Council Meeting

21 July 2020

Northland Regional Council Minutes

 

Meeting held in the Council Chamber

36 Water Street, Whangārei

on Tuesday 21 July 2020, commencing at 10.30am

 

 

Present:

Chairperson, Penny Smart

Councillors:

John Bain

Jack Craw

Colin Kitchen

Amy Macdonald

Marty Robinson

Rick Stolwerk

Joce Yeoman

 

In Attendance:

Full Meeting

Chief Executive Officer

Independent Advisor

GM - Strategy, Governance and Engagement

GM - Environmental Services

Governance Support Manager

Part Meeting

                                                         Northland Inc. GM Investment & Infrastructure

                                                         GM - Corporate Excellence

                                                         GM - Customer Services/Community Resilience

                                                         Deputy GM Regulatory Services

                                                         Natural Resources Monitoring Manager

                                                         Finance Manager

                                                         Economist

                                                         Financial Accountant

                                                         Policy Specialist

 

The Chair declared the meeting open at 10.30am and commenced proceedings with a karakia.

Apologies (Ngā whakapahā) (Item 1.0)

Moved (Yeoman/Robinson)

That the apologies from Councillor Blaikie and the Independent Advisor, Geoff Copstick, for non-attendance be received.

Carried

 

Secretarial Note:  The Chief Executive Officer advised (as per Standing Order 9.9) that Item 7.2, Northland Regional Pest and Marine Pathway Operational Plan 2020 – 2021, had been withdrawn and would be directed back to the Biosecurity and Biodiversity Working Party.

Declarations of Conflicts of Interest (Nga whakapuakanga) (Item 2.0)

It was advised that councillors should make declarations item-by-item as the meeting progressed.

 

Public Forum - Petition from Hokianga Environmental Forum (Item 3.0)

ID: A1332672

Report from Chris Taylor, Governance Support Manager

Cheryl Turner and Jessie McVeagh addressed council in support of the petition from the Hokianga Environmental Forum; requesting that the Northland Regional Council publicly notify the resource consent application from the Far North District Council regarding the Omapere-Opononi Wastewater Treatment Plant.  The petition was physically presented to the Chair of the council by one of the tamariki in attendance.

 

Health and Safety Report (Item 4.0)

ID: A1335501

Report from Beryl Steele, Human Resources Manager

Moved (Stolwerk/Macdonald)

That the report ‘Health and Safety Report’ by Beryl Steele, Human Resources Manager and dated 3 July 2020, be received.

Carried

 

Confirmation of Minutes - 16 June 2020 (Item 5.1)

ID: A1334703

Report from Chris Taylor, Governance Support Manager

Moved (Yeoman/Bain)

That the minutes of the ordinary council meeting held on 16 June 2020 be confirmed as a true and correct record.

Carried

 

Receipt of Action Sheet (Item 5.2)

ID: A1336926

Report from Chris Taylor, Governance Support Manager

Moved (Stolwerk, Kitchen)

That the action sheet be received.

Carried

 

Working Party Updates and Chairpersons' Briefings (Item 5.3)

ID: A1338069

Report from Sally Bowron, Strategy, Governance and Engagement Team Admin/PA

Moved (Craw/Yeoman)

That the report ‘Working Party Updates and Chairpersons' Briefings’ be received.

Carried

 

Secretarial Note:

·         The Chairs of the Climate Change Working Party, the Biosecurity and Biodiversity Working Party and the Planning and Regulatory Working Party provided a verbal update on the current priorities and work programmes for these subordinate bodies.

·         Appreciation was extended to the staff involved in the negotiations with appeal parties on the Proposed Regional Plan.

·         Appreciation was also extended to the staff involved in the Predator Free Whangārei celebration, attended by Ministers Sage and Jones.  The event was described as ‘exquisitely well managed’.

 

Local Government Funding Agency: Becoming a Guaranteeing Member (Item 6.1)

ID: A1337004

Report from Simon Crabb, Finance Manager

Moved (Kitchen/Bain)

1.         That the report ‘Local Government Funding Agency: Becoming a Guaranteeing Member’ by Simon Crabb, Finance Manager and dated 7 July 2020, be received.

2.         That council confirms its intention to become a guaranteeing local authority of the Local Government Funding Agency.

3.         That council delegates authority to the Chief Executive to execute the following documents for the purposes of recommendation 2 above:

a.         Security Stock Certificate (in relation to the Equity Commitment Deed);

b.        Security Stock Certificate (in relation to the Guarantee and Indemnity);

c.         Stock Issuance Certificate (in relation to the documents noted at recommendations 3a and 3b);

d.        Chief Executive Certificate, and

e.        Officer’s Certificate.

 

4.         That council authorise Penny Smart, Chair; and Councillor Colin Kitchen, Chair, Audit and Risk Subcommittee, to execute the following deeds for the purposes of recommendation 2. above:

a.         Accession Deed to Guarantee and Indemnity; and

b.        Accession Deed to Equity Commitment Deed.

 

5.         That council authorises the Chief Executive to take any other steps on behalf of council as the Chief Executive considers necessary or desirable to execute to give effect to recommendation 2 above.

Carried

 

$10M Loan Repayment (Item 6.2)

ID: A1336103

Report from Simon Crabb, Finance Manager

Moved (Stolwerk/Kitchen)

1.         That the report ‘$10M Loan Repayment’ by Simon Crabb, Finance Manager and dated 6 July 2020, be received.

2.         That council takes a loan with the Local Government Funding Agency of up to $4,425,837 (inclusive of 2.5% Borrower Notes), maturing in April 2033, at a fixed borrowing cost in the range of 1.95% pa and 2.25% pa.

3.         That $6,283,803 of funding held to repay debt is withdrawn from the Long-Term Investment Fund in accordance with a recommendation from EriksensGlobal.

4.         That $598,994 of borrowed funds is deposited into council’s working capital to reimburse river scheme capex costs incurred in 2019/20.

Carried

 

Interest Rate for Special Reserves in Surplus (Item 6.3)

ID: A1333488

Report from Vincent McColl, Financial Accountant

Moved (Stolwerk/Macdonald)

1.         That the report ‘Interest Rate for Special Reserves in Surplus’ by Vincent McColl, Financial Accountant and dated 29 June 2020, be received.

2.         That council approve the use of the 90-day bank bill rate plus 3% per annum to calculate the interest attributable to special reserves with balances in excess of $50,000, reset annually on 1 July starting from 1 July 2020.

Carried

 

National Environmental Standards - Air Quality (Item 7.1)

ID: A1335632

Report from Michael Payne, Policy Specialist

Moved (Yeoman/Macdonald)

1.         That the report ‘National Environmental Standards - Air Quality’ by Michael Payne, Policy Specialist and dated 3 July 2020, be received.

2.         That council approve the draft submission attached, pertaining to Item 7.1 of the 21 July 2020 council agenda (subject to any amendments directed by council).

3.         That the Chief Executive Officer be authorised to make any necessary minor drafting, typographical, rounding or presentation corrections and to sign the submission on behalf of council prior to it being lodged with the Ministry for the Environment.

Carried

 

Northland Regional Pest and Marine Pathway Operational Plan 2020-2021 (Item 7.2)

ID: A1336293

Report from Don McKenzie, Biosecurity Manager

This item was withdrawn by the Chief Executive Officer (as per Standing Order 9.9) and directed back to the Biosecurity and Biodiversity Working Party.

 

Northland Inc. Limited: Statement of Intent 2020-2023 (Item 7.3)

ID: A1337058

Report from Darryl Jones, Economist

Moved (Stolwerk/Bain)

1.         That the report ‘Northland Inc. Limited: Statement of Intent 2020-2023’ by Darryl Jones, Economist and dated 7 July 2020, be received.

2.         That council agree to Northland Inc. Limited’s Statement of Intent 2020-2023 as set out in Attachment 3 pertaining to Item 7.3 of the 21 July 2020 council agenda.

Carried

 

Chair's Report to Council (Item 8.1)

ID: A1332865

Report from Penny Smart, Chair

Moved (Smart/Yeoman)

That the report ‘Chair's Report to Council’ by Penny Smart, Chair and dated 1 July 2020, be received.

Carried

 

Chief Executive’s Report to Council (Item 8.2)

ID: A1334342

Report from Malcolm Nicolson, Chief Executive Officer

Moved (Stolwerk/Macdonald)

That the report ‘Chief Executive’s Report to Council’ by Malcolm Nicolson, Chief Executive Officer and dated 30 June 2020, be received.

Carried

 

Secretarial Note:

·         The GM Customer Services/Community Resilience provided an update on the recent flood event, highlighting:

-        The intense and prolonged thunderstorm activity;

-        The highest return period statistics related to a one in one hundred year event;

-        Rainfall intensities and totals were variable across Northland;

-        Civil defence centres had been set up in various locations to assist those cast due to flooding;

-        There had been significant damage to roads with the Mangamuka Gorge still closed;

-        The damaged Whangārei and Paihia/Waitangi water systems were now ‘secure’ and ruptured sewage lines had been repaired;

-        The Ministers had visited Northland to assess the damage and a small relief fund had been announced; and

-        The Kaitāia flood remediation works and Whangārei detention dam had functioned well.

·         Council acknowledged the success of Enviroschools events; in particular the recent Enviroschools Project Pest Controls Skills Course.

·         Appreciation was extended to the biodiversity team for their ‘extremely valuable work’ and ‘commendable progress’ with regards to dune lakes and lakes programmes.

 

Receipt of Committee Minutes (Item 9.0)

ID: A1334990

Report from Chris Taylor, Governance Support Manager

Moved (Craw/Macdonald)

That the unconfirmed minutes of the:

·        Investment and Property Subcommittee – 27 May 2020; and

·        Audit and Risk Subcommittee – 24 June 2020

be received.

Carried

 

Business with Public Excluded (Item 10.0)

Moved (Yeoman/Macdonald)

1.              That the public be excluded from the proceedings of this meeting to consider confidential matters.

2.              That the general subject of the matters to be considered whilst the public is excluded, the reasons for passing this resolution in relation to this matter, and the specific grounds under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 for the passing of this resolution, are as follows:

Item No.

Item Issue

Reasons/Grounds

10.1

Confirmation of Confidential Minutes - 16 June 2020

The public conduct of the proceedings would be likely to result in disclosure of information, as stated in the open section of the meeting.

10.2

Receipt of Confidential Committee Minutes

The public conduct of the proceedings would be likely to result in disclosure of information, as stated in the open section of the meeting.

10.3

Human Resources Report

The public conduct of the proceedings would be likely to result in disclosure of information, the withholding of which is necessary to protect the privacy of natural persons, including that of deceased natural persons s7(2)(a).

3.              That the Independent Advisor be permitted to stay during business with the public excluded.

Carried

 

 

Conclusion

The meeting concluded at 12.14pm.