Hutt Valley Services Committee
Minutes of a meeting held in the Upper Hutt City Council Chambers, 838-842 Fergusson Drive, Upper Hutt on
Friday 21 February 2020 commencing at 9.30am
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PRESENT: |
Cr J Briggs (Chair) |
Cr H Newell, UHCC (Deputy Chair) |
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Cr C Carson, UHCC |
Cr B Dyer |
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Mayor W Guppy, UHCC |
Cr P Lambert, UHCC |
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Cr N Shaw |
Cr L Sutton |
APOLOGIES: Cr Rasheed
IN ATTENDANCE: Mr P Kelly, Chief Executive, UHCC
Ms H Oram, Acting General Manager, City Transformation, HCC
Mr B Hodgins, Strategic Advisor, City and Community Services, HCC
Mr D Kerite, Head of Environmental Consents, HCC
Mr D Bentley, Team Leader Environmental Health, HCC
Ms J Schuitema, Hutt Team Leader, Animal Services, HCC
Mr E Breeze, Landfill Consultant, Tonkin & Taylor
Ms H Clegg, Minute Taker, HCC
PUBLIC BUSINESS
1. OPENING FORMALITIES - Karakia Timatanga
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Kia hora te marino Kia whakapapa pounamu te moana He huarahi mā tātou i te rangi nei Aroha atu, aroha mai Tātou i a tātou katoa Hui e Tāiki e! |
May peace be wide spread May the sea be like greenstone A pathway for us all this day Let us show respect for each other For one another Bind us together! |
2. APOLOGIES
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Resolved: (Mayor Guppy/Cr Briggs) Minute No. HVSC 20201 “That the apology received from Cr Rasheed be accepted and leave of absence be granted.” |
3. PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment.
4. CONFLICT OF INTEREST DECLARATIONS
There were no conflict of interest declarations.
5. Minutes
Cr Newell requested clarification on changes to the membership of the Committee as she had not received notification in relation to this.
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Resolved: (Cr Carson/Cr Dyer) Minute No. HVSC 20202 “That the minutes of the meeting of the Hutt Valley Services Committee held on Friday, 29 November 2019, be confirmed as a true and correct record.” |
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6. |
WASTEWATER JOINT VENTURE UPDATE Report No. HVSC2020/2/2 by the Wastewater Contracts Manager, Wellington Water |
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The Strategic Advisor, City and Community Services, Hutt City Council elaborated on the report. He explained that the additional $1.2M requested for seismic upgrading of the milliscreen plant was essential works required for a critical asset. He added that Hutt City Council had already allocated money to the project in its draft Annual Plan 2020/21. He further added that costs for large capital projects in the future were projected to increase eg, the Petone Sewer Collector and the Seaview wastewater overflow outfall. The Strategic Advisor, City and Community Services, Hutt City Council commented on the claims lodged by Hutt Valley Wastewater Services as part of the finalisation of that contract, due for completion in May. In response to a question from a member, the Strategic Advisor, City and Community Services, Hutt City Council advised that many of the costs related to existing contract obligations, with some legally required such as health and safety items. He acknowledged the concerns of the Committee about the timing and level of information provided to the Councils. In response to a question from a member, the Strategic Advisor, City and Community Services, Hutt City Council advised that the Veolia contract was for a period of 10 years and that it would produce operational savings of up to $1M per annum. He acknowledged the projected savings for the first year of operation may be used to pay for the costs under discussion. He added that officers were made aware of the costs when briefed by Wellington Water Limited (WWL) officers in early February. In response to a question from a member, the Strategic Advisor, City and Community Services, Hutt City Council advised that some of the health and safety works were to be carried out this year. He added that further details would be forthcoming in a report to be presented to the next Committee meeting. |
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In response to a question from a member, the Strategic Advisor, City and Community Services, Hutt City Council advised that the CCTV surveying had been completed and analysis of the data recovered was progressing. |
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Resolved: (Cr Carson/Cr Newell) Minute No. HVSC 20203 “That the Committee: (i) notes the information in the report and in particular the request to both Councils for an additional $1.21M in the 2020/21 budget to complete the seismic strengthening of the milliscreen plant; and (ii) requests officers to prepare a detailed paper to this committee setting out: (a) the clauses in the existing contract with Hutt Valley Water Services (HVWS) that show HVWS are able to claim for additional operational and capital costs; and (b) the details and a breakdown of the costs split between this financial year and next, and the sharing of costs between the two councils.” |
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7. |
SILVERSTREAM LANDFILL UPDATE (20/77) Report No. HVSC2020/2/3 by the Landfill Consultant, Tonkin and Taylor |
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The Landfill Consultant, Tonkin and Taylor elaborated on the report. |
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In response to a question from a member, the Landfill Consultant, Tonkin and Taylor confirmed that the waste levies had to be used in a certain way around waste minimisation. He added that part of the levies were diverted into a contestable fund, but that currently it was difficult to access that fund. He further suggested that the monies in the contestable fund could be used to help combat the increase in illegal fly tipping. In response to a question from a member, the Strategic Advisor, City and Community Services, Hutt City Council advised that the public notice of the procurement plan had been placed today, and that if adopted, a new Hutt City Council kerbside collection system would commence in July 2021. In response to a question from a member, Mayor Guppy advised that Upper Hutt City Council had a scheduled workshop concerning rubbish and recycling. The Chair added that each Council needed to make its own decisions on the matter, prior to collaborative talks occurring. The Acting General Manager, City Transformation, Hutt City Council advised that officers from each Council were in regular contact regarding the issue. The Strategic Advisor, City and Community Services, Hutt City Council added that the recently advertised procurement plan included a clause for possible expansion of the services to Upper Hutt in the future. The Landfill Consultant, Tonkin and Taylor agreed to remedy the illegibility of some of the information contained in graphs attached to the report for future reports. |
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Resolved: (Cr Briggs/Cr Sutton) Minute No. HVSC 20204 “That the Committee notes the progress of the ongoing development and operation of the Silverstream Landfill.” |
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Akatarawa Cemetery Update (20/64) Report No. HVSC2020/2/13 by the Parks and Reserves Manager, Upper Hutt City Council |
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In response to a question from a member, Mayor Guppy advised that the use of the crematorium on Sundays would be no different to that existing on any other days of the week, when the crematorium was in use and burials were taking place when visitors were present. In response to a question from a member, the Chief Executive, Upper Hutt City Council advised that there were no nuisance factors and that the demand for crematorium services was increasing such that the current operation could not keep up. He acknowledged the sensitivity of the issue. In response to questions from members, the Chief Executive, Upper Hutt City Council confirmed that operation of the crematorium could occur at any stage over a 24 hour period, seven days a week, but that the public would continue to only be able to access the cemetery during normal opening hours. Members discussed concerns of information available for the Committee to make a fully informed decision, this included why cremations were initially not permitted on a Sunday and whether or not the public had been consulted. The Chair suggested that a report be requested from officers after six months of operation and if any concerns had been raised from the public these could be presented to the Committee. Members noted that the Burial Act 1964 was due for review. |
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Resolved: (Cr Briggs/Mayor Guppy) Minute No. HVSC 20205 “That the Committee: (i) notes and receives the report; (ii) supports the proposal to allow Gee & Hickton Ltd an extension of cremation operating hours; and (iii) requests a report from officers in six months’ time, if any concerns from the public had been raised as a result of the increased hours of operation of the crematorium.” Cr Carson voted against the motion. |
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Report No. HVSC2020/2/14 by the Compliance Services Manager, Upper Hutt City Council |
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Resolved: (Cr Briggs/Cr Lambert) Minute No. HVSC 20206 “That the report be noted and received.” |
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Report No. HVSC2020/2/15 by the Head of Regulatory Services and Emergency Management, Hutt City Council |
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The Hutt Team Leader, Animal Services, Hutt City Council elaborated on the report. In response to a question from a member, the Chief Executive, Upper Hutt City Council advised that Upper Hutt City Council was not participating in the Doggone tracking device project . He added that officers had been in close discussions with their counterparts at Hutt City Council and were monitoring the Upper Hutt situation. In response to a question from a member, the Hutt Team Leader, Animal Services, Hutt City Council advised that the frequency of negative dog issues remained about the same and that the focus of Hutt City Council officers was to educate dog owners. In response to a question from a member, the Hutt Team Leader, Animal Services, Hutt City Council advised that Hutt City Council officers continued to talk with each primary school in the city, educating children on how to behave around dogs. She added that she understood Upper Hutt City Council officers were investigating initiating a similar programme. |
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Resolved: (Cr Briggs/Cr Dyer) Minute No. HVSC 20207 “That the Committee notes and receives the information.” |
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HEALTH OFFICE ACTIVITIES UPDATE (20/63) Report No. HVSC2020/2/16 by the Team Leader Environmental Health, Hutt City Council |
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The Team Leader Environmental Health, Hutt City Council elaborated on the report. He explained that no new premises had been issued with alcohol licences, just new owners. He advised that the noise complaint referred to within the report had now been closed off by the Compliance Services Manager, Upper Hutt City Council. |
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Resolved: (Cr Briggs/Cr Sutton) Minute No. HVSC 20208 “That the Committee notes and receives the information.” |
13. QUESTIONS
Cr Newell requested clarification of the significance of the Committee. She highlighted an error on the draft agenda for the Committee in relation to a differing start time for the draft agenda meeting.
The Chair advised that this had been the result of human error and that officers had apologised at the draft agenda meeting for the error.
Mayor Guppy and Cr Sutton added that both Councils took the Committee seriously.
The Chair said that the Committee was an opportunity to expand on the collaboration between the two Councils and was strategically important.
Mayor Guppy suggested that a new agenda item for the Committee could be added in relation to rubbish and recycling, given the changes occurring in Lower Hutt.
Cr Newell reiterated the request that graphs contained in the order papers of the Committee be legible for members and for members of the public.
The Chair confirmed that officers had undertaken to revise the way information was provided.
Cr Newell expressed frustration at not being made aware of changes to the committee membership.
The Chair agreed to review the matter and report back to members.
14. CLOSING FORMALITIES - Karakia WHAKAMUTUNGA
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Whakataka te hau ki te uru Whakataka te hau ki te tonga Kia mākinakina ki uta Kia mātaratara ki tai E hī ake ana te atakura He tio, he huka, he hau hū Tīhei mauri ora. |
Cease the
winds from the west |
There being no further business the Chair declared the meeting closed at 10.15am.
Cr J Briggs
CHAIR
CONFIRMED as a true and correct record
Dated this 1st day of May 2020