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MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE
COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE
HELD ON WEDNESDAY, 7 OCTOBER 2009 AT 9:30 AM
IN THE COMMITTEE ROOM, LEVEL 15
CIVIC ADMINISTRATION BUILDING
1 GREYS AVENUE
AUCKLAND

PRESENT:	Councillors	Paul	Goldsmith	Chairperson
		Noelene	Raffills	Deputy Chairperson
		Graeme	Easte
		Greg	Moyle, E.D.
		Graeme	Mulholland, JP
		Richard	Northey, ONZM
		Denise	Roche
ALSO PRESENT:	Councillors	Leila	Boyle
		Dr Cathy	Casey, JP
		Bill	Christian, JP

1. APOLOGIES

   That the apology from Councillor Northey for lateness, be accepted.

   CARRIED

   CHAIRPERSON'S STATEMENT

   The Community Services Committee on behalf of Council extends sincere condolences to all those whose families and loved ones have been the victims of the earthquakes in the Pacific and Indonesia.

   Pain and sorrow at the devastating effects of the tsunami in Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga are widely felt across Auckland's communities. Council is working with Pacific Islands Board, Auckland City and other community organisations and agencies to support relief and fundraising activities in a coordinated way.

2. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

   That the minutes of the Community Services Committee meeting held on Wednesday, 2 September 2009 be confirmed as a true and correct record.

   CARRIED

3. EXTRAORDINARY BUSINESS

   Councillor Easte moved:

   That the content of the Council material made available to potential submitters as part of the Gambling Venue Policy consultation including appropriate findings from the resident research be discussed as item 15.

   A division was called for, voting on which was as follows:

   For the Motion:	Against the Motion:
   Cr Graeme Easte Cr Denise Roche	Cr Greg Moyle Cr Graeme Mulholland Cr Paul Goldsmith

   
   Cr Richard Northey and Cr Noelene Raffills abstained from voting.

   Deputy Mayor David Hay and His Worship the Mayor were absent.

   The motion was declared LOST by 3 votes to 2, with 2 abstentions.

4. PUBLIC FORUM

   There were no requests to speak in public forum.

5. REPORTS REQUESTED PENDING

   That the requested pending report of the Democracy Advisor dated, 28 September 2009, be amended as follows:

   Report Title	Target Date	Report Title	Comment
   Community Services Committee, 5 November 2008 - Item 11	TBA (To be advised)	Auckland City Alcohol Strategy Review - Scope	That the Community Services Committee notes an update of the Auckland City alcohol strategy review will be reported back to the Committee in May 2009. Recent work in the alcohol policy area has focused on workstreams reported to the City Development Committee (i.e. the development of a liquor licensing policy and council's submission to the Justice and Electoral Committee on the Sale and Supply of Liquor and Liquor Enforcement Bill).

   CARRIED

6. COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL POLICY FRAMEWORK

   That the memorandum regarding the community and social policy framework, dated 24 September 2009, be received as background information to assist with consideration of the community development profiles, which are in the process of being reviewed by committee members.

   CARRIED

7. LIBRARY BUSINESS DIRECTION KI MUA

   That the memorandum about the Library business direction Ki Mua - towards tomorrow, dated 13 September be received as background information to assist with consideration of the library service profiles which are reported separately to the October and November 2009 Community Services Committee meetings.

   CARRIED

8. REVIEW OF UPDATED COMMUNITY SERVICES SERVICE PROFILES

   That the Community Services Committee requests officers to review the following services in more detail in the updated service profiles:

   • Number of grants received by grant kind e.g funds requested compared to funds allocated;
   • Range of different models to meet the needs of different communities e.g community centres and halls;
   • Measures and KPIs;
   • New service description - graffiti prevention education;
   • Use of donation boxes in libraries for special exhibitors and a gold coin contribution to special events in libraries;
   • Budget jumps between years e.g staffing, property costs;
   • Use of libraries for studying spaces by students e.g especially central library by universities and private teaching establishments.

   CARRIED

9. LAW COMMISSION SUBMISSION - LIQUOR LEGISLATION

   The Chairperson moved:

   1. That the Auckland City Council submits only on those matters that are within the Council's powers and responsibilities under current legislation, in particular in its role as the District Licensing Agency.
   2. That the Community Services Committee notes that in addition to the basic premise that there should be greater local control over the sale and supply of liquor, the guiding principles used to draft the council's submission taken from the Auckland City alcohol strategy are:
      • that council has a role to play in the reduction of alcohol related harm in Auckland city
      • that alcohol related harm reduction will be best achieved through working in partnership with the community and other key stakeholders including police, health promotion agencies, emergency services and licensees
      • that alcohol related activities should be able to occur with minimal risk of harm to drinkers, minors and the community at large
      • that council's focus on the reduction of alcohol related harm recognises the legality of the sale and use of liquor and its place in entertainment, and council's overall goal to make Auckland an exciting and vibrant place to live and a prosperous economic centre
      • that, in order to be as effective as possible, a variety of strategies should be adopted to reduce alcohol related harm. These include education, relationship building, regulation and community action
      • that actions relating to supply control, demand reduction and problem limitation should co-exist in order to reduce alcohol related harm.
   3. That the Community Services Committee notes the council's existing framework for liquor related issues, which is:
      • the Sale of Liquor Act 1989 (which guides the council in its role as the Auckland city District Licensing Agency)
      • the Auckland City alcohol strategy adopted in 2006 (including activities such as liquor bans and alcohol accords).
   4. That the Community Services Committee approves the Auckland City Council submission to the Law Commission on the report 'Alcohol in Our Lives: an Issues Paper on the reform of New Zealand's Liquor Laws' attached as Appendix Two, with the following amendments:
      Amend 3.3.33:
      • to note the Council's concern with the breadth of the extended grounds on which licence applications and renewals may be refused by the District Licensing Agency, as suggested by the Commission, as too general and undefined and liable to be exploited by competitors, notwithstanding the proposed controls on prejudicing commercial interests.
      • That the law Commission consider the issue of local boards under a combined new Auckland city and any possible role they may have in setting local alcohol plans or liquor policy, including the devolution of powers to local communities to set local policies relating to opening hours and other controls on the sale of liquor.
   5. That the Community Services Committee delegates to the chair of the committee, authority to make and approve any amendments to the submission arising from the committee meeting, noting that this will be in conjunction with the chair of the City Development Committee.

   Councillor Roche moved the following amendment by way of replacement:

   1. That the Auckland City Council submits only principally on those matters that are within the Council's powers and responsibilities under current legislation, in particular in its role as the District Licensing Agency but, as the Council has a responsibility to advocate for the wider well being of the Auckland city community, the Auckland City Council submits on other important matters raised in the review which are not within the Council's regulatory powers and responsibilities.

   A division was called for, voting on which was as follows:

   For the Motion:	Against the Motion:
   Cr Graeme Easte Cr Richard Northey Cr Denise Roche	Cr Greg Moyle Cr Graeme Mulholland Cr Paul Goldsmith

   
   Cr Noelene Raffills abstained from voting.

   Deputy Mayor David Hay and His Worship the Mayor were absent.

   Voting in the division was TIED with 3 votes for and against. The Chairperson exercised his casting vote against the motion. The motion was declared LOST by 4 votes to 3, with 1 abstention.

   Councillor Northey moved the following amendment by way of addition:

   4. That the Community Services Committee approves the Auckland City Council submission to the Law Commission on the report 'Alcohol in Our Lives: an Issues Paper on the reform of New Zealand's Liquor Laws' attached as Appendix Two, with the following amendments:
      1. Amend 3.3.33:
         • That the law Commission consider the issue of local boards under a combined new Auckland city and any possible role they may have in setting local alcohol plans or liquor policy, including the devolution of powers to local communities to set local policies relating to opening hours and other controls on the sale of liquor.

         The amendment was taken by a show of hands and was TIED 3 votes for and 3 votes against. The Chairman exercised his casting vote against the amendment, and the amendment was declared LOST.
         

      2. Amend 3.3.4 and 3.3.15
         • Abolish separate club licenses and amalgamate them into on-licence provisions for simplification

         The amendment was taken by a show of hands and was TIED 3 votes for and 3 votes against. The Chairman exercised his casting vote against the amendment, and the amendment was declared LOST.

         [Secretarial Note: Councillor Northey requested that the following discussion be recorded in the minutes as it took place earlier in the Chairperson's main motion.]
         

      3. Under 5.1, add the following bullet points
         • That the minimum purchase age be raised to 20 years at off-licence premises
         • That courts be required to specifically consider the need for alcohol treatment during sentencing
         • That government and official agencies increase resourcing for alcohol treatment
         • That the blood alcohol limit for driving be reduced to 0.05 as recommended by Law Commissions.
         • That a minimum price for alcohol be introduced
         • That there be stronger restrictions on liquor advertising.
         • That health warnings be introduced on labels including for foetal alcohol syndrome.

   The Chairperson put the substantive motion:

   1. That the Auckland City Council submits only on those matters that are within the Council's powers and responsibilities under current legislation, in particular in its role as the District Licensing Agency.
   2. That the Community Services Committee notes that in addition to the basic premise that there should be greater local control over the sale and supply of liquor, the guiding principles used to draft the council's submission taken from the Auckland City alcohol strategy are:
      • that council has a role to play in the reduction of alcohol related harm in Auckland city
      • that alcohol related harm reduction will be best achieved through working in partnership with the community and other key stakeholders including police, health promotion agencies, emergency services and licensees
      • that alcohol related activities should be able to occur with minimal risk of harm to drinkers, minors and the community at large
      • that council's focus on the reduction of alcohol related harm recognises the legality of the sale and use of liquor and its place in entertainment, and council's overall goal to make Auckland an exciting and vibrant place to live and a prosperous economic centre
      • that, in order to be as effective as possible, a variety of strategies should be adopted to reduce alcohol related harm. These include education, relationship building, regulation and community action
      • that actions relating to supply control, demand reduction and problem limitation should co-exist in order to reduce alcohol related harm.
   3. That the Community Services Committee notes the council's existing framework for liquor related issues, which is:
      • the Sale of Liquor Act 1989 (which guides the council in its role as the Auckland city District Licensing Agency)
      • the Auckland City alcohol strategy adopted in 2006 (including activities such as liquor bans and alcohol accords).
   4. That the Community Services Committee approves the Auckland City Council submission to the Law Commission on the report 'Alcohol in Our Lives: an Issues Paper on the reform of New Zealand's Liquor Laws' attached as Appendix Two, with the following amendments:

      Amend 3.3.33:

      • to note the Council's concern with the breadth of the extended grounds on which licence applications and renewals may be refused by the District Licensing Agency, as suggested by the Commission, as too general and undefined and liable to be exploited by competitors, notwithstanding the proposed controls on prejudicing commercial interests;
      • That the law Commission consider the issue of local boards under a combined new Auckland city and any possible role they may have in setting local alcohol plans or liquor policy, including the devolution of powers to local communities to set local policies relating to opening hours and other controls on the sale of liquor;
      • Amend 3.1.1
      • fourth bullet point, add "and of communities" after "industry and consumers".
      • Amend 5.1
      • public involvement in liquor licensing decisions, second bullet point, to read at the end "broadened and clearly set out in the legislation".
        
   5. That the Community Services Committee delegates to the chair of the committee, authority to make and approve any amendments to the submission arising from the committee meeting, noting that this will be in conjunction with the chair of the City Development Committee and another Councillor, who is to be determined by the City Development Committee.

   CARRIED

10. FINAL INFRASTRUCTURE BILL SUBMISSION

    The Chairperson moved:

    That Auckland City Council's submission on the Infrastructure Bill, dated 18 September 2009 be noted.

    Councillor Easte moved:

    That the following be added to the Council's submission:

    3.1.7  Auckland City submits that the Bill be amended by adding a provision empowering local authorities to develop and require stricter standards for microwave and other radiation exposure than is required by national standards for cellphone towers and other utilities particularly when children and invalids are exposed to the radiation. The Bill should also require consultation by all Telcos with residents and property owners near the proposed installation and their concerns taken into account to the extent practicable.

    LOST

    Councillor Northey moved:

    That 3.3.1 and 3.3.2 be replaced with the following:

    3.3.1  Auckland City does not support the repeal of the Affordable Housing: Enabling Territorial Authorities Act 2008 (the Act) as outlined in Part 4, but recognise that the Act requires substantial amendments effectively to achieve its purpose. We advocate amendments to the Act:

    • to require the Act apply across all urban areas in a region as determined by its regional council
    • to fund the additional cost on territorial authorities and regional councils from Central Government
    • to reduce compliance costs and bureaucratic requirements
    • to eliminate RMA and analogous appeals, and
    • to make the law more similar to the way in which inclusionary zoning is effectively applied in Vancouver, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.

    3.3.2  Auckland City believes that an appropriately amended Affordable Housing: Enabling Territorial Authorities Act is still very much required. In many growing urban areas of New Zealand, including Auckland, Tauranga, Nelson and Queenstown lower income working people cannot secure housing they can afford near the places they work and consequently both they and the regional economies suffer substantial loss. The same is true for those with mental or other long-term illnesses or disability who particularly need to be near both their work and their support services. Inclusionary zoning policies have proved very successful in the major centres in Australia, Canada and Britain in ensuring well-integrated mixed income developments with huge social, economic and urban design benefits. Strengthening and amending the Act appropriately will enable regional, city and district councils to pursue and implement appropriate New Zealand solutions to the housing crisis.

    LOST

    The Chairperson put the substantive motion:

    That Auckland City Council's submission on the Infrastructure Bill, dated 18 September 2009 be noted.

    CARRIED

    [Secretarial note: Councillors Northey and Roche requested that their votes against the resolution be recorded.]

11. MOBILE LIBRARY SERVICE, LIBRARY OUTREACH SERVICES - CENTRAL LIBRARY 3

    1. That the Community Services Committee notes the new approaches to the use of the mobile library and other outreach services to meet the needs of different customer groups, including outreach visits, attendance at events, and extension of the Library to You service.
    2. That the Community Services Committee notes that the funding of $60,000 capital expenditure in Council's ten year plan, for reconditioning and refurbishment of the vehicle in 2016/2017 is retained.
    3. That the Community Services Committee notes a holistic strategy for the future development of the mobile and other outreach services to low mobility groups and remote areas is better left for the Auckland Council given the imminent transition.

    CARRIED

12. QUARTERLY REPORT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

    The Chairperson moved:

    That the Community Development Quarterly report for the period July to September 2009 be received, noting the work programmes completed and underway across the organisation, including:

    • The commencement of a review of the Citizen Advice Bureau Auckland City services and alignment to council strategies and policies.
    • The closing of the Community Group Assistance Fund with 178 applications having been received and the closing of the Community Group Accommodation Support Fund with 76 applications being received.
    • The finalisation of the Strategic Relationship Fund agreement for the 2009/2010 grant for Citizens Advice Bureau Auckland City, including the pay out of funds in the first week of July 2009. 
    • Auckland City's Community Safety Awards ceremony, held on 9 September 2009.
    • The completion by Council officers of the co-ordination of stakeholder feedback on the Law Commission report, entitled 'Alcohol in Our Lives'.
    • The establishment of an Akozone Study Support programme for children at Wesley Primary and Wesley Intermediate Schools.
    • The Whanau Swim programme, which provided free water safety and basic swim lessons to 170 children in the Panmure, Mt Roskill and Onehunga areas.
    • The commencement of the 'Stepping Up Leadership Development' programme for people in the Disability Sector.
    • The development of the Lu'I Ola Pacific Disability project action plan for 2009-2013.
    • The attendance of Council officers at the Annual General Meeting of the Pacific Islands Board in September 2009.
    • The hosting of a workshop by the Communities Living Free group with the NZ Injury Prevention Strategy Secretariat.
    • Two 'Law Commission: Alcohol in our Lives' consultation workshops, delivered by the Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand, with the support of the Community Action on Youth and Drugs team in August 2009.
    • The launch of the research report, 'Step Up Auckland: Decision Makers Getting it Right for Disabled Aucklanders' hosted by the Auckland University of Technology.
    • The scoping of options by the staff from Arts, Community and Recreation Services Group and the Library Group for the hosting of 'Story-time' sessions within the Orakei community.
    • 'Crime Prevention through Environmental Design' training for Council and the NZ Police completed in August 2009.
    • The commencement of construction on the re-building of the Sandringham Plunket building.
    • The Wesley Youth Space project currently being implemented, including meetings held by the Wesley Youth Space Reference Group to provide input into the design phase of the project.

    Councillor Easte moved the following amendment by way of addition:

    2. That the Community Services Committee adopts the following text to be included in the material provided to submitters and enquiries regarding the draft Liquor Licensing policy and the draft Gambling Venue Policy:

    Sinking Lid policies, or their equivalents (reducing caps), have been adopted by 14 of the 64 territorial local authorities, including three of our five largest cities, Auckland, Manukau and Christchurch. These Councils have adopted their policies to control the growth of venues and licenses in their areas and to address significant public concern about the effects of EGM/pokies in contributing to social harm because of their accessibility and addictive qualities. Discussion with the policy analysts in these Councils and reports they have supplied indicate that the majority of the public continue to strongly support these policies. A telephone survey, focus groups, and in-depth interviews, to ascertain community views on gambling were undertaken by Auckland City in March 2009; approximately 1600 people took part. These surveys found that most residents were unaware of the rules and regulations governing Class 4 (EGM/pokies and TAB) venues or the requirement to return a percentage of profits from EGM/pokies as local community funding. Once made aware, most residents were of the opinion that the social costs of this form of gambling outweighed any potential benefits.

    LOST

    [Secretarial Note: Councillor Northey did not vote or speak to the above amendment.]

    The Chairperson put the substantive motion:

    That the Community Development Quarterly report for the period July to September 2009 be received, noting the work programmes completed and underway across the organisation, including:

    • The commencement of a review of the Citizen Advice Bureau Auckland City services and alignment to council strategies and policies.
    • The closing of the Community Group Assistance Fund with 178 applications having been received and the closing of the Community Group Accommodation Support Fund with 76 applications being received.
    • The finalisation of the Strategic Relationship Fund agreement for the 2009/2010 grant for Citizens Advice Bureau Auckland City, including the pay out of funds in the first week of July 2009.
    • Auckland City's Community Safety Awards ceremony, held on 9 September 2009.
    • The completion by Council officers of the co-ordination of stakeholder feedback on the Law Commission report, entitled 'Alcohol in Our Lives'.
    • The establishment of an Akozone Study Support programme for children at Wesley Primary and Wesley Intermediate Schools.
    • The Whanau Swim programme, which provided free water safety and basic swim lessons to 170 children in the Panmure, Mt Roskill and Onehunga areas.
    • The commencement of the 'Stepping Up Leadership Development' programme for people in the Disability Sector.
    • The development of the Lu'I Ola Pacific Disability project action plan for 2009-2013.
    • The attendance of Council officers at the Annual General Meeting of the Pacific Islands Board in September 2009.
    • The hosting of a workshop by the Communities Living Free group with the NZ Injury Prevention Strategy Secretariat.
    • Two 'Law Commission: Alcohol in our Lives' consultation workshops, delivered by the Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand, with the support of the Community Action on Youth and Drugs team in August 2009.
    • The launch of the research report, 'Step Up Auckland: Decision Makers Getting it Right for Disabled Aucklanders' hosted by the Auckland University of Technology.
    • The scoping of options by the staff from Arts, Community and Recreation Services Group and the Library Group for the hosting of 'Story-time' sessions within the Orakei community.
    • 'Crime Prevention through Environmental Design' training for Council and the NZ Police completed in August 2009.
    • The commencement of construction on the re-building of the Sandringham Plunket building.
    • The Wesley Youth Space project currently being implemented, including meetings held by the Wesley Youth Space Reference Group to provide input into the design phase of the project.

    CARRIED

13. RESOLUTIONS FROM THE WAIHEKE COMMUNITY BOARD - LIBRARY AND SERVICE CENTRE

    The Chairperson, Waiheke Community Board, Mr. Tony Sears, was in attendance and spoke to this item.

    1. That the resolutions from the Waiheke Community Board meeting, dated 23 September 2009, be noted.
    2. That the design brief for the Waiheke Library and Service Centre building at Oneroa include provision for flexible design, to accommodate the possibility of long-term future expansion of the library, as well as provision for consultation on the concept design with local stakeholders.

    CARRIED

14. RESOLUTIONS FROM THE WAIHEKE COMMUNITY BOARD - HYBRID LEASES

    The Chairperson, Waiheke Community Board, Mr. Tony Sears, was in attendance and spoke to this item.

    The Chairperson moved:

    That the resolutions of the Waiheke Community Board meeting, dated 23 September 2009, be noted.

    Councillor Roche tabled the Waiheke Artworks strategic plan document and spoke to it.

    [ATTACHMENT 14A]

    Councillor Roche moved the following amendments by way of addition:

    2. That it be noted that the current community leasing policy cannot be applied consistently to community organisations and not-for-profit organisations that are tenants at the Waiheke Artworks complex because the standard 5+5+5 year leasing arrangement is impracticable due to the development of the complex with the building of the new library at the site.
    3. That officers be asked to develop a leasing policy for tenants at the Artworks complex that is consistent with the Artworks Strategic Plan.
    4. That, in the interim, community organisations and not-for-profit organisations, and other tenants at the Waiheke Artworks complex who contribute to the vision and objectives of the Artworks Strategic Plan, be granted community leases.

    A division was called for, voting on which was as follows:

    For the Motion:	Against the Motion:
    Cr Graeme Easte Cr Richard Northey Cr Denise Roche	Cr Greg Moyle Cr Graeme Mulholland Cr Noelene Raffills Cr Paul Goldsmith

    
    Deputy Mayor David Hay and His Worship the Mayor were absent.

    The motion was declared LOST by 4 votes to 3.

    The Chairperson put the substantive motion:

    1. That the resolutions of the Waiheke Community Board meeting, dated 23 September 2009, be noted.
    2. That the Community Services Committee requests a progress report to its December 2009 meeting, on the application to date of the new hybrid leases policy, including any possible anomalies or difficulties that might be emerging, and on options for responding to these.

    CARRIED

    [Secretarial Note: Continuation of the leases of the Artworks Gallery and Community Cinema will be deferred to the December meeting of the Arts, Culture and Recreation Committee, to allow the progress report to the Community Services Committee to be considered before these leases are.]

    There being no further business the Chairperson declared the meeting closed at 11:45 am.