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Submissions to Annual Budget 20-21
The Committee considered
submissions on the Annual Budget 2020-21 together with supporting oral
statements including additional tabled material.
The following persons
appeared before the Committee and made oral statements in support of their
submissions and replied to questions from Elected Members.
9.00am Friday 8 May 2020
Dale O’Reilly
(1):
Dale
O’Reilly spoke to her submission and made the following comments:
· Unhappy that an unbudgeted,
substantially larger dog pound is included in the draft Annual Budget, when
the proposed Bunnythorpe Community Centre is too small will not meet the need
of the growing population of Bunnythorpe.
· PNCC did not
consult with the Bunnythorpe Community Centre Association Members on the proposed plans and did not share relevant information with the
Association’s Members or the community.
· PNCC tends to
treat Bunnythorpe as part of the city, however Bunnythorpe is a rural
community and it needs are different.
· Bunnythorpe’s
close geographical location to Feilding and Palmerston North has allowed
councils to ignore its needs in the past. It has no community centre and
often infrastructure funding is diverted or deferred. This has meant
children have to cross busy roads to get to school, the Bunnythorpe to
Palmerston North cycle pathway never progressed and a proper-sized, fit for
purpose plan for a community centre is not included in the Annual Budget.
· The Association
rejects the reasons given by Council and other funding agencies to not fund
the building of a larger centre.
Annette Nixon and Rev
Susan Blaikie - Presbyterian New Church (28):
Annette
Nixon and Rev Susan Blaikie spoke to the Presbyterian New Church submission
and made the following comments:
· They welcomed
the opportunity to engage with Council and updated Councillors on the
community work being done by the Presbyterian New Church. The Presbyterian
New Church was formed by the merging of St David’s and St Marks
Parishes.
· The Church
continues to meet with council planners to explore the opportunities that
exist with the vacant Awapuni land.
· During the
Covid-19 lockdown the Church has been operating a free food delivery service
for the vulnerable and elderly in the community.
· The Church has
been encouraging information technology take-up and has been running a
training service to support people to learn new technology. The service
relies on donated devices; tablets are especially useful as they can access
the internet by mobile hot-spots. A lot of people are taking up this
offer.
· The Presbyterian
New Church would like to be involved in the City Council’s recovery
plan.
· In terms of the
rate increase, the Church would like to see a smaller rate increase then the proposed
4% but council services that focus on people’s wellbeing should be
retained.
· There are no
plans yet for the building at St David’s, the Church’s focus is
on the needs of the community at the moment.
Beth Tolley –
Extinction Rebellion Manawatū (29):
Beth
Tolley spoke to the Extinction Rebellion Manawatū submission and
made the following comments:
· Really liked
Council’s strategic goal of eco-city and actions to reduce carbon
footprint, the signed climate change MOU with Horizons Regional Council,
established climate change portfolio and Environmental Sustainability
Committee.
· The Annual
Budget lacks urgency in regard to mitigating climate change. The Budget needs
to be more ambitious in regard to climate change because CO2
emissions continue to increase.
· Disagreed with
the term ‘sustainable growth’ as growth is not sustainable, we
can’t have infinite growth on a finite planet. Concerned with the
balance between economic growth and protecting the environment.
· The Covid 19
lockdown offers hope that we can change our behaviour to improve the
environment. Climate change is an environmental emergency that we need to
address now.
· Actions we would
like Council to consider:
· Remove the term
‘sustainable growth’ from 10 Year Plan/ Council plans and what
you mean by it.
· Investigate
alternatives to growth based economy. For example the donut economic model
requires meeting peoples’ basic needs within the limits of the economy.
The model requires economies to operate between an outer limit of destroying
the planet and the inner limit of causing suffering to people.
· Be more
ambitious with the reducing carbon dioxide goal – for example 0% net
carbon emission by 2025
· Encourage more
Iwi input into climate change issues.
· Empower people
to want to live sustainable by telling the truth about the climate emergency.
Authorities overseas use environmental dashboards to show the daily level of
pollution in river, drinking water being used etc.
· Enable or
support interest free loans for households to install solar panels and
rainwater collection tanks on existing houses and make it a requirement for
new builds.
· Encourage the
reuse, and repair of goods.
· Council should
start collecting food waste.
· Proposed Council
project should outline whether they reduce carbon emissions, increase
environment sustainability or biodiversity and help the poorest in the city.
· Look at local
currency to encourage money to stay in the local economy.
· In regard to
helping the poorest people in the city, we believe the Council should be
careful with a rate increase. Council could encourage community gardens, and
use resources we already have rather than create new ones.
Karen Adams (34):
Karen
Adams spoke to her submission and made the following comments:
· To reflect the
effects of Covid-19, Council expenditure should be transparent, necessary and
the budget should be rewritten depending on needs and wants.
· She thanked the
officers on the Council helpdesk for answering her queries promptly or
connecting her through to the right person to assist her.
· The overflowing
rubbish bins at He Aha Kotahi had been collected, however there needs to be
more rubbish bins there, or the coffee carts located there should provide
their own bins to take away the rubbish they create.
· The footpath on
College St needs to be repaired from Cook street to Maxwell Line as it is
uneven, lifting and cracked. It’s a real danger for the elderly.
· Council should
re-prioritise its expenditure and focus on its core business but with an
environmental lens. for example, rubbish should be collected in an
environmentally friendly way, diverting more recyclables from landfill and
reducing the city’s carbon emissions.
· Money could be
saved by having more regionally focussed waste collection services. She
would like to see a regional incinerator built to stop waste going to
landfill. The incinerator could be run on the electricity it produced.
· Should make rain
water collection mandatory on all new builds. Council could reduce
development costs if developers include elements to their designs that
produce less strain on the infrastructure
· Have a minimum
permeable area for all subdivisions (including in-fill housing), to enable
effective ground water run-off and to reduce the threat of flooding.
· Ensuring the
quality of construction and ongoing maintenance needs of Council’s
capital projects. The poor quality of work at He Ara Kotahi meant there
were cracks in the pathway leading to Ahimate Park one week after it was completed.
Council needs to have better oversight of the design of these projects and
the materials used.
Note:
Councillor Lew Findlay declared a conflict of
interest in the above submission and withdrew from discussion.
Jo Erkens (4):
Jo Erkens chose not to
address the Committee and instead provided a verbal report to be presented.
The Democracy and Governance Manager read his verbal submission to the
Committee and the following comments were made:
• Concerned
about the ability of many, particularly elderly to pay.
• Feels
lack of understanding from Councillors and CEO of what some residents are
struggling with.
• Requests
a 0% rates increase.
• Requests
reschedule of priorities to wastewater treatment plant, wastewater systems,
stormwater, water.
• Understands
that Council costs will decrease as a result of COVID-19.
The meeting adjourned at 10.00am.
9am
Monday 11 May 2020
Jean
Hera, Women’s Health Collective (5):
Jean Hera
spoke on behalf of the Women’s Health Collective’s submission and
made the following comments:
· Women’s
Health Collective advocates for women and most vulnerable people, Covid-19
will affect funding for these people.
· Thanked PNCC for
their continued support and assistance.
· Ongoing support
for community groups is needed. Post Covid-19, the funding pool for
community groups will be smaller, need to consider backup plan for support.
Russell
Hallam (16):
Russell
Hallam spoke to his submission and made the following comments:
· The city’s
footpaths need to be widened and should be better maintained to encourage
people to walk.
· Footpaths should
be for pedestrians only, Council should be encouraging people to walk by
making sure cyclists stay off the footpaths. Cyclists should ride on the
roads/ cycleways as bikes on footpaths can be dangerous.
· Council should
build more cycleways to alleviate the need for people to cycle on footpaths.
· Concerned with
both the speed of the bike on footpaths and the volume of cyclists using
footpaths.
· More people have
been using the cycleways during the lockdown. Council should create dedicated
spaces for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists to ensure the safety of all
users and to encourage people to walk and bike.
· Speed Limit
Concern on College St. between Victoria Ave and Albert St. It is a
busy, narrow road and he would like to see the speed limit lowered to reduce
the high density of traffic. He was informed by council officers that because
the road is an arterial route, speed bumps are not allowed.
· Mr Hallam was
informed that the Council is in the middle of a multi-stage speed limit
review, so it would be possible to review the speed limit during this review.
Stewart
Harrex, Environment Network Manawatū (17):
Stewart
Harrex spoke on behalf of the Environment Network Manawatū
submission and made the following comments:
· Would like to
see Council support the creation of a re-generative economy to build the
resilience in the city.
· Have drafted a
post Covid-19 discussion paper which includes immediate actions for waste
minimisation and biodiversity enhancement and there are opportunities for
co-funding in the waste minimisation fund and predator free 2050 funds.
· Environment
Network Manawatū has been working on the following initiatives:
· Working with
Enviro Hub Aotearoa to create a central city hub for the Environment sector
· Creating a
city-wide register of businesses working in regenerative actions
· Developing a
register for locally grown food initiatives
· Creating a city
wide planting and weed control programme
· The City wide
plan around food availability includes all food, not just foodbanks.
We’re aiming to reduce food waste and are working with existing groups
for example churches and Just Zilch to assist them in their work and help
them with any problems they face.
· Would like
Council assistance to co-ordinate volunteer groups for pest control.
· It would be
great if more council officers had sustainability/climate change
qualifications to deliver on the Council’s eco city plan.
· Would like to
see more public discussions around the effects of climate change on everyday
life. We need to increase public understanding and knowledge in the
wider community, in order to improve public engagement.
Emma
Ochei and Kim Penny, Palmerston North Community Services Council (38):
Emma Ochei
and Kim Penny spoke on behalf of the Palmerston North Community Services
Council submission, they made the following comments:
· Supports the
continued contracted funding of $60,000 for administration and $5,000 for
furniture for Handcock House. Palmerston North Community Services appreciates
its close relationship with Council.
· Council funding
allows for a reception service at Hancock Community House which provides a
point of contact for tenants and clients and Council support officers. It has
opened up the possibilities for further shared services in the future.
Provides structure to look at benefits for all users of Handcock House.
· Due to Covid-19
demand for social services will increase, unsure when or what services will
be required, but know there is a need for continued support of the community
sector. Council support is vital financially and for championing the work of
the community sector.
· The reception
service has the potential to expand and take on more administrative
responsibilities to allow social services to focus on their clients. There is
also an opportunity for further shared services in the future.
· Elements of the
work done during the lockdown can continue. The collaboration between
organisations was fantastic and the urgency of assisting those in need should
continue. The sector is looking forward to seeing their clients face to face
and will be once government guidelines are released.
· Believe the
$5000 furniture grant is in addition to the $60,000 grant in the proposed
Annual Budget. The $5000 furniture allowance was agreed by Council in
December 2018 as an annual payment.
Noel
Beavers & Steve Yanko, The Order of St John (39):
Noel
Beavers and Steve Yanko spoke on behalf of The Order of St John submission
and made the following comments:
· Currently
fundraising for a second Ambulance station on Willis Street to allow for
better response times on the east side of city. Already have a site and can
provide a minimal service during the day but it doesn’t have adequate
facilities to be manned 24/7.
· Building target
is $650,000, St John did have 50% of it but some funding previously earmarked
for the building had to be used for Covid-19 response.
· Asking for
Council funding of $200,000, as St John’s needs to get two thirds of
the money before national body will consider topping it up.
· Infrastructure
and buildings are not government funded. There are ongoing discussions with
government to improve national funding for St John, and for the government to
fund infrastructure.
· Territorial
Authorities are starting to assist St Johns, mostly in rural communities
– with gifts of land and assistance, no formula for council support and
it’s not taken for granted by St John.
· National arm of
St John provides grants and support with fund raising.
· St John would
consider a different site if PNCC had suitable land available. Would
also consider hubs for services and have investigated co-location with other
emergency services, but nothing suitable.
· St John would
like to get the project started by the end of the year as there is an urgency
to get this building build.
Alastair Cole, Manawatū River Source to Sea (44):
Alastair
Cole spoke on behalf of the Manawatū River Source to
Sea submission and made the following comments:
· Manawatū River Source to Sea is a branch of
Environment Manawatū, it focuses on biodiversity along the Manawatu
river catchment.
· There are post
Covid-19 co-funding opportunities to rebuild the economy into a green
economy. Mr Cole has been in discussion with PNCC, Horizons Regional
Council, Ministry for Environment (MfE), Department for Conservation
(DOC) and Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) about a proposed
environmental work programme for the Manawatū catchment. He
still has other Territorial Authorities to speak with.
· Could make a
pitch with Councils for funding for projects around unallocated Crown land in
river corridors in region for planting and enhancement, pest and weed
control, and constructing predator free areas.
· Know 10-year
plan are happening next year and this is an opportunity to discuss the
options available to improve the waterways in the Manawatū .
· Speak to all
councils in the Manawatu region, PNCC’s leadership in the environment
sector has allowed Manawatū River Source to Sea to have more fruitful
conversations with the other councils.
· Opportunities to
partner up for projects around predator- free zones and waste minimisation.
· Manawatū River Source to Sea can act as conduit to get other
groups involved in projects.
Amanda
Linsley, Manawatū Chamber of Commerce
(49):
Amanda
Linsley spoke on behalf of the Manawatū Chamber of Commerce submission
and made the following comments:
· Manawatū Chamber of Commerce does not agree with a rate
freeze as it could lead to job losses and economic downturn. Instead, Council
should reprioritise spending and review the proposed rate increase.
· PNCC encouraged
to apply for central government funding to support businesses emerging from
Covid-19.
· Council should
fund projects that support local skills and talents for example the
“Choose Manawatu” campaign, and look at long term environmentally
sustainable projects, such as waste minimisation, environmental space,
recycling, up-cycling and using resources we have in city.
· For businesses
facing severe hardship, PNCC should consider rates relief or a rates
deferral/payment option. However, this rates relief need to be passed onto
commercial tenants.
· There
are redundancies in the hospitality sector, numbers likely to increase as
time goes by.
The meeting adjourned at 10.27am.
3.30pm,
Monday 11 May 2020
Ben
Schmidt (Co-ordinator) Manawatū Tenants Union (30):
Ben Schmidt
spoke on behalf of the Manawatū Tenants Union submission and made the
following comments:
· Thanked the
staff for their work during the Covid 19 response, especially the Welfare
team.
· Council needs to
retain its capability to assist the community in the future, it should not
make rates cuts that will restrict it future capabilities.
· The housing
crisis remains, and we need more council housing to alleviate it. The Council
needs to continue to build social housing and keep it affordable for the vulnerable
people in society.
· Homelessness
continues to grow in the city, and we have expanded our services to meet the
additional need.
· During the
lockdown, we experienced a lull in the number of people accessing our
services, this might have been because of the laws put in place to protect
tenants from eviction during covid-19, however we expect this to change as
the wage subsidy stops.
David
Chapple, Menzshed Manawatū (11):
David
Chapple spoke on behalf of the Menzshed Manawatū submission and made the
following comments:
· Menzshed is a
community group which encourages the sharing of ideas, being creative, giving
back to the community through community projects and supporting each other.
During the lockdown we have been meeting via zoom. There have been lots of
enquiries during the lockdown from men who have lost their job or are
planning to retire early.
· He updated the
Council on the plans to renovate the Menzshed building (council owned
building). We have detailed plans to renovate the building both internally
and to build an external addition to the building.
· Due to the
Covid-19 lockdown we now plan to split the work into two stages. Stage 1 is
the interior and Stage 2 the external extension. We hope to have stage 1
completed this year and stage 2 completed by end of 2021.
· The
Council’s 10 year plan made a commitment towards this project and we
would like Council to cover the cost of the resource consent, this will allow
our own funding to go towards the building work.
· Mr Chapple was
informed that the Finance and Audit Committee has a fund available which
grants relief for resource consent.
Stephen
Berg and Wayne Edwards New Zealand Rugby Museum (7):
Stephen
Berg spoke on behalf of the New Zealand Rugby Museum submission and made the following
comments:
· David Kirk will
be the new patron of the museum following the passing of Graham Lochore.
· Would like to
receive an annual grant from the Arts, Culture and Heritage Committee to help
them guarantee their annual budget.
· In the long term,
the Rugby Museum would like a long-term assured tenure and would like to stay
with Te Manawa museum.
· Due to Covid-19
the museum is currently shut and it has lost its NZRU grant for the year.
· The museum was
mostly reliant on international visitors; however, it is working with CEDA to
market itself to domestic tourists.
· The PNCC arts
grant to the museum remains for the next 3 years.
Trevor Shailer (CEO) and Nolan King (Chair) Sport
Manawatū (32):
Trevor
Shailer (CEO) and Nolan King (Chair) spoke on behalf of the Sport
Manawatū submission and made the following comments:
· Sport
Manawatū supports the work being done by Council, especially
with the work to improve the walkway network, sports field renovations and
funding around sports fields.
· Believes that play, active recreation and sport is going to
be very important in the next few weeks.
· The
planning for the fit for purpose Sports House recreation centre is
continuing. Sport Manawatū is keen to keep things going
during Covid-19 and want to keep the allocation for the project in the LTP.
The landowner of the site is providing the land but no additional financial
support. The Sports House project is reliant on a strong partnerships
approach with all partners including PNCC.
· The Sports NZ Relief fund is offering grants to regional sport
organisations and clubs to support the sector. The funds available are for
fixed costs. Sport Manawatu has processed 12 applications today and decisions
are being made in 10 days’ time to get the money to the sector quickly.
· Sport Manawatū is working hard to keep their sports afloat and will provide ongoing
support as the wage subsidy is removed. It is important that we have a sector
to rebuild.
· Relationship with council fundamental for providing the facilities
for people to use.
· The use of
facilities and how sports are going to apply the measures of level 2 is still
being worked out. The message to sport clubs is to make sure the planning is
done to keep people safe before we start sport again.
· We expect the
use of facilities to be around 50% (of previous use) for structured sports
and slightly more than 50% for unstructured sports.
· We are still
waiting for confirmation around secondary school sports and when they will
start.
· We have given
our support to Basketball NZ and Volleyball NZ for them to re-start
competitions in Manawatū.
· Sport
Manawatū continues to fund and encourage active transport programmes
which are assisted by the great work being done by other groups. Council
maintaining and building cycleways and pathways is equally important.
Cliff
Wilson (Chair) Hoffman Kiln Trust (18):
Mr Wilson
was unable to connect to the meeting. If Mr Wilson has anything he wishes to
share with the Councillors he is welcome to contact the Democracy and
Governance Manager, who will pass his comments on.
Note:
Councillor Bruno Petrenas declared a
conflict of interest in the above submission.
Moved Grant Smith, seconded Tangi Utikere.
The COMMITTEE
RESOLVED
1. That
all material be referred to the Committee of Council meeting on 20 May 2020
for its consideration in the first instance.
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