AGENDA

Council

Late Item

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PALMERSTON NORTH CITY COUNCIL

 

 

 

 

Council MEETING

 

30 April 2018

 

 

 

LATE ITEMS

  

Reports

19.       Adoption of Council's Submission on Local Government (Community Well-being) Amendment Bill                                                                                                  Page 5

Memorandum, dated 23 April 2018 from the Head of Community Planning, Andrew Boyle.    

     

 

 

PALMERSTON NORTH CITY COUNCIL

 

Memorandum

TO:                                Council

MEETING DATE:           30 April 2018

TITLE:                            Adoption of Council's Submission on Local Government (Community Well-being) Amendment Bill

DATE:                            23 April 2018

AUTHOR/S:                   Andrew Boyle, Head of Community Planning, City Future

 

RECOMMENDATION(S) TO Council 1.   That the Council approve the attached submission on the Local Government (Community Well-being) Amendment Bill and submit it to Parliament.

 

1.         ISSUE

Parliament is currently considering the Local Government (Community Well-being) Amendment Bill. 

Submissions on the Bill close on 25 May.

This memo presents a draft submission for the Council to consider and adopt so it can be sent to Parliament.

2.         BACKGROUND

The Bill restores a community well-being approach to the role of local government.  This approach says that Councils have broad city making role in improving the social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being of their communities.  

The current legislative purpose of local government is to:

(a) to enable democratic local decision-making and action by, and on behalf of, communities; and

(b) to meet the current and future needs of communities for good-quality local infrastructure, local public services, and performance of regulatory functions in a way that is most cost-effective for households and businesses.

The Bill proposes that the second statement would be replaced by:

(b) to promote the social, economic, environmental, and cultural well-being of communities in the present and for the future.

These changes are shown in the following text box.

Under the current legislation local government is considered primarily a provider of efficient and effective services and functions.  Under the new legislation it is considered more of a provider and co-ordinator of outcomes that improve the well-being of communities through a sustainable development approach.

This is actually a return to a previous definition of the purpose of local government – the four well-beings approach was part of the original major overhaul of the Local Government Act in 2002.  It was changed to the good-quality infrastructure, services, and performance of functions approach in 2012.

The Bill also repeals s11A.  This is the core services section:

In performing its role, a local authority must have particular regard to the contribution that the following core services make to its communities:

(a) network infrastructure:

(b) public transport services:

(c) solid waste collection and disposal:

(d) the avoidance or mitigation of natural hazards:

(e) libraries, museums, reserves, and other recreational facilities and community amenities.

 

It does not change local government’s requirement to provide effective and efficient services – this is still part of s17A.

The Bill also restores local government’s power to collect development contributions for any public amenities needed as a result of growth.  It means development contributions can be used for a wider range of facilities, including sportsgrounds, swimming pools and libraries.

3.         NEXT STEPS

A copy of Council’s submission will be sent to Parliament by April 25. 

If it is passed the Bill will come into effect towards the end of the 2018 calendar year.

The submission says that the Council wishes to appear before a Select Committee to present its submission.  If the Council does not wish this, then this line should be deleted.

4.         Compliance and administration

Does the Committee have delegated authority to decide? If Yes quote relevant clause(s) from Delegations Manual	Yes
Are the decisions significant?	No
If they are significant do they affect land or a body of water?	No
Can this decision only be made through a 10 Year Plan?	No
Does this decision require consultation through the Special Consultative procedure?	No
Is there funding in the current Annual Plan for these actions?	Yes
Are the recommendations inconsistent with any of Council’s policies or plans?	No

 

 

Attachments

1.

Submission on Local Government Community Wellbeing Amendment Bill April 2018 ⇩

 

 

Andrew Boyle Head of Community Planning