APOLOGIES
At
the close of the agenda no apologies had been received.
CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES
The
minutes of the Community Services Committee meeting held on Wednesday, 6 May
2009 to be confirmed as a true and correct record.
EXTRAORDINARY BUSINESS
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Section 46A(7) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings
Act 1987 (as amended) states: |
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"An item that is not on the agenda for a meeting may be dealt with at
that meeting if- |
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(a) |
The local authority by resolution so decides; and |
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(b) |
The presiding member explains at the meeting at a time when it is open
to the public,- |
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(i) |
The reason why the item is not on the agenda; and |
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(ii) |
The reason why the discussion of the item cannot be delayed until a
subsequent meeting." |
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Section 46A(7A) of the Local Government Official Information and
Meetings Act 1987 (as amended) states: |
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"Where an item is not on the agenda for a meeting,- |
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(a) |
That item may be discussed at that meeting if- |
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(i) |
That item is a minor matter relating to the general business of the
local authority; and |
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(ii) |
The presiding member explains at the beginning of the meeting, at a time
when it is open to the public, that the item will be discussed at the
meeting; but |
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(b) |
no resolution, decision, or recommendation may be made in respect of
that item except to refer that item to a subsequent meeting of the local
authority for further discussion." |
PUBLIC FORUM
At
the close of the agenda no requests to speak had been received.
REPORTS REQUESTED PENDING
| Crispian Franklin |
|
| Democracy Advisor |
1 June 2009 |
Advising of reports
requested/pending.
Recommending that the report of the Democracy Advisor, dated 1 June 2009, be
received.
OPTIONS FOR ADDRESSING ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR IN THE CENTRAL CITY
| Dr Leanne Rhodes |
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| Community and Social Policy Manager |
4 June 2009 |
Reporting to the Community Services Committee on options for addressing
anti-social behaviour in Auckland's central business district and also seeking
support from the Committee on measures to address anti-social behaviour. A
number of specific anti-social behaviours have been identified in the central
city, including:
- loitering in public places
- sleeping in public places and
doorways
- the accumulation and consequence of
refuse
- liquor consumption in public places
- begging in public places
- disorderly behaviour.
Auckland City Council has the following bylaws in place to address anti-social
behaviour:
- Public Places Bylaw 2008 (enforced by the council)
- Liquor Control in Public Places Bylaw 2004 (enforced by the Police).
These bylaws do not address all the identified anti-social behaviours in the
central city; in particular, they do not address loitering in public places and
sleeping in public places and doorways.
The following options have been identified and investigated as ways to address
anti-social behaviour issues in the central city:
Option 1
- address homeless issues through the
Homeless Action Plan and advocating to central government
- use current bylaws to regulate
public space.
Option 2
- create a new bylaw or amend the
existing Public Places Bylaw 2008.
Part of investigating the available options has involved the Chairperson of the
Community Services Committee meeting with key stakeholders in order to find an
agreed way forward. The key stakeholders council have met with are the New
Zealand Police, Auckland City Mission, Lifewise, The Salvation Army and Heart of
the City. At their meeting, stakeholders and the Chairperson agreed that Option
1 type actions are the best way forward as it focuses on long-term solutions and
that council should lobby central government on the following:
- the need for a single central
government point of accountability and responsibility for homelessness;
- the potential for a short term
housing initiative; and
- the establishment of a special
circumstances court to specifically address anti-social behaviour.
Stakeholders have also illustrated that they do not support bylaw amendments or
a new
bylaw aimed at addressing anti-social behaviour.
Recommending that the Community Services Committee notes the review of options
for addressing anti-social behaviour in the central city and supports the
option of addressing anti- social behaviour issues through existing bylaws, and
homeless issues through the Homeless Action Plan and advocacy to central
government for a single point of responsibility for homelessness and the
establishment of a special circumstances court.
Further recommending that the Committee request the Chairperson to write to the
Prime
Minister on the following three issues:
- the need for a single central government point of accountability and
responsibility for homelessness
- the potential for a short term housing initiative in the CBD
- the establishment of a special circumstances court to specifically
address anti-social behaviour.
Also recommending that the Committee note the options for addressing anti-social
behaviour in the central city report will be forwarded to the Finance and
Strategy Committee for its information.
RENAMING OF AUCKLAND CITY LIBRARIES SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
| Sue Cooper |
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| Collection & Content Planning Manager |
15 May 2009 |
Reporting to the Community
Services Committee regarding the donation by Sir George Grey of his private
library of 14,000 items in 1882 to the citizens of Auckland. This gift formed
the foundation for Special Collections in Auckland City Libraries' central
library.
The name Special Collections is a generic name for a
collection of rare books, manuscripts, archives, photographs and maps. The
Special Collections at Auckland City Libraries are unusual in that they were
gifted to a public library and, therefore, to be made accessible to all the
citizens of Auckland as requested by Sir George Grey.
The Special Collections are of major national and
international significance. They have unique content relating to national
heritage, comprising the earliest and most important printed material of both
European and Māori cultures. The Special Collections were valued in 2008 at
circa $140 million.
The Library is proposing that the name of Special
Collections be changed to Sir George Grey Special Collections - Tā Hori Kerei -
Ngā kohinga taonga whakahirahira. A unique name, which identifies their origins
and context, would help give these collections the profile and status they
deserve. A name change will acknowledge their importance as being in the top
three heritage collections in Aotearoa New Zealand, after the Alexander
Turnbull, part of the National Library of New Zealand, and Hocken collection at
the University of Otago.
Recommending that the Committee endorse the name change
from Auckland City Libraries Special Collections to Sir George Grey Special
Collections; Tā Hori Kerei - Ngā kohinga taonga whakahirahira.
FUTURE OPTIONS OF DENNY AVENUE LANDHOLDING
| Jesse Colquhoun |
|
| Senior Policy Analyst |
18 May 2009 |
Providing the Community Services Committee with options for the future of
council's landholding at 71-71 Denny Avenue, Mount Roskill.
The Denny Avenue property
totals 2,557m2, is currently zoned as residential 6a and is located adjacent to
the Wesley Intermediate School. The Future Planning Framework identifies the
site for 'single dwelling small site/townhouse' use. The framework also shows
the property, along with the surrounding Housing New Zealand dominated
ownerships, as a 'key site' for future transformation.
The property was transferred
from the Crown to the Borough of Mt Roskill in 1976. Prior to Crown ownership,
the land was held by the Board of the Wesley Training College. Council intended
to sell the property to New Zealand Housing Foundation (NZHF) as part of the
initial assisted home ownership funding agreement, signed in September 2007.
During 2008, council negotiated a revised agreement with NZHF. As part of these
negotiations, NZHF advised that while it was interested in the Denny Avenue site
generally, it was no longer interested in acquiring and developing the site as
part of council's housing programme. As a result, the revised agreement did not
include an arrangement to sell the property to NZHF.
Recommending that the
Committee endorse council's continued ownership of the property at 71-75 Denny
Avenue, Mt Roskill and continued use in the short- to medium-term as a grassed
undeveloped site, while investigating the following options for future use:
- continued use as a grassed site;
- future sale/transfer to Housing New Zealand;
- a landswap with Housing New Zealand in exchange for land that achieves
other council objectives (e.g. Housing New Zealand properties adjacent to
existing reserves);
- use as a council contribution towards a comprehensive Housing New
Zealand redevelopment of the area;
- future sale/transfer to Ministry of Education / Wesley Intermediate
School; and
- some other future council use of
the site, to be determined once the Auckland Council has been established.
Also recommending that the Committee request officers to
initiate discussions with Housing New Zealand to consider medium-term future
transformation of the area, and the possible role of the Denny Avenue property
as part of that transformation.
COMMUNITY AND RECREATION LEASE POLICY
| David Shamy |
|
| Policy Analyst |
18 May 2009 |
This report seeks the approval of the Community Services Committee of the
revised Community and recreation lease policy which had been undertaken as part
of the community assistance funding review, completed in 2008. The revised
policy will be the key council document that guides the provision of subsidised
leases to community and recreation groups. The objectives of the policy are to:
- Ensure a wide range of community activities, projects and programmes
are supported thorough the provision of subsidised space for community
activities;
- Increase the capacity of community groups in Auckland city through the
provision subsidised space for community activities;
- Recognise that the council is not in the business of subsidising
commercial activities; and
- Facilitate the charging of fair and equitable rentals to community
groups conducting community activities alongside commercial activities.
In March 2009, a draft policy was presented to the committee. The draft policy
retained the following key aspects of the existing policy:
- A $500 per annum rental for community groups undertaking community
activities, with a further reduction to $250 per annum for groups with
predominantly youth membership;
- A
fifteen year lease period, reviewed every five years;
- Recognition of the value of council providing subsidised space to
community and recreation groups; and
-
Recognition that groups operating commercial activities and bar/gaming
operations require rental adjustments to reflect these activities.
Although some aspects of the
revised policy were similar to the existing policy, significant changes were
recommended in the way that council provides community and recreation leases.
The changes include:
- An increased focus on the activities that are undertaken from council's
leased facilities
- The establishment of hybrid leases
for community groups who operate both community and commercial activities from
council land and/or facilities. Additional rental will be charged at five
percent of revenue generated from the commercial activities undertaken from the
leased property
- Clarification that community groups operating only or predominantly
commercial activities from a facility are not eligible for a discounted
community and recreation lease.
- Wording amendments to create greater clarity for community groups.
Recommending that the Committee note the further review of the Community and
recreation lease policy which retains the key aspects of the policy presented in
March 2009, but makes the following amendments:
- further clarification on what is considered a commercial activity;
- amendment to the criteria for eligible pre-school services; and
- wording amendments to create greater clarity for community groups.
and that it also approve the
revised Community and recreation lease policy with the following changes:
- an increased focus on the activities that are undertaken from council's
leased facilities
- the establishment of hybrid leases for community groups who operate
both community and commercial activities from council land and/or facilities.
Additional rental will be charged at five percent of revenue generated from the
commercial activities undertaken from the leased property
- clarification that community groups operating only or predominantly
commercial activities from a facility are not eligible for a discounted
community and recreation lease.
Further recommending that the Committee note the Community and recreation lease
policy report will be forwarded to all community boards for their information.
LIBRARIES - QUARTERLY REPORT
| Allison Dobbie |
|
| Group Manager, Libraries |
1 June 2009 |
Providing an update to the Community Services Committee regarding key
operational activities and achievements of Libraries for the period October 2008
- February 2009.
Recommending that the Committee receive the quarterly report for libraries,
which provides an update on key usage trends, projects and achievements for the
period October 2008 - February 2009 and that the Committee also note in
particular ongoing increases in library use, further initiatives to improve
service delivery, the wide range of programmes offered, and progress on
achieving significant capital projects.
Further recommending that the Committee note risks and issues relating to the
Copyright Act, collection purchases, and revenue trends.
SIX MONTHLY SAFETY PROGRAMME UPDATE
| Betty MacLaren |
|
| Safety Advisor |
9 April 2009 |
Reporting on the progress
on the implementation of safety initiatives across council since November 2008.
Recommending that Community Services Committee notes the six monthly safety
programme update report.
COMMUNITY GROUP ASSISTANCE, FUND, 2009
| Brenda Massey |
|
| Programme advisor |
18 May 2009 |
Reporting on the The Community
Group Assistance Policy's overall goal is to ensure that community groups have
the capacity to respond to the needs of Auckland city's diverse communities.
The key eligibility criteria that guide the distribution of
grants from the Community Group Assistance Fund are:
- applications must deliver benefits
that have a citywide focus
- applications must address an
identified community need
- applications must have measurable
outcomes
- requests for funding for school
holiday programmes must be from providers that are OSCAR accredited.
The Community Group Assistance Fund has a budget of
$550,000 in 2008/2009 and $450,000 in 2009/2010. The council received 159
applications from 150 groups requesting $1,575,621. Officers are recommending
that 37 applications from 36 groups be funded, totalling $220,400.
Recommending that the grants totalling $220,400 from the
Community Group Assistance Fund 2009, as detailed in appendix one, be approved.
RESOLUTIONS FROM THE GREAT BARRIER COMMUNITY BOARD - COMMUNITY GROUP ACCOMMODATION SUPPORT FUND
| Crispian Franklin |
|
| Democracy Advisor |
1 June 2009 |
At its meeting on 18 May
2009, the Great Barrier Community Board resolved as follows:
- "That the Community Services
Committee be requested to review the community group accommodation support fund
minimum limit in respect of Great Barrier Island recipients as their
revenue-gathering opportunities are very limited due to the small resident
island population and relatively small numbers of community group members when
compared with urban Auckland.
- That the Board requests that Great Barrier
Island be exempted from the proposed minimum limit of $2,500."
Recommending that the resolutions from the Great Barrier Community Board, dated
18 May 2009 be noted.
