking resources. Without effectively managing demands for on-street spaces parking resources become saturated and their usefulness diminishes.

The framework for the hierarchy is the city’s road network and New Zealand Transport Agency’s One Network Road classification, and land uses identified in New Zealand Standard 4404.^{^[2]} Groups of users and movements are then given priority within the types of areas identified. The hierarchy is a guide to how Council will prioritise the allocation of road-space. Users with lower priority may still have access to on-street parking, however their access may be limited and restrictions may be implemented to ensure that space is attractive and available for users and uses with higher priority. The various uses of space need to be balanced on a case by case basis considering the demand for and each type of use and the resources available.

The priorities across each area are ensuring safety and access, with no stopping zones, ensuring existing property access, space for mobility parking, public transport, and active modes, ranked highest.

In Live and Play areas on-street parking spaces are important to support resident parking where none can be provided off-street. However, parking for residents also needs to be balanced against the needs of short-term customer parking for local shops, services, community facilities, schools and educational institutions. Parking for local employees and, to some extent commuters, can also be accommodated in these areas if possible.

In Shop and Trade, and Work and Learn areas on-street parking is a key resource to support access for customers to shops, restaurants, and social opportunities. It is also important to provide good access to public and active transport provision, suitable mobility parking spaces close to key destinations, and that pick-up and drop-off spaces and loading zones are available to service the areas. For example, in shopping areas short-term parking for shoppers receives high priority in order to contribute to the performance of businesses in the area. Commuters and employees may still be able to find spaces in these areas however restrictions on the parking, in terms of time-limits or pricing, could reduce the usefulness of these spaces to such users. Those users looking for longer-stay parking may need to park in areas further away from centres or in off-street parking areas.

Similarly, research indicates that in some instances reallocating road-space from parking to improve amenity, create people-friendly spaces and encourage travel by other transport modes contributes to economic performance and priority is given to such use of space. This could be the case for example in terms of developing outdoor dining areas or for RiverLink, and to enable the provision of infrastructure to improve access to destinations by cycling or walking.

In Make, Grow and Move areas on-street space is important to enable effective movement of goods in and out, as well as links and access to the areas by public and active transport. Some priority is also given to short-term parking for clients or customers as well as to local employee parking in these areas to avoid some of the overspill of longer-term parking to adjacent areas.

Attachment 1

Parking policy 20 September 2017 Version ix

Road Hierarchy				Parking Hierarchy
NZTA One Network Road Classification	NZS4404
National Road				No parking
Regional Road	Major arterial
Arterial	Minor arterial
Primary Collector	Connector/Collector
Secondary Collector	Connector/Collector		Live and Play	Shop and Trade & Work and Learn	Make, Grow, and Move
Access	Local Road		(Residential and Parks)	(Retail and Services & Offices and Schools)	(Agricultural, industrial, and warehouses)
Access (Low Volume)	Lane
			No stopping zones	No stopping zones	No stopping zones
			Existing property access	Existing property access	Existing property access
			Public transport stops	Public transport stops	Public transport stops
			Mobility parking	Mobility parking	Mobility parking
			Active modes – including provision for removing car park spaces for walking and cycling infrastructure	Active modes – including provision for removing car park spaces for walking and cycling infrastructure	Active modes – including provision for removing car park spaces for walking and cycling infrastructure
		1	Drop off/ pick up zones (schools/ rail)	Amenity - inc. landscaping and/or adding street furniture	Drop off/ pick up zones (schools/ rail)
		2	Residential parking *	Drop off/ pick up zones (schools/ rail)	Loading Zones
		3	Short-term parking	Loading Zones	Motorcycle/scooter parking
		4	Loading Zones	Short-term parking	Local employee parking
		5	Amenity - inc. landscaping and/or adding street furniture	Motorcycle/scooter parking	Short-term parking
		6	Motorcycle/scooter parking	Residential parking *	Amenity - inc. landscaping and/or adding street furniture
		7	Residential visitor parking	Local employee parking	Residential parking *
		8	Local employee parking	Residential visitor parking	Residential visitor parking
		9	Commuter car parking	Commuter car parking	Commuter car parking

The top 5 priority uses of space are the same across all areas and reflect road safety and efficient movement, and Council's aims to increase use of alternative transport modes.

* Resident parking in the hierarchy does not mean intervention such as a permit scheme. Any intervention with regard to resident parking will be assessed under section 4 of the policy.

Attachment 1

Parking policy 20 September 2017 Version ix

Mobility parking

Mobility parking that is well-located, accessible and safe is crucial to enabling people with disabilities to easily access areas and destinations in the city. Hutt City Council provides a number of mobility spaces in Shop & Trade and Work & Learn areas in the city. A valid mobility parking permit must be displayed whilst parked in these spaces. Hutt City Council’s Parking Services Team will proactively enforce restrictions with regard to mobility parking.

Council will not generally provide mobility parking spaces in residential areas. However, officers will assess situations on a case by case basis.

Parking space	Concession
Spaces specifically designated as disabled parking spaces	People with a mobility parking permit can park for the time shown only. P120 is the preferred time-restriction for disabled parking spaces.
P30 time-limited	People with a mobility parking permit can park for 1 hour
P60 time-limited	People with a mobility parking permit can park for 2 hours
Paid parking areas of up to 1 hour	People with a mobility parking permit who pay for the time period shown can park for double the time period allowed. P30 – mobility parking permit holders can park for 1 hour. P60 – mobility permit holders can park for 2 hours.
P5, P10, P15, P120, P180, P240	There are no concessions for mobility permit holders in spaces with these restrictions.

Hutt City Council will regularly audit mobility parking to ensure that spaces meet design standards and are located appropriately.

Electric Vehicles (EVs)

Council is working with other councils in the region to increase the parking and charging stations available for EVs. The number of electric vehicles is expected to continue increasing. There are currently around 3,000 electric vehicles registered in New Zealand and the Government’s Electric Vehicle Programme has a target of growing the fleet to 64,000 by 2021. Supporting and encouraging the use of EVs is in-line with Council’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy and Hutt City Council is working with neighbouring cities to coordinate the provision of parking spaces with EV charging stations.

4. Intervention

The hierarchy identifies the priorities for use of kerbside road-space and, in some instances, ensuring that the space is available and used in-line with the priorities will mean implementing restrictions such as time-limits or pricing. Interventions could also include removing parking so that the space can be put to a different use.

Council will proactively conduct assessments to ensure that the use of road space is contributing to the policy objectives Assessments will explore situations on a case by case basis, including data on parking use as well as the potential effects of any interventions on adjacent areas.

Pricing and time restriction

Mechanisms to directly manage parking include the introduction of parking fees, changing existing fees, introducing or changing time restrictions, and establishing permit areas e.g. in residential areas. Council will consider using these mechanisms, alongside promoting active transport and the use of public transport, to ensure that parking resources contribute to our objectives and long-term strategies.

Pricing is an effective tool for managing parking in areas of higher demand. A reasonable price does not deter people from visiting an area where there are activities and attractions and is effective in ensuring that a number of spaces are regularly available in busy parking areas.

Time restrictions can work well in areas which have low to medium parking demand. As demand increases it is possible to reduce the time-limit in an area or parts of it to better manage the parking available. If demand for parking is high, setting a reasonable cost for the parking is the most effective tool for ensuring turnover of spaces. In some areas of the city time restricted parking is currently misused e.g. employees of local business, who move their cars several times a day to exploit time restricted free parking.

Where parking demand is high, Hutt City Council will apply parking restrictions to try to achieve the peak occupancy rate of 85% for on-street parking. This occupancy rate means that parking is well used and people can still find spaces. When occupancy is identified as being regularly above 85%, Council may recommend changes to the management of parking in the area.

Parking in residential areas

Busy on-street parking in primarily residential areas can cause access and safety problems for residents, visitors, and other road users, particularly in areas around the central business district and transport hubs, where on-street parking is used by employees/commuters during the working day. Lower Hutt currently has few areas where there is need to create resident parking schemes. As the city changes both in terms of its population and residential profile it is important that we have an approach to effectively manage any parking issues.

Intervention to address parking pressures in residential areas will be designed for the particular local situation and could include:

· time-limits for part of the area to deter commuter parking;

· residential parking schemes that exempt resident from time restricted parking.

Implementing time-restrictions to parking, with exemptions for residents, can relieve parking pressures. Time restrictions could apply to all or sections of the street/area.

As each area in the city has different pressures local situations will be assessed on a case by case basis. Initially, Council will assess the use of parking in the area. If on-street parking occupancy is regularly above 85% we will explore implementing parking restrictions. In areas where on-street parking use is high assessments will include whether properties:

· have off-street parking at all on the property;

· there is space on the property that could be converted to off-street parking; and

· the availability of on-street parking within a reasonable i.e. 400 meter, walking distance.

Consideration will also be given to whether land use changes have had a detrimental effect on parking availability in the area and any other factors that are relevant to the specific situation being assessed.

If residential parking permits are issued, a maximum number of two permits per property will be allowed and the number of permits issued will be reduced by one permit per off-street parking space, including driveways. Council will charge a fee for permits, which will be assigned to a particular vehicle and non-transferrable. Permits will allow parking in a specific area only and have to be renewed annually.

Any exemptions to time-restrictions would not guarantee a parking space or, in some circumstances where the designated area comprises multiple streets, a space in their street.

New developments in resident parking scheme areas

If a residential parking scheme is created in an area, any new developments within that area will not be eligible for a parking permit. With any new developments both developers and potential renters/buyers have a responsibility to ensure they have sufficient off-street parking to meet their needs. This approach ensures that the cost of providing parking is not passed on to ratepayers.

Residential intensification in CBD or Petone commercial areas

Hutt City Council is aiming to increase the population of commercial areas such as the CBD and Petone through enabling residential intensification. Changes proposed to Hutt City Council’s District Plan in 2017 allow developers to build dwellings in these areas without on-site parking. City centre living is often aimed at households who want the convenience of living near attractions, shops, and public transport provision where, for the most part, owning a vehicle is not necessary.

New developments built in these areas after the District Plan change will not be eligible for resident parking permits or exemptions to time restricted parking. There are parking restrictions – either time-limits or pricing and time-limits – in much of the CBD and Petone areas and residential parking is not a high-priority compared to other uses for on-street space.

Hutt City Council will work with developers to ensure that they and occupants have clear information regarding parking.

Miscellaneous permits/exemptions

Hutt City Council currently allocates permits that temporarily exempt specific users from time-limits or paying for parking for special events and some construction work. In some instances users are required to pay for such exemptions and in some instances they are not. Council will establish a formal system and fee structure for allocating exemptions to parking restrictions.

5. Enforcement

Council’s Parking Services Team has an integral role in ensuring that the city’s transport system works safely and efficiently. Effective enforcement contributes to safe roads, encourages turnover of parking spaces, and helps keep traffic moving efficiently. The Parking Services Team:

· monitors compliance with parking rules – and tickets offenders;

· monitors vehicle and public safety by checking for a valid Warrant of Fitness, vehicle registration, and condition of tyres; and

· delivers an important service to the public in terms of advice on parking, directions, and other matters.

Council’s ability to provide enforcement of parking restrictions across the city, and respond to requests for more effective enforcement in some areas, is currently limited. Hutt City Council is investigating the implementation of new technology to provide an integrated approach to parking in the city, improve the efficiency of enforcement, provide in-depth data to inform future interventions, and improve customer service. Technology will enable Council to improve the efficiency of parking enforcement through more targeting and better coverage, and therefore contributes to increasing road safety, flow of traffic in busy areas, and more effectively ensuring turnover and availability of parking spaces. Council will:

· implement technology to offer additional customer payment methods;

· improve the information to customers in relation to parking location and availability; and

· investigate technology, including licence-plate recognition and sensor based systems, to contribute to efficient use of parking resources.

6. Encouraging access via other modes of transport

Parking management is a key aspect of the city’s overall transport system being both essential to providing access to destinations and a factor that influences people’s choice of transport. Managing parking more efficiently with the aim of reducing vehicle travel will contribute to improving access to other modes and the overall environment for those modes.

Implementation of the parking policy intersects with Council’s focus on active transport infrastructure and levels of service in order to improve walkability and cycle–friendly access to the city. The focus on improving transport connections by active modes is reflected in the priority given to this activity within Council’s road space/parking hierarchy.

Council’s road space/parking hierarchy gives priority to encouraging access by public transport and we will work with Greater Wellington Regional Council to improve public transport provision and the effectiveness of park and ride facilities.

7. Best use of existing parking resources

In addition to Council’s parking resources there is also a supply of private parking across the city. Where possible, Council will work with providers of private off-street parking to make more effective use of this resource. For example, exploring:

· the use of private parking resources during the evening for events;

· whether parking that is under-utilised during the week can provide parking for commuters in some areas; and

· whether some on-street parking in front of businesses which are closed at the weekend can be made available.

Council will also investigate ways to improve the use of the Riverbank carpark as an area close to the city centre that can provide affordable all-day parking for employees and commuters.

38 25 September 2017

Policy and Regulatory

06 September 2017

File: (17/1378)

Report no: PRC2017/4/225

General Manager's Report

Purpose of Report

1. The Policy and Regulatory Committee requested a General Manager’s report containing information on major consents, hearings, appeals to the Environment Court and enforcement matters.

Recommendations

It is recommended that the Committee notes the contents of this report.

Background

2. This report covers the activities of two divisions in the Governance and Regulatory Group; being Regulatory Services and Environmental Consents. The Environmental Consents division process consent applications under the Resource Management Act and the Building Act (resource and building consents), as well as LIMs and property enquiries under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act. It also offers an Eco Design Advisor service across the city and a part service in Upper Hutt City Council. Regulatory Services deal with food, alcohol, trade waste applications, bylaws, animal services and parking and District Licensing reports.

3. The report firstly covers Environmental Consents and secondly Regulatory Services. Environmental consent data is attached as Appendix 1 to the report. Regulatory Services data is attached as Appendix 2 to the report.

Discussion – Environmental Consents

4. As we are at the very beginning of the financial year it is difficult to see trends. Therefore I have made comparisons by looking at the information across the division by calendar years.

5. We have a high number of building and resource consent applications and LIMs being submitted. This continues the trend from the fourth quarter of the last financial year.

6. The entire division is suffering in terms of resourcing. We currently have four vacancies, swelling to nine vacancies across the division with the introduction of the new structure. We currently have only one Building Inspector operational, one Seismic Officer and have had to second a Building Officer from the front counter to cover LIMs. One Resource Consents Planner is about to leave on maternity leave, and no replacement has been found for her yet, despite extensive recruitment.

7. Recruitment has been passed over to an agency.

8. Work continues with Victoria University, Hutt Valley High School, the Building Officials Institute of New Zealand (BOINZ), the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO), ACC, the New Zealand Planning Institute and other industry groups to try to find suitable applicants.

9. As a result we are unable to offer fast track LIMs or fast track building /resource consents – this has been communicated to our regular customers and is on our website. We are meeting our statutory timeframes.

Building Consents

10. The high number of building consent applications has continued at the beginning of the new financial year. The value of building consents received from 1 January to end August 2017 is $164,587,066. This is an increase of $27,220,875 when compared with the same period in the last year (1 January to end August 2016: $137,366,191).

11. The Building Team remains under-resourced. After several rounds of recruitment, we have now gone to a recruitment agency to attempt to find suitable officers. Two Bachelor Building Science graduates have been employed as Building Officers. There remain four vacancies in the Building Team. Officers are currently working overtime to ensure that statutory timeframes are met. Our customers have an expectation for fast service from the Building Team, so we continue trying to manage this by informing our major clients, and letting people when we are talking to them.

12. Information has been requested around the number of requests for further information and the total time that building consent applications are held in Council. The IT division is working on a report to provide this information.

13. The Building Team is increasing its resource in the seismic area to accommodate the changes required under the changes to the Act. To date we have only one officer doing this work. We have appointed another officer, and are just waiting for this officer to start.

14. Council originally had 72 buildings on the Unreinforced Masonry Building list. These building owners have until March 2018 to complete strengthening of the façade and parapets on their buildings. This has now been reduced to 46 buildings.

15. The Jackson Street Programme decided take a lead role to help building owners co-ordinate their efforts in order to potentially decrease the cost per building owner, and help owners to meet the government’s deadline. It is my view that this will also help to co-ordinate traffic management along Jackson Street for the Council. Council officers will be attending a meeting of the building owners, their engineer and contractors. We will also be taking representatives from Council’s building and planning teams, our consultant engineer and a heritage expert to provide free advice. We have also arranged for a representative of the Ministry of Culture and Heritage, responsible for managing the Heritage EQUIP fund to attend and present.

Slips

16. The Building Team Leader attended a slip at 12A Singers Road in September. A bank fell onto residential flats below the road. The one tenanted flat was evacuated, owner and appropriate agencies informed.

17. After receipt of an engineering report, the tenant and his cat have been allowed back into the flat. The Roading Division has organised for the footpath to be repaired.

Recent building consents of note include:

18. Hotel, 54 High Street – foundation consent received

19. Ex Post Office building, 151 High Street – fitout for a tenancy in the old Post Office.

20. Queensgate Mall, High Street – consents for eight fitouts for Queensgate, including one for a large shop, valued at $5 million

21. Medical building corner of Melling Road & Connolly Street - fitout consent for birthing unit

Resource Consents

22. Resource consent numbers have stayed the same between the last calendar year to August 2016 and the current 2017 calendar year to date.

Recently consents received of note include:

23. 176 Liverton Road – a resource consent has been received to extend an overburden disposal area.

24. Petone to Melling Cycleway – a resource consent has been received to enable this to be built.

25. 64 Waipounamu Drive, Kelson – an application has been fully notified, at the applicants request, for bulk earthworks over approximately half of the 14 hectare site and associated vegetation removal. The work is proposed as part of the development of the site for residential use. The applicant obtained resource consent in 2009 to subdivide the site into 142 residential sites and undertake bulk earthworks and vegetation removal. This approval is still able to be implemented. However, the applicant has revised the development plans and has made the current application for earthworks and vegetation removal (in advance of a new subdivision proposal). The submission period has closed and we are waiting on further information from the applicant to address concerns raised by Forest and Bird. This may result in no hearing being necessary.

26. 19 Central Terrace, Alicetown – a resource consent application has been received to erect two houses on a vacant section. The application was limited notified to one neighbour. That neighbour has put in a submission in opposition and wishes to speak at a hearing. A pre-hearing meeting with parties is being arranged.

27. 21 Mason Street, Morea – an application for a dwelling and subdivision on an under-sized lot has been submitted. The application has been limited notified to one neighbour. Similar to the situation with the application at 19 Central Terrace, that neighbour has put in a submission in opposition and wishes to speak at a hearing. A pre-hearing meeting with parties is being arranged.

Recently granted consents

28. 130 Coast Road, Wainuiomata - an application has been granted for an additional ten years to operate a cleanfill from the site.

29. 4-18 Seddon Street, Naenae - a Housing New Zealand development has been granted for 22 units.

30. 46 Mudie Street, Alicetown - a fully notified application to convert an existing accessory building into a self-contained dwelling with a number of non-compliances has been granted.

31. 136 Woburn Road, Woburn – a consent has been issued for the new Te Omanga Hospice.

32. 87 Victoria Street, Alicetown – an application for eight townhouses has been limited notified to one neighbour. Submissions close 14 July.

RMA Enforcement

33. An abatement notice served on an owner allowing commercial premises to be used for residential purposes has been appealed to the Environment Court. A mediation date will be set by the Court.

34. Another abatement notice served on an owner allowing commercial premises to be used for residential purposes has asked for an extension of time to allow a resource consent application to be prepared and submitted.

Changes to the Resource Management Act affecting resource consents

35. A report will be presented at the Finance & Performance Committee to address fees for the new RMA applications introduced by the government’s recent changes to the legislation. All Councils are in the same position of having to conduct a Special Consultative Procedure to allow for these fees outside the Annual Plan process.

Land Information Memoranda (LIMs)

36. The number of LIMs has increased by 4% in the 2017 calendar year to date, as compared to the last calendar year to end August 2016.

37. In August there was a sudden and marked increase in the number of commercial LIM applications we received. In one month, the Council received 23% of the number of commercial LIMs received for the entire 2016 year.

Eco Design Advisor service

38. The Eco Design Advisors continue to be very busy, with appointments booked a month in advance.

39. Gregory Street has been confirmed into the Eco Design Advisor role for Hutt City Council. A meeting with the appropriate manager at Upper Hutt City Council has been arranged to discuss how best to provide the EDA service to Upper Hutt.

Enforcement matters from Regulatory Services

Parking

40. Paymypark is here – this cellphone application lets you pay for your parking space from your phone, so no more holding your breath as you return to your car. The application offers a start-stop function letting you pay for the exact time you occupy the parking space. It will warn you when your paid parking is about to expire and as long as you’re still within the park’s maximum time limit, you can extend your parking time remotely from your cell phone, to avoid getting a ticket. We have recently implemented this in Hutt City and done a “soft launch”, where we have not advertised the launch whilst we bed it in. You will see some advertising on this in the near future. For more information go to www.paymypark.com or download the application.

Animal Services

41. The last two months has been very busy with dog registrations for Wellington and Lower Hutt with a total of approximately 22k dogs being processed. Hutt City Council posted 9508 invoices. As of 4 August 2017, 8,355 dogs in Lower Hutt have been registered, 513 dogs have been removed from the system (either dead or gone from the district), and 410 new dogs were registered. Of these, 55% paid online, 39% were paid over the counter and 5% paid through NZ Post. Some 800 owners have not registered their dogs and they are being followed up with late fees and penalties if they are not paid by 7 August 2017.

42. The teams are innovating with some new ways of interacting with dogs and owners:

43. Dogs in Togs – was a real hit, in Khandallah pool on the last day of the year.

44. Dogs at the Movies at McEwan park – was used as a fund raiser for Helping You Help Animals (HUHA).

45. Bark in the park – yes you can take your dog to the next Lions rugby game in the “cake tin”. Dogs with owners will have a designated area away from Mum, Dad and the kids.

Environmental Health

46. As you may be aware as part of the new rules for food retailers, Councils that approve those retailers are required to get accredited to approve the new requirements. While councils get ready to be accredited which takes about a year and Councils that wish to approve retailers that have changed over to Food control plans must apply and be granted a fast track approval. Hutt City has applied and been approved for a fast track approvals as of 6 September 2017. This approval is only valid for two years giving time to gain accreditation.

47. Annual billings were sent out in mid-September under the new fee schedule. Staff are taking plenty of phone calls from food premises operators querying the changes required under the Food Act 2014. This will be followed by a debt collection process and enforcement action for anyone operating without a licence.

48. Supersave Naenae – Council had a two day District Licensing Committee (DLC) hearing that took place in August for a new off licence application in Hillary Court, Naenae. The DLC decision arrived on Tuesday 29 August 2017 refusing the licence. Licensing Inspectors, NZ Police and Regional Public Health opposed the application and the DLC agreed with their reasons for the opposition.

Consultation

49. Consultation was undertaken with affected parties on notified resource consents.

Legal Considerations

50. The group administers the RMA, the Building Act, LGOIMA, the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act, Food Act and other legislation. No other legal considerations apply in terms of the content of this paper.

Financial Considerations

51. There are no financial considerations.

Other Considerations

52. 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 meets the current needs of the community by ensuring that development is dealt with in a controlled and legitimate manner.

Appendices

No.	Title	Page
1 ⇩	Environmental Consents Graphs at 31 August 2017	45
2 ⇩	Regulatory Services enforcement to August 2017	64

Author: Geoff Stuart

Divisional Manager, Regulatory Services

Author: Helen Oram

Divisional Manager Environmental Consents

Approved By: Helen Oram

Delegated General Manager Governance and Regulatory

[1] When acting in this capacity the committee has a quasi-judicial role.

Deputy Mayor D Bassett	Cr L Bridson
Cr C Barry	Cr J Briggs
Cr T Lewis	Cr M Lulich
Cr C Milne	Cr L Sutton
Mayor W R Wallace (ex-officio)

ANIMAL SERVICES	June	July	August
Dogs impounded	74	64	74
Infringements issued	8	1	40
Prosecutions	-	-	1

PARKING SERVICES	June	July	August
Infringements	3978	3221	3461
Stationary offences (WOFs, tyres)	1066	961	1072

Description	Author	Cycle 5, 2017	Pending
General Manager’s Report – Governance and Regulatory	H Oram	ü
Activity Report: Advice and Support – Strategy and Policy	W Moore	ü
Public Art Policy/Public Art Advisory Group	W Moore	ü
Significance and Engagement Policy	W Moore	ü
Development Contributions Policy	W Moore	ü
Risk and Resilience Costs Update	W Moore	ü
Proposed Road Stopping of Leal Road for the Access-way between Pollard Street and Antrim Cres, Wainuiomata	UPL		ü
Discount Registration for Therapy Dogs	L Dalton		ü
Days Bay Reserve Classification	B Hodgins		ü

ENVIRONMENTAL INSPECTIONS	June	July	August
Noise attendances	223	221	232
Noise notices issued	47	41	42
Noise equipment seized	5	-	2