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Regional Governance Committee
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MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE
REGIONAL GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE
HELD ON WEDNESDAY, 15 APRIL 2009 AT 1.30 PM
IN THE COMMITTEE ROOM, LEVEL 15
CIVIC ADMINISTRATION BUILDING
1 GREYS AVENUE
AUCKLAND

PRESENT: Deputy Mayor David Hay, JP Chairperson
  Councillor Douglas Armstrong, QSO  
  His Worship the Mayor John Banks, QSO
[until 2.05 pm from 2.10 pm item 6,
until 2.30 pm  from 2.42 pm item 6.
Until 2.52 pm.]		  
  Councillor Richard Northey, ONZM  
ALSO PRESENT: Councillor Cathy Casey  
  Councillor Bill Christian  
  Councillor Graeme Easte  

  1. Top APOLOGIES

    That the apologies from Councillor Aaron Bhatnagar for non attendance be accepted.

    CARRIED

  2. Top CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

    That the minutes of the Regional Governance Committee meeting held on Tuesday 17 June 2008 be confirmed as a true and correct record.

    CARRIED

  3. Top EXTRAORDINARY BUSINESS

    There was no extraordinary business.

  4. Top PUBLIC FORUM

    There were no requests to speak in public forum.

  5. Top DELEGATIONS OF THE REGIONAL GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE

    The Chairperson moved:

    1. That the delegations for the Regional Governance Committee set out below be referred to the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the Finance and Strategy Committee and Councillor Northey for final recommendation to Council:
    Function Provision number Description Delegate
    Committee Scope RG1 Statement of Scope: Power to oversee the council's response to proposals for the restructuring of local government in the Auckland region. Regional Governance Committee
    Committee Scope RG2 Purpose: Power to recommend to council submissions to be made to government on policy proposals and proposed legislation to Government and Parliament in relation to the restructuring of local government in the Auckland region. Regional Governance Committee
    Key Committee Activity / Accountability RG3 Policy: Power to develop and recommend to council policies and activities related to the transition to a new structure for local government in the Auckland region. Regional Governance Committee
    Key Committee Activity / Accountability RG4 Liaison: Power to interact directly with the Establishment Board, the Government, and any other authority responsible for the transition to a new structure for local government in the Auckland region. Regional Governance Committee
    Key Committee Activity / Accountability RG5 Consultation: Power to consult with stakeholders and the public on the restructuring of local government in the Auckland region. Develop and approve communication activities associated with the process for restructuring local government in the Auckland region. Regional Governance Committee
    Transition RG6 Power to respond to requests for information and/or requests for assistance from the Establishment Board, the Government and any other authority responsible for the transition to a new structure for local government in the Auckland region. Regional Governance Committee
    Select Committees RG7 Power to recommend to council the appointment of members or officers to represent or to make representations on behalf of council at select committee hearings and/or any other processes Regional Governance Committee

    CARRIED

    1. That it be a recommendation to Council that a nominee of the Community Board Chairs, currently Community Board Chair Bruce Kilmister, be added to the Regional Governance Committee as a non voting member.

    Councillor Northey moved the following amendment:

    1. That it be a recommendation to Council that a nominee of the Community Board Chairs, currently Community Board Chair Bruce Kilmister, be added to the Regional Governance Committee as a full member.

    LOST

    The Chairperson put the substantive motion:

    1. That it be a recommendation to Council that a nominee of the Community Board Chairs, currently Community Board Chair Bruce Kilmister, be added to the Regional Governance Committee as a non voting member.

    CARRIED

    Councillor Northey moved the following amendment:

    1. That it be a recommendation to Council that the membership of the Regional Governance Committee be enhanced by the addition of Councillor Easte and a nominee of the majority caucus.

    LOST

    The Chairperson moved:

    1. That officers be requested to prepare appropriate delegations to enable the Regional Governance Committee to recommend to Council and then to the Local Government Commission the appropriate boundaries for the wards of the Auckland Council and for the Local Boards and Community Boards.

    CARRIED

  6. Top REGIONAL GOVERNANCE REPORT

    The Chairperson moved:

    1. That the Committee notes the Government's decisions on Auckland Governance to establish one Auckland Council with 20 to 30 local boards, a mayor elected at large with governance powers, and a waterfront development agency, regional transport authority and water and wastewater provider.
    2. That the Committee notes Government's intention to complete the transition arrangements by October 2010.
    3. That officers report back on:
      1. the implications of the new governance model;
      2. how council should respond to transition when further details are released by Government;
      3. the following issues:
        1. Possible appropriate enhanced powers for the Local Boards;
        2. Mechanisms for representatives of the Local Boards to speak at, participate in or influence Auckland Council decision making;
        3. Possible mechanisms, such as the area committees as suggested in the Auckland City Council's submission, for political overview of sub-regional activities and services;
        4. Better ways of co-ordinating central and local government decision making and delivery including on social well-being.
    4. That Councillors Hay, Northey and Armstrong work with officers to determine a Council position on the Government's proposal for one regional transport authority for all local government transport functions.

    CARRIED

    Councillor Northey moved the following amendment:

    1. That the committee record its concern about the following matters as issues for advocacy by the City Council, preferably in concert with other councils in the region:
      1. Hybrid representation, including 8 members elected at large, on the Auckland Council when single member wards for all Councillors would be preferred.
      2. Inappropriate and divisive executive powers proposed for the Mayor of the Auckland Council.
      3. Inadequate Maori participation and representation.
      4. Inadequate powers and roles for the Local Boards.
      5. Excessive need for the Auckland Council to involve itself in small and local issues at the expense of key and strategic issues.
      6. Inadequate mechanisms for the local boards to participate in and influence the decision making of the Auckland Council.
      7. Lack of a mechanism for a political overview of the needs of the sub-regional areas currently covered by city and district councils.
      8. Lack of mechanisms to ensure effective shared governance, partnership and collaboration between the Auckland Council and Central Government, particularly over social well-being, transport and economic development.
      9. Lack of mechanisms to ensure that the Auckland Council and the local boards actively promote social well-being effectively.
      10. An excessive reliance on the private sector and Council Controlled Organisations to deliver essential activities and services that ought to be directly, democratically accountable.

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

    For the Amendment: Against the Amendment:
    Cr Richard Northey Cr Douglas Armstrong

    His Worship the Mayor

    Deputy Mayor David Hay


    Cr Aaron Bhatnagar was absent.

    The amendment was declared LOST by 3 votes to 1.

    Councillor Northey moved the following amendments:

    1. That officers report to the Finance and Strategy Committee in May or June on the implications of reorganisation for the annual plan and the LTCCP.

    CARRIED

    1. That Council convene public meetings and also workshops to which all Councillors and others to which all Community Board Members are invited on the issues and the implications of local government reorganisation in Auckland.

    LOST

    The Chairperson put the substantive motion:

    1. That officers report to the Finance and Strategy Committee in May or June on the implications of reorganisation for the annual plan and the LTCCP.
    2. That the Committee notes that the proposed change in its delegations will enable it to organise consultation on regional governance issues as appropriate over the next 18 months - this consultation may or may not involve public meetings.

    CARRIED

    There being no further business the Chairperson declared the meeting closed at 2.55 pm.