22 February 2022
Northland Regional
Council Minutes
Meeting held remotely via audio-visual link
on Tuesday 22 February 2022, commencing at 10.30am
Tuhinga/Present:
Chairperson, Penny Smart
Councillors:
Terry Archer
Justin Blaikie
Jack Craw
Colin Kitchen
Amy Macdonald
Marty Robinson
Rick Stolwerk
Joce Yeoman (left at
12.40pm due to illness during business with the public excluded)
I
Tae Mai/In Attendance:
Full or Part Meeting
Individual Financial Advisor
Tumuaki - Chief Executive Officer
Pou Taumatua - GM Corporate Services
Pou Tiaki Taiao - GM Environmental Services
Pou Whakaritenga - GM Regulatory Services
Pou Manawhakahaere – GM Governance & Engagement
Pou Tiaki Pūtaiao - GM Biosecurity
Pou Tiaki Hapori - GM Community Resilience
Finance Manager
Strategic Projects and Facilities Manager
Resource Management Strategic Policy Specialist
Financial Accountant
Contracted Advisor
Governance Specialist
Secretarial Note: The Chair declared the meeting open at 10.34am
and proceedings commenced with the Tauāki
ā roto by full council.
Ngā
whakapahā/Apologies (Item
1.0)
There were no apologies tendered.
Nga
whakapuakanga/Declarations of Conflicts of Interest (Item 2.0)
It was advised that councillors should make declarations
item-by-item as the meeting progressed.
Acknowledgement of those who have passed
A minute’s silence was observed to honour the passing
of the two Te Taitokerau Māori and Council Working Party (TTMAC) hapu
representatives Victor Hollaway, Ngāti Tara, and Hoki Tua, Whāingaroa.
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Confirmation of Minutes - Council Meeting 14
December 2021 (Item 5.1)
Report from Chris Taylor, Governance Specialist
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Moved
(Stolwerk/Kitchen)
That the minutes of the meeting
held on 14 December 2021, confirmed as a true and correct record.
Carried
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Receipt of Action
Sheet (Item 5.2)
Report from Chris Taylor, Governance Specialist
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Moved (Macdonald/Robinson)
That the action sheet be
received.
Carried
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Financial Report to 31 January 2021 (Item 6.1)
Report from Vincent McColl, Financial Accountant
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Moved (Stolwerk/Craw)
That the report ‘Financial
Report to 31 January 2021’ by Vincent McColl, Financial Accountant and
dated 9 February 2022, be received.
Carried
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Secretarial Note: It was advised that
council’s overall managed fund portfolio had experienced a negative
return during January. This was a non-realised monthly loss which
reflected a decrease in the value of the Short-Term and Long-Term investment
funds.
However, despite the investment performance during
January, the investment portfolio had generated positive gains in the seven
months of the current financial year.
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Update to Delegations (Item 6.2)
Report from Vincent McColl, Financial Accountant
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Moved (Macdonald/Blaikie)
1. That
the report ‘Update to Delegations’ by Vincent McColl, Financial
Accountant and dated 21 January 2022, be received.
Carried
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It was further moved
(Stolwerk/Blaikie)
2. That
council approve the updated bank and cheque signatory delegations, as
outlined in Attachment 1 pertaining to Item 6.2 of the 22 February 2022
council agenda.
Carried
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Northland Regional Council and Department of
Conservation Memorandum of Understanding (Item
7.1)
Report from Jonathan Gibbard, Pou Tiaki Taiao –
Group Manager Environmental Services
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Moved (Blaikie/Craw)
1. That
the report ‘Northland Regional Council and Department of Conservation
Memorandum of Understanding’ by Jonathan Gibbard, Pou Tiaki Taiao
– Group Manager Environmental Services and dated 9 February 2022, be
received.
2. That
the council approves the Memorandum of Understanding and delegation of
authority to the NRC Chairperson to sign the memorandum on behalf of council.
Carried
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Secretarial Note: The Memorandum of Understanding
would be reviewed annually with quarterly reports to council and the
Conservation Board.
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Te Pae Tawhiti: Our
vision (Item 7.2)
Report from Ben Lee, Planning and Policy Manager
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Moved
(Craw/Kitchen)
1. That
the report ‘Te Pae Tawhiti: Our vision’ by Ben Lee, Policy and
Planning Manager and dated 17 November 2021, be received.
2. That
council approves the adoption of Te Pae Tawhiti: Our vision.
3. That
the Pou Tiaki Taiao - Group Manager Environmental Services be delegated
ability to make any necessary minor changes to Te Pae Tawhiti: Our
vision, such as formatting, grammar, and spelling.
Carried
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Secretarial Note: Appreciation was extended to
all involved in the development of Te Pae Tawhiti.
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Water Resilience Fund
- Criteria, Process and LTP Year 1 Allocation
(Item 7.3)
Report from Tony Phipps, Contracted Advisor
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Moved (Blaikie/Stolwerk)
1. That
the report ‘Water Resilience Fund - Criteria, Process and LTP Year 1
Allocation’ by Tony Phipps, Contracted Advisor and dated 10 February
2022, be received.
2. That
the council adopt the criteria and process for making Water Resilience Fund
grant allocations as set out and recommended in this report.
3. That
the council make the following Water Resilience Fund grants for the 2021-22 financial
year:
· Te
Rūnanga o Whaingaroa: up to $330,000 for Tūtū Te Wai.
· Te Kotahitanga E
Mahi Kaha Trust: up to $150,000 for Waikotihe Puna and Te Kotahitanga Marae
and Community Water Proposal.
Carried
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Secretarial Note: Appreciation was extended to
the Contracted Advisor for championing this project.
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Draft NRC feedback -
Discussion document on resource management system reform (Item 7.4)
Report from Justin Murfitt, Strategic Policy Specialist
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Moved (Yeoman/Craw)
1. That
the report ‘Draft NRC feedback - Discussion document on resource
management system reform’ by Justin Murfitt, Strategic Policy
Specialist and dated 2 February 2022, be received.
2. That
council authorise the draft submission and that it be lodged on or before 28 February
2022.
3. That
the GM – Environmental Services be authorised to make minor changes for
readability and formatting prior to lodgement.
4. That
the submission be signed by Chair Penny Smart on behalf of council.
Carried
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Proposed changes to
the NES Drinking water - Council submission
(Item 7.5)
Report from Justin Murfitt, Strategic Policy Specialist
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Moved (Yeoman/Craw)
1. That
the report ‘Proposed changes to the NES Drinking water - Council
submission’ by Justin Murfitt, Strategic Policy Specialist and dated 3
February 2022, be received.
2. That
a draft submission be circulated to councillors and Te Taitokerau Māori
and Council Working Party members for comment prior to the draft being
finalised.
3. That
council authorise the draft submission to be approved, under delegated
authority to Chair Penny Smart, prior to being lodged with the Ministry for
the Environment on or before 6 March 2022.
Carried
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Secretarial Note: Appreciation was extended to
the Resource Management Strategic Policy Specialist for the ‘well
penned’ submissions in relation to Items 7.4 and 7.5.
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Maritime Safety
Management System (SMS) (Item 7.6)
Report from Jim Lyle, Regional Harbourmaster
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Moved (Stolwerk/Kitchen)
1. That
the report ‘Maritime Safety Management System (SMS)’ by Jim Lyle,
Regional Harbourmaster and dated 11 January 2022, be received.
2. That
the council note the risks posed by shipping, and the management of these
risks by Safety Management Systems under the Port and Harbour Safety Code.
3. That
the council fully support the Port and Harbour Safety Code.
Carried
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Secretarial Note: The Port and Harbour Safety
Code can be accessed using the following link:
https://www.maritimenz.govt.nz/commercial/ports-and-harbours/port-and-harbour-safety-code.asp
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Solar Energy
Expansion at Water Street Whangārei (Item
7.7)
Report from Phil Heatley, Strategic Projects and
Facilities Manager
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Moved (Macdonald/Archer)
1. That
the report ‘Solar Energy Expansion at Water Street Whangārei’
by Phil Heatley, Strategic Projects and Facilities Manager and dated 8
February 2022, be received.
2. That
up to $40,000 + GST in funds be drawn the Equalisation Reserve for further
provision of solar power generation at 36 Water Street, Whangārei.
Carried
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Budget approval for
CEO recruitment (Item 7.8)
Report from Beryl Steele, Human Resources Manager
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Moved (Yeoman/Robinson)
1. That
the report ‘Budget approval for CEO recruitment’ by Beryl Steele,
Human Resources Manager and dated 17 January 2022, be received.
2. That
council approve budget of $100,000 to pay for recruitment expenses associated
with the recruitment of the new Chief Executive Officer.
3. That
this budget comes from the Equalisation Reserve.
Carried
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Health and Safety Report (Item 8.1 )
Report from Kelcie Mills, Health and Safety Advisor
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Moved (Kitchen/Macdonald)
That the report ‘Health
and Safety Report’ by Kelcie Mills, Health and Safety Advisor and dated
28 January 2022, be received.
Carried
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Secretarial Note: Council was entering a period
of elevated risk with the resignation of the senior Health and Safety
Officer. Measures were being put in place to ensure the council’s
health and safety commitments were met until a new officer was recruited.
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Chair's Report to
Council (Item 8.2)
Report from Penny Smart, Chair
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Moved (Smart/Robinson)
That the report ‘Chair's
Report to Council’ by Penny Smart, Chair, and dated 10 February 2022,
be received.
Carried
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Secretarial Note: The following corrections were
noted to the Chair’s Report to Council:
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The LGNZ Regional Sector meeting and the Northland Mayoral Forum
had taken place in November 2021 and had been reported in the December 2021
Chair’s Report to Council.
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The ‘Regular meetings with Mayor Jason Smith’ to read
‘Regular meetings with Te Taitokerau/Northland Mayors’.
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In addition to the meetings reported, the Chair met with the
Northland Forestry Environmental Working Group which was also attended by the
Pou Tiaki Taiao - GM Environmental Services.
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Chief
Executive’s Report to Council (Item 8.3)
Report from Malcolm Nicolson, Tumuaki - Chief Executive
Officer
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Moved (Smart/Stolwerk)
That the report ‘Chief
Executive’s Report to Council’ by Malcolm Nicolson, Tumuaki -
Chief Executive Officer and dated 20 January 2022, be received.
Carried
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Emergency Services
Fund 2020-2021 Report (Item 8.4 )
Report from Victoria Harwood, Pou Tiaki Hapori - GM
Community Resilience
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Moved (Stolwerk/Macdonald)
That the report ‘Emergency
Services Fund 2020-2021 Report’ by Victoria Harwood, Pou Tiaki Hapori -
GM Community Resilience and dated 10 January 2022, be received.
Carried
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Reporting on Long
Term Plan 2021-2031 performance measures for quarters one and two of the
2021/22 year (Item 8.5)
Report from Robyn Broadhurst, Policy Specialist
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Moved (Yeoman/Kitchen)
That the report ‘Reporting
on Long Term Plan 2021-2031 performance measures for quarters one and two of
the 2021/22 year’ by Robyn Broadhurst, Policy Specialist and dated 10 February
2022, be received.
Carried
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Receipt of Committee Minutes (Item 9.1 )
Report from Chris Taylor, Governance Specialist
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Moved (Robinson/Stolwerk)
That the minutes of the:
· Civil
Defence Emergency Management Group - 10 November 2021
· Kaipara
Moana Remediation Joint Committee - 15 November 2021
· Joint
Climate Change Adaptation Committee – 29 November 2021
· Regional
Transport Committee – 8 December 2021
· Kaipara
Moana Remediation Joint Committee – 13 December 2021
· Te
Oneroa-A-Tōhē Board – 17 December 2021
be received.
Carried
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Secretarial Note: Representatives from each of
the committees provided a verbal update on priorities and key workstreams.
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Working Party Updates
and Chairpersons' Briefings (Item 9.2)
Report from Chris Taylor, Governance Specialist
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Moved (Blaikie/Yeoman)
That the report ‘Working
Party Updates and Chairpersons' Briefings’ be received.
Carried
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Secretarial Note: The update from the Planning and
Regulatory Working Party meeting on 8 December 2021 would be
included in the March 2022 council agenda.
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Kaupapa ā Roto/Business with Public Excluded (Item 10.0)
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Moved
(Smart/Rick)
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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Confirmation
of Confidential Minutes - Council Meeting 14 December 2021
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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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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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Strategic
Review
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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 prevent the
disclosure or use of official information for improper gain or improper
advantage s7(2)(j).
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Introduction
of Continuity Capital Private Equity No. 7 Fund into the Long Term
Investment Fund
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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 prevent the
disclosure or use of official information for improper gain or improper
advantage s7(2)(j).
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3.
That the Independent Financial Advisor be permitted to stay during
business with the public excluded.
Carried
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Secretarial Note: The
meeting adjourned at 11.50am and reconvened at 11.56am to address business with
the public excluded.
Whakamutunga (Conclusion)
The meeting concluded at 12.47pm.