Minutes of Economic Development Committee

Palmerston North City Council

Minutes of the Economic Development Committee Meeting Part I Public, held in the Elwood Room, Conference & Function Centre, 354 Main Street, Palmerston North on 03 June 2020, commencing at 9.00am

Members

Present:

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

Non Members:

Councillors Lorna Johnson, Billy Meehan and Karen Naylor.

Apologies:

Mr Ruma Karaitiana.

11-20

Apologies

Moved Tangi Utikere, seconded Leonie Hapeta.

The COMMITTEE RESOLVED

1. That the Committee receive the apologies.

Clause 11-20 above was carried 16 votes to 0, the voting being as follows:

For:

The Mayor (Grant Smith) 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.

The meeting adjourned at 9.01am.

The meeting resumed at 1.10pm.

12-20

Presentation - RACE Incorporated

Mr Alasdair Robertson, Chief Executive Officer, made a presentation on behalf of RACE Incorporated.

Palmerston North was to become one of three racing and training centres of excellence and race meetings would go from 18 to 36 per year, an economic waterfall for the region which was about to come to fruition.

Funding for a new surface called Polytrack, a surface made up of sand and recycled man-made materials coated in wax, had been approved. Polytrack provides excellent drainage yet still acts like turf in its root structure, allowing a greater number of horses and improved performance. The new track would drive other investment including on-course barns; two out of a maximum of six had been started. Barns could accommodate from 12-24 horses.

With the assistance of CEDA horse trainers would be encouraged to relocate their operations to the Manawatu.

Moved Tangi Utikere, seconded Leonie Hapeta.

The COMMITTEE RESOLVED

1. That the Economic Development Committee receive the presentation for information.

Clause 12-20 above was carried 16 votes to 0, the voting being as follows:

For:

13-20

Presentation - Manawatu Chamber of Commerce

Ms Amanda Linsley, Chief Executive, made a presentation on behalf of Manawatu Chamber of Commerce containing an overview of the Chamber’s activities in support of businesses during COVID-19.

The Chamber had been involved in keeping people connected and was in contact with over 600 businesses during this period. A high match rate for business mentors was recorded – over 80 in six weeks. The Chamber had also provided feedback to local and central government to inform decision making.

Future plans for The Chamber included recovery, providing advocacy and support and looking for opportunities for collaboration.

Moved Tangi Utikere, seconded Leonie Hapeta.

The COMMITTEE RESOLVED

1. That the Economic Development Committee receive the presentation for information.

Clause 13-20 above was carried 16 votes to 0, the voting being as follows:

For:

14-20

Presentation - Central Economic Development Agency

Ms Linda Stewart, Chief Executive, made a presentation on behalf of Central Economic Development Agency (CEDA) containing an overview of CEDA’s COVID-19 response activities and initiatives to date, primarily on their work in the first two stages – resolve and resilience.

Scenario planning would ensure flexibility, resilience and preparedness and included a breakdown of risks and opportunities relating to Lockdown, Transition and New Normal phases. As it is not known how COVID-19 would continue to unfold across the world, there would be variation in its impact across New Zealand.

The lockdown phase focused on supporting and protecting businesses, with a view to helping to prevent business failure and job losses. High risk sectors were retail, accommodation, hospitality and some professional services. More generous loans and grants were needed.

CEDA’s Response and Recovery Plan had two phases: Restart (3-12 months) and Reform (ongoing). The Restart phase was the detailed plan to return businesses, industries, economies back to scale quickly, as knock on effects became clearer. The Reform phase involved clarity on how the regulatory and competitive environment in our economy may shift.

Moved Tangi Utikere, seconded Leonie Hapeta.

The COMMITTEE RESOLVED

1. That the Economic Development Committee receive the presentation and report for information.

Clause 14-20 above was carried 16 votes to 0, the voting being as follows:

For:

15-20

Confirmation of Minutes

Moved Tangi Utikere, seconded Leonie Hapeta.

The COMMITTEE RESOLVED

1. That the minutes of the Economic Development Committee meeting of 11 March 2020 Part I Public be confirmed as a true and correct record.

Clause 15-20 above was carried 16 votes to 0, the voting being as follows:

For:

16-20

Summary report on the March 2020 Palmerston North Quarterly Economic Monitor, Major Developments, and Quarterly Retail Report for April 2020

Memorandum, presented by Peter Crawford, Economic Policy Advisor and Linda Stewart, CEO, CEDA.

Moved Susan Baty, seconded Lew Findlay QSM.

The COMMITTEE RESOLVED

1. That the summary report on the March 2020 Palmerston North Quarterly Economic Monitor, Major Developments, and Quarterly Retail Report for April 2020 be received.

Clause 16-20 above was carried 16 votes to 0, the voting being as follows:

For:

The meeting adjourned at 2.41pm.

The meeting resumed at 2.58pm.

17-20	Business Improvement District Policy Memorandum, presented by David Murphy, City Planning Manager. After discussion Elected Members were of the opinion that the policy needed a stronger accountability mechanism, and that Council needed to be completely independent and therefore not included on the voting register.
	Moved Leonie Hapeta, seconded Grant Smith. The COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS 1. That the Business Improvement District Policy (2020), as attached to the memorandum reported to the 3 June 2020 Economic Development Committee titled “Business Improvement District Policy”, be received.
	Clause 17.1 above was carried 16 votes to 0, the voting being as follows: For: The Mayor (Grant Smith) 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.
	Moved Brent Barrett, seconded Aleisha Rutherford. 2. That the last paragraph of Section 9 of the BID policy be revised to state “The Council will prepare and require the BID Association to complete an annual accountability agreement on terms satisfactory to the Council.”
	Clause 17.2 above was carried 16 votes to 0, the voting being as follows: For: The Mayor (Grant Smith) 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.
	Moved Susan Baty, seconded Lew Findlay QSM. 3. That Council not be included on the voting register, but will be liable for the targeted rate.
	Clause 17.3 above was carried 16 votes to 0, the voting being as follows: For: The Mayor (Grant Smith) 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.
	Moved Leonie Hapeta, seconded Grant Smith. 4. That the Business Improvement District Policy (2020) as attached to the memorandum reported to the 3 June 2020 Economic Development Committee be adopted as amended.
	Clause 17.4 above was carried 16 votes to 0, the voting being as follows: For: The Mayor (Grant Smith) 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.
	Moved Leonie Hapeta, seconded Grant Smith. 5. That the Mayor and Chairperson of the Economic Development Committee be authorised to make minor amendments to the Business Improvement District Policy (2020), as attached to the memorandum reported to the 3 June 2020 Economic Development Committee titled “Business Improvement District Policy”, prior to a Business Improvement District proponent putting forward a proposal to Council under the Business Improvement District Policy (2020).
	Clause 17.5 above was carried 16 votes to 0, the voting being as follows: For: The Mayor (Grant Smith) 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.

18-20

Inner City/CBD Portfolio Update (May)

Memorandum, presented by Councillor Leonie Hapeta.

Moved Tangi Utikere, seconded Lew Findlay QSM.

The COMMITTEE RESOLVED

1. That the Inner City/CBD Portfolio update report for May 2020 be received for information.

Clause 18-20 above was carried 16 votes to 0, the voting being as follows:

For:

19-20

Committee Work Schedule

Moved Tangi Utikere, seconded Leonie Hapeta.

The COMMITTEE RESOLVED

1. That the Economic Development Committee receive its Work Schedule dated June 2020.

Clause 19-20 above was carried 16 votes to 0, the voting being as follows:

For:

The meeting finished at 3.59pm

Confirmed 7 October 2020

Chairperson