Decision digest | Governing Body

24 September 2015

Governing Body meets at Makaurau Marae

Makaurau Marae in Māngere hosted the Governing Body today as part of the series of regular meetings held in various locations around Auckland. It was the first meeting at Makaurau Marae since Auckland Council was established.

A number of reports were presented and discussed at today’s Governing Body. The following is a digest of decisions made.

The agenda is available on Auckland Council’s website and minutes will be added once confirmed. This meeting will not be live streamed but videos of the meeting will be available on the website onFriday 25 September 2015.

Items 1- 10 were administrative items with the exception of items 5 and 7 detailed below.

Item 5: Acknowledgements and Achievements

Mayor Len Brown acknowledged the recent passing of Georgia Ball, Dorothy Butler, Graham Brazier, and Zuva Nobilo and their contributions to Auckland and New Zealand.

Also acknowledged was Dame Diane Robertson, CEO/Auckland City Missioner, for her contribution to Auckland’s communities which follows her recent announcement to leave her role at the Auckland City Mission after 20 years of service.

Item 7: Public Input

A presentation was made by Councillor Richard Foster of Melbourne City Council on Melbourne's Smokefree Policy.

Councillor Richard Foster spoke about how Melbourne’s policy was implemented in their central city area over the last two years and the response to the policy from the local community and businesses.

Item 11: Office of the Auditor-General briefing

As part of the process to complete of the Auckland Council Group Annual Report the Auditor-General made a presentation to the Governing Body.

The Auditor General noted there were no significant errors and that there were big improvements in the quality of reporting with non-financial information. The governing body voted to receive the report.

Item 12: Adoption of the 2014/2015 Annual Report and Summary Annual Report for Auckland Council and Group

Following the Finance and Performance Committee recommending adoption on 17 September, the Governing Body voted to adopt the 2014/2015 summary and full Annual Report for Auckland Council and Group.

Item 13: Mayor’s report on investment and outreach activities – China and Singapore 2015

The Governing Body voted to receive a verbal presentation from Mayor Len Brown regarding investment and outreach activities, following his trip to China and Singapore.

Item 14: Allocation of discretionary capital budget to local boards

The Governing Body has created a discretionary fund for capital expenditure for local boards called the Locally Driven Initiatives (LDI) capex fund.

This enables local boards to deliver small local asset based projects, either directly in partnership with the community, or through joint agreements between boards.

The LDI Capex fund will be managed over three years. Local boards can use their entire three year allocation for one project or spread it over the three years for smaller projects.

The Governing Body agreed to consult on a model for the allocation of the discretionary LDI capex fund as follows:

i) one per cent of the fund allocated to the Great Barrier Island local board

ii) two per cent of the fund allocated to Waiheke Island local board

iii) remainder of the fund allocated between the remaining local boards based on 90 per cent population, 5 per cent land area and 5 per cent deprivation.

It also agreed to consult on the Proposal to amend the local boards funding policy and on the process for this consultation through local libraries, council service centres, local board offices and the Shape Auckland website from Friday 25 September to Friday 9 October.

Item 15: Report of the Hearing Panel on the proposed Property Maintenance and Nuisance Bylaw 2015

The Governing Body were presented with a report from the Hearings Panel to adopt the Property Maintenance Bylaw 2015.

The bylaw, which will come into effect on 1 November, requires private property to be maintained so that it does not cause nuisance to any other person. The bylaw will also require industrial cooling tower water systems in Auckland to be registered with the council and maintained, to reduce the risk of an outbreak of Legionnaires Disease occurring.

The Governing body voted to adopt the Property Maintenance and Nuisance Bylaw. Its adoption by the council today concludes an extensive five year bylaw review programme.

With the establishment of Auckland Council in 2010, legislation required the council to review all the bylaws made by the legacy councils and to replace them by 31 October 2015. The council has reviewed 158 legacy bylaws and replaced them with 20 new, region-wide bylaws.

The Mayor noted it as one of the largest and most significant tasks following the amalgamation of Auckland Council.

Item 16: Changes to local dog access rules

Since 1 July 2013, local boards have had the delegated authority to make changes to local dog access rules in the Auckland Council Policy on Dogs 2012.

This item asked the Governing Body to accept local board decisions on local dog access rules, and to make the necessary amendments to the Auckland Council Policy on Dogs 2012 and Auckland Council Dog Management Bylaw 2012.

The Governing Body accepted the changes for alternative local board summer times and seasons for access to beaches by 9 local boards. Additionally the recommendations were amended to allow for the Albert-Eden local board to come back to the next Governing Body meeting in October to allow the board time to complete their review process.

Item 17: Recommendation from the Auckland Development Committee: Refined Special Housing Area Establishment Criteria

The Governing Body agreed to endorse the amended Refined Special Housing Area Establishment Criteria and explanatory guidance for assessing Special Housing Area requests which was approved by the Auckland Development Committee at its meeting held on 10 September 2015.

ENDS

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