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.
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Declaration by Whangārei Urban
Constituency councillor (Item 4.0)
ID:
A1403144
Report from Chris Taylor, Governance Support Manager
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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
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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.
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Announcement of the
result of Whangārei Urban Constituency By-election 2021 (Item 5.0)
ID:
A1403120
Report from Chris Taylor, Governance Support Manager
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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
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Confirmation of Minutes - 15 December 2020 (Item 6.1)
ID:
A1411207
Report from Chris Taylor, Governance Support Manager
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Moved
(Yeoman/Stolwerk)
That the minutes of the council
meeting held on 15 December 2020 be confirmed as a true and correct record.
Carried
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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.
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Receipt of Action
Sheet (Item 6.2)
ID:
A1404896
Report from Chris Taylor, Governance Support Manager
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Moved (Stolwerk/Macdonald)
That the action sheet be
received.
Carried
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Introduction of Three New Private Equity
Funds into the Long-Term Investment Fund (Item
7.1)
ID:
A1408862
Report from Simon Crabb, Finance Manager
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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
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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.
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Regional Rates
Collection - update to 31 December 2020 (Item
7.2)
ID:
A1409030
Report from Simon Crabb, Finance Manager
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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
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Financial Report to
31 January 2021 (Item 7.3)
ID:
A1410512
Report from Vincent McColl, Financial Accountant
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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
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Policy on the appointment of directors to
council organisations (Item 8.1)
ID:
A1399125
Report from Linda Harrison, Organisational Project
Manager
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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
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Delegations Manual
Amendment for Unbudgeted Expenditure (Item
8.2)
ID:
A1404935
Report from Vincent McColl, Financial Accountant
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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
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Adoption of Policy on
the Appointment of Independent Advisors to Council (Item 8.3)
ID:
A1406880
Report from Bruce Howse, Group Manager - Corporate
Excellence
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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
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Draft Submission -
Water Services Bill (Item 8.4)
ID: A1409345
Report from Justin Murfitt, Strategic Policy Specialist
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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
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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.
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Draft submission -
Climate Change Commission advice package (Item
8.5)
ID:
A1409639
Report from Justin Murfitt, Strategic Policy Specialist
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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
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Secretarial Note: Appreciation was extended to the
Strategic Policy Specialist for a ‘fantastic report’.
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Local Electoral (Māori
Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Bill - submission (Item 8.6)
ID:
A1411109
Report from Ben Lee, GM - Strategy, Governance and
Engagement
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Secretarial Note: Appreciation was extended to Pita
Tipene and Georgina Connelly for stepping into these crucial roles.
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Health and Safety Report (Item 9.1)
ID:
A1406493
Report from Kelcie Mills, Health and Safety Advisor
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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
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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
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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
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Secretarial Note: The
council’s recent direction regarding performance measures, through the Long
Term Plan 2021-2031 process, to be recirculated.
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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
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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
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Receipt of Committee Minutes (Item 10.1)
ID:
A1411062
Report from Chris Taylor, Governance Support Manager
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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
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Working Party Updates
and Chairpersons' Briefing (Item 10.2)
ID:
A1406160
Report from Sally Bowron, Strategy, Governance and
Engagement Team Admin/PA
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Moved (Blaikie/Stolwerk)
That the report ‘Working
Party Updates and Chairpersons' Briefing’ be received.
Carried
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Business with Public
Excluded (Item 11.0)
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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:
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Item No.
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Item Issue
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Reasons/Grounds
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11.1
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Confirmation
of Confidential Minutes - 15 December 2020
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The public
conduct of the proceedings would be likely to result in disclosure of
information, as stated in the open section of the meeting.
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11.2
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Receipt of
Confidential Committee Minutes
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The public
conduct of the proceedings would be likely to result in disclosure of
information, as stated in the open section of the meeting.
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11.3
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Human
Resources Report
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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).
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11.4
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Enterprise
System
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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).
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3.
That the Independent Financial Advisor be permitted to stay during
business with the public excluded.
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Conclusion
The meeting concluded at 12.15pm.