Decision digest | Governing Body

27 April 2017

Governing Body discusses CCO intentions

Today’s meeting of the Auckland Council Governing Body focussed on the statements of intent, which are the guiding documents, of its council controlled organisations.

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 was alsowebcast on the council’s website and items are available on demand.

Items 1-9 are administrative items, excluding petitions and public input, summarised below.

Item 5: Petitions | Love our Libraries – Petition relating to Save Our Super City Librarians

Julia Schiller presented on her petition on the Auckland Libraries Fit for the Future programme. Ms Schiller’s petition will be received by the council later today and forwarded to the Chief Operating Officer for consideration.

Mayor Phil Goff responded to Ms Shiller, noting the importance of libraries to Aucklanders.

“I and the other Councillors have been assured by officials that there will be no reduction in service delivery and no library closures. In the last two terms of council we’ve rebuilt six libraries, and we’re in the process of spending $30 million on a new library in Westgate.

“Libraries perform a vital role in our community; they are the heart of our community. We also accept that there are changing patterns in how libraries are being used, so hopefully some of the positives out of this programme will be new mobile services to geographically and socially isolated communities, and greater response to the increasing demand for digital services,” said Mayor Goff.

Further information about the council’s Auckland Libraries Fit for the Future programme is available on OurAuckland.

Item 6: Public input

David Hopkins spoke to the meeting about clarity of the draft statement of intent for Auckland Transport, particularly in relation to road congestion.

Item 10: Substantive council-controlled organisations – shareholder comment on draft Statements of Intent 2017-2020

Each of the council’s substantive CCOs must prepare a Statement of Intent. This item considered the draft Statements of Intent that have been prepared in response to the direction provided to each organisation in letters of expectation sent to board chairs in December 2016.

The draft documents have been reviewed by the Auckland Council, as shareholder of each CCO, and councillors received comments and recommendations made by staff.

In general, comments emphasised the expectation that CCOs would be more publicly transparent and forward-looking.

Item 11: Protocol for the development of financial policies affecting council-controlled organisations

The Governing Body approved the protocol for the development of group-wide policies for business cases, procurement, treasury, insurance and sensitive expenditure (including travel, hospitality and gifts)

ENDS

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