Three Rate rise options

 

The Governing Body of Auckland Council met yesterday to adopt what would go out for consultation in the next Annual Plan (main yearly budget for Auckland Council). One of the proposals that we will get to see if which ‘Rates increase’ option you would like remembering the higher the increase the more services and investment you get in return. The three options were:

• 2% (meaning no investment and front line services cut significantly. Also draws the ire of the Government on financial competence)
• 2.5% (the target Mayor Phil Goff set which means status quo)
• 3.5% (the target set in the current Long Term Plan and while a higher increase investment in some projects is sped up and some services are also increased (think Libraries and Parks)

 

Otherwise from the rest of the Governing Body:

Decision digest | Governing Body

15 December 2016

Mayor’s budget proposal, tree planting and C40 Summit discussed at last Governing Body meeting of 2016

Auckland Council’s Governing body agreed to the items that will be consulted on as part of the 2017/18 Annual Budget and discussed  how a Greenfleet conservation programme will see  Regional Parks

The following is a digest of decisions made. The agenda is available on Auckland Council’s website and minutes will be added once confirmed. This meeting was alsowebcast on the council’s website and items are available on demand.

Items 1-10 are administrative items, excluding local board input and public input which is summarised below.

 

Item 7: Public Input

Penny Bright spoke to the Governing Body on the outcome of a recent court case involving a former Rodney District Council and Auckland Transport manager, Murray Noone and Stephen Borlase, a director of a private company, Projenz.

 

Item 8: Local Board Input and Item 14: Governance framework review – process for implementation

The Governing Body agreed to appoint a working party to consider and establish a position on the recommendations stemming from the Governance Framework Review.  It will include seven local board representatives and seven Governing Body members (Councillors Cashmore, Collins, Fletcher, Hulse, Simpson, Hills and Casey).

Albert-Eden Local Board Chair Peter Haynes and Devonport-Takapuna Local Board Deputy Chair George Wood had suggested that the working party comprise 10 local board members under item 8: local board input.

 

Item 11: Annual Budget 2017/18 – Mayoral Proposal on items for Public Consultation

The Governing Body agreed that the Mayor’s Proposal will form the basis of public consultation on the 2017/18 Annual Budget, which will go out for feedback on 27 February 2017.

Members discussed the key focus areas of rating policy changes, budget changes and other revenue streams including making the following points:

• Including proposals for rate increases of 2 per cent, 2.5 per cent and 3.5 per cent outlining the implications of different levels of increase
• Seeking other operational revenue streams to minimise the need to rely on rate increases.
• Emphasising that any additional cost efficiency savings are to be found from the Auckland Council Group budgets.

A further release on this item has been issued by the Office of the Mayor (or not (yet).

 

Item 12: Greenfleet conservation programmes on Regional Parks – item referred from 6 December 2016 Environment and Community Committee meeting

Council had previously agreed to establish a partnership with Greenfleet to carry out revegetation programmes on regional parkland, subject to a number of conditions being met.

One of these conditions was that no property rights are assigned beyond assuring the maintenance of the planting for 50 years. A working party has been looking into use of an encumbrance condition in relation to sequestering of carbon from the established vegetation.

The Governing Body today agreed to include an encumbrance in the partnership agreement.

 

Item 13: Committee Terms of Reference – Amendments

The Mayor establishes the committees of the Governing Body, including membership, and the Governing Body delegates powers as appropriate.

Since the terms of reference were last considered by the Governing Body, the Mayor has made minor changes to membership and to committee responsibilities.

These changes, and the delegation of powers and duties to enable the amended responsibilities to be performed, were confirmed.

 

Item 15: Process for the Appointment of Independent Members to the Audit and Risk Committee

The process for the Appointment of Independent Members to the Audit and Risk Committee was noted with recommendations of the selection panel considered in the confidential section of this meeting.

 

Item 16: Report back from C40 Mayors Summit in Mexico City

Cr Penny Hulse and Chief Sustainability Officer John Mauro reported back on their attendance of the C40 Mayors Summit in Mexico City.

—ends—-

 

Consultation is due out I believe in February or March next year.