Council Meeting

23 February 2021

Northland Regional Council Minutes

 

Meeting held in the Council Chamber

36 Water Street, Whangārei

on Tuesday 23 February 2021, commencing at 10.30am

 

 

Present:

Chairperson, Penny Smart

Councillors:

Terry Archer

Justin Blaikie

Jack Craw

Colin Kitchen

Amy Macdonald

Marty Robinson

Rick Stolwerk

Joce Yeoman

 

In Attendance:

Full Meeting

Independent Financial Advisor

Chief Executive Officer

GM - Corporate Excellence

GM - Regulatory Services

Governance Support Manager

Part Meeting

GM – Customer Services/Community Resilience

Financial Manager

Māori Relationships Manager
Acting Community Engagement Manager

Financial Accountant

Economist

Māori Cultural Advisor

Resource Management – Strategic Policy Specialist

Economic Policy Advisor

 

The Chair declared the meeting open at 10.31am.  Proceedings commenced with a karakia by full council.

Apologies (Ngā whakapahā) (Item 1.0)

The apology from Independent Audit and Risk Advisor, Danny Tuato’o, had been submitted prior to the meeting.

 

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.

Receipt of Supplementary Items (Item 2.0A)

ID: A1413605

Report from Chris Taylor, Governance Support Manager

Moved (Stolwerk/Macdonald)

That as permitted under section 46A(7) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 the following supplementary reports be received:

·                Item 4.0: Declaration by Whangārei Urban Constituency councillor

·                Item 5.0: Announcement of the result of the Whangārei Urban Constituency By-election 2021

 

Carried

Secretarial Note: Item 5.0 was addressed prior to Item 4.0 due to an administrative error in agenda collation.

 

Declaration by Whangārei Urban Constituency councillor (Item 4.0)

ID: A1403144

Report from Chris Taylor, Governance Support Manager

Moved (Kitchen/Robinson)

 

That the report ‘Declaration by Whangārei Urban Constituency councillor’ by Chris Taylor, Governance Support Manager and dated 18 February 2021, be received.

 

Carried

 

Secretarial Note: The new Whangārei Urban Constituency councillor, Terry Archer, made and signed the declaration to enable him to carry out his duties as a councillor; as required by law.  The Chair signed and witnessed the declaration.

 

Announcement of the result of Whangārei Urban Constituency By-election 2021 (Item 5.0)

ID: A1403120

Report from Chris Taylor, Governance Support Manager

Moved (Yeoman/Blaikie)

 

That the report ‘Announcement of the result of Whangārei Urban Constituency By-election 2021’ by Chris Taylor, Governance Support Manager and dated 18 February 2021, be received.

 

Carried

 

 

Confirmation of Minutes - 15 December 2020 (Item 6.1)

ID: A1411207

Report from Chris Taylor, Governance Support Manager

Moved (Yeoman/Stolwerk)

That the minutes of the council meeting held on 15 December 2020 be confirmed as a true and correct record.

Carried

Secretarial Note:

·         The request to amend the minute pertaining to Item 5.2 ‘Managed Fund Recommendations and Marsden Maritime Dividend Proposal’ regarding the substantive motion was not executed given by definition (Standing Orders) ‘In the case of a motion that is subject to an amendment, the substantive motion is the original motion incorporating any amendments adopted by the meeting’.

·         Councillor Kitchen extended his appreciation for the support received whilst dealing with family matters; that led to his apology at the December 2020 meeting.

 

Receipt of Action Sheet (Item 6.2)

ID: A1404896

Report from Chris Taylor, Governance Support Manager

Moved (Stolwerk/Macdonald)

That the action sheet be received.

Carried

 

Introduction of Three New Private Equity Funds into the Long-Term Investment Fund (Item 7.1)

ID: A1408862

Report from Simon Crabb, Finance Manager

Moved (Stolwerk/Blaikie)

1.         That the report ‘Introduction of Three New Private Equity Funds into the Long-Term Investment Fund’ by Simon Crabb, Finance Manager and dated 3 February 2021, be received.

2.         That the Pioneer Capital No IV private equity fund, the Continuity Capital PE No.6 LP private equity fund and the MLC PE III private equity are introduced into the Long-Term Investment Fund.

3.         That an investment of NZ$1M is committed to the Pioneer Capital No IV private equity fund, NZD$2M is committed to the Continuity Capital PE No.6 LP private equity fund; and AU$500K is committed to the MLC PEIII private equity fund, and that all investments into these three new funds are paid out of Long Term Growth funds, in accordance with EriksensGlobal recommendations.

 

4.         That the Statement of Investment Policy and Objectives is revised to replicate the document included as Attachment 1 (pertaining to Item 7.1 of the 23 February 2021 council agenda).

Carried

 

Secretarial Note:

·         The new Independent Financial Advisor was introduced.

·         The Financial Manager addressed the report; advising the recommended course of action was to minimise council’s exposure to market volatility.

·         It was requested that any future recommendations to council regarding the investment into new funds be supported by advice on the fund provider’s approach to environmental, social and governance investment.

·         The Investment and Property Subcommittee to consider the appropriate level of investment into Australia fund providers.

 

Regional Rates Collection - update to 31 December 2020 (Item 7.2)

ID: A1409030

Report from Simon Crabb, Finance Manager

Moved (Blaikie/Macdonald)

That the report ‘Regional Rates Collection - update to 31 December 2020 ’ by Simon Crabb, Finance Manager and dated 4 February 2021, be received.

Carried

 

Financial Report to 31 January 2021 (Item 7.3)

ID: A1410512

Report from Vincent McColl, Financial Accountant

Moved (Stolwerk/Kitchen)

That the report ‘Financial Report to 31 January 2021’ by Vincent McColl, Financial Accountant and dated 9 February 2021, be received.

Carried

 

Policy on the appointment of directors to council organisations (Item 8.1)

ID: A1399125

Report from Linda Harrison, Organisational Project Manager

Moved (Yeoman/Blaikie)

1.         That the report ‘Policy on the appointment of directors to council organisations’ by Linda Harrison, Organisational Project Manager and dated 22 December 2020, be received.

2.         That the revised Policy on the appointment of directors to council organisations be adopted, with the Chief Executive authorised to make any minor editorial changes if required.

Carried

Delegations Manual Amendment for Unbudgeted Expenditure (Item 8.2)

ID: A1404935

Report from Vincent McColl, Financial Accountant

Moved (Stolwerk/Kitchen)

1.         That the report ‘Delegations Manual Amendment for Unbudgeted Expenditure’ by Vincent McColl, Financial Accountant and dated 19 January 2021, be received.

2.         That council approve the change to the Delegations Manual allowing the Chief Executive Officer to approve unbudgeted expenditure that has offsetting external funding in accordance with the prescribed limits in the Delegations Manual (refer Attachment 1 pertaining to Item 8.2 of the 23 February 2021 council agenda).

Carried

 

Adoption of Policy on the Appointment of Independent Advisors to Council (Item 8.3)

ID: A1406880

Report from Bruce Howse, Group Manager - Corporate Excellence

Moved (Stolwerk/Craw)

1.         That the report ‘Adoption of Policy on the Appointment of Independent Advisors to Council’ by Bruce Howse, Group Manager - Corporate Excellence and dated 26 January 2021, be received.

2.         That council adopt the Policy on the Appointment of Independent Advisors.

Carried

 

Draft Submission - Water Services Bill (Item 8.4)

ID: A1409345

Report from Justin Murfitt, Strategic Policy Specialist

Moved (Yeoman/Macdonald)

1.         That the report ‘Draft Submission - Water Services Bill’ by Justin Murfitt, Strategic Policy Specialist and dated 4 February 2021, be received.

2.         That council approve the draft submission attached to this report (subject to any minor amendments) to be lodged with the Health Select Committee.

3.         That the submission be signed on behalf of council by the Chief Executive Officer.

Carried

 

Secretarial Note:

·         Council approved the content of the submission; acknowledging that individual household supplies were a separate issue to be addressed through other avenues.

·         The submission is to clarify the multiple water use storage initiatives in Northland.

 

Draft submission - Climate Change Commission advice package (Item 8.5)

ID: A1409639

Report from Justin Murfitt, Strategic Policy Specialist

Moved (Blaikie/Macdonald)

1.         That the report ‘Draft submission - Climate Change Commission advice package’ by Justin Murfitt, Strategic Policy Specialist and dated 5 February 2021, be received.

2.         That council endorse the development of a joint submission by all Northland councils.

3.         That council delegate authority to Chair Penny Smart, Councillor Amy McDonald and the Chief Executive Malcolm Nicolson to approve the draft submission on behalf of council prior to lodgement with the Climate Change Commission. 

Carried

 

Secretarial Note: Appreciation was extended to the Strategic Policy Specialist for a ‘fantastic report’.

 

Local Electoral (Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Bill - submission (Item 8.6)

ID: A1411109

Report from Ben Lee, GM - Strategy, Governance and Engagement

Moved (Yeoman/Robinson)

1.         That the report ‘Local Electoral (Māori Wards and Maori Constituencies) Amendment Bill - submission’ by Ben Lee, GM - Strategy, Governance and Engagement and dated 11 February 2021, be received.

2.         That the council retrospectively approve the council submission included as Attachment 1 (pertaining to Item 8.6 of the 23 February 2021 council agenda) on the Local Electoral (Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Bill.

Carried

 

Regional Economic Development Service Delivery Working Party - An additional objective and a request for recommendations (Item 8.7)

ID: A1410349

Report from Darryl Jones, Economist

Moved (Kitchen/Blaikie)

1.         That the report ‘Regional Economic Development Service Delivery Working Party - An additional objective and a request for recommendations’ by Darryl Jones, Economist and dated 9 February 2021, be received.

2.         That the terms of reference be updated to include a fourth objective, “Make recommendations to council on documentation and other matters relating to establishment of Northland Inc. Limited as a joint council-controlled organisation”.

3.         That the working party be requested to make recommendations to council on matters relating to Northland Inc’s involvement in the Ngāwhā Innovation and Education Centre. 

Carried

Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party appointment of Co-Chair and proxy Co-Chair (Item 8.8)

ID: A1411967

Report from Auriole Ruka, Kaiwhakahaere Hononga Māori

Moved (Robinson/Macdonald)

1.         That the report ‘Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party appointment of Co-Chair and proxy Co-Chair’ by Auriole Ruka, Kaiwhakahaere Hononga Māori and dated 15 February 2021, be received.

2.         That council approves the appointment of Pita Tipene, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Hine as the appointed members Co-Chair, and Georgina Connelly, Te Uri o Hau Settlement Trust as proxy Co-Chair for Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party.

Carried

 

Secretarial Note: Appreciation was extended to Pita Tipene and Georgina Connelly for stepping into these crucial roles.

 

Health and Safety Report (Item 9.1)

ID: A1406493

Report from Kelcie Mills, Health and Safety Advisor

Moved (Craw/Yeoman)

That the report ‘Health and Safety Report’ by Kelcie Mills, Health and Safety Advisor and dated 25 January 2021, be received.

Carried

 

Chair's Report to Council (Item 9.2)

ID: A1410621

Report from Penny Smart, Chair

Moved (Smart/Stolwerk)

That the report ‘Chair's Report to Council’ by Penny Smart, Chair and dated 10 February 2021, be received.

Carried

 

Chief Executive’s Report to Council (Item 9.3)

ID: A1398145

Report from Malcolm Nicolson, Chief Executive Officer

Moved (Stolwerk/Yeoman)

That the report ‘Chief Executive’s Report to Council’ by Malcolm Nicolson, Chief Executive Officer and dated 31 January 2021, be received.

Carried

 

 

Secretarial Note:

·         Consideration to be given to potential opportunities to accelerate the retirement fencing programme to ensure funding was not lost.

·         Further investigation to be undertaken regarding the level of detail that could be obtained from sediment source tracking.

·         Consideration to be given to a media response to recent articles regarding algae on beaches.

·         Staff to follow up concerns regarding safety issues with the organisers of the McLeod’s Bay Bank Party.

·         The Regional Transport Committee to follow up ongoing concerns regarding the disproportionate number of road fatalities in the Far North.

 

Reporting on the Long Term Plan 2018-2028 performance measures for quarter two of the 2020/21 year (Item 9.4)

ID: A1404614

Report from Robyn Broadhurst, Policy Specialist

Moved (Yeoman/ Blaikie)

That the report ‘Reporting on the Long Term Plan 2018-2028 performance measures for quarter two of the 2020/21 year’ by Robyn Broadhurst, Policy Specialist and dated 18 January 2021, be received.

Carried

 

Secretarial Note:  The council’s recent direction regarding performance measures, through the Long Term Plan 2021-2031 process, to be recirculated.

 

Legislative compliance for the period 1 July - 31 December 2020 (Item 9.5)

ID: A1411605

Report from Kyla Carlier, Acting Strategy Policy and Planning Manager

Moved (Stolwerk/Yeoman)

That the report ‘Legislative compliance for the period 1 July - 31 December 2020’ by Kyla Carlier, Acting Strategy Policy and Planning Manager and dated 12 February 2021, be received.

Carried

 

Receipt of Committee Minutes (Item 10.1)

ID: A1411062

Report from Chris Taylor, Governance Support Manager

Moved (Stolwerk/Kitchen)

That the unconfirmed minutes of the:

·        Audit and Risk Subcommittee – 2 December 2020;

·        Kaipara Moana Remediation Joint Committee – 4 December 2020;

·        Regional Transport Committee – 9 December 2020; and

 

 

·        Investment and Property Subcommittee - 27 January 2021

be received.

Carried

 

Working Party Updates and Chairpersons' Briefing (Item 10.2)

ID: A1406160

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

Moved (Blaikie/Stolwerk)

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

Carried

Business with Public Excluded (Item 11.0)

Moved (Smart/Stolwerk)

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

11.1

Confirmation of Confidential Minutes - 15 December 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.

11.2

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.

11.3

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).

11.4

Enterprise System

The public conduct of the proceedings would be likely to result in disclosure of information, the withholding of which is necessary to enable council to carry out, without prejudice or disadvantage, commercial activities s7(2)(h).

 

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

 

Conclusion

The meeting concluded at 12.15pm.