Category: General

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Council Forgiving Water Charges to Community Groups

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Clean Slate a Good Move

From Auckland Council:

Council to forgive past water charges for community groups 

Community groups have had a small financial reprieve with Auckland Council ‘forgiving’ outstanding water  charges for groups that lease council land or buildings for community activity purposes. 

The amounts vary between around 200 groups with an average of about $500 per group being forgiven. 

Council has been working with Watercare to reconcile water charges for community groups after the super city amalgamation to align water and wastewater charging for community groups from the various legacy councils. Because of the complexity in determining how much each group used per water meter, Auckland Council became the default payee for water and wastewater. 

With a resolution in sight and a more clearly defined billing system scheduled to begin on 1 July, Council is to forgive historic payments required of community groups that have not already had their water charged directly from Watercare. 

Ian Wheeler, General Manager Property at Auckland Council, said with the vast range of community facilities, the task of attributing each community user group’s meter usage for water and wastewater is a time-consuming task. 

“It is more cost-efficient in terms of staff time and resources to forgive the charges and start with a fresh slate in July,” he said. 

Mr Wheeler said it was important that community groups understood they would be responsible for the payment of their water accounts to Watercare from July and he urged groups to contact the Council if they have any concerns about their future metering charges. 

He said Council’s Property Lease Advisors are available to work closely with and support community lease tenants as they transition through this new invoicing process and to answer any queries.

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Committees This Week

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What is going on with Auckland Council This Week

A Committee of the Whole and two Sub-Committees are meeting this week to discuss some important issues about Auckland and/or the Council Controlled Organisations (CCO’s).

Auckland Development Committee

Agenda: http://infocouncil.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/Open/2015/04/AUC_20150416_AGN_5975_AT_WEB.HTM

Nothing too heavy on the agenda for the Auckland Development Committee this time around. The usual City Centre Integration Group update is being presented and no doubt both the City Rail Link start and updates on Precinct Properties downtown development will come up for debate. The Central Wharves Strategy is still being refined and any updates on that should be presented as well on Thursday

Unitary Plan Sub Committee

Agenda: no point as it is all in closed session.

That said the sub committee being in closed session is still an important one to watch especially if you have submitted to the Unitary Plan. The Unitary Plan Committee decides what position the Council will take into mediation for the Unitary Plan Hearings. The three topics up for mediation decision are:

  • Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan submissions – council position for mediation and hearings – Outstanding Natural Features, Outstanding Natural Landscapes and Outstanding and High Natural Character Areas, Volcanic Viewshafts and Height Sensitive Areas                                                                                                                           
  • Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan submissions – council position for mediation and hearings – Transport                                                                                                 
  • Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan submissions – council position for mediation and hearings – Healthcare Facility Zone               

The Transport topic is the one I am most interested in as it is one of six topics I submitted on to the Unitary Plan. Parking and Parking Minimums which should be nice and controversial but hey, I want a 21st Century Auckland not a 1960’s Auckland. Mediation for Transport (and parking) is next month with the Hearings on the matter in July.

CCO Governance and Monitoring Committee

Agenda: http://infocouncil.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/Open/2015/04/COU_20150414_AGN_5941_AT_WEB.HTM

This Committee this month is big one as the CCO’s are both reporting performance AND giving their next three yearly Statement of Intents (SOI). This is the only Committee that can “compel” a CCO (within legislation) to do something on behalf of the Governing Body. Note: Port of Auckland is not a CCO it is a full commercial company overseen by Auckland Council Investments Limited (ACIL).

No doubt Port of Auckland will come up today via discussing ACIL although with the Future Port Study being prepared I would think it was a good idea to hold fire as it were until CEO Stephen Town presents the scope of the study in due course.

I will not be at any of the Committees this week so no live Tweeting folks.

Two Mayoral Candidates Announced for 2016 Election

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And we can take this as the race has started

It seems people are lining themselves up for the mayoral race already with an announcement coming out last night.

From Voxy:

Berry to stand for Auckland mayoralty in 2016

 Saturday, 11 April, 2015 – 21:54

Following speculation over the last couple of weeks, Affordable Auckland Leader Stephen Berry has confirmed he will be contesting the Auckland Mayoralty as well as standing for Council in the ward of Albany. “In the absence of a Mayoral candidate advocating lower rates, focusing on core Council services and deregulating the housing market, I am assuming the responsibility of representing the interests of the ratepayers and residents of Auckland.”

Mr. Berry previously stood for the Mayoralty in 2013, finishing in third place with 13650 votes or 4.1%. He accepts that at this stage he is an outside chance to win but believes Affordable Auckland will be able to have a strong impact on the result of the election. “In 2013 we started campaigning only six months out from the election, our limited resources were spread across five cities and we were ignored by the media. This time around we are starting to campaign today, we will have more resources focused only on the Auckland election and our voice cannot be ignored.

…….

Rest of the spiel can be seen here: http://www.voxy.co.nz/politics/berry-stand-auckland-mayoralty-2016/5/218526

What caught my attention in the statement though was this:

Mr. Berry considers that based on past performance and the opportunities this ticket has going for it, it would not be unreasonable at this stage to forecast his candidacy may attract 30,000 votes. “I will continue to be a candidate for Mayor as long as there is not another candidate who supports Affordable Auckland’s policies and may attract more votes. Should someone like Cameron Brewer put their name forward in a potential scenario which may indicate a close result, I will be only too happy to consider withdrawing to consolidate support for advocates of smaller council.

I am going to consider that statement until there is an out right denial as Cameron Brewer also running for Mayor next year on a Right Wing ticket.

So in effect two Right Wingers have announced or implied running in what is going to be an interesting contest next year for Local Government elections.

Serious Fraud Office to Investigate – Auckland Transport

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SFO to investigate previous “Conflict of Interest” claims

In 2013 it was revealed that there were issues relating to Auckland Transport’s roading unit (see: NOTICED AND NOT REALLY SURPRISED)

On Thursday and rather quietly given that we have just gone through the Easter Weekend, the Serious Fraud Office confirmed it would begin investigating Auckland Transport into the roading contract saga back in 2013.

From Radio NZ:

Auckland Transport charges laid

Updated at 9:32 am on 3 April 2015

Auckland Transport said the claims related to its road corridor maintenance business, which looks after more than 700 kilometres of roading in the region.

The Serious Fraud Office began its investigation, independent of Auckland Transport’s internal investigation, in October 2013.

Yesterday, it laid charges against an unspecified number of individuals linked to the council-controlled agency. No court dates have yet been set.

In a statement, Auckland Transport said a thorough review of processes and documentation was undertaken throughout 2012 and 2013.

It said it had since brought in more robust procurement processes and introduced new levels of contract oversight.

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Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/regional/270311/auckland-transport-charges-laid

Something tells me this might be only the tip of the iceberg if a full investigation into Auckland Transport was to be done. That is turning everything right over upside down to make sure all is kosher in an organisation that can consume upwards of 54% of our Rates.

Easter Break

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Back Tuesday

It is the Easter Break – YAY!

Talking Auckland wishes everyone a good Easter and do not try and scoff all the Easter Eggs and Hot Cross Buns all at once 😉

I will be taking a break through the Easter run and will be back with all the latest commentary on Tuesday.

In the meantime check below in regards to Port of Auckland:

Source: Auckland Development Committee
Source: Auckland Development Committee