Palmerston North City Council

 

Minutes of the Council Meeting Part I Public, held in the Council Chamber, First Floor, Civic Administration Building, 32 The Square, Palmerston North on 18 March 2020, commencing at 9.05am

Members

Present:

The Mayor (Grant Smith) (in the Chair) and Councillors Brent Barrett, Susan Baty, Zulfiqar Butt, Vaughan Dennison, Renee Dingwall, Lew Findlay QSM, Patrick Handcock ONZM, Leonie Hapeta, Lorna Johnson, Bruno Petrenas,  Aleisha Rutherford and Tangi Utikere.

Apologies:

Councillors Rachel Bowen, Billy Meehan and Karen Naylor.

 

18-20

Notification of Additional Items

 

Moved Grant Smith, seconded Tangi Utikere.

RESOLVED

1.    That the additional item ‘Alteration to Standing Orders’ be received.  The reason for lateness is that legal advice was sought after Central Government announcements relating to COVID-19, which require attention at this meeting.

 

Clause 18-20 above was carried 13 votes to 0, the voting being as follows:

For:

The Mayor (Grant Smith) and Councillors Brent Barrett, Susan Baty, Zulfiqar Butt, Vaughan Dennison, Renee Dingwall, Lew Findlay QSM, Patrick Handcock ONZM, Leonie Hapeta, Lorna Johnson, Bruno Petrenas, Aleisha Rutherford and Tangi Utikere.

   

19-20

Alteration to Standing Orders

Memorandum, presented by Hannah White, Democracy and Governance Manager.

 

 

Moved Lew Findlay QSM, seconded Leonie Hapeta.

RESOLVED

1.    That Council alters its Standing Orders to read:

       2.5A – Temporary right to attend by audio or audiovisual link

       During the COVID-19 Pandemic for six months until August 2020, members of the local authority or its committees have the right to attend meetings by means of an audio or audiovisual link, unless they have been lawfully excluded.

       [cl 25A(1), Schedule 7, LGA]

       2.5B – Temporary right to vote by audio or audiovisual link

       During the COVID-19 Pandemic for six months until August 2020, where a meeting has a quorum, members attending a meeting by audio or audiovisual link may vote on any matters raised at the meeting, provided the conditions of the standing orders are met where relevant.

       [cl 24(1) and cl 24(4), Schedule 7, LGA]

 

Clause 19-20 above was lost 9 votes to 4 (alterations to standing orders require a 75% majority), the voting being as follows:

For:

The Mayor (Grant Smith) and Councillors Vaughan Dennison, Renee Dingwall, Lew Findlay QSM, Patrick Handcock ONZM, Leonie Hapeta, Bruno Petrenas, Aleisha Rutherford and Tangi Utikere.

Against:

Councillors Brent Barrett, Susan Baty, Zulfiqar Butt and Lorna Johnson.

 

20-20

Apologies

 

Moved Grant Smith, seconded Tangi Utikere.

RESOLVED

1.    That Council receive the apologies.

 

Clause 20-20 above was carried 13 votes to 0, the voting being as follows:

For:

The Mayor (Grant Smith) and Councillors Brent Barrett, Susan Baty, Zulfiqar Butt, Vaughan Dennison, Renee Dingwall, Lew Findlay QSM, Patrick Handcock ONZM, Leonie Hapeta, Lorna Johnson, Bruno Petrenas, Aleisha Rutherford and Tangi Utikere.

 

21-20

Confirmation of Minutes

 

Moved Grant Smith, seconded Tangi Utikere.

RESOLVED

1.    That the minutes of the ordinary meeting of 26 February 2020 Part I Public  and Part II Confidential be confirmed as a true and correct record.

 

Clause 21-20 above was carried 12 votes to 0, with 1 abstention, the voting being as follows:

For:

The Mayor (Grant Smith) and Councillors Brent Barrett, Susan Baty, Zulfiqar Butt, Vaughan Dennison, Renee Dingwall, Lew Findlay QSM, Patrick Handcock ONZM, Lorna Johnson, Bruno Petrenas, Aleisha Rutherford and Tangi Utikere.

Abstained:

Councillor Leonie Hapeta.

 

Reports

22-20

Annual Budget 2020/21 - Final version of Consultation Document

Memorandum, presented by Steve Paterson, Strategy Manager - Finance.

During discussion Elected Members acknowledged that consultation could not be done publicly at present due to the COVID-19 situation, and that a new communications plan was in process to determine how best to address this.  Elected Members asked that they be able to have input into this process, and requested that a physical piece of information be delivered to all households within the City boundary directing people to the online consultation process, to ensure all in the community were informed.

 

Moved Grant Smith, seconded Tangi Utikere.

RESOLVED

1.    That consultation moves to online only, and that the consultation document reflect this change.

2.    That recommendation 11 of clause 3-20 of the Committee of Council meeting of 4 March 2020 be amended to read:

       “That the Consultation Document for the 2020/21 Annual Budget (Plan) as attached to the report titled ‘Annual Budget 2020/21 – Final Version of Consultation Document’ and amended to include corrections to the financial table on page 13 of the document, and subject to the deletion of the “Let’s Talk” sessions, be adopted”.

 

Clauses 22.1 and 22.2 above were carried 13 votes to 0, the voting being as follows:

For:

The Mayor (Grant Smith) and Councillors Brent Barrett, Susan Baty, Zulfiqar Butt, Vaughan Dennison, Renee Dingwall, Lew Findlay QSM, Patrick Handcock ONZM, Leonie Hapeta, Lorna Johnson, Bruno Petrenas, Aleisha Rutherford and Tangi Utikere.

 

Moved Aleisha Rutherford, seconded Lew Findlay QSM.

3.    That a draft Communications Plan for the Annual Plan be circulated to Elected Members for feedback before the Chief Executive approves it.

4.    That a physical piece of Annual Budget material be produced directing people to the online consultation process, and this be delivered to all households within the PN City Council boundary.

 

Clauses 22.3 and 22.4 above were carried 13 votes to 0, the voting being as follows:

For:

The Mayor (Grant Smith) and Councillors Brent Barrett, Susan Baty, Zulfiqar Butt, Vaughan Dennison, Renee Dingwall, Lew Findlay QSM, Patrick Handcock ONZM, Leonie Hapeta, Lorna Johnson, Bruno Petrenas, Aleisha Rutherford and Tangi Utikere.

 

Recommendations from Committee Meetings

23-20

Committee of Council Part I Public - 4 March 2020

Consideration was given to Committee of Council recommendations as appended to these minutes.

 

Moved Grant Smith, seconded Tangi Utikere.

RESOLVED

1.    That clauses 3.1 to 3.12 of the Committee's recommendations be adopted.

 

Clause 23.1 above was carried 13 votes to 0, the voting being as follows:

For:

The Mayor (Grant Smith) and Councillors Brent Barrett, Susan Baty, Zulfiqar Butt, Vaughan Dennison, Renee Dingwall, Lew Findlay QSM, Patrick Handcock ONZM, Leonie Hapeta, Lorna Johnson, Bruno Petrenas, Aleisha Rutherford and Tangi Utikere.

 

Moved Grant Smith, seconded Tangi Utikere.

2.   That clause 3.13 of the Committee's recommendations be adopted.

 

Clause 23.2 above was carried 10 votes to 3, the voting being as follows:

For:

The Mayor (Grant Smith) and Councillors Susan Baty, Zulfiqar Butt, Vaughan Dennison, Lew Findlay QSM, Patrick Handcock ONZM, Leonie Hapeta, Bruno Petrenas, Aleisha Rutherford and Tangi Utikere.

Against:

Councillors Brent Barrett, Renee Dingwall and Lorna Johnson.

     

The meeting finished at 10.22am.

 

Confirmed 25 March 2020

 

 

 

 

Mayor

 

 

 


Council - Part I                                                                                   18 March 2020

Recommendations from Committee

TO:                                      Council

MEETING DATE:             18 March 2020

TITLE:                                  Presentation of the Part I Public Committee of Council Recommendations from its 4 March 2020 Meeting

 

 

Set out below are the recommendations only from the Committee of Council meeting Part I Public held on 4 March 2020. The Council may resolve to adopt, amend, receive, note or not adopt any such recommendations. (SO 3.18.1)

 

3-20

Annual Budget (Plan) 2020/21 - Adopting Supporting Information and the Consultation Document

Memorandum, presented by Steve Paterson, Strategy Manager - Finance.

The COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS

1.    That the Chief Executive incorporate the following amendments to the draft of the supporting information and the Consultation Document for the 2020/21 Annual Budget:

         -    deferral of the programmes as scheduled in the tabled Appendix G

         -    reduced budget provisions for the programmes as scheduled in the tabled Appendix H

       -      other amendments (if any)

2.    That Programme 86 – Council Furniture Replacements be reduced to $136,000 (with the remaining $125,000 to be considered in the Long Term Plan process).

3.    That the UAGC remain at $500 for 2020/21.

4.    That the sector focussed “Let’s Talk” sessions are reframed as an evening marketplace event with sector ‘stalls’; and that the potential for further or sector-specific sessions is               considered if there is demand.

5.    That the hearings sessions are morning and afternoon, with appropriate breaks, and that there is at least one evening session offered.

6.    That an additional sum of $500,000 be approved for debt repayment.

7.   That the following is included in the Consultation Document:
-      High level financials in simple form (as outlined on page 8 of the          supporting document)

       -      On page 6 – increased level of service at Parks and Reserves    ($463,000); maintain increased opening hours at Wildbase Recovery          Centre ($152,000); additional resources to position the organisation        for enhanced performance ($500,000)

8.    That the annual budget community engagement process be utilised to include information and consultation on Nature Calls.

9.    That the budget for Programme 1611 Free Swimming for Under 5 Year Olds be increased from $60,000 to up to $150,000.

10. That the following (amended to incorporate amendments in recommendation 1) be adopted as supporting information that has been relied upon to prepare the Consultation Document for the 2020/21 Annual Budget (Plan):

       -      Financial overview and forecast financial statements

       -      Annual Budget (Plan) Disclosure Statement

       -      Groups of Activities information, including financial forecasts and          programme schedules

       -      Significant forecasting assumptions

       -      Descriptions of the proposed rating system, rates and funding impact             statements

       -      Descriptions of proposed levels of service for Council activities and          performance measures

11. That the Consultation Document (amended to incorporate amendments in recommendation 1) for the 2020/21 Annual Budget (Plan) be adopted.

12. That the Mayor and Chief Executive be delegated authority to make minor amendments to the Consultation Document.

13. That the objectives of the rates remission policy be reviewed as part of the wider review of financial policies during the preparation of the 10 Year Plan 2021-31.

 

 

Attachments

Nil