COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE
Membership:	9
Meeting Cycle:	Meets on a six weekly basis, as required or at the requisition of the Chair
Quorum:	Half of the members
Reports to:	Council

PURPOSE

To assist the Council with the development of community services which contribute to the character, culture, and identity of the city and to pursue an active community development role in active partnership with local communities.

Determine and monitor:

• To approve and/or monitor where required the allocation of grants to the following areas:

o Community Development Fund.

o Community Houses/Centres Fund.

• Key Community Projects.

• Progress towards achievement of the Council’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy.

• Advocacy in conjunction with Healthy Families Lower Hutt to maintain and to improve health services, and to comment on issues to do with health that impinges upon the well-being of communities.

• Progress towards strategies, policies and visions that provide for social and cultural wellbeing of the City including but not limited to, Safe City and Liquor Bans.

• Official naming of parks, reserves and sports grounds within the provisions of Council’s Naming Policy[1] (Central, Eastern, Western and Northern Wards only).

• Parks, reserves and sports ground naming for sites that have a high profile, city-wide importance due to their size and location and/or cross ward or community boundaries.

• The granting of leases and licences in terms of Council policy to voluntary organisations for Council owned properties in their local area, for example, halls, including the granting of leases and licences to community houses and centres (Central, Eastern, Western and Northern Wards only).

• Removal and/or planting of street trees within the provisions of Council’s Operational Guide for Urban Forest Plan)[2] (Central, Eastern, Western and Northern Wards only).

• The granting of rights-of-way and other easements over local purpose reserves and granting of leases or licences on local purpose reserves (Central, Eastern, Western and Northern Wards only).

• The granting of leases and licences for new activities in terms of Council policy to community and commercial organisations over recreation reserves subject to the provisions of the Reserves Act 1977 and land managed as reserve subject to the provisions of the Local Government 2002, in their local area. (Central, Eastern, Western and Northern Wards only).

• Matters arising from the activities of Community Houses.

• Maintain an overview of work programmes carried out by the Council’s Libraries, Museums, Aquatics and Recreation, Parks and Reserves, Community Safety and Connections and Emergency Management activities.

Consider and make recommendations to Council:

Matters arising from Council for consideration by the Committee to report back.

General:

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

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

11 18 July 2019

Community Services Committee

27 June 2019

File: (19/852)

Report no: CSC2019/3/149

Mahia Atu Partnership Fund Recommended Allocations 2019/2020

Purpose of Report

1. The purpose of this report is for the Committee to agree to the recommended allocations made by the Mahia Atu Partnership Panel (the Panel) for the Mahia Atu Partnership Fund 2019/2020.

Recommendations

That the Committee:

(i) notes the recommendations made by the Mahia Atu Partnership Fund Panel under the Mahia Atu Partnership Fund;

(ii) agrees to the recommended allocations for the Mahia Atu Partnership Fund 2019/2020, attached as Appendix 1 to the report; and

(iii) agrees to transferring $119,000 from the unallocated funds under the Mahia Atu Partnership Fund to the Mahia Atu Community Fund 2019/2020 for allocation.

Background

2. Council implemented a new Funding Strategy in 2018.

3. The Community Funding Strategy aligns directly to Council’s vision and will see our investment directed to ‘improving equity across our city’ where it is needed most:

a. All tamariki (children) in persistent poverty or who are vulnerable, especially very young children, Maori and Pasifika children and/or children in sole-parent families.

b. All rangatahi (youth) not in education, training or employment.

c. All kaumatua (seniors) who are experiencing loneliness and social isolation.

4. The Community Funding Strategy has the following funding streams:

a. Kakano Fund: Kākano means seed, and this fund provides seed funding for new ideas that meet our vision in a give-it-a-go, safe-to-try environment. Funding is provided for one year.

b. Mahia Atu Fund: Mahia Atu loosely translates as “Make it Happen.” This fund is for community initiatives that are already up and running, are clearly making a difference in our communities. The Mahia Atu fund will consist of two funding streams:

(i) Mahia Atu Community Fund - provides one or two year funding for good community initiatives. If your initiative is a strong fit to our vision and is beginning to show good results.

(ii) Mahia Atu Partnership Fund – provides a small number of organisations with funding and provides longer term funding and a partnership approach (three to five years). If your initiative is a strong fit to our vision, can demonstrate outstanding results and strong collaboration.

5. 2018/2019 was the final year of contract/non contestable funding for Lower Hutt Citizens Advice Bureau, Petone Citizens Advice Bureau, Youth Inspire, Moera Community House, Petone Community House, Taita/Pomare Community House, Kelson Community Centre, Alicetown Community Centre and Team Naenae.

6. The above organisations were well aware of the changes and of Council’s new Community Funding Strategy. They all have the opportunity to apply under the new funding streams and will need to demonstrate their alignment to the strategy accordingly.

7. In 2018, Council agreed to carry over unallocated funding from the Mahia Atu Partnership fund of $119,000.

8. Under the 2019/2020 financial year there is budgetary provision of $413,000 made through the Annual Plan that is available to be allocated.

9. Therefore the total amount available to be allocated in 2019/2020 financial year is $532,000.

Mahia Atu Partnership Fund (the fund)

10. The fund opened on Monday 10 June 2019 and closed on Friday 28 June 2019. A total of seven applications were received under the fund.

11. Of those seven applications received, one application was incomplete and one was withdrawn (see Appendix 1 to the report).

12. Total funding requests received under this fund are $449,325.

13. Under the fund, an initial assessment is undertaken by the officer followed by the community organisation attending a Partnership Fund Panel meeting to speak to their application.

14. There is a total of $532,000 available to be allocated under the Mahia Atu Partnership Fund. As noted above, funding can be allocated for a period of between three to five years. Funding does not need to be fully allocated.

Discussion

15. The Panel assessed the applications against Council’s vision of improving equity across the city, especially for the tamaraki (children) rangatahi (youth) and kaumatua (seniors) who need it most.

16. In assessing applications and allocating funding the Panel had to consider the following key attributes:

a. clearly making a difference; collaborative approaches; well managed organisations; innovative approaches; and community ownership; and

b. how the request: increased access to opportunities and resources; built participation and a sense of belonging; strengthened local leadership.

17. Organisations that receive funding from this Partnership Fund must also demonstrate outstanding results and strong collaboration.

18. Council needs to be careful it does not set a precedent of recommending and agreeing to fund groups where the initiative is not showing any of the above.

19. Each of the organisations presented their application to the Panel. This was an opportunity for the Panel to direct any questions they had referring to the particular application.

20. Of the six applications presented, the Panel felt that the applications from Wesley Haven and Youth Inspire were a strong fit to Council’s vision and clearly demonstrated outstanding results and strong collaboration.

21. The application from Te Whare Tane was withdrawn after the Panel meeting.

22. Accordingly the Panel’s recommendations are attached as Appendix 1 to the report. It is recommending a total of $230,000 be allocated through the Mahia Atu Partnership Fund in 2019/2020.

23. Of the funds that are unallocated under the Mahia Atu Partnership fund, the Panel is requesting that $119,000 be transferred through and available to be allocated under the Mahia Atu Community Fund 2019/2020.

24. The Mahia Atu Community Fund is currently open and there is $140,000 available to be allocated. If the Committee agrees to the recommendation to transfer the $119,000 there will therefore be $259,000 available to be allocated this financial year.

25. Any funding recommendations through the Mahia Atu Community Fund will be presented in a report through this Committee at the September meeting.

26. The Panel has recommended that the applications received from Moera Community House, Birthright and Te Awakairangi Access Trust be declined by this fund and be considered under the Mahia Atu Community Fund (attached as Appendix 1 to the report).

27. The above applications were considered a good fit to Council’s vision and were beginning to show good results.

28. The Panel commented that the application from Te Whare Tane which was withdrawn, was for a very new initiative. Although a much needed and valued service, the benefit to the focus areas of this funding may be indirect benefit and the organisation still had a long way to go in demonstrating an alignment directly to the Community Funding Strategy.

29. The officer has spoken with each of the organisations who had applied under this fund advising them of the Panel’s recommendations as well as giving them an opportunity to speak to the report.

30. Any recipients under the Mahia Atu Partnership Fund will be allocated a Council officer to support their services and to also enhance, where possible, further collaboration with Council.

31. Organisations will be required to report outstanding results of their initiative in a round-the-table forum amongst other recipients of the Mahia Atu Community Fund and the Kakano Fund.

Consultation

32. The funds were advertised on Council’s website, through Council libraries and also included in emails to previous recipients of Council funding.

33. As noted above, officers met or spoke with the community groups offering assistance regarding a proposed funding application.

34. Once any decisions have been made, organisations will be notified and Council’s website will be updated to include successful recipients under the Mahia Atu Partnership Fund.

Legal Considerations

35. Funds must be used only for the purpose for which they were sought and/or approved.

36. Funds must be used within 10 months of the recipient being notified of their successful application.

37. Recipients are required to inform Council immediately if any difficulties arise which may compromise the service or project.

38. A complaint must be laid with the Police if any funds received under this scheme are stolen or misappropriated. Council must be notified of all such complaints to the Police.

39. The recipient must allow an audit on the use of Council’s funds should Council wish to undertake such an audit.

40. The recipient must recognise the support of Council in appropriate publicity material, annual reports and similar publications.

Financial Considerations

41. Allocations can only be made for amounts that applicants have requested for funding. There is no maximum amount that can be granted. Applicants under the Mahia Atu Partnership Fund are eligible to apply for a maximum of five years of funding.

Appendices

No.	Title	Page
1 ⇩	Mahia Atu Partnership Fund	12

Author: Debbie Hunter

Community Advisor - Funding and Community Contracts

Approved By: Melanie Laban

Divisional Manager, Community Projects and Relationships

Attachment 1

Mahia Atu Partnership Fund

MAHIA ATU PARTNERSHIP FUND APPENDIX 1

No	Organisation	Project	Request	Recommendations
1.	Youth Inspire	300 Rangatahi placed into training/education or employment	$200,000 (5 years)	$170,000 $200,000 $200,000
2.	Wesley Wellington Mission – Rata Street, Naenae	Community initiatives in Naenae, in particular: - Further development of the Hutt Ageing Well Initiative/Network - A full time community worker to support the Ageing Well work, wider community connections, and hosting events/activities for the benefit of kaumatua who are feeling lonely and isolated within the Hutt.	$85,000 (3 years)	$80,000 $80,000 $80,000
3.	Birthright Hutt Valley	Part time .5 social worker’s salary. Supporting single single-person led whanau throughout the valley, offering a variety of social services. Our objective is reduce inequity, leading to nurtured, resilient and inspired children and families.	$30,425	Declined – referred to Mahia Atu Community Fund
4.	Moera Community House	Tomatis Neuro Auditory Intensive Group programme, 1 on 1 sessions for tamariki	$63,900	Declined – referred to Mahia Atu Community Fund
5.	Te Awaikarangi Access Trust	Low Decile School Wifi project.	$20,000	Declined – referred to Mahia Atu Community Fund
6.	Te Whare Tane	Operational Costs	$50,000	Application Withdrawn
7.	Lower Hutt CAB	Operational Costs	$0.00	Application Incomplete and Withdrawn

MAHIA ATU PARTNERSHIP FUND

3-5 years funding. Strong fit to vision and demonstrating outstanding results.	2018/2019	2019/2020	2020/2021	2021/2022
Mahia Atu Partnership Fund	$189,000	$413,000	$413,000	$413,000
x1 community group through A/Plan	- 70,000
Unallocated + carried over	$119,000	$119,000
Total funds available to be allocated		$532,000
x2 community groups recommended (3 yrs) x4 applications transferred to MA		-$250,000
Unallocated		$282,000
Request to transfer to MA Com		- $119,000
Unallocated + carried over		$163,000	$163,000
Total funds available to be allocated			$576,000
x2 community groups 2^nd year funding			- $280,000
Available for allocation			*$296,000*
x2 community groups 3^rd year funding				- $280,000
***Available for allocation				*$133,000*
**** this may change depends whether any groups have been funded MAP 2021/2022

19 18 July 2019

Community Services Committee

02 July 2019

File: (19/882)

Report no: CSC2019/3/150

General Manager's Report

Purpose of Report

1. The purpose of this report is to provide the Committee with a general update from the City and Community Services Group.

Recommendation

That the Committee notes the updates contained in the report.

Background

2. The Chair of the Community Services Committee and General Manager City and Community Services agreed that a report from Community Services should be provided at each meeting.

Discussion

3. An update on Community Services’ activity, opportunities and challenges is provided below.

Matters of Significance

Naenae Pool and Community Hub

4. Refer to separate report for 9 July 2019 Council meeting (Report No. HCC2019/3/139).

Museums

Programmes

5. Museums have had a very successful last quarter with a range of exhibitions and events across our facilities that engage with diverse communities including a number of projects celebrating the arts of our Chinese, Tuvaluan and Māori communities as well as initiatives that cover a range of interests including local history, Te Ao Māori, craft, new writing and moving image.

6. We have had two exhibitions touring the country. We also opened an exhibition in partnership with RAMP Gallery, Hamilton and have other exhibitions scheduled to tour in the next quarter.

7. The Russell Clark sculpture was fully restored and reinstalled in its location outside the Little Theatre.

Facilities

8. Refurbishment of the Petone Settlers Museum entrance office has been completed with little disruption to normal operations

9. An architect has been appointed for the Dowse Entrance project.

Engagement

10. The Nukutewhatewha revitalisation project is underway.

11. We have appointed a full-time Public Programmes Coordinator to increase opportunities for engagement with communities.

12. Our education programmes have continued to engage children throughout the local community with workshops and activities at the Dowse, Petone Settlers Museum and in schools.

13. Planning is progressing for the Hutt Winter Festival.

Parks and Recreation

Pools + Fitness

14. With the unexpected closure of Naenae Pool + Fitness in April the focus has been on relocating activities and staffing from this site to our other facilities.

15. By extending opening hours at Stokes Valley and Huia Pools we have been able to accommodate 70% of our user group requirements however we have noted a drop-off in group numbers due to some participants being unable to access these other locations.

16. We continue to work on other alternative venues to alleviate some of the demand across these sites including:

· Working with Naenae Primary School to upgrade their outdoor pool and making it available to the wider public from October through to March.

· Opening the McKenzie Baths in Petone longer (October to March) to help accommodate some of our aquatics user groups

· Investigating a retail building in Naenae to house a temporary gym.

17. With the extension of hours at remaining swimming pools are reporting a 30% increase in attendances.

18. Another positive spin off of the Naenae closure has been the increase in gym memberships at both Huia and Stokes Valley and the increase in Learn to Swim clients particularly at Huia. It is pleasing to report that the increased targets set for Huia Pool gym and learn to swim memberships have been exceeded for the year.

Recreation

19. Increased activation opportunities have been targeted for the Naenae area during this period, with play days and pool days provided free to local children.

20. Support for additional programmes at Fraser Park Sportsville has also been a focus with many of our successful community recreation initiatives introduced to this facility over the last two months.

21. Our Capital Stars mentoring programme continues to grow with ex-All Black Nehe Milner Skudder added as an ambassador to our Wainuiomata schools.

Healthy Families Lower Hutt

22. One of the focus areas for this period has been supporting the expansion of some of our initiatives into Upper Hutt. To support this, a joint hui with Councillors from both Upper Hutt and Hutt City Councils was held to examine joint issues and solutions in the healthy environments area. Some of the identified areas for focus included access to water, smokefree environments and active transport.

23. The District Health Board has funded an additional position within the Healthy Families team to support the extension of the smokefree environment work into Upper Hutt.

Parks

24. Improvements to Naenae Park drainage and turf layout are on hold until spring due to consenting conditions. Building consent is currently being sought for upgrading of the changing rooms.

25. Community consultation of reserve land has commenced in Wainuiomata.

26. Design work for the Changing Places accessibility toilet in central Lower Hutt has commenced.

27. We are investigating the possible installation of disability access mats at one of our beaches as a trial this summer.

28. The sports ground maintenance contract has been delayed until December. This is likely to result in an increase in contract costs due to growth in scope and quality of provision over recent years.

29. Work on strengthening the Days Bay Wharf has commenced.

Libraries

30. Wellington City Libraries closed its Central Library suddenly on 19 March 2019 due to engineering advice which identified structural vulnerabilities. Since April, we have provided free borrowing services to Wellington residents. So far, we have signed up just over 100 customers, who have issued just under 800 items. This is comfortably sustainable in terms of collection movement, availability and staff workflow, and is clearly worthwhile for a subset of Wellington residents. We are also now working with Wellington City and Kāpiti Coast Libraries on locating a storage facility to house low-turnover (“long tail”) collections for access by all Wellington, Kāpiti and Lower Hutt customers, which will be of great benefit to our residents.

31. In May, Hon Chris Hipkins (Minister for Education) and Hon Tracey Martin (Associate Minister for Education and Minister for Children) visited and spoke with rangatahi and staff at the Naenae Clubhouse. Both were impressed by what they saw, and we put to them the challenge to support clubhouses to be implemented more widely throughout Aotearoa.

32. We have now confirmed earlier opening (9.30am) on Monday-Thursday at all community libraries. Events at Naenae have also led to extended opening hours at the Naenae Library from early May (including late night Fridays and all day Sundays). We were pleased to be able to bring lifeguards (who were displaced by the Naenae Pool closure) onto the team to work alongside librarians for some of these shifts. These extended hours have been very well received by the community, with big numbers especially on Sundays. From 1 July 2019 we are also opening earlier (9.30am instead of 10am) on Saturdays and Sundays at both the Naenae and Petone Libraries.

33. From 1 July 2019 we have ceased applying overdue charges to children’s and teens’collection items. This aims to encourage tamariki, rangatahi and their whānau to engage with their local library and have every opportunity for literacy development, as we know that many of our residents stop visiting the library when they owe money, no matter the amount owed. Our community’s reception to this initiative has already been overwhelmingly positive. Note that the projected loss of revenue will be offset by not running a ‘Food for Fines’ campaign this year.

34. We have undertaken a Libraries Strategy project and are developing a strategy package comprising library customer personas, our strategic vision, mission statement, our gifted Te Reo name (Te Tatau ki te Māramatanga – The Door to Understanding), and Council’s organisational values.

Community Hubs, Projects and Relationships

35. We are starting to collate end of year report information, but some initial highlights include:

· nearly 1.4m visitors across the three hubs – this remains at over double the pre-development level at both Walter Nash Centre and Koraunui Stokes Valley Hub (Koraunui);

· no serious harm incidents taking place at hub sites;

· overall customer satisfaction levels across sites averaged at 94%;

· library memberships at Walter Nash remain 2000 higher than pre development and at Koraunui continue to climb at 800 more than pre development showing the increased visibility and access that hubbing model provides for literacy services;

· 50,000 participants across our hub regular programmes;

· Over 23,000 hours of booked time.

36. Several highlights have occurred at the Walter Nash Centre with Hutt Valley Sports Awards, Symphony in the Hutt and Polyfest all taking place successfully.

37. Business planning for the division has taken place with priorities outside of ‘business as usual’ including: reducing family harm, digital empowerment, improving achievement of our tamariki and rangatahi in partnership with education, and developing meaningful long term partnerships with central government, particularly on housing.

38. A new Operations Manager has been confirmed for the Wainuiomata Hub and they start on 15 July 2019.

39. Wainuiomata STEMM role has been confirmed and a new suite of experiential offerings in the science and technology space is being rolled out both within the hub and as outreach to local primary schools for tamariki. Once completed the work will move to more targeted and skill development structured programmes for rangatahi. In future years we expect this to also roll out to Stokes Valley. This work is closely linked/supported with other divisions of Council.

40. A Social Return on Investment evaluation on the Walter Nash Centre will be undertaken over the next 12 months. After this, we will replicate it at Koraunui Stokes Valley Hub. Scoping for this work has begun and delivery is expected before the end of 2019.

41. City Safety

Safe Hutt Valley

· The Governance Group has confirmed Family Harm as the key priority. The Strategic Plan will be modified accordingly, with a five year time review and will be reviewed annually.

· The Governance Group will meet prior to the Hutt Valley Governance Group meeting with the intention of introducing the Safe Hutt Valley kaupapa to gain the support required to make a ‘real’ difference in the Family Harm space.

Safe City Ambassadors

· Recon has been awarded this contract for the next 12 months. There have been some improvements to the operating model to ensure greater roster flexibility, and engagement with the community.

CCTV/Community patrols volunteers

· A recent recruitment drive resulted in over 20 expressions of interest being received.

Neighbourhood Support

· The first Neighbourhood Support newsletter has been distributed to all persons/groups identified in the various spreadsheets/lists. This will be published monthly and reviewed periodically to determine whether this should move to a fortnightly or bi-monthly newsletter.

· Positive feedback has been received, with suggestions for improvement and information to be considered for the next edition.

· The Facebook page has also been launched.

42. Empowering Tamariki

Te Awakairangi Access Trust – Rata Street School ‘Bridging the digital divide’

· MOE and TAKA evaluation plan has been completed and the school readiness document finalised. This starts the process of scaling this project up.

· Rata Street School: 116 homes have been connected, approximately 40-50 homes to get connected this year.

· Friday Lunchtime Chromebook club well attended (50 per session) with Victoria University running sessions. End of term celebration held with many whānau present.

· Hutt three schools in top 20 users 2nd Rata Street School = anyquestions.govt.nz

Access

· Symphony in the Hutt – Community Concert: 1,000 people in attendance, with buses put on for Rata Street School, Wainuiomata and Koraunui Stokes Valley Hub. The event was possible thanks to sponsors and partners: KPMG, Datacom, Vocus communications, Streamline, Hutt Mana Trust and Pelorus Trust.

· Ride Holidays (Karl Woolcott) had a very successful fundraiser event which raised funds to purchase bikes for Naenae Primary. They will be receiving 30 brand new bikes.

43. Youth Inspire (YI)

· YI Driving School

o Learner Licence courses ran in February, March and April with an 80% pass rate and 36 rangatahi gaining their Learners Licence.

o A Restricted Licence Driving Programme is underway.

· The Licence to Work programme continues to grow in strength, with over 50 local businesses providing authentic work experience opportunities.

· The North East office has relocated from Naenae Police Station to the Taita Shops and is sharing the space with Healthy Families.

44. Te Awakairangi Youth Development Network (TAYDN)

· Submitted on the Health and Disability Review.

· The June Te Awakairangi Youth Development Network event was extremely successful. One panel of youth workers discussed successes and failures in conducting youth participation. The other panel of young people talked openly and honestly about how social media is detrimental and negatively affects their ability to cultivate face to face authentic relationships.

Other Considerations

45. 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 local government.

Appendices

There are no appendices for this report.

Author: Melanie Laban

Divisional Manager, Community Projects and Relationships

Author: Marcus Sherwood

Divisional Manager, Parks and Recreation

Author: Mike Mercer

Divisional Manager Community Hubs

Author: Karl Chitham

Museums Director

Author: Kat Cuttriss

Divisional Manager Libraries

Approved By: Matt Reid

General Manager City and Community Services

23 18 July 2019

Community Services Committee

24 June 2019

File: (19/840)

Report no: CSC2019/3/148

Accessibility and Inclusiveness Subcommittee Report

Purpose of Report

1. The purpose of the report is to update the Committee on items that were considered by the Accessibility and Inclusiveness Plan Subcommittee (the Subcommittee) at their meeting on 12 June 2019.

Recommendation

That the Committee notes the contents of the report.

For the reasons outlined in the report below.

Background

2. The Accessibility and Inclusiveness Plan Subcommittee (the Subcommittee) met on 12 June 2019. The minutes of this meeting are attached as Appendix 1 to the report. The Subcommittee welcomed new members Jenni Dale and Helen Henderson. Jenni and Helen replace two members who resigned in late 2018.

Discussion

3. The Subcommittee discussed a number of issues including:

a. A high complex needs/accessible rest room in Naenae

b. Blind Square

c. Accessibility issues and the local body elections

d. Access Aware App

e. Meeting the needs of disabled people through the design of residential and public buildings

f. Accessibility mats for beaches.

High complex needs/accessible rest room in Naenae

4. Subcommittee members asked for clarification on comments referring to an accessible rest room in Naenae in the minutes of the Subcommittee’s 10 April 2019 meeting. The Chair was referring to an accessible toilet in Naenae and not to there being a Changing Places facility in Naenae. The Divisional Manager, Strategy and Planning has been asked by the Chair to investigate if there was a register of accessible toilets designed to accommodate people with disabilities within the region and send the information to members.

Blind Square

5. The Chair advised that the Community Plan Committee had approved funding of $20,000 for this project.

Accessibility issues and the local body elections

6. The Subcommittee discussed issues for the sector related to local body elections. Two key issues arose:

a. The voting forms being made available in large print and another voting form for those who are totally blind.

b. Making information available on-line so that people can use voice technology.

7. Members felt it was important for the Electoral Commission (the Commission) to be made aware of the issues facing those with disabilities when exercising their right to vote.

8. The Commission has worked closely with the disability sector over the past few years to make it easier for people with disabilities to enrol and vote in general elections. Some of the actions taken for the general election include:

· information in accessible formats including Braille, large-print, audio format and screen reader files;

· information and consultation opportunities in New Zealand Sign Language;

· DVD resource kits and facilitation guides for voters with an intellectual disability; and

· plain English resources including posters, booklets and DVDs.

9. The Commission delivered telephone dictation voting to voters who were blind or visually impaired or had another disability that meant they were unable to vote independently and in secret at the 2014 General Election.

10. The Divisional Manager, Strategy and Planning contacted the Commission to ask if their work programme with the disability sector includes local body elections and if not, whether the Commission intended extending its work with the disability sector to include local body elections.

11. The Commission advised that it is responsible for running parliamentary elections and referenda, and to provide electoral enrolment services for both parliamentary and local authority elections. However, the Electoral Commission is not involved with the running of local authority elections.

12. A meeting with Council’s Electoral Officer has been organised so that the Subcommittee has an opportunity to have various questions answered and presents an opportunity for Council to consider making election resources available to make it easier for people with disabilities to enrol and vote in local body elections.

Access Aware App

13. This App shows those with access to it where mobility parks are and also enables them to report the use of mobility parks by able-bodied people directly to Council’s parking services. Officers are continuing to work with CCS Disability Action to improve the service by ensuring that all mobility parks are clearly mapped and included on the App.

Meeting the needs of disabled people through the design of residential and public buildings

14. Members discussed the possibility of regulating dwelling construction to ensure that the design and build of residential and public buildings meet the needs of disabled people, particularly those with mobility issues.

15. The Building Act 2004 defines the buildings that must be accessible for people with disabilities. It refers to buildings to which 'members of the public are to be admitted, whether for free or on payment of a charge'. (See section 118(1) of the Act and Schedule 2).

16. Determinations are made by The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment on matters of doubt or dispute to do with building work. Rulings are legally binding in relation to each case. Past determinations that relate to accessibility, focus on buildings to which members of the public are to be admitted and do not include residential buildings.

17. Members emphasised the need for all Council buildings to be accessible for all people. Members were also keen to see residential buildings included in these requirements and suggested this could be achieved through Council’s District Plan and/or building consent process. This does not appear possible under current legislation.

Accessibility mats for beaches

18. An officer from Council’s Leisure Active division (Leisure Active) gave a presentation on mat enabling waterfront access for people in wheelchairs. In 2017, Mount Maunganui became the first New Zealand beach to provide a mat enabling waterfront access for people in wheelchairs. Funding of $15,000 was raised through sponsorship and an anonymous donor.

19. Members were enthusiastic about the opportunities that these mats could provide people in wheelchairs and also those with mobility challenges. Leisure Active will be seeking sponsors for the project. If successful, the mats will be provided at Days Bay and Petone Beach. The presentation is attached as Appendix 2 to the report.

Options

20. There are no options to consider.

Consultation

21. There is no consultation to consider.

Legal Considerations

22. There are no legal issues to consider.

Financial Considerations

23. The implementation of accessibility mats to enable waterfront access for people in wheel chairs and with mobility challenges is dependent on finding sponsorship.

Appendices

No.	Title	Page
1 ⇩	Accessibility and Inclusiveness Plan Subcommittee minutes12 June 2019	24
2 ⇩	Beach Mats presentation.pdf	30

Author: Wendy Moore

Divisional Manager, Strategy and Planning

Approved By: Helen Oram

Acting General Manager, City Transformation

[1] This excludes sites that are considered high profile, significant on a city-wide basis due to their size and location, or where the site crosses ward or community boundaries.

[2] The Operational Guide for Urban Forest Plan is available from Council’s Parks and Gardens Division.

Cr L Bridson	Cr J Briggs
Cr S Edwards	Cr M Lulich
Cr G McDonald (Deputy Chair)	Cr C Milne
Cr L Sutton

Mayor W R Wallace (Ex Officio)