Minutes of Hutt City Council - Tuesday, 21 December 2021

1 21 December 2021

Minutes of an ordinary meeting of The Hutt City Council held in the Council Chambers, 2nd Floor, 30 Laings Road, Lower Hutt on

Tuesday 21 December 2021 commencing at 2.00pm

PRESENT:	Mayor C Barry (Chair)	Deputy Mayor T Lewis
	Cr G Barratt	Cr J Briggs
	Cr K Brown	Cr B Dyer (via audio-visual link)
	Cr S Edwards	Cr D Hislop
	Cr A Mitchell	Cr S Rasheed
	Cr N Shaw	Cr L Sutton

APOLOGY: Cr C Milne

IN ATTENDANCE: Ms J Miller, Chief Executive

Ms A Blackshaw, Director Neighbourhoods and Communities

Mr M Boggs, Director Strategy and Engagement

Ms H Oram, Director Environment and Sustainability

Mr K Puketapu-Dentice, Director Economy and Development (via audio-visual link)

Ms J Livschitz, Group Chief Financial Officer

Mr B Cato, Chief Legal Officer

Mr B Hodgins, Strategic Advisor

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

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

Mr J Griffiths, Head of Communications and Engagement (part meeting)

Mr D Newth, Financial Accounting Manager (part meeting)

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

Mr A Dowdle, Senior Communications Advisor

Ms K Glanville, Senior Democracy Advisor

Ms H Clegg, Minute Taker

PUBLIC BUSINESS

MINOR ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA

In accordance with Standing Order 10.13, Council agrees that a minor public excluded item relating to ‘Governance Matters’, which was not included on the agenda, be discussed at this meeting. The reason that this item will be discussed in the public excluded section of the meeting is to protect the privacy of natural persons.

1. OPENING FORMALITIES - Karakia Timatanga

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

Resolved: (Mayor Barry/Cr Mitchell) Minute No. C 21501

“That the apology received from Cr Milne be accepted and leave of absence be granted.”

3. PUBLIC COMMENT

There was no public comment.

4. CONFLICT OF INTEREST DECLARATIONS

Cr Brown declared a conflict of interest in relation to item 8 Remakery Project and took no part in discussion or voting on the matter.

5. Miscellaneous

Hutt City Council Group Annual Report 2020/2021 (21/2106)

Report No. HCC2021/5/295 by the Principal Advisor, Strategic and Business Planning

Mr Andrew Clark, Audit Director, Audit New Zealand was in attendance for the item.

The Head of Strategy and Planning and Group Chief Financial Officer advised they were pleased to present the Group Annual Report and Summary Annual Report following a successfully completed audit.

The Head of Strategy and Planning advised any queries from elected members had been responded to through the elected members channel.

The Group Chief Financial Officer asked members to consider amended recommendations by officers as follows: a new part (5) to adopt the Summary Annual Report, officer’s recommendation (5) becomes part (6) and includes wording about the Summary Annual Report and deletion of officer’s recommendation (6).

Mr Clark acknowledged the challenging year and thanked officers for their collaborative work ethic. He advised the audit opinion was modified. He said this was due to Wellington Water Limited’s qualifications being carried through to Council’s Annual Report and Council’s disclosure around the Three Waters reform. He added that Council’s disclosure on the impact of COVID-19 was appropriate. He stated a report would be drafted outlining the reasons for the modified audit opinion and would be considered by Council in early 2022.

Mayor Barry thanked Mr Clark and his team for their efforts during the year.

The Chief Executive thanked Mr Clark and his team for their work during the year. She acknowledged the transparency of information flow between officers and the Audit New Zealand team

Resolved: (Mayor Barry/Cr Brown) Minute No. C 21502

“That Council:

(1) notes the draft Hutt City Council Group Annual Report 2020/21 (the Group Annual Report) has been considered by both the Audit and Risk Subcommittee and the Policy, Finance and Strategy Committee;

(2) notes that on 2 December 2021, the Policy, Finance and Strategy Committee endorsed and recommended to Council the adoption of the Group Annual Report subject to satisfactory resolution of the following items:

(a) completion of final design and editorial changes;

(b) completion of any external audit adjustments; and

(c) receipt of final audit clearance from Audit NZ;

(3) notes that there have been minor amendments made to the draft Group Annual Report since it was considered by the Policy, Finance and Strategy Committee and these are detailed in Section C of the report;

(4) adopts the Group Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 2021 subject to receipt of Audit New Zealand’s opinion for the Group Annual Report;

(5) adopts the Summary Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 2021 subject to receipt of Audit New Zealand’s opinion for the Summary Annual Report; and

(6) delegates to the Chief Executive authority to make minor editorial changes to the Group Annual Report and Summary Annual Report.”

Land Purchase Farrelly Grove (21/2175)

Report No. HCC2021/5/301 by the Strategic Advisor

Resolved: (Mayor Barry/Cr Briggs) Minute No. C 21503

“That Council:

(1) notes that the Naenae Reservoir requires remedial works to address a contamination risk posed by leaking walls;

(2) notes that an area of approximately 92m² is required to enable access to a section of the reservoir wall to undertake the works and to better enable future maintenance; and

(3) agrees to purchase approximately 92m²of the property at 1 Farrelly Grove as shown on the plan attached as Appendix 1 to the report.”

For the reason that the acquisition will better enable remedial and maintenance works now and in the future on the Naenae Water Reservoir, which is a critical asset for the city.

Deed of Novation Approval for sale of Mitchell Park land (21/2210)

Report No. HCC2021/5/159 by the Strategic Advisor

The Strategic Advisor elaborated on the report. He explained this was a procedural matter as the original Council resolution had specified the land be sold to Lower Hutt Health Ltd. He said the land was now being sold directly to the new operator, Vital Healthcare Property Ltd.

Resolved: (Mayor Barry/Cr Hislop) Minute No. C 21504

“That Council agrees to enter into the Deed of Novation between Lower Hutt Health Limited, Vital Healthcare Property Limited and Council and thereby agrees to the sale of 1,436 m² of land at Mitchell Park to Vital Healthcare Property Limited.”

6. QUESTIONS

There were no questions.

7. EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC

Resolved: (Mayor Barry/Deputy Mayor Lewis) Minute No. C 21505

“That the public be excluded from the following parts of the proceedings of this meeting, namely:

8. REMAKERY PROJECT (21/2213)

9. MINOR ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA: GOVERNANCE MATTER

The general subject of each matter to be considered while the public is excluded, the reason for passing this resolution in relation to each matter, and the specific grounds under section 48(1) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 for the passing of this resolution are as follows:

(A)	(B)	(C)

General subject of the matter to be considered.	Reason for passing this resolution in relation to each matter.	Ground under section 48(1) for the passing of this resolution.


Remakery Project	The withholding of the information is necessary to enable the local authority to carry out, without prejudice or disadvantage, commercial activities (s7(2)(h)).	That the public conduct of the relevant part of the proceedings of the meeting would be likely to result in the disclosure of information for which good reason for withholding exist.

Minor item not on the agenda: Governance Matter	The withholding of the information is necessary to protect the privacy of natural persons (s7(2)(a)).	That the public conduct of the relevant part of the proceedings of the meeting would be likely to result in the disclosure of information for which good reason for withholding exist.

This resolution is made in reliance on section 48(1) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 and the particular interest or interests protected by section 6 or 7 of that Act which would be prejudiced by the holding of the whole or the relevant part of the proceedings of the meeting in public are as specified in Column (B) above.”

Mayor Barry acknowledged the passing of Betty van Gaalen, former Deputy Mayor and former Wainuiomata Ward Councillor.

Resolved: (Mayor Barry/Cr Barratt) Minute No. C 21506

“That Council passes on its condolences to the family of Betty van Gaalen and acknowledges her service and contribution to Lower Hutt and in particular the Wainuiomata community.”

There being no further business the Chair declared the public section of the meeting closed at 2.13 pm. The public excluded section of the meeting closed at 3.36pm.

C Barry

MAYOR

CONFIRMED as a true and correct record

Dated this 23rd day of March 2022