Minutes of Economic Growth Committee - Wednesday, 25 October 2023

Palmerston North City Council

Minutes of the Economic Growth Committee Meeting Part I Public, held in the Council Chamber, First Floor, Civic Administration Building, 32 The Square, Palmerston North on 25 October 2023, commencing at 9am.

Members

Present:

Councillor Leonie Hapeta (in the Chair), The Mayor (Grant Smith) and Councillors William Wood, Mark Arnott, Brent Barrett, Rachel Bowen, Lorna Johnson, Debi Marshall-Lobb, Billy Meehan and Orphée Mickalad.

Non Members:

Councillors Lew Findlay, Patrick Handcock, Karen Naylor and Kaydee Zabelin.

Apologies:

Councillors Vaughan Dennison, Roly Fitzgerald

	Karakia Timatanga
	Councillor Debi Marshall-Lobb opened the meeting with karakia.

53-23

Apologies

Moved Leonie Hapeta, seconded William Wood.

The COMMITTEE RESOLVED

1. That the Committee receive the apologies from Councillors Roly Fitzgerald and Vaughan Dennison.

Clause 53-23 above was carried 14 votes to 0, the voting being as follows:

For:

The Mayor (Grant Smith) and Councillors Leonie Hapeta, William Wood, Mark Arnott, Brent Barrett, Rachel Bowen, Lorna Johnson, Debi Marshall-Lobb, Billy Meehan, Orphée Mickalad, Lew Findlay, Patrick Handcock, Karen Naylor and Kaydee Zabelin.

54-23

Presentation - Palmy BID

Presentation, by Matthew Jeanes, Manager and Rob Campbell, Chair of Palmy BID.

Matthew Jeanes and Rob Campbell updated the Committee on the work Palmy BID has done in the past year, particularly around advocating for and supporting the business community of Palmerston North. They commented on:

· Working with the Police and community groups to make the city centre safer with a focus on reducing youth crime, and rough sleepers.

· Participating in Council’s consultations on speed management plans, bus terminal re-development and the proposed parking framework.

· Providing key events to attract visitors to the city.

Moved Leonie Hapeta, seconded Rachel Bowen.

The COMMITTEE RESOLVED

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

Clause 54-23 above was carried 14 votes to 0, the voting being as follows:

For:

55-23

Presentation - The Factory

Presentation, by Nick Gain, Chair of The Factory.

Nick Gain updated the Committee on the work of The Factory and its strategic focus to advocate, support and access investment for innovative start-ups in the Manawatū.

Moved Leonie Hapeta, seconded William Wood.

The COMMITTEE RESOLVED

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

Clause 55-23 above was carried 14 votes to 0, the voting being as follows:

For:

56-23

Confirmation of Minutes

Moved Leonie Hapeta, seconded William Wood.

The COMMITTEE RESOLVED

1. That the minutes of the Economic Growth Committee meeting of 30 August 2023 Part I Public be confirmed as a true and correct record.

Clause 56-23 above was carried 14 votes to 0, the voting being as follows:

For:

57-23

Confirmation of Minutes

Moved Leonie Hapeta, seconded William Wood.

The COMMITTEE RESOLVED

1. That the minutes of the extraordinary Economic Growth Committee meeting of 9 October 2023 Part I Public be confirmed as a true and correct record.

Clause 57-23 above was carried 11 votes to 0, with 3 abstentions, the voting being as follows:

For:

Councillors Leonie Hapeta, William Wood, Mark Arnott, Brent Barrett, Rachel Bowen, Lorna Johnson, Debi Marshall-Lobb, Orphée Mickalad, Lew Findlay, Patrick Handcock and Kaydee Zabelin.

Abstained:

The Mayor (Grant Smith) and Councillors Billy Meehan and Karen Naylor.

58-23

Central Economic Development Agency (CEDA) Annual Report 2022-23

Memorandum, presented by David Murphy, Chief Planning Officer.

Bobby O’Fee, Chair and Jerry Shearman, Chief Executive presented CEDA’s Annual Report 2022-23.

Moved Leonie Hapeta, seconded William Wood.

The COMMITTEE RESOLVED

1. That the Committee receive the Central Economic Development Agency (CEDA) Annual Report 2022-23 (Attachment 1).

Clause 58-23 above was carried 14 votes to 0, the voting being as follows:

For:

59-23	Palmerston North Airport Limited - Annual report for 12 months ended 30 June 2023 Memorandum, presented by Steve Paterson, Strategy Manager - Finance. Murray Georgel, Chair, David Lanham, Chief Executive and Jonothan Baker, Chief Finance Officer presented the Palmerston North Airport Limited Annual Report 2022/23. They also discussed the review of the directors’ fees for the forthcoming year. The meeting adjourned at 10.45am The meeting resumed at 11.02am The Chair put a motion to increase the directors fees to $146,000 per annum to acknowledge the market rate of similar sized airport boards in New Zealand. Councillor Naylor put a motion to establish a policy that enables annual inflation adjustment to directors’ fees so that fees stay closer to the market rate.
	Moved Leonie Hapeta, seconded William Wood. The COMMITTEE RESOLVED 1. That the Committee receive the Annual Report and Financial Statements of Palmerston North Airport Limited for the year ended 30 June 2023.
	Clause 59-23 above was carried 14 votes to 0, the voting being as follows: For: The Mayor (Grant Smith) and Councillors Leonie Hapeta, William Wood, Mark Arnott, Brent Barrett, Rachel Bowen, Lorna Johnson, Debi Marshall-Lobb, Billy Meehan, Orphée Mickalad, Lew Findlay, Patrick Handcock, Karen Naylor and Kaydee Zabelin.
	Moved Leonie Hapeta, seconded William Wood. The COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS 2. That Council increase the total remuneration for directors of Palmerston North Airport Limited from $135,000 per annum to 146,000 per annum.
	Clause 59-23 above was carried 10 votes to 4, the voting being as follows: For: The Mayor (Grant Smith) and Councillors Leonie Hapeta, William Wood, Mark Arnott, Rachel Bowen, Debi Marshall-Lobb, Billy Meehan, Orphée Mickalad, Lew Findlay and Patrick Handcock. Against: Councillors Brent Barrett, Lorna Johnson, Karen Naylor and Kaydee Zabelin.
	Moved Karen Naylor, seconded William Wood. The COMMITTEE RESOLVED 3. That the Chief Executive establish a policy of regular CPI increase to PNAL director fees.
	Clause 59-23 above was carried 14 votes to 0, the voting being as follows: For: The Mayor (Grant Smith) and Councillors Leonie Hapeta, William Wood, Mark Arnott, Brent Barrett, Rachel Bowen, Lorna Johnson, Debi Marshall-Lobb, Billy Meehan, Orphée Mickalad, Lew Findlay, Patrick Handcock, Karen Naylor and Kaydee Zabelin.

60-23

Work Schedule - October 2023

Moved Rachel Bowen, seconded Leonie Hapeta.

The COMMITTEE RESOLVED

1. That the Chief Executive present an annual summary report on the economic impact/ benefits of the events funded by PNCC for their economic impact with the first report to cover 2022/23.

2. That the Economic Growth Committee receive its Work Schedule dated October 2023.

Clause 60-23 above was carried 14 votes to 0, the voting being as follows:

For:

The Chair announced that Items 12 to 17 on the agenda will be referred to the Council agenda of 1 November 2023.

	Karakia Whakamutunga
	Cr Debi Marshall- Lobb closed the meeting with karakia.

The meeting finished at 11.53am

Confirmed 28 February 2024

Chair