2                                       27 September 2018

HUTT CITY COUNCIL

 

Community Services Committee

 

Report of a meeting held in the Walter Nash Centre, Korimako Room,
20/22 Taine Street Taita on

 Thursday 27 September 2018 commencing at 6.00pm

 

 

PRESENT:                        Cr G Barratt (Chair)                 Cr L Bridson

Cr M Lulich (from 6.04pm)    Cr C Milne

Cr L Sutton                              Mayor WR Wallace

                                                 

 

APOLOGIES:                  Cr Edwards, Cr Briggs and Cr McDonald

 

IN ATTENDANCE:       Mr T Stallinger, Chief Executive

Mr M Reid, General Manager, City and Community Services
Mr B Kibblewhite, General Manager, Corporate Services (part meeting)

Ms M Laban, Divisional Manager, Community Projects and Relationships

Mr B Hodgins, Divisional Manager, Parks and Gardens

Ms J Araiti, Senior Community Facilitator
Ms J Randall, Committee Advisor

 

 

 

 

PUBLIC BUSINESS

 

 

1.       APOLOGIES 

Resolved: (Cr Barratt/Cr Sutton)                                       Minute No. CSC 18401

“That the apologies received from Cr Edwards, Cr Briggs and Cr McDonald be accepted and leaves of absence be granted.”

 

2.       PUBLIC COMMENT

Cr Lulich joined the meeting at 6.04pm

 

Comments are recorded under the item to which they relate.

 

 

 

 

 

3.       Presentations

a)

The North East Evaluation (18/1384)

The General Manager, City and Community Services and Mr J Wells, the Managing Director of ‘DOT Loves Data’ (the company) elaborated on work undertaken by the company to measure changes in deprivation levels in Lower Hutt.

Mr Wells explained the DOT Loves Data research had evaluated the outcomes and results of wellbeing work undertaken by Council in deprived areas of Lower Hutt. The company had compared these areas to areas of similar deprivation levels in Porirua and South Auckland. He displayed a presentation showing the comparative changes in direction for a number of deprivation indicators.

Mr Wells advised crime levels in deprived areas of Lower Hutt had fallen, participation in sports was increasing and educational attainment was improving. He further advised harmful gambling was increasing and benefit claimant rates and the number of single parents were not reducing alongside the national rate. He said socio-economic and unemployment rates were improving at a slower rate than the national average.  He believed the sports and education figures provided a positive indication that deprivation indicators would improve. He said from a statistical point of view, the improvements in crime, sports and education statistics were strongly correlated to the increase in Council’s expenditure in high deprivation areas of Lower Hutt.

In response to questions from members, Mr Wells said the absolute figures from his research were included in the background information and were available to members, but required explanation. He advised the statistics from five years ago were included as a comparison. He agreed the absolute figures for gambling were statistically high. He considered this might be a result of the number of gambling machines in these areas but did not know the reason.

The General Manager, City and Community Services believed the overall picture was positive. He said encouraging generational change was not easy and that gambling and income inequality were big challenges.  He did not believe the Naenae Bowling Centre gambling machines would have contributed to the increase in gambling harm. He agreed to report back to the Committee on ideas and strategies for addressing these issues.

 

b)

TAKA Trust (18/1206)

The Chair of the TAKA Trust (the Trust), Mr M Reid, expressed appreciation to Council for its ongoing support of the Trust. He noted children in high deprivation areas had ongoing challenges with education, housing affordability and obesity. He added the objective of the Trust and its partners was to make a difference in the north/east area. Initiatives had included iPads and Wi-Fi for Rata Street School students, bikes in schools, a New Zealand Symphony Orchestra concert in Taita,  presents for children at Christmas and an annual fundraising golf tournament.

Members thanked the TAKA Trust for their work.

4.       CONFLICT OF INTEREST DECLARATIONS           

There were no conflict of interest declarations.

5.

Plastics Recycling Bin Petition by Students from Sacred Heart College (18/1454)

Report No. CSC2018/4/126 by the Committee Advisor

 

Ms J Go and Ms R Lock elaborated on their petition. They had became aware of the extent of plastic waste when their class took part in a World of Waste tour. They said their school already had rubbish and paper recycling bins but Ms Go and Ms Lock recognised that plastic recycling bins were also needed. They noted tonnes of plastic was going to the Lower Hutt landfill annually.

Ms Go and Ms Lock advised that they had approached Flight Plastics who said they would accept plastic waste from Sacred Heart College if it was delivered to them. Ms Go and Ms Lock asked Council to fund the cost of collecting and delivering their plastic waste to Flight Plastics. Their petition supported this request.

In response to questions from members, Ms Go and Ms Lock advised the plastic waste at their school was mostly from food and drink packaging. They believed plastic recycling bins would be well used by the school community. They considered the accessibility of bins was the most likely way to improve behaviour. They said they had discussed ideas with their teachers and had also contacted Enviroschools but had never received a response. They agreed that creating a culture where it was socially unacceptable to consume plastic could be a powerful way to change behaviour. They also agreed to investigate this idea.

Mayor Wallace expressed admiration for the students’ tenacity and agreed the problem of plastic waste was the responsibility of everyone. He was mindful the cost of providing a plastic recycling service for the school would be an additional expense for ratepayers. He suggested a change of culture would be the most effective solution to the problem. He congratulated the students on their initiative and requested officers investigate why Enviroschools had not responded to Ms Go and Ms Lock. He believed Enviroschools ran an effective programme that could assist them to reach their sustainability goals.

 

Resolved: (Cr Barratt/Cr Sutton)                                       Minute No. CSC 18402

“That, in terms of Standing Order 17, the Committee agrees to receive the petition, attached as Appendix 1 to the report, seeking the implementation of plastics recycling bins in every classroom and common area at all schools in Lower Hutt.”

6.

Plastics Recycling Bins in Lower Hutt Schools - Request from Sacred Heart College (18/1441)

Memorandum dated 30 August 2018 by the Sustainability and Resilience Manager

 

The Chief Executive advised that Council would be reviewing its waste streams in the near future. He said the information contained in the memorandum would be useful input for the re-tendering of contracts.

Mayor Wallace left the meeting at 7.22pm

 

Resolved: (Cr Barratt/Cr Bridson)                                      Minute No. CSC 18403

“That the Committee notes and receives the memorandum.”

 

7.

General Manager's Report (18/1334)

Report No. CSC2018/4/255 by the Divisional Manager, Community Projects and Relationships

 

Mayor Wallace rejoined the meeting at 7.26pm.

Speaking under public comment, Ms T Coleman, representing the Maungaraki Community Association (the Association) advised that the Dowse Drive Reserve suffered from poor drainage, making it unsuitable as a recreation reserve. She said multiple divots in the soggy soil filled with water in winter and the wet ground became rock hard and lumpy in summer. She confirmed the reserve had considerable use by the community after school hours but would be used more if drainage was installed.

Speaking under public comment, Mr M Shierlaw, representing the Maungaraki Community Association advised the Association intended applying for funding to upgrade the soccer nets and associated facilities. They were willing to add funds from their reserves if needed. He believed their application would attract more funding if drainage was installed. He asked that the request for drainage be considered as part of Council’s Annual Plan funding in 2019.

In response to questions from members, Ms Coleman advised the reserve was well used in summer, despite it being hard and lumpy. She confirmed officers had been communicating with the school on the drainage issue. She said the school used the reserve every day but that it had no budget to pay for the drainage. She considered the reserve was a community resource.

In response to a question from a member, Mr Shierlaw said that if Council agreed to contribute to the cost of drainage, an application to the Ministry of Education for the balance of the expense would have a better chance of success.

The Divisional Manager, Parks and Gardens said the installation of drains to upgrade the Dowse Drive Recreation Reserve would involve a significant investment of ongoing time and maintenance. He advised that improvements to natural drainage would cost more but would be a more effective improvement in the long term.

Cr Milne asked that the Divisional Manager, Parks and Gardens maintain effective communication with interest groups with regard to the drainage issue to enable a smooth process and a satisfactory outcome.

Mayor Wallace advised he had met with the Minister of Education and discussed the drainage issue. The Minister was cognisant the reserve was Council’s responsibility but  agreed a partnership was necessary. Mayor Wallace noted a formal agreement was now needed to progress the matter. He requested a letter be sent to the Minister of Education to formalise a collaborative agreement with the Ministry. He believed there were other schools who would also welcome the opportunity for collaboration. He welcomed the opportunity to form partnerships and take advantage of other opportunities, such as installing playgrounds in local schools.

Speaking under public comment, Mr N Janke-Gilman representing Changing Places advised that standard accessibility toilets were not accessible to those who needed to lie down to change, needed assistance or special equipment. He advised that New Zealand had only one Changing Places toilet though there were a number in the planning stages. In comparison he noted that the United Kingdom had over 1000 of these facilities.  He added that the Divisional Manager, Parks and Gardens was exploring various options for a facility in Lower Hutt.

In response to questions from members, Mr Janke-Gilman agreed a suggested site in Stevens Grove was potentially suitable. He said it was centrally sited and close to many of Lower Hutt’s facilities and amenities. He advised the Changing Places facility needed to be a wet room big enough for those with profound disabilities, two helpers and equipment. He did not consider the Queensgate family room would be big enough.

In response to questions from member, Ms R Webbie, representing Friends of Waiwhetu Stream (the group) took questions from members. Ms Webbie advised the current level of funding the group received covered the cost of plants but did not cover the cost of ensuring the survival of previous plantings. She noted that unless plants were maintained their survival rate was dubious. She added that weed mat had helped but was expensive. She said the group needed ongoing funding but did not fundraise. She advised five plantings had been completed over two or three years at different sections of the stream. She did not believe the weed mat would be biodegradable but envisaged it could be removed after a few years. She added that the group used herbicide to create a border between the plants and the grass.

Mayor Wallace proposed the group write to him after their next meeting. He suggested there could be corporate organisations willing to support the initiative.

The Divisional Manager, Parks and Gardens advised he was working with the group on a detailed 10 year plan and the level of funding required. He said he was investigating the consequences of using weed mat. He further advised that Council would assume care of plant maintenance once the plants had become established.

Mayor Wallace agreed the Friends of Waiwhetu Stream provided value for money and he expressed appreciation for the volunteer time they gave to the city and its environment.  He requested a progress report on their funding from officers and suggested a more permanent funding arrangement could be mooted.

The General Manager, City and Community Services and the Divisional Manager, Community Projects and Relationships elaborated on the report.

In response to questions from members, the Divisional Manager, Community Projects and Relationships advised the Koraunui Stokes Valley Community Hub had created a positive environment for Scott Court since it had opened. She added there had been a 20% reduction in cigarette sales from the supermarket since the area was designated smokefree. She agreed to provide more information about community funding in the next update but advised most funding targeted children as well as elderly who suffered from isolation.

In response to questions from members, the Divisional Manager, Parks and Gardens advised that Community Plan action items were included in the agenda with additional information so that members had the opportunity to consider them for the 2019 Annual Plan.

 

Resolved: (Cr Barratt/Mayor Wallace)                              Minute No. CSC 18404

“That the Committee notes the updates contained in the report.”

8.       QUESTIONS   

There were no questions.

 

There being no further business the Chair declared the meeting closed at 7.40pm.

 

 

 

 

 

Cr G Barratt

CHAIR

 

 

 

CONFIRMED as a true and correct record

Dated this 9th day of October 2018