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Regional Governance Committee
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MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE
REGIONAL GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE
HELD ON TUESDAY, 8 SEPTEMBER 2009 AT 2:30 PM
IN THE COMMITTEE ROOM, LEVEL 15
CIVIC ADMINISTRATION BUILDING
1 GREYS AVENUE, AUCKLAND

PRESENT: Deputy Mayor David Hay, JP Chairperson
  His Worship the Mayor John Banks, QSO  
  Councillors: Aaron Bhatnagar Deputy Chairperson
    Leila Boyle  
    Richard Northey, ONZM  
  Mr Bruce Kilmister (non-voting member)
ALSO PRESENT Councillors: Cathy Casey [from 2:39pm item 5]
    Bill Christian  
    Graeme Easte [from 2.35pm item 5]
    Glenda Fryer  
    Paul Goldsmith [from 2:47pm item 5]
    Toni Millar [from 2:37pm item 5]
    Noelene Raffills  

  1. Top APOLOGIES

    That the apologies from Councillors Armstrong and Lister be accepted.

    CARRIED

  2. Top CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

    That the minutes of the Regional Governance Committee meeting held on Tuesday, 11 August 2009 be confirmed as a true and correct record.

    CARRIED

  3. Top EXTRAORDINARY BUSINESS

    There were no items of extraordinary business.

  4. Top PUBLIC FORUM

    There were no requests to speak in public forum.

  5. Top REGIONAL GOVERNANCE UPDATE

    The Chairperson moved:

    That the Regional Governance Committee:

    1. Endorses the continuation of the work programme to prepare for Council's submission on the third Auckland Bill and for the Local Government Commission's work on boundaries with that programme focussed on boundaries, local boards, transport, the waterfronts, Watercare issues, election rules, staff employment issues, options for an Auckland Council strategic framework and transitional issues.
    2. Notes the government's decision to establish the Auckland Transport Agency, notes that it apparently incorporates streetscapes, street furniture, local events, and urban design responsibilities that earlier Auckland City Council submissions advocated leaving to the Auckland Council or Local Boards, but notes that effective integration with central government's transport responsibilities in Auckland will be essential to achieving successful outcomes for Auckland transport and refers these issues to the councillor workshop in item D. below.
    3. Endorses further work to develop a detailed proposal around how the regional transport agency will work in preparation to submit on the third Auckland governance bill.
    4. Supports a councillor workshop on transport issues to discuss proposals around how the regional transport agency will work.
    5. Supports the view of officers that final decisions around the establishment of a Waterfront Development Agency be deferred until such time as the Auckland Council is in place.
    6. Endorses the Finance and Strategy Committee decision that proposed joint work and amalgamation of functions across the region, beyond procurement and debt management, be reported to the appropriate Auckland City Council Committee, preferably before implementation.
    7. Supports holding another councillor and community board member workshop on appropriate powers including rating powers, roles, resourcing, funding formulae and workings of local boards, and on the proposed local board plans and agreements, before Auckland City Council finalises its submission on the third Auckland Bill, with timing to be agreed between the Chairperson and officers.
    8. Supports holding another councillor and community board member workshop on social, community and cultural issues and the proposed social policy forum which the Auckland Governance Legislation Select Committee highlighted on pages 17 and 18 of its report.
    9. Requests officers to develop proposals to ensure the assured sustainable funding and good governance of the vital amenities currently supported by the Regional Amenities Act which the Minister of Local Government has expressed his desire to repeal in the third Auckland Bill.
    10. Agrees to communicate to key political leaders that the second Auckland Bill be further amended before its enactment to include important proposals from Auckland City Council's submission that have not been included, namely electing at least 24 Auckland Council members and retaining the well accepted northern and southern Auckland Region boundaries, with the final communication being approved by the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Councillor Northey.

    Councillor Northey moved the following amendment by way of addition:

    1. Agrees to communicate to key political leaders that the powers allotted the Auckland Council Mayor not extend beyond the powers allotted in the Bill as introduced.

    LOST

    The Chairperson put the following substantive motion:

    That the Regional Governance Committee:

    1. Endorses the continuation of the work programme to prepare for Council's submission on the third Auckland Bill and for the Local Government Commission's work on boundaries with that programme focussed on boundaries, local boards, transport, the waterfronts, Watercare issues, election rules, staff employment issues, options for an Auckland Council strategic framework and transitional issues.
    2. Notes the government's decision to establish the Auckland Transport Agency, notes that it apparently incorporates streetscapes, street furniture, local events, and urban design responsibilities that earlier Auckland City Council submissions advocated leaving to the Auckland Council or Local Boards, but notes that effective integration with central government's transport responsibilities in Auckland will be essential to achieving successful outcomes for Auckland transport and refers these issues to the councillor workshop in item D. below.
    3. Endorses further work to develop a detailed proposal around how the regional transport agency will work in preparation to submit on the third Auckland governance bill.
    4. Supports a councillor workshop on transport issues to discuss proposals around how the regional transport agency will work.
    5. Supports the view of officers that final decisions around the establishment of a Waterfront Development Agency be deferred until such time as the Auckland Council is in place.
    6. Endorses the Finance and Strategy Committee decision that proposed joint work and amalgamation of functions across the region, beyond procurement and debt management, be reported to the appropriate Auckland City Council Committee, preferably before implementation.
    7. Supports holding another councillor and community board member workshop on appropriate powers including rating powers, roles, resourcing, funding formulae and workings of local boards, and on the proposed local board plans and agreements, before Auckland City Council finalises its submission on the third Auckland Bill, with timing to be agreed between the Chairperson and officers.
    8. Supports holding another councillor and community board member workshop on social, community and cultural issues and the proposed social policy forum which the Auckland Governance Legislation Select Committee highlighted on pages 17 and 18 of its report.
    9. Requests officers to develop proposals to ensure the assured sustainable funding and good governance of the vital amenities currently supported by the Regional Amenities Act which the Minister of Local Government has expressed his desire to repeal in the third Auckland Bill.
    10. Agrees to communicate to key political leaders that the second Auckland Bill be further amended before its enactment to include important proposals from Auckland City Council's submission that have not been included, namely electing at least 24 Auckland Council members and retaining the well accepted northern and southern Auckland Region boundaries, with the final communication being approved by the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Councillor Northey.

    CARRIED

    There being no further business the Chairperson declared the meeting closed at 3:08 pm.
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