Community Services Committee
Report of a meeting
held in the Council Chambers, 2nd Floor, 30 Laings Road,
Lower Hutt on
Thursday 30 November 2017 commencing at 6.00pm
PRESENT: Cr G Barratt (Chair)
Cr L Bridson Cr J Briggs (Deputy Chair)
Cr S Edwards Cr M Lulich
Cr C Milne Cr L Sutton
APOLOGIES: Mayor WR Wallace and Cr G McDonald
IN ATTENDANCE: Cr C Barry
Mr T Stallinger, Chief Executive
Mr M Reid, General Manager, City and Community Services
Ms C Johnston, Director, Museums
Ms D Hunter, Community Advisor, Funding and Community Contracts
Mr M Sherwood,
Divisional Manager, Leisure Active
Ms S Mann, Divisional Manager, Libraries
Ms W Moore, Divisional Manager, Strategy and Planning (part meeting)
Mr S Keatley, Huia Pool and Fitness Manager
Mr M Mercer, Divisional Manager, Community Hubs
Ms M Laban, Divisional Manager, Community Projects and Relationships
Ms E Jackman, Youth Council
Ms J Randall, Committee Advisor
PUBLIC BUSINESS
1. APOLOGIES
|
Resolved: (Cr Sutton/Cr Briggs) Minute No. CSC 17501 “That the apologies from received from Mayor WR Wallace and Cr G McDonald be accepted and leave of absence be granted.” |
2. PUBLIC COMMENT
Comments are recorded under the item to which they relate.
3. CONFLICT OF INTEREST DECLARATIONS
There were no conflict of interest declarations.
|
|
|
|
|
Resolved: (Cr Barratt/Cr Bridson) Minute No. CSC 17502 “That, in terms of Standing Order 10.4, precedence be accorded to item 5 dealing with Community Development Fund Recommended Allocations.” The item is recorded in the order in which it is listed on the order paper. |
4. Recommendations to Council - 12 December 2017
|
a) |
|
|
|
The Divisional Manager, Leisure Active, elaborated on the report. He suggested the current entry fee had not been a barrier to pool entry and he had seen little evidence that removing the cost would achieve the desired outcome of improving access to swimming for under-fives. In response to questions from members, the Divisional Manager, Leisure Active advised that children visiting the pools did not pay for entry if they were attending swimming lessons unless they were part of a school visit. He advised lessons had been offered to all schools but that fees varied according to the decile rating of the school. He believed extra funding could help to extend the programme. He agreed cost could be a barrier to swimming lessons although free after-school swimming lessons in Naenae had not had great success. He considered that lessons targeting schools and early childhood centres delivered the best value for money. In response to questions from members, the Divisional Manager, Leisure Active said he would not advise increasing fees for other users since fees were already comparable with other pools and an increase might limit visits from those sectors. He noted fees for children, the elderly and those with a disability were already discounted. He believed a small increase in adult charges to $5.70 to offset free entry to under-fives would not increase usage by children and suggested there were other factors deterring pool use by children. He explained the Christchurch City Council trial of free swimming for pre-schoolers began in September and trial data was not yet available. He agreed that promotion was important but noted that while Auckland had substantively promoted free swimming for under-16s, within two years of introduction numbers had reverted to baseline. |
|
|
Crs Briggs and Edwards suggested that officers consider a range of options that might improve access to swimming for children in a targeted way. Members discussed options to adjust charges for children in the next financial year. Councillor Milne left the meeting at 7.33pm The motion was taken in parts. Parts (i) – (iii) were declared CARRIED on the voices and parts (iv) and (v) were declared CARRIED on a show of hands. |
|
|
Recommended: (Cr Barratt/Cr Bridson/Cr Briggs) Minute No. CSC 17503 “That the Committee recommends that Council:
(i) notes that Hutt City Council pools are currently well used by residents; (ii) notes that there is no evidence that making swimming free for under-fives produces long term increased usage by this group; (iii) notes that other barriers such as transport and parental support and ability are greater limiting factors to usage than price alone; (iv) agrees to remain within the current charging policy for the 2017-18 financial year; and
(v) refers the matter to the Community Plan Committee to consider options for targeted investment for improving access to swimming for children.” |
|
|
Councillor Milne re-joined the meeting at 7.34pm
|
|
b) |
Accessibility and Inclusiveness Plan Advisory Group Meeting Fees (17/1701) The Divisional Manager, Strategy and Planning elaborated on the report. |
|
|
In response to questions from a member, the Divisional Manager, Strategy and Planning advised that if payments were made as reimbursements they would still comply with tax rules. She further advised the cost of seven members attending four meetings per year would be $1,360.00. |
|
|
Recommended: (Cr Barratt/Cr Lulich) Minute No. CSC 17504 “That the Committee recommends that Council: (i) agrees that the meeting fee for members of the Accessibility and Inclusiveness Plan Advisory Group will be classed as reimbursement of reasonable costs associated with attending Advisory Group meetings; and (ii) notes that the meeting fee covers transport costs, meal costs and, where required, the cost of having a care giver to attend the meetings with individual Advisory Group members.” |
|
5. |
Community Development Fund Recommended Allocations 2017/2018 (17/1750) Report No. CSC2017/5/312 by the Community Advisor - Funding and Community Contracts |
|
|
Speaking under public comment, Ms Kathleen Samuelu representing EMPOWER Young Women explained that the group aimed to counter growing levels of youth suicide, depression and family violence. She had noticed and experienced a big gap in care and support for rangatahi in Lower Hutt, both for girls and for boys. In response to questions from members, Ms Samuelu advised that girls attending the programme worked together over several days. The programme provided a safe place where they could become confident to share their stories. She confirmed the programme needed consistent funding and agreed the group would keep in contact with Council officers for ongoing support. Speaking under public comment, Ms Sisi Tuala-Leafa representing EMPOWER Young Women advised the programme was capped at 25 and targeted girls aged 8 – 17. She emphasised the importance of the programme in engaging and building the self-esteem of young girls, stopping intergenerational issues and helping spread change in the community. She said the programme addressed issues using wananga, with older girls learning facilitator skills and how to care for younger girls. Ms Tuala-Leafa confirmed the programme had received funding that covered the cost of the venue and food for a six month initial pilot and that its success had encouraged them to continue the programme. Speaking under public comment, Ms Donna Amato representing EMPOWER Young Women explained the target of very young girls was due to a high number of youth suicides and provided more successful intervention. She added the programme also taught grandparents how to parent their grandchildren. She had noticed significant progress in the children attending the programme. In response to questions from members, Ms Amato acknowledged help had been received in the form of vans borrowed from Jitterbugs, Naku Tamariki and HCC; some food from local businesses, koha from whanau and visits from locals. She confirmed the venue, Wainuiomata Marae, was well known in the community. |
|
|
Resolved: (Cr Barratt/Cr Briggs) Minute No. CSC 17505 “That Standing Order 15.2 be suspended in order to extend the time for public comment.” |
|
|
Speaking under public comment, Ms Patria Tamaka representing E Tu Whaau said the Hutt Valley Methamphetamine Drop-In Clinic Project was inspired by a September workshop on methamphetamine addiction at the Walter Nash Centre. She added that she had also visited a walk-in treatment centre for methamphetamine addicts at Waitangirua and found people from the Hutt Valley attending. She recognised the importance of establishing a more accessible support centre for people in Lower Hutt. Ms Tamaka met with a range of health professionals and methamphetamine users to develop the six month pilot programme. In response to questions from members, Ms Tamaka advised funding would be used to provide resources, promotion, advisors and an Alcohol and Drug Counsellor who could short-list methamphetamine users to treatment centres. She advised an existing methamphetamine clinic in Naenae held education sessions but could not offer support or treatment.Speaking under public comment, Ms Dina Awarau representing Hutt Union and Community Health Service Incorporated (HUCHS) and Ms Deb Robinson, representing Ahuru Mowai, agreed this service was overdue in Pomare. They cautioned addiction was a growing issue in the community across society levels. Speaking under public comment, Ms Lacey Whiting, a counsellor representing HUCHS advised that eight to nine of the 10 families she worked with were impacted by methamphetamine. She concluded it was a growing social disease that caused suicide, violence, paranoia and psychosis. In response to a question from a member, Ms Whiting advised the group intended distributing a ‘quick card’ resource to further assist both users and their families. Speaking under public comment, Ms Sally Nicholl representing HUCHS advised there was a three month waiting list for methamphetamine treatment locally but there were no other local support centres for families and methamphetamine users. In response to a question from a member, Ms Nicholl said the group intended partnering with health providers and would like to extend the programme across the valley. The Community Advisor, Funding and Community Contracts, elaborated on the report. She noted it was pleasing to see a number of new initiatives in Lower Hutt that would make a positive difference to the community. She believed that when the new funding model was introduced there would be the opportunity to offer higher levels of funding to initiatives where appropriate. In response to questions from members, the Community Advisor, Funding and Community Contracts said she would be organising workshops in the New Year to advise on how the new funding structure would be implemented. She explained the purpose of the funding for Koha Hospitality Kitchen in Wingate and theTrade Store Coffee House which would be opening in Naenae in February. |
|
|
Resolved: (Cr Barratt/Cr Briggs) Minute No. CSC 17506 “That the Committee agrees to the recommended allocations for the Community Development Fund 2017/2018, attached as Appendix 1 to the report.” |
|
6. 5. |
Activity Review - Libraries (17/1738) Report No. CSC2017/5/6 by the Divisional Manager, Libraries |
|
|
The Divisional Manager, Libraries elaborated on the report. She noted that the growth in numbers visiting libraries, partnerships formed to deliver programmes and regional collaboration had been positive for sevice delivery. The General Manager, City and Community Services, acknowledged the positive results from Council’s Libraries Division. He advised Community Hubs was now its own division within Council but recognised the role that libraries had in their success. He further advised the hubs had increased visitors to libraries and also noted that libraries were the third most visited venues in Lower Hutt. In response to questions from members, the Divisional Manager, Libraries advised that Upper Hutt and Wellington Libraries did not use the Smart Network and were unlikely to join since they already used very different library manangement systems. She agreed the number of loans was slowly reducing, and confirmed there was no data on the type of items borrowed. She noted the libraries had no problem attracting staff, but low pay could be a factor in high turn-over. She advised it was ideal for libraries to stay open the same hours as their hub where possible but acknowledged this might also impact staff hours. She said it would be difficult to assess the qualitative value of libraries on communities but that visitor numbers and feedback from customers and partners were currently the main measures. She did not believe data was held on visitor activity in libraries. Cr Edwards suggested comparing the opening hours with those of libraries in other regions and whether reducing opening hours might allow Council libraries to save money and improve other areas of its service. |
|
|
Resolved: (Cr Barratt/Cr Bridson) Minute No. CSC 17507 “That the Committee: (i) notes the information contained in this report; (ii) notes that this review also meets the intent of section 17A of the Local Government Act 2002; and (iii) agrees that a full section 17A review should not be undertaken at present.” |
|
7. 6. |
General Manager's Report (17/1688) Report No. CSC2017/5/303 by the Divisional Manager, Libraries |
|
|
The General Manager, City and Community Services, elaborated on the report. In response to questions from members, the General Manager, City and Community Services said he would make enquiries about the level of support available in Clubhouses to young people who wanted to pursue less conventional career options. He would also make enquiries about data kept on graduates. The Director, Museums elaborated on the Museums. She advised that Nuku Tewhatewha was an important link to the Kingitanga movement and that the project could have positive outcomes for Lower Hutt. In response to questions from members, the Director, Museums advised that the project software cost included a three year contract for five devices and training for staff. She said the project’s success would be measured by a survey and by software tracking of visitor numbers. She noted there were also less tangible ways to view success such as cultural competency and links with iwi. She believed the project provided a long term tourism product that would draw significant interest from visitors. She acknowledged that under the current budget the project could not be completed in time for Te Matatini Kapa Haka Festival in February. |
|
|
Resolved: (Cr Barratt/Cr Edwards) Minute No. CSC 17508 “That the Committee: (i) notes the updates contained in the report; and (ii) provides officers with feedback and guidance regarding a proposal for the Nuku Tewhatewha pātaka at The Dowse Museum.” |
8. Information Item
|
Community Services Committee Work Programme (17/1684) Report No. CSC2017/5/149 by the Committee Advisor |
|
The Committee Advisor elaborated on the report. |
|
Resolved: (Cr Barratt/Cr Sutton) Minute No. CSC 17509 “That the Committee receives the work programme attached as Appendix 1 to the report.” |
9. QUESTIONS
There were no questions.
There being no further business the Chair declared the meeting closed at 8.23 pm.
Cr G Barratt
CHAIR
CONFIRMED as a true and correct record
Dated this 12th day of December 2017