Regional Economic Development Service Delivery Working Party

8 December 2020

Regional Economic Development Service Delivery Working Party Minutes

 

Meeting held in the Council Chamber

36 Water Street, Whangārei

on Tuesday 8 December 2020, commencing at 3.45pm

 

 

Present:

Chairperson, Councillor Justin Blaikie

KDC Councillor Anna Curnow

KDC Councillor Peter Wethey

FNDC Councillor John Vujcich

FNDC Councillor David Clendon

 

In Attendance:

Full Meeting

Ben Lee, NRC

Darryl Jones, NRC

Emmanouela Galanou, NRC

Jason Marris, KDC

Bill Lee, FNDC

 

The Chair declared the meeting open at3.45 pm.

Housekeeping (Item 1.0)

The Chairperson went through the housekeeping rules and welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Apologies (Ngā whakapahā) (Item 2.0)

The apology from NRC councillor Colin Kitchen was noted.

Declarations of Conflicts of Interest) (Item 3.0)

It was advised that declarations would be taken as the meeting progressed.

 

Northland Inc. Limited: Statement of Intent 2021-2024 - Draft letter of expectations (Item 4.1)

Presented by: Darryl Jones, Economist, Northland Regional Council

·                The SOI needs to have a strategic approach focussed on high level outcomes and deliverables that Northland Inc. can contribute to these outcomes.

·                Important that KPI’s are set so Northland Inc. can directly influence their achievement, and are not set so they fail.

·                Regional spread – important to develop but question as to what this should look like.  A more visible presence across the region, highly visible projects?

·                An appropriate strategic planning approach needs to be developed by Northland Inc. to help prioritise and co-ordinate activities among future owners and other parties.

Agreed action points:

·                Darryl Jones to amend the draft letter of expectations and send to Working Party members for final feedback before sending to Northland Inc.

 

Northland Inc. Limited: Appointment of directors - Update (Item 4.2)

Presented by: Darryl Jones, Economist, Northland Regional Council

·                A revised policy on the appointment of directors to council organisations will be going to the council meeting on 15 December 2020.  It reinforces discussion at the last meeting and there is no material effect on the process the Working Party is going through.

·                A weighting system can be used; however, it needs to be transparent and needs to be done soon.

·                Economic development and community development to be included in the matrix.

·                Need to look at skills gap and then prioritise selection around things that are missing to get a well-rounded board.

·                Questions will be drawn up and reviewed by the Working Party on Friday 5 March 2021.

·                Interview panel to consist of three councillors, one from each council.

·                Justin Blaikie confirmed he was NRC’s representative on the interview panel.

·                The intention is to have the interview process finished by the end of March so NRC can make an appointment in April, with the new directors in place to start on 1 July.

·                The advertisement will be for three positions and will reserve decision on whether to appoint an additional director.

·                Working Party to make a recommendation to NRC.

Agreed action points:

·                Darryl Jones to circulate the new policy to the Working Party and update the matrix.

·                Darry Jones to draw up questions for the Working Party to review on 5 March 2021.

·                Councillors from FNDC and KDC to advise Darryl Jones before Christmas who their representative will be on the interview panel for the Northland Inc. directors.

  

Conclusion

The meeting concluded at 4.50pm.