2                                         1 September 2017

Wellington Water Committee

 

Minutes of a meeting held in Committee Room 1, Wellington City Council,
101 Wakefield Street, Wellington on

 Friday 1 September 2017 commencing at 1.00pm

 

 

 PRESENT:                   Deputy Mayor D Bassett (Chair) (HCC)

                                      Mayor W Guppy (Deputy Chair) (UHCC)

                                      Cr I Pannett (WCC)

                                      Cr J Brash (GWRC)

                                      Cr R Leggett (Alternate PCC)

                                               

APOLOGIES:              An apology was received from Mayor Tana (PCC)

 

IN ATTENDANCE:   Mr T Stallinger, Chief Executive, HCC  (part meeting)

                                      Mr C Crampton, Chief Executive (WWL) (part meeting)

                                      Mr J Strahl, Chair (WWL)

                                      Ms K Stannard, Divisional Manager Secretariat Services (HCC)
Mrs H Clegg, Minute Taker (HCC)

 

 

PUBLIC BUSINESS

 

 

1.       APOLOGY 

“That the apology from received from Mayor Tana, Porirua City Council be accepted and leave of absence be granted.”

 

2.       PUBLIC COMMENT

There was no public comment.

3.       CONFLICT OF INTEREST DECLARATIONS     

          Members noted that Deputy Mayor Bassett declared that one of the candidates was known to him.

4.       MINUTES 

Resolved:                                                                              Minute No. WWC 17401

“That the minutes of the meeting of the Wellington Water Committee held on
Wednesday, 31 May 2017 be confirmed as a true and correct record.”

 

4.

Engagement with Councils on the 10 Year Service Plan (17/1264)

Report No. WWC2017/4/111 by the WW

 

The Chief Executive, Wellington Water Ltd (WWL) elaborated on the report. 

In response to a question from a member, the Chief Executive, WWL agreed to prepare a report on options to deal with the future capacity of infrastructure and in particular water usage.

Members discussed Greater Wellington Regional Council’s (GWRC) bulk water item in Year 18 of its Long Term Plan and the work required from each Council which would involve forward planning in budgets.  Members agreed that conversations needed to occur now in preparation for the upcoming Long Term Plans.

In response to a question from a member concerning ‘trade-offs’, the Chief Executive, WWL agreed that only projects intended to occur should be included and that once modelling had been completed, WWL would have a clearer picture of how the timing of each project (and any changes to the timing) would impact on GWRC levies.  He further agreed that all pieces of work by all parties should be co-ordinated to avoid double handling.  He asked that if Councils were in individual talks with developers about large projects, they inform WWL so modelling can be adjusted accordingly.  He requested clear communication lines between all parties. 

Members discussed the merits of other forms of controlling water usage aside from levies or rates.

 

Resolved:                                                                              Minute No. WWC 17402

“That the Wellington Water Committee receives the report on developing the three waters 10 and 30 year service plans and Wellington Water Ltd’s progress to date in engaging with Councils.”

 

5.

Company Update Report (17/1261)

Report No. WWC2017/4/112 by the WW

 

The Chief Executive, Wellington Water Ltd (WWL) elaborated on the report.  He highlighted the Scottish Water visit. 

The Chair asked for a report detailing the structure of Scottish Water and its regulatory operations.

The Chief Executive, WWL summarised the proposed WWL Service Delivery Strategy and elaborated on a draft pamphlet relating to how service alliances would create better value for water network customers in urban Wellington.  He assured members that once the pamphlet was finalised, copies would be made available to all Councils.

With regard to resilience planning, the Chief Executive, WWL explained that the major problem was the initial week that individuals would have to provide their own water, before the community water stations were set up.  He noted that funding for individual water tanks was an issue.  He added that WWL could organise installation of water tanks to individual properties beginning in 2018, with possibly other resilience items (eg fire extinguisher and portable toilets) also delivered.  However the purchase of the tanks was an issue.

Members agreed that the tanks could not be provided for free and careful planning and education was required.  The Chief Executive, WWL agreed to provide a report detailing budget implications for the supply of water tanks.

The Chief Executive, HCC advised that the residents of Waiwhetu had recently all contributed over $2,000 each for the repair and/or replacement of all stormwater lateral pipes to improve and control stormwater runoff in that suburb.  He added payment was via an additional rate. 

In response to a question from a member, the Chief Executive, WWL advised that WWL was continuing to look for alternative accommodation, which he believed would be found within three to five years.  He assured members that should a significant event occur within the time frame, the logistics of responding had been assessed.

In response to a question from a member concerning the sewerage discharge into the harbour, the Chief Executive, WWL explained that WWL was working to increase its response rate to higher than 80% of raw sewage being collected and transported off-site, should another pipe break occur.

In response to a question from a member concerning the proposed contractor panel for CAPEX works, the Chief Executive, WWL elaborated on how the process would work using the existing six to eight firms who regularly tendered for all jobs.

 

Resolved:                                                                              Minute No. WWC 17403

“That the Committee receives this Company Update Report and asks Wellington Water Ltd to report back on Scottish Water and water tanks.”

6.

Water Sector Structural Reform (17/1256)

Report No. WWC2017/4/202 by the Deputy Mayor

 

Members discussed the various water sector reviews currently underway.  They agreed to wait until after the general election to assess if any action was required.

 

Resolved:                                                                              Minute No. WWC 17404

“That the Committee discuss potential implications of water sector reviews and how they could impact on Wellington Water, the region and country.”

7.

Final Proposal for a Combined Wairarapa District Council (17/1252)

Memorandum dated 17 Aug 2017 by the Divisional Manager, Secretariat Services

 

The Chair briefly updated members on the Final Proposal for a combined Wairarapa District Council expressing disappointment that the Local Government Commission had not included discussion concerning theWairarapa region joining Wellington Water Ltd.

 

Resolved:                                                                              Minute No. WWC 17405

“That the Committee receives the information and notes Sir Wira Gardiner’s letter to the Committee attached as Appendix 1 to the memorandum.”

8.       Information Item

Verbal Updates by the Chair on Regional Visits (17/1254)

The Chair advised that he and Mayor Guppy had completed visits to all the Wairarapa Councils providing them with information on how Wellington Water Limited operated.   He further advised he had been asked to present to Palmerston North City Council and that together with the Chief Executive, HCC, he had presented to the Local Government New Zealand conference. 

9.       EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC

Resolved:                                                                           Minute No. WWC 17406

“That the public be excluded from the following parts of the proceedings of this meeting, namely:

10.  Appointment of Company Directors, Wellington Water Limited (17/1246), 11.Wellington Water Limited Board Membership (17/1247) and 12 Chair of Wellington Water Limited (17/1245)

The general subject of each matter to be considered while the public is excluded, the reason for passing this resolution in relation to each matter, and the specific grounds under section 48(1) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 for the passing of this resolution are as follows:

(A)

(B)

(C)

 

 

 

General subject of the matter to be considered.

Reason for passing this resolution in relation to each matter.

Ground under section 48(1) for the passing of this resolution.

 

 

 

Appointment of Company Directors, Wellington Water Ltd

The withholding of the information is necessary to protect the privacy of natural persons. (s7(2)(a)).

That the public conduct of the relevant part of the proceedings of the meeting would be likely to result in the disclosure of information for which good reason for withholding exist.

 

 

 

Wellington Water Ltd Board Membership.

The withholding of the information is necessary to protect the privacy of natural persons. (s7(2)(a)).

That the public conduct of the relevant part of the proceedings of the meeting would be likely to result in the disclosure of information for which good reason for withholding exist.

 

 

 

 Chair of Wellington Water Ltd.

The withholding of the information is necessary to protect the privacy of natural persons. (s7(2)(a)).

That the public conduct of the relevant part of the proceedings of the meeting would be likely to result in the disclosure of information for which good reason for withholding exist.

This resolution is made in reliance on section 48(1) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 and the particular interest or interests protected by section 6 or 7 of that Act which would be prejudiced by the holding of the whole or the relevant part of the proceedings of the meeting in public are as specified in Column (B) above.”

There being no further business the Chair declared the meeting closed at 2.15pm and the non-public portion of the meeting finished at 3.15pm.

 

 

 

 

Deputy Mayor David Bassett

CHAIR

CONFIRMED as a true and correct record
Dated this 22nd day of November 2017