Unconfirmeed MinutesJoint Regional Economic Development Committee

23 September 2022

 

Joint Regional Economic Development Committee Minutes

 

Meeting held in the Dargaville Town Hall

on Friday 23 September 2022, commencing at 10.00am

 

 

Tuhinga/Present:

Chair, Councillor Justin Blaikie (NRC)

Councillor Terry Archer (NRC)

Councillor Anna Curnow (KDC)

Councillor David Clendon (FNDC)

Councillor John Vujcich (FNDC)

Councillor Peter Wethey (KDC)

 

I Tae Mai/In Attendance:

Full Meeting

Northland Inc. Chief Executive Officer (via audio visual link)

WDC Manager – District Development (via audio visual link)

NRC Economist

NRC Economic Policy Advisor

NRC Governance Specialist (minute taker)

Part Meeting

Northland Inc Director (x3)

Northland Inc GM Investment and Infrastructure

Northland Inc Strategic Programmes Portfolio Manager

 

Secretarial Note: The Chair declared the meeting open at 10.02am and proceedings commenced with a karakia.  All in attendance were acknowledged for the substantial progress made during the triennium which set a strong foundation going forward.

Ngā whakapahā/Apologies (Item 2.0)

There were no apologies.

Ngā whakapuakanga/Declarations of Conflicts of Interest (Item 3.0)

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

 

Confirmation of Minutes - 29 July 2022 (Item 4.1)

Report from Meloney Tupou, NRC Māori Governance and Engagement Support Admin

Moved (Vujcich/Wethey)

That the minutes of the Joint Regional Economic Development Committee meeting held on 29 July 2022, be confirmed as a true and correct record.

Carried

 

Receipt of Action Sheet (Item 5.1)

Report from Emmanouela Galanou, NRC Economic Policy Advisor and Darryl Jones, NRC Economist

Moved (Curnow/Clendon)

That the action sheet be received.

Carried

 

Northland Inc Limited: Annual Report for the Year Ending 30 June 2022

(Item 6.1)

Report from Emmanouela Galanou, NRC Economic Policy Advisor and Darryl Jones, NRC Economist

Moved (Blaikie/Wethey)

That the report ‘Northland Inc Limited: Annual Report for the Year Ending 30 June 2022’ by Emmanouela Galanou, NRC Economic Policy Advisor and Darryl Jones, NRC Economist and dated 12 September 2022, be received.

Carried

Secretarial Note:

·         The impacts of Covid-19 had prevented Northland Inc. achieving all of its key performance measures.  However, appreciation was extended to staff for an ‘overall good set of results’ given the challenging environment.

·         Staff undertook to ensure that each of the membership councils published the Northland Inc Limited Annual Report on their website within one month of receipt.

·         Appreciation was extended to the Northland Inc Corporate Services Team for completing the Annual Report ahead of time.

·         Confirmation was provided that identical content had been provided to each of the membership council’s Annual Report with regard to Northland Inc Limited.

 

Investment and Growth Reserve: Allocation of funding to Northland Inc for primary sector related activities (Item 6.2)

Report from Darryl Jones, NRC Economist and Emmanouela Galanou, NRC Economic Policy Advisor

Moved (Curnow/Vujcich)

1.         That the report ‘Investment and Growth Reserve: Allocation of funding to Northland Inc for primary sector related activities’ by Darryl Jones, NRC Economist and Emmanouela Galanou, NRC Economic Policy Advisor and dated 13 September 2022, be received.

2.         That $60,000 (excluding GST) be allocated as Enabling Investment funding from the Investment and Growth Reserve to Northland Inc Limited to support the continuation of service delivery into the primary sector and the further development of the GROW Northland work programme.

3.         That in making this allocation of funding to Northland Inc, the Joint Committee:

a.         Notes that this support does not constitute a long-term commitment to the funding of the GROW Northland programme.  That will be dependent of the development of a suitable programme business case. 

b.        Requests that Northland Inc seek input from Northland Regional Council land management staff on the development and design of the GROW Northland programme.  

4.         That Northland Inc provide quarter reports for the periods ending 30 December 2022, 31 March 2023 and 30 June 2023 detailing the work achieved across the three actions:

a.         Providing support and connection services to the primary sector

b.        Deliver a programme business case for GROW Northland

c.         Engage with key stakeholder and potential funders. 

 

 

Secretarial Note: 

·         An amendment was proposed to the second recommendation to clarify that the allocation of funding was to scope out the project rather than service delivery.  The original mover and seconder were amenable to the revised wording (in accordance with Standing Order 23.4).

·         Northland Inc Limited committed to delivering the programme business case for GROW Northland, incorporating clear deliverables and KPIs, within 6-12 months.

 

The substituted motion was moved (Clendon/Vujcich)

1.         That the report ‘Investment and Growth Reserve: Allocation of funding to Northland Inc for primary sector related activities’ by Darryl Jones, Economist and Emmanouela Galanou, Economic Policy Advisor and dated 13 September 2022, be received.

2.        a.         That $60,000 (excluding GST) be allocated as Enabling Investment funding from                  the Investment and Growth Reserve to Northland Inc Limited to support the                    development of the future GROW Northland strategy and work programme; and

b.        Notes that the resource undertaking this work (in 2a) may also be involved in ongoing service delivery.

3.         That in making this allocation of funding to Northland Inc, the Joint Committee:

a.         Notes that this support does not constitute a long-term commitment to the funding of the GROW Northland programme.  That will be dependent of the development of a suitable programme business case. 

b.        Requests that Northland Inc seek input from Northland Regional Council land management staff on the development and design of the GROW Northland programme. 

4.         That Northland Inc provide quarter reports for the periods ending 30 December 2022, 31 March 2023 and 30 June 2023 detailing the work achieved across the three actions:

a.         providing support and connection services to the primary sector

b.        deliver a programme business case for GROW Northland

c.         engage with key stakeholder and potential funders. 

Carried

 

Secretarial Note:  The Northland Inc Directors, Denis Callesen, Jim Makaweo, Kris McDonald, Northland Inc Strategic Programmes Portfolio Manager, Jude Thompson and Northland Inc GM Investment and Infrastructure, Vaughan Cooper left the meeting room for the duration of Item 6.3.

Northland Inc Limited Directors: Appointment of directors for term beginning 1 July 2023 (Item 6.3)

Report from Darryl Jones, Economist and Emmanouela Galanou, Economic Policy Advisor

Moved (Wethey/Archer)

1.         That the report ‘Northland Inc Limited Directors: Appointment of directors for term beginning 1 July 2023’ by Darryl Jones, Economist and Emmanouela Galanou, Economic Policy Advisor and dated 13 September 2022, be received.

2.         That staff prepare the necessary documentation associated with an open advertising process for the position of Northland Inc Limited directors.

3.         That the current Joint Committee recommends to the next Joint Committee, to be appointed post the triennial local government elections, that it considers:

a.         Using an open advertising process rather than reappointing existing directors;

b.        Including the Chair of Northland Inc as a member of the ad hoc appointment committee; and

c.         Appointing just two directors for terms beginning 1 July 2023 to reduce the total number of directors down to five. 

Carried

 

Secretarial Note:  Clarification was provided that the inclusion of the Chair of Northland Inc on the ad hoc appointment committee was to ensure continuity; given the high turnover of joint committee members.

 

Proposed Induction Programme for the next Joint Regional Economic Development Committee (Item 6.4)

Report from Emmanouela Galanou, NRC Economic Policy Advisor and Darryl Jones, NRC Economist

Moved (Blaikie/Vujcich)

1.         That the report ‘Proposed Induction Programme for the next Joint Regional Economic Development Committee’ by Emmanouela Galanou, NRC Economic Policy Advisor and Darryl Jones, NRC Economist and dated 14 September 2022, be received.

2.         That the Joint Regional Economic Development Committee agree to the proposed Induction Programme as set out in Attachment One and the key messages outlined in Item 6.4 of the 23 September 2022 Joint Regional Economic Development Committee agenda.

Carried

 

Secretarial Note: 

·         There was agreement that it would be beneficial for Northland Inc to address the new councils, as part of their respective induction programmes, as soon as practicable.

·         Careful consideration was being given to provide Whangarei District Council opportunities to participate in the induction programme for the next Joint Regional Economic Development Committee.

·         It was suggested there may be merit in developing a job description for members of the Joint Committee to ensure councillors with compatible skills were selected for the position by the respective shareholder councils.

 

Whakamutunga (Conclusion)

The meeting concluded with a karakia at 11.23am.