Minutes of Policy, Finance and Strategy Committee

2 23 February 2021

Policy, Finance and Strategy Committee | Komiti Ratonga Rangatōpū me te Rautaki

Minutes of a meeting held in the Council Chambers, 2nd Floor, 30 Laings Road,
Lower Hutt on

Tuesday 23 February 2021 commencing at 2.00pm

PRESENT:	Cr S Edwards (Chair)	Mayor C Barry (until 4.46pm)
	Cr D Bassett	Cr J Briggs
	Cr K Brown (Deputy Chair) (until 4.01pm)	Cr B Dyer
	Cr D Hislop	Deputy Mayor T Lewis
	Cr S Rasheed	Cr A Mitchell
	Cr L Sutton	Cr N Shaw (via Zoom)

APOLOGIES: Cr Chris Milne

IN ATTENDANCE: Ms J Miller, Chief Executive

Mr M Boggs, Director Strategy and Planning

Ms H Oram, Director Environment and Sustainability

Mr K Puketapu-Dentice, Director Economy and Development (part meeting)

Ms J Livschitz, Chief Financial Officer

Mr D Newth, Financial Accounting Manager (part meeting)

Mr S George, Senior Accountant (part meeting)

Ms S Page, Senior Management Accountant (part meeting)

Ms W Moore, Head of Strategy and Planning (part meeting)

Mr K Eagle, Senior Management Accountant

Mr J Hoyle, Senior Communications Advisor (part meeting)

Mr G Craig, Head of City Growth (part meeting)

Ms C Ellis, Head of Chief Executive’s Office (part meeting)

Mr H Wesney, Divisional Manager, District Plan Policy (part meeting)

Mr J Jeffries, Senior Environmental Policy Analyst (part meeting)

Mr N Geard, Senior Environmental Policy Analyst (part meeting)

Ms C Taylor, Principal Research and Evaluation Advisor (part meeting)

Mr A Yip, Strategic Projects Manager (part meeting)

Ms T Lealofi, Democracy Advisor

PUBLIC BUSINESS

1. APOLOGIES

Resolved: (Cr Edwards/Cr Mitchell) Minute No. PFSC 21101

“That the apology received from Cr Milne be accepted and leave of absence be granted and the apology for early departure received from Cr Keri Brown be accepted.”

2. PUBLIC COMMENT

Comments are recorded under the item to which they relate.

3. CONFLICT OF INTEREST DECLARATIONS

Cr Hislop declared a conflict of interest relating to item 4a) and 6. She took no part in the discussion or voting on the matter.

Cr Brown declared a conflict of interest relating to items 4b) and 7. She took no part in the discussion or voting on the matter.

Cr Shaw declared a conflict of interest relating to items 4c) and 8. She took no part in the discussion or voting on the matter.

PRECEDENCE OF BUSINESS

Pursuant to Standing Order 10.4, the Chair accorded precedence to item 4a) Seaview Marina Limited Draft Statement of Intent 2021/22 to 2023/24 and
5. Seaview Marina Limited Six Month Report to 31 December 2020.

4b) Urban Plus Group Draft Statement of Intent 2021/22 to 2023/24 and
6. Urban Plus Group Six Month Report to 31 December 2020.

4c) Hutt City Community Facilities Trust Statement of Intent and 7. Hutt City Community Facilities Trust Six Month Report to 31 December 2020.

These items are recorded in the order in which they were listed on the order paper.

4. Recommendations to Council | Te Kaunihera o Te Awa Kairangi - 24 March 2021

Seaview Marina Limited Draft Statement of Intent 2021/22 to 2023/24 (21/68)

Cr Hislop declared a conflict of interest and took no part in the discussion or voting on the matter.

Mr Brian Walshe, Chair and Mr Alan McLellan, Chief Executive from Seaview Marina Limited were in attendance for the item.

The Financial Accounting Manager elaborated on the report.

In response to a question from a member regarding shareholder’s expectations of carbon zero to align with Council’s Carbon Policy, with no performance measures in place, Mr McLellan said there have been discussion with officers on policy and tasks.

ReCOMMENDED: (Cr Edwards/Cr Bassett) Minute No. PFSC21103

“That the Committee recommends that Council:

(1) notes the Seaview Marina (SML) board has submitted a draft Statement of Intent (SOI) for the three years 2021/22 to 2023/24, attached as Appendix 1 to this report, in accordance with the Local Government Act 2002;

(2) notes that officers have reviewed the draft SOI for compliance with the Local Government Act 2002 and provided their analysis;

(3) receives the draft SOI;

(4) reviews the draft SOI and considers if any modifications should be made; and

(5) provides comment for the SML Board to consider in finalising its SOI (including any modifications suggested by the Committee arising under recommendation (4) above).”

Urban Plus Group Draft Statement of Intent 2021/22 to 2023/24 (21/64)

Cr Brown declared a conflict of interest. She took no part in the discussion or voting on the matter.

Mr Brian Walshe, Chair and Mr Daniel Moriarty, Chief Executive from Urban Plus Group were in attendance for the item. Mr Walshe elaborated in the report. He highlighted an amendment to the report regarding additional capex of $1.5M for rental property upgrades to meet healthy home requirements. He said it would factor tax liability due to tax losses being used.

In response to a question from a member regarding whether rental units could be achieved by December 2023, Mr Walshe said this would be achievable.

ReCOMMENDED: (Cr Edwards/Cr Dyer) Minute No. PFSC 21104

“That the Committee recommends that Council:

(1) notes that the Urban Plus Group (UPL) Board has submitted a draft Statement of Intent (SOI) 2021/22 - 2023/24, attached as Appendix 1 to the report, in accordance with the Local Government Act 2002;

(2) notes that officers have reviewed the draft SOI for compliance with the Local Government Act 2002 and provided their analysis;

(3) receives the draft SOI; and

(4) reviews the draft SOI and considers if any modifications should be made; and provides comment for the UPL Board to consider in finalising its SOI (including any modifications suggested by the Committee arising under recommendation (4) above).”

Hutt City Community Facilities Trust Statement of Intent 2021/22 to 2023/24 (21/69)

Cr Shaw declared a conflict of interest. She took no part in the discussion or voting on the matter.

Mr John Strahl, Chair of the Hutt City Community Facilities Trust was in attendance for the item. Mr Strahl elaborated on the report.

Cr Hislop declared a conflict of interest and took no part in the discussion or voting on the matter.

ReCOMMENDED: (Cr Edwards/Cr Dyer) Minute No. PFSC 21105

“That the Committee recommends that Council:

(1) notes the Hutt City Community Facilities Trust (CFT) board has submitted a draft Statement of Intent (SOI) for the three years 2021/22 to 2023/24, attached as Appendix 1 to this report, in accordance with the Local Government Act 2002;

(2) notes that officers have reviewed the draft SOI for compliance with the Local Government Act 2002 and provided their analysis;

(3) receives the draft SOI;

(4) reviews the draft SOI and considers if any modifications should be made;

(5) notes the Long Term Plan process currently underway contained in paragraph 6 of the report; and

(6) provides comment for the CFT Board to consider in finalising its SOI (including any modifications suggested by the Committee arising under recommendation (4) above).”

Wellington Regional Leadership Committee - a new Joint Committee (21/42)

Ms Kim Kelly from Wellington Regional Growth Framework was in attendance for this item. The Head of City Growth elaborated on the report.

Ms Kelly highlighted a point under Next Steps in the report, there was no media released in January. She advised the process to appoint an Independent Chair for the Wellington Regional Leadership Committee would commence after all Councils had signed the joint agreement.

ReCOMMENDED:(Cr Edwards/Deputy Mayor Lewis)Minute No. PFSC 21106

“That the Committee recommends to Council:

(1) receives and notes the report;

(2) approves the Wellington Regional Leadership Committee Joint Committee Agreement (attached at Appendix 1 to the report) and the Council’s entry into it;

(3) authorises the Mayor to sign, on behalf of the Council, the Joint Committee Agreement;

(4) note that the Joint Committee will adopt a memorandum of understanding which will set out the principles that guide the Joint Committee’s work and the approach that the Joint Committee will take;

(5) appoints and establishes the Wellington Regional Leadership Committee as a joint committee under clause 30(1)(b) of Schedule 7 of the Local Government Act 2002 on the terms set out in the Joint Committee Agreement and with effect from the date that the Joint Committee Agreement is signed by all local authority parties;

(6) appoints the Mayor to the Joint Committee, with effect from the date that the Joint Committee is established;

(7) appoints the Deputy Mayor as an alternate to be a member of the Joint Committee and attend meetings in exceptional circumstances where the Mayor is unable to attend;

(8) note that the Joint Committee is a joint committee of all of the local authorities that are parties to the Wellington Regional Leadership Committee Joint Committee Agreement and includes members representing iwi and the Crown;

(9) makes the following delegations to the Joint Committee:

(a) Approval of all plans and implementation programmes necessary to fulfil the specific responsibilities of the Joint Committee, including:

1) Wellington Regional Growth Framework and the Wellington Regional Growth Framework Implementation Plan

2) Regional Economic Development Plan

3) Regional Economic Recovery Implementation Plan

(b) Approval of all submissions and advocacy statements necessary to fulfil the specific responsibilities of the Joint Committee; and

(10) notes that the Wellington Regional Strategy Committee is likely to be disestablished in the future, with the disestablishment process to be confirmed.

For the reasons:

1. to provide a formal governance forum so that the members can work together with central government on matters that are of regional importance, cross-boundary and inter-regional

2. to address regional matters across three responsibility spheres, as programme areas. They are:

· the Wellington Regional Growth Framework,

· regional economic development, and

· regional economic recovery

Seaview Marina Limited Six Month Report to 31 December 2020 (21/70)

Report No. PFSC2021/1/21 by the Senior Management Accountant

Cr Hislop declared a conflict of interest and took no part in the discussion or voting on the matter.

Mr Brian Walshe, Chair and Mr Alan McLellan Chief Executive from Seaview Marina Limited were in attendance for the item. Mr Walshe elaborated on the report.

Mr McLellan advised that there had been an increased demand for berths, trailer parks and hardstand services in the last six months.

Resolved: (Cr Edwards/Cr Hislop) Minute No. PFSC 21107

“That the Committee:

(1) receives the half year report from Seaview Marina Limited attached as Appendix 1 to the report; and

(2) requests Council to send a formal letter of thanks to Seaview Marina Limited with special mention of Mr McLellan and Mr Walshe.”

Urban Plus Group Six Month Report to 31 December 2020 (21/63)

Report No. PFSC2021/1/22 by the Senior Accountant

Cr Brown declared a conflict of interest . She took no part in the discussion or voting on the matter.

Mr Brian Walshe, Chair and Mr Daniel Moriarty, Chief Executive from Urban Plus Group were in attendance for the item. Mr Walshe elaborated on the report.

He highlighted an amendment regarding the Molesworth Street development. He noted the intent for Urban Plus Limited (UPL)was to sell the entire Molesworth Street development to Kahungunu Whanau Services (KWS) upon completion. He advised there was no contract in place.

In response to a question regarding the impacts of Covid-19, Mr Moriarty said Covid-19 had delayed its programmes due to the impact on trades, resources and supplies. He noted the construction industry was overworked due to this reason.

Resolved: (Cr Edwards/Deputy Mayor Lewis) Minute No. PFSC 21108

“That the Committee receives the half year report from Urban Plus Limited Group attached as Appendix 1 to the report.”

Hutt City Community Facilities Trust Six Month Report to 31 December 2020 (21/71)

Report No. PFSC2021/1/25 by the Senior Management Accountant

Cr Shaw declared a conflict of interest. She took no part in the discussion or voting on the matter.

Mr John Strahl, Chair of the Hutt City Community Facilities Trust was in attendance for the item. Mr Strahl elaborated on the report.

Resolved: (Cr Edwards/Cr Mitchell) Minute No. PFSC 21109

“That the Committee receives the half year report from the Hutt City Community Facilities Trust attached as Appendix 1 to the report.”

Council performance overview for the half year ended 31 December 2020 (21/80)

Report No. PFSC2021/1/23 by the Senior Management Accountant

Speaking under public comment, Mr M Young expressed concern regarding the 16 official information requests he submitted in 2020 had not met the timeframes. He also expressed concern that Council’s Climate Emergency Declaration appeared to be a low priority.

In response to a question from a member, Mr Young said other Councils in the region had plans in place regarding the climate emergency. He advised that Council should review its priority list.

The Chief Financial Officer elaborated on the report.

Cr Shaw left the meeting at 4.45pm and rejoined the meeting at 4.48pm.

Mayor Barry left the meeting at 4.46pm.

In response to a question from a member regarding the Barber Grove collector main works programme being delayed, the Chief Financial Officer advised that it was a big project and would be delayed to the next 2021/22 financial year.

Resolved: (Cr Edwards/Cr Briggs) Minute No. PFSC 21110

“That the Committee:

(1) notes and receives the report; and

(2) agrees to amend the operating and capital budgets as detailed in this report, mainly due to changes in timing of expenditure, refer to Table 3 and Table 4.”

Taonga Tuku Iho - Draft Heritage Policy (21/127)

Report No. PFSC2021/1/26 by the Head of Strategy and Planning.

Speaking under public comment, Mr E Whitney expressed support for the current policy.

Speaking under public comment, Mr P Barry expressed support for the comments of the previous speaker. He advised Council should be guided by principles and evidence to underline the review Heritage Policy. He noted consultation with homeowners should be conducted in the first instance.

Speaking under public comment, Mr N McGrath expressed support for the previous comments. He elaborated on his submission.

The Head of Strategy and Planning elaborated on the report.

In response to a question from a member regarding submissions from concerned residents to the proposed policy, the Head of Strategy and Planning said following on from the Council resolution of 10 July 2012, work on the review of the District Plan’s heritage continued for a short period. She added the review did not progress further. She said Council could adopt a new policy and this may supersede the previous resolution.

The Divisional Manager, District Plan Policy outlined the process between the current Heritage Policy and District Plan review.

In response to a question from a member regarding the process that was undertaken in 2012 and what was different to the current process now, the Head of Planning and Strategy advised the current policy process was at the beginning stage and had not progressed further.

Resolved: (Cr Edwards/Cr Mitchell) Minute No. PFSC 21111

“That the Committee:

(1) notes that there is a high level of support for Council’s proposed Heritage Policy - Taonga Tuku Iho;

(2) notes that several changes have been made to Taonga Tuku Iho – Heritage Policy in response to feedback (see Appendix 1 attached to the report);

(3) notes that the additional funding of $150,000 per annum for heritage incentives, or $1.5M over 10 years, has been included in the draft LTP 2021-31;

(4) agrees to the recommended changes to the Policy; and

(5) agrees to further formal consultation on the revised Policy.”

Cr Brown left the meeting at 4.01pm.

The meeting adjourned at 4.02pm and resumed at 4.17pm.

10.

Policy, Finance and Strategy Committee Work Programme 2021 (21/34)

Report No. PFSC2021/1/8 by the Democracy Advisor

Resolved: (Cr Edwards/Cr Mitchell) Minute No. PFSC 21112

“That the Work Programme be received and noted.”

11. QUESTIONS

There were no questions.

There being no further business the Chair declared the meeting closed at 4.56 pm.

S Edwards

CHAIR

CONFIRMED as a true and correct record

Dated this 24th day of March 2021.