Hutt Valley Services Committee
Minutes of a meeting held in the Council Chambers, 2nd Floor, 30 Laings Road,
Lower Hutt on
Friday 4 May 2018 commencing at 9.30am
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PRESENT: |
Cr G McDonald, HCC (Chair) |
Cr D Wheeler, UHCC (Deputy Chair) |
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Deputy Mayor D Bassett, HCC |
Cr L Bridson, HCC |
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Cr C Carson, UHCC |
Mayor W Guppy, UHCC |
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Cr P Lambert, UHCC |
Mayor WR Wallace, HCC (from 9.32am) |
APOLOGIES: An apology was received from Mayor Wallace, HCC for lateness.
IN ATTENDANCE: Mr T Stallinger, Chief Executive, HCC
Mr C Upton, Chief Executive, UHCC
Mr B Sherlock, Contracts Manager, Solid Waste, HCC (part meeting)
Mr G Stuart, Divisional Manager, Regulatory Services and Emergency Management, HCC (part meeting)
Mr B Latimer, Parks and Reserves Manager, UHCC (part meeting)
Mr D Newth, Financial Accounting Manager, HCC (part meeting)
Ms O Miller, Policy Advisor, HCC (part meeting)
Mr G Sewell, Principal Policy Advisor, HCC (part meeting)
Mr D Bentley, Senior Environmental Health Officer – RMA and Contracts, HCC (part meeting)
Ms D Male, Committee Advisor, HCC
PUBLIC BUSINESS
1. APOLOGIES
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Resolved: (Cr McDonald/Cr Bridson) Minute No. HVSC 18201 “That the apology for lateness from Mayor Wallace, HCC, be accepted.” |
2. PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment.
3. CONFLICT OF INTEREST DECLARATIONS
There were no conflict of interest declarations.
4. Minutes
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Resolved: (Cr McDonald/Cr Wheeler) Minute No. HVSC 18202 “That the minutes of the meeting of the Hutt Valley Services Committee held on Friday, 2 March 2018, be confirmed as a true and correct record.” |
5. Recommendations to Council - Hutt City Council - 22 May 2018 Upper Hutt City Council – 23 May 2018
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The Policy Advisor, Hutt City Council elaborated on the report . Mayor Wallace, HCC joined the meeting at 9.32am. |
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ReCOMMENDED: (Cr McDonald/Mayor Guppy) Minute No. HVSC 18203 “That the Committee recommends that: (i) Hutt City Council: (a) notes at its meeting held on 13 March 2018 it approved a timeframe to undertake the development of the Proposed Health and Hygiene Bylaw (Minute No. C 18134(3)); (b) notes the reasons for the revocation of the decision is because of unexpected staffing shortages and other workload priorities; and (c) agrees to revoke Minute No. C 18134(3) (attached as Appendix 1 to the report); (ii) Hutt City and Upper Hutt City Councils agrees to the proposed timeframe outlined below for its development: (a) 4 May 2018 - Hutt Valley Services Committee – sign off timeframe; (b) 22 May 2018 - Hutt City Council ordinary meeting; (c) 23 May 2018 - Upper Hutt City Council ordinary meeting; (d) 23 November 2018 Hutt Valley Services Committee – sign off proposed bylaw recommending establishing a joint hearings subcommittee and membership of that subcommittee; (e) 11 December 2018 - Hutt City Council ordinary meeting; and (f) 19 December 2018 - Upper Hutt City Council ordinary meeting. (iii) notes after 15 January 2019 public notice will be given in the Hutt News and Leader papers and that the Special consultative procedure starts January 2019; (iv) delegates to the joint hearings subcommittee to agree on a time, date and location of a hearing if submissions are received; (v) notes any other action required from the joint hearings subcommittee to be determined after submission period has closed; and (vi) notes that the joint hearings subcommittee will meet to hear submissions and make recommendations on the proposed Bylaw for consideration and adoption by Hutt City and Upper Hutt City Councils.” |
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PROJECT PENCARROW PROGRESS REPORT 24 JANUARY 2018 - 11 APRIL 2018 (18/589) Report No. HVSC2018/2/52 by the Wastewater Contracts Manager, Wellington Water |
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The Contracts Manager, Solid Waste, Hutt City Council elaborated on the report. |
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Resolved: (Cr McDonald/Mayor Wallace) Minute No. HVSC 18204 “That the Committee notes the progress on Project Pencarrow as outlined in the report.” |
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SILVERSTREAM LANDFILL UPDATE (18/587) Report No. HVSC2018/2/53 by the Landfill Consultant, Tonkin and Taylor |
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The Contracts Manager, Solid Waste, Hutt City Council elaborated on the report. He added that the current Ministry for the Environment (MfE) audit of the Waste levy collection, had not raised any items of concern. |
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In response to questions from members, the Contracts Manager, Solid Waste, Hutt City Council advised that Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) had reviewed complaints received relating to odour. GWRC had not yet detected an odour level above a level which would affect the resource consent of the landfill. Nevertheless, he acknowledged the concerns of nearby residents, reiterated Council’s desire to be a good neighbour, and stated that staff, consultants and contractors were all focussed on minimising any odour nuisance. He added that Pioneer Energy Limited (PEL) was in the process of renewing its resource consent for the operation of the Gas Power Plant. It appeared that GWRC may be looking to increase PEL’s responsibility for odours coming from the landfill.
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In response to further questions from members, the Contracts Manager, Solid Waste, Hutt City Council advised that all landfills had some odour issues. He advised that staff had visited some of New Zealand’s largest and best landfills to observe best practice, and felt that Silverstream Landfill was performing comparatively well. The residential properties nearby were quite far away in landfill terms, unfortunately there seemed to be a preferential route for the odour, affecting properties in a specific/limited area in Stokes Valley. He added that for any staff working at the landfill, hydrogen sulphide would be a concern, so staff generally wore monitors to alert them to the presence of the gas. |
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Resolved: (Cr McDonald/Cr Wheeler) Minute No. HVSC 18205 “That the Committee notes the progress on Silverstream Landfill.” |
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Akatarawa Cemetery Update (18/480) Report No. HVSC2018/2/54 by the Parks and Reserves Manager, Upper Hutt City Council |
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The Parks and Reserves Manager, Upper Hutt City Council elaborated on the report. |
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In response to questions from members, the Parks and Reserves Manager, Upper Hutt City Council advised that the general trend of 48% burials and 52% interment of ashes remained. He further advised February’s low interment numbers had effected budgets, although operational costs could fluctuate throughout the year. In the funeral sector there might be a higher average for cremations, although not all ashes were then interred to the cemetery.
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The Parks and Reserves Manager, Upper Hutt City Council
advised that he was not aware of any bylaws preventing the spreading of ashes
in certain areas. He highlighted a bigger issue would be with the volume of
ashes spread in one area. |
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Resolved: (Deputy Mayor Bassett/Cr Wheeler) Minute No. HVSC 18206 “That the report be noted and received.” |
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Hutt Valley Trunk Wastewater Services Financial Statements for the Period Ended 31 March 2018 (18/596) Report No. HVSC2018/2/55 by the Financial Accounting Manager, Hutt City Council |
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The Financial Accounting Manager, Hutt City Council elaborated on the report. He advised that the forecast for $0.1M deficit at the end of the year was due to the depreciation level as it had been underappreciated what this would be. It was a non-cash item, so it would not be shared between the two Councils. It was likely to have an opposite effect with a potentially lower charge to Upper Hutt City Council going forward. He added that revaluation of assets reflected a $8.3M increase in the asset values. In response to a question from a member, the Financial Accounting Manager, Hutt City Council confirmed that there were no items of concern in respect of exception reporting. |
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Resolved: (Cr McDonald/Mayor Wallace) Minute No. HVSC 18207 “That the Committee: (i) notes the financial statements for the Hutt Valley Trunk Wastewater Services for the period ended 31 March 2018, attached as Appendix 1 to the report; (ii) notes a Year-to-Date net deficit of $8.6 million which is $0.3 million unfavorable to budget; (iii) notes a Year-End-Forecast net deficit of $11.2 million which is $0.1 million unfavourable to budget; (iv) notes that the current share of operational funding from Upper Hutt City Council of 34% and Hutt City Council of 66%; and (v) notes that the current share of capital funding from Upper Hutt City Council of 30% and Hutt City Council of 70%.” |
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Report No. HVSC2018/2/56 by the Manager, Compliance Services, Upper Hutt City Council |
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The Divisional Manager, Regulatory Services and Emergency Management, Hutt City Council elaborated on the report. |
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In response to questions from members, the Divisional Manager, Regulatory Services and Emergency Management, Hutt City Council advised that there was a $30 charge for microchipping dogs and cats, which was about half the fee charged by vets. He believed the $600k donated to the SPCA for de-sexing cats and dogs could last around two to three months. He confirmed that owners of dangerous dog breeds had been contacted directly in relation to this. There had also been an application put in for funding from the $900k fund available nationally from Government for de-sexing dangerous dog breeds. He estimated that 90% of dangerous dog breeds in the Hutt Valley were already de-sexed.
Members requested that going forward the report would include comparison statistics for the previous year.
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Resolved: (Cr McDonald/Cr Wheeler) Minute No. HVSC 18208 “That the report be noted and received.” |
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Report No. HVSC2018/2/57 by the Divisional Manager, Regulatory Services and Emergency Management, Hutt City Council |
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Resolved: (Cr McDonald/Cr Wheeler) Minute No. HVSC 18209 “That the Committee notes and receives the information.” |
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HEALTH OFFICE ACTIVITIES UPDATE (18/560) Report No. HVSC2018/2/58 by the Senior Environmental Health Officer - RMA and Contracts |
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The Senior Environmental Health Officer – RMA and Contracts, Hutt City Council elaborated on the report. He added that going forward the report would focus on trends, with an emphasis on alcohol, food and noise complaint data. |
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In response to questions from members, the Senior Environmental Health Officer – RMA and Contracts, Hutt City Council advised that the number of noise complaints for Lower Hutt were consistent with figures from last year which was expected during the summer months.
The Senior Environmental Health Officer – RMA and Contracts, Hutt City Council further advised that in relation to infectious disease reports, his team’s work with Regional Public Health, amusement devices, freedom camping and the restriction on scattering ashes on Lower Hutt parks and reserves and from wharves.
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Resolved: (Cr McDonald/Deputy Mayor Bassett) Minute No. HVSC 18210 “That the Committee notes and receives the information.” |
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MINOR ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA - Regional Joint Services Opportunities |
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Resolved: (Deputy Mayor Bassett/Cr McDonald) Minute No. HVSC 18211 “The Committee notes that Regional Joint Services Opportunities was not included on the agenda for the meeting, for the reason that the information was not received until after the agenda had been delivered.” |
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Mayor Guppy, Upper Hutt City Council expressed thanks to Hutt City Council for allowing Upper Hutt residents to use Lower Hutt libraries whilst their library was out of use.
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Deputy Mayor Bassett, Hutt City Council advised that at the recent Hutt City Council’s City Development Committee meeting a report had been considered relating to the exhibition and displaying of archives. Following the meeting information from a member of the public, suggested the possibility of working with Upper Hutt City Council on the objective. He requested that officers report back on working closer together with Upper Hutt City Council on displaying archives jointly.
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The Chief Executive, Upper Hutt City Council advised that Upper Hutt City Council archives were stored digitally, with public access via a website, Upper Hutt Recollect, instead of public access to the physical archives.
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Members from Hutt City Council advised that their archives were quite full and that officers were exploring options on how best store the archives. Members were interested in how Upper Hutt City Council displayed their information, to learn from this and possibly work together to achieve the objectives in the Hutt Valley.
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Members from Upper Hutt City Council added that there was space in their libraries for displays which were updated on a regular basis and the Expressions Centre had a commitment to display archives. |
There being no further business the Chair declared the meeting closed at 10.24am.
Cr G McDonald
CHAIR
CONFIRMED as a true and correct record
Dated this 31st day of August 2018