Palmerston North City Council
Minutes of the Inaugural Council Meeting Part I Public, held in the Council Chamber, First Floor, Civic Administration Building, 32 The Square, Palmerston North on 30 October 2019, commencing at 7.00pm
|
Members Present: |
Grant Smith (The Mayor) (in the Chair) and Councillors, Brent Barrett, Susan Baty, Rachel Bowen, Zulfiqar Butt, Vaughan Dennison, Renee Dingwall, Lew Findlay QSM, Patrick Handcock ONZM, Leonie Hapeta, Lorna Johnson, Billy Meehan, Karen Naylor, Bruno Petrenas, Aleisha Rutherford and Tangi Utikere. |
|
Address by the Chief Executive |
|
|
|
The address by the Chief Executive is attached to these minutes.
|
|
Installation of Councillors |
|
|
|
Councillors made the declaration required by Clause 14 of Schedule 7 of the Local Government Act 2002, which were witnessed by the Mayor. |
|
Inaugural address by The Mayor |
|
|
|
The Inaugural Address by the Mayor is attached to these minutes. |
Reports
The meeting finished at 7.39pm
Confirmed 13 November 2019
Mayor
Chief Executive’s Address to the Inaugural Council meeting
Tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa
Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, friends and whanau
Welcome to this inaugural meeting of the Palmerston North City Council.
I extend my congratulations to the incoming Mayor and Councillors.
The period running up to the election will have been stressful for all candidates but tonight you can relax as the culmination of all that effort is this very special civic occasion with the installation of the Mayor and Councillors for the new term of the Palmerston North City Council.
All elected members stood for their respective values, ideals and ideas for our city.
Whatever your views you will shortly be asked to make a public declaration to work in the best interests of Palmerston North City. Once you have made your declarations you will form a government at a local level and become an integral part of New Zealand’s democratic structure.
In this important endeavour of being an elected member to Council you will face issues and challenges which will draw on your judgement and skills. It will require you to air your views, debate matters and ultimately vote in the best interests of the city. Staff will assist you in your role by providing you with impartial advice, without fear or favour, which you can choose to accept or not.
When sitting around the Council table you will be part of a team that the electorate has empowered to work for the entire city. In exercising your role you will make decisions in an open and transparent manner unless for good specific reasons the public should be excluded from parts of a meeting. Healthy debate of issues will influence decisions and the future direction of Council and this is the task given to you by the voters.
At times you will need to consult the public before making decisions for the city. This will involve views presented to the council being received with an open mind and given due consideration before decisions are made.
Parliament has charged you to enable democratic local decision-making and action by, and on behalf of, Palmerston North City; and to meet the current and future needs of the city 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.
Legislation has determined, good-quality infrastructure, services and functions to mean efficient, effective, and appropriate to present and anticipated future circumstances. In order to recognise and respect the Crown’s responsibility council needs to take appropriate account of the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi and to maintain and improve opportunities for Maori to contribute to the local government decision-making processes.
In the weeks following the election there has been a good spirit among the incoming elected members and the city will look forward to this continuing in the new term of Council. Staff also look forward to working with you in this new term.
Once again, congratulations
Mayor Grant Smith’s Inaugural Address
Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.
Kia Ora, and it is now with great pleasure that I address you as the 29th Mayor of Palmerston North for this new term of Council.
Firstly some acknowledgements….
I want to acknowledge Rangitane as mana whenua, and Wiremu Te Awe Awe for your Karakia and kind words….
The Regional Mayors led by Andy Watson of Rangitikei, with apologies from Mayor Helen Worboys of Manawatu and Mayor Bernie Wanden of Horowhenua, both unable to be here with their own Inaugural Meetings.
And also my fellow Councillors and Chief Executive Heather Shotter thank you for your comments…
And I acknowledge everyone else who is gathered here today, for your attendance and support of the Palmerston North City Council. Especially my father Tony, father-in-law Laurence and his partner Barbara, and our wider family members, - they have helped shape me to be who I am today.
Although this is the start of a new Council as Mayor, in last term there has been much to be proud of and the great work that happened within our City Council, in fact, in all sectors of Palmerston North. I do believe we are in exciting times and have started to realise the potential in our city.
We set about on revitalizing, growing and setting a new vision for Palmerston North, and although we have not achieved everything, I do believe there has been much positive work done, and like any good leader, I will use my ‘skills and ability’ to inspire and lead our team of Councillors to get better outcomes for our City and wider region.
I am excited and impressed with ‘our team’ of Councillors, who truly reflect our diverse community and have collectively already in the short time together shown me that we’ll knit well, and be a very effective Council.
I am passionate about Palmerston North and our People.
Our vision for Palmerston North is “Small City Benefits, Big City Ambition”, as we have so much going for us in the future..
- in Education, AgriBusiness, Health, Manufacturing, Tech & Logistics.
- we are NZ’s Defence City.
- We have the most PHD’s (per Capita) in our nation.
- We are NZ’s Food Science Research and (Innovation capital),
- We have healthy and sustainable population growth,
- our City is alive, innovative and vibrant.
- our youth are well educated, our relationship with Massey University, UCOL, IPU and the education sector is at an all-time high and and there are many local jobs for them to go to
- Rangitane are prosperous, building a future for their whanau
- We are finally embracing our river, our Awa with many thousands using the city’s pathways and the new He Ara Kotahi Bridge each week…
- And outsiders will now rate Palmerston North as a beautiful, vibrant and smart City.
BUT… For this Vision to happen….
Palmerston North City and the wider Manawatu must be more ambitious – and that needs to start from the Mayor and Councillors,
The city has to lead and function effectively. We must be a team. A leadership team that will continue….
· To lobby Wellington, and win Government and private investment for our city….
· Securing partnerships for the community, ensuring we don’t leave people behind
· And improving our environment
The city is in a strong financial position with a AA S&P credit rating (1 below the crown and 1 of only 6 NZ Councils with this rating). The next decade will see Palmerston North and this region experience over $3.5 billion worth of infrastructure work. A pipeline of work not seen here for 30+ years.
In the next 3 years winning investment, partnerships and improving infrastructure will be vital for Palmerston North, the wider Manawatu Region and our People….
Issues like - Housing –our River - CBD Vibrancy – Environmental Sustainability- the Arena Master Plan and Economic Development will ALL have focus and need addressing.
As your Mayor I will be doing my upmost to lead a United Council that is positive and puts Palmerston North and its People first!
There are also many thank you’s…
To the many Palmerstonians that voted for me to again become your Mayor and our Councillors– Our thanks! We will be doing our utmost to lead, but also engage and listen to our community, our ratepayers, ensuring we make the right decisions for our City.
Some staff need to be acknowledged – firstly the Deputy Electoral officer Dr John Annabel, and as John retires next month, thank you for your service to Palmerston North.
To my work colleagues in the Mayor’s Office Nicky, Rachel and Dom thank you for your service to the city and support.
To Heather, the Governance team and the staff here at Council, many thanks for making our new Councils Induction easier…. And for organising tonight.
Finally to my wife and the Mayoress Michelle, and our children Regan & Emma (Emma who is here tonight). We have had to put ourselves ‘out-there’ in the public arena, taking the good with the not so good, and this has certainly changed our lifestyle. I thank you all for your un-conditional love and support.
As a Council we have hit the ground running, and after talking and listening to all the Councillors I will have some Committee & appointment announcements to make shortly. I congratulate the Deputy Mayor Tangi Utikere. I will also be announcing three new Committees – An Environmental Sustainability Committee, a new Committee with Rangitane and an Infrastructure Committee. The membership of these committees and portfolios are to follow.
In summary…
Councillors I wish you all the very best for the next 3 year Term, and I’m absolutely sure it will be one of Palmerston North’s best with exciting times ahead.
To the members of the public who are here tonight, I and these Councillors have made a very solemn pledge to serve this City and community, to lead and do the very best collectively that we can for Palmerston North. That is a pledge I will be honouring to the letter.
Thank you for coming this evening
Kia Ora and Good Evening
No reira, tena koutou, tena koutou tena tatou, katoa