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Regional Governance Committee
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MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE
REGIONAL GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE
HELD ON WEDNESDAY, 11 NOVEMBER 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
  Councillors: Aaron Bhatnagar Deputy Chairperson
[from 2:03 pm, item 6]
    Douglas Armstrong, QSO [from 1:35 pm, item 5]
    Leila Boyle  
    John Lister  
    Richard Northey, ONZM  
ALSO PRESENT: Councillors Ken Baguley  
    Bill Christian  
    Glenda Fryer  
    John Lister  
    Toni Millar [from 1:35 pm, item 5]
    Graeme Mulholland [from 1:50 pm, item 5]
    Noelene Raffills  
    Denise Roche [until 1:40 pm, item 5]

  1. Top APOLOGIES

    That the apologies from Bruce Kilmister for non-attendance and Councillors Douglas Armstrong and Aaron Bhatnagar for lateness be accepted.

    CARRIED

  2. Top CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

    That the minutes of the Regional Governance Committee meeting held on Tuesday, 13 October 2009 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 REGIONAL GOVERNANCE UPDATE

    The Chairperson moved:

    1. That the Regional Governance Committee notes that preliminary information about local boards, wards and boundaries was sent to the Local Government Commission on 16 October 2009 and that the council will need to make a submission about boundaries and representation to the Commission by 11 December 2009.
    2. That the Regional Governance Committee notes that the policy work in preparation for the council's submission on the third Auckland governance bill is continuing with a focus on local boards, strategic planning, transport, and a waterfront development agency and will also be carried out on:
      • the future of the amenities under the Auckland Regional Amenities Funding Act 2008
      • the governance of council community, recreational and cultural facilities
      • water governance, both in this bill and in the Local Government Act.
    3. That the Regional Governance Committee notes that transition activities are increasing with Auckland City Council currently taking a leadership role on several ATA projects (for example, budgeting and reporting, procurement, local boards and customer services) and that an integrated approach is being taken to coordinating the council's transition activities with emphasis on managing the increasing staff resources required.

    That it be a recommendation to Council:

    1. That it be noted that the Auckland Transition Agency is seeking feedback on a discussion document containing a proposed high-level organisation structure for the Auckland Council by 26 November 2009 and that Council not make a submission on the aforementioned document, however, individual councillors or groups of councillors are welcome to make submissions.

    Councillor Northey moved the following amendment by way of addition:

    1. That the Regional Governance Committee notes that the Auckland Transition Agency published a discussion document containing a proposed high-level organisation structure for the Auckland Council and the agency is seeking feedback about the document by 26 November 2009. This feedback will include:
      1. concern about the proposed separation of planning/policy and operations/delivery.
      2. that there be a greater number of second level General Managers who should have functional roles, for example: Arts, Community and Recreation; Environment and Planning; Organisational Performance; Infrastructure and Utilities; and Finance.
      3. that to carry out its statement of Intent (SoI) role and performance monitoring of Council Controlled Organisations (CCOs), there need to be senior staff with roles for Transport, Water Policy, the CBD Waterfront, and for recreational and cultural facilities were a CCO to be established for them.
      4. that Maori relations and Maori issues be a direct report to the CEO.
      5. that the CEO should have a Chief of Staff and/or strategic advisor directly reporting.
      6. that there should be a manager or managers for community recreational and cultural facilities in preference to a CCO for these facilities.
      7. there should be a manager Economic Development.
      8. there should be a manager for Housing and Social Well-being Issues.
      9. should the planning/operations divide continue there needs to be clear definition of the line between them yet also effective coordination between them so that the 'silo effect' does not occur.
      10. either the Manager Communications and Public Affairs be responsible for internal communications and information or a separate manager should be established for that function.

    The Chairperson ruled that the above amendment amounted to a direct negative and was not allowed under Standing Order 2.18.12.

    The Chairperson put the following substantive motion:

    1. That the Regional Governance Committee notes that preliminary information about local boards, wards and boundaries was sent to the Local Government Commission on 16 October 2009 and that the council will need to make a submission about boundaries and representation to the Commission by 11 December 2009.
    2. That the Regional Governance Committee notes that the policy work in preparation for the council's submission on the third Auckland governance bill is continuing with a focus on local boards, strategic planning, transport, and a waterfront development agency and will also be carried out on:
      • the future of the amenities under the Auckland Regional Amenities Funding Act 2008
      • the governance of council community, recreational and cultural facilities
      • water governance, both in this bill and in the Local Government Act.
    3. That the Regional Governance Committee notes that transition activities are increasing with Auckland City Council currently taking a leadership role on several ATA projects (for example, budgeting and reporting, procurement, local boards and customer services) and that an integrated approach is being taken to coordinating the council's transition activities with emphasis on managing the increasing staff resources required.

    CARRIED

    That it be a recommendation to Council:

    1. That it be noted that the Auckland Transition Agency is seeking feedback on a discussion document containing a proposed high-level organisation structure for the Auckland Council by 26 November 2009 and that Council not make a submission on the aforementioned document, however, individual councillors or groups of councillors are welcome to make submissions.

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

    For the Motion: Against the Motion:
    Cr Douglas Armstrong

    Cr John Lister

    Deputy Mayor David Hay

    		 Cr Leila Boyle

    Cr Richard Northey


    Cr Aaron Bhatnagar was absent.

    The motion was declared CARRIED by 3 votes to 2.

    [ATTACHMENT 5.B]

  6. Top AUCKLAND TRANSPORT GOVERNANCE ARRANGEMENTS

    That it be a recommendation to Council:

    1. That the Council does not agree with the Government's proposed model for a regional transport agency, responsible for all local government transport delivery functions, however, defined transport functions such as major projects may be best delivered by the Auckland Transport Agency. Community and local board involvement will be best coordinated by Auckland Council.
    2. That the Council seeks to ensure that the legislation establishing the transport agency allows the Auckland Council maximum flexibility and discretion in the governance of the transport agency and in particular advocate that the agency be established in line with the Council Controlled Organisation provisions of the Local Government Act 2002, unless deviating from these provisions will lead to a better governance outcome.
    3. That the Council advocates that the ownership or control of assets is not constrained in legislation and allows the Auckland Council discretion to modify these arrangements once it takes control of the Auckland Transport Agency while also ensuring that the Auckland Transport Agency is given adequate certainty and security around the control of transport assets.
    4. That the Council advocates for the Auckland Transition Agency to be empowered to appoint an interim board with appropriate skills represented including:
      • an understanding of transport and land use integration;
      • an understanding of the local and national transport interface in Auckland and of this interface with the community; and
      • an appreciation of urban design issues;

      to allow the Auckland Council time to develop its own appointments policy.

    5. That the Council advocates for changes to transport legislation which direct New Zealand Transport Authority and KiwiRail to work collaboratively with the Auckland Transport Agency and the Auckland Council.
    6. That the Council advocates for transitional arrangements to be made with regards to both transport strategy and the proposed regional land transport programme.
    7. That the Council supports the development of arrangements between the Auckland Council, the Auckland Transport Agency and the local boards to enable local boards to have appropriate decision making responsibilities with regards to local transport matters and that the principles governing the role of local boards as set out in the Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009 should also apply to transport and to work collaboratively with the Auckland Transport Agency to deliver transport services agreed in a 3-year local board plan.

    CARRIED

    There being no further business the Chairperson declared the meeting closed at 2:06 pm.