Category: General

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Auckland Development Committee Agenda

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Agenda Out – and its a large one at that

 

The Auckland Development Committee (the final name for the Urban/Rural Development Committee) (successor to the Auckland Plan Committee) agenda is now out on the council website. However, at 47MB and at 367 pages long – not including my 100 page contribution (yet) I will embed the agenda below for your viewing pleasure (while not breaking your phone or tablet).

 

The Auckland Development Agenda – 28th November

As it is noted I am due to give a presentation in the beginning of the piece however the presentation and complementary booklet were not attached to the agenda. To be honest that does not bother me as I released a “revision” of complementary booklet after I sent the original files to Council.

 

You can view the presentation slides and the complementary book – which gives context to the wider presentation below:

The Developing a 21st Century Auckland Presentation Booklet

 

The Developing 21st Century Auckland (main) Presentation slides

 

Manukau Concept Drawings & 3D Sketch-Up Mock Ups

The material is all free to download as you wish, just please respect any Copyright’s or Creative Commons Licences that are attached (if  applicable)

 

9:30am, 28th November – Level 2 Reception Lounge, Town Hall, Auckland

Grinch that Stole Christmas?

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$20/head for a non-alcoholic party? Good investment – just “bad timing”

 

I see two particular people are pushing a barrow against Auckland Transport this morning (well one was last night looking at the Scoop release). Affordable Auckland’s Stephen Berry and the NZ Herald‘s Bernard Orsman seem to be pushing the barrow around Auckland Transport holding a family orientated, no-alcohol based event at The Cloud last weekend.

From the NZ Herald:

$40k Auckand Transport do draws flak

By Bernard Orsman 5:30 AM Tuesday Nov 12, 2013

Cash-strapped Auckland Transport criticised for ‘enormous’ staff party at the Cloud.

A financially troubled council body has splashed out about $41,500 on a party for 1700 staff and family at the Cloud, including entertainment from X Factor NZwinner Jackie Thomas.

Auckland Transport held the One Team party at the waterfront venue on Saturday – the first time in three years staff across the organisation and their families have got together.

As well as Jackie Thomas, a juggling group and ethnic dancers entertaining party-goers, four food trucks served food and soft drinks at a combined cost of about $20 a head.

Auckland Transport paid another council body, Waterfront Auckland, $7500 for the hire of the Cloud.

Last night, Auckland Transport chief executive David Warburton – whose organisation is forecasting an $18 million shortfall for next year’s budget – said the council body was concerned about the wise use of ratepayers’ money but believed the event was a sound investment and good for organisational culture.

Staff had requested an opportunity to meet more of their colleagues and it could never been done in work hours for operational reasons, he said.

Mr Warburton said the $20-a-head cost was less than the budget of $30-$35 a head for Christmas functions, there was no alcohol and some activities for the children.

…

You can read the full article over it in the NZ Herald

 

Essentially the event came to $20/head which is pretty cheap and quite prudent for again what was a family orientated mass party. I am quite sure the children would have not minded Jackie Thomas putting out a few hits knowing X-Factor had a quite a few followers at the beginning of the year.

 

The saying goes there are Christmas Parties and there are Christmas Parties with the latter often being booze-fuelled events and often terrible hang-overs that go beyond the traditional hang-over. This Christmas bash would have not been the latter but rather a wind down and for staff from AT’s large empire, to see each other and just relax.

Especially after not an easy year which is still on going (Future of grace period for old bus cards uncertain) and could be easily pinned to senior management not being on the ball <_<  with the entire AT-HOP saga and buses.

 

I did Tweet this earlier this morning:

56Ben Ross ‏@BenRoss_AKL23m

@sudhvir no alcohol, family event, close to public transport, good night out, $20/head This should be retweeted for all positive reasons

In saying that probably “bad timing” on the event owing to what I alluded just earlier not being an easy year for Auckland Transport and their staff. However, I am not going to be the Grinch that stole their Christmas either, just hope the people at the party had a very good time 🙂

 

 

Governing Body and Committee Terms of Reference and Meeting Schedules

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Terms of Reference

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Schedule until year-end

 

 

This one is more the Local Governing “nuts” out there like myself and Transport Blog. 

 

The Governing Body Agenda embedded below contains the Terms of Reference for both the Governing Body and wider Committees/Forums. Also contained on page 55 is the schedules for the Governing Body and Committees on when they are due to meet until the end of the new (new schedule will be released for 2014).

The Terms of Reference essentially set out what the Governing Body, Committees and Forums can and can not do. This is essential folks if you wish to present to Council on something. For example and as Transport Blog would know, the Transport Committee is gone and replaced by the Physical Infrastructure Committee which is chaired by Councillor Mike Lee.

As an example this is what the Physical Infrastructure Committee does when it meets 6-weekly:

4.6. PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE
Terms of Reference (Delegations)

Parent committee: Urban and Rural Development Committee

Responsibilities

 

  • Overview and provide feedback on key infrastructure plans and projects relating to transport, water, wastewater and stormwater. 
  • Provide strategic direction to guide development of transport, water, wastewater and stormwater strategies. 
  • Consider views of Local Boards, public and stakeholders in relation to physical infrastructure. 

Make recommendations to the parent committee to ensure:

  • alignment with the growth of Auckland, the Unitary Plan and the outcomes sought in the Auckland Plan and Local Board Plans 
  • alignment of the Regional Land Transport Plan and Integrated Transport Plan with the council’s strategic direction 
  • alignment of water, wastewater and stormwater strategies with the council’s strategies and plans 
  • asset management plans for physical infrastructure support the Unitary Plan and other relevant council plans and policies 
  • council input to legislative changes, central government policies and plans and key infrastructure projects 

Powers
All powers necessary to perform the Committee’s responsibilities.
Except:
(a) powers that the Governing Body cannot delegate or has retained to itself (section 2)
(b) where the Committee’s responsibility is limited to making a recommendation only
Membership
Chairperson: Cr Mike Lee
Deputy Chairperson: Cr Chris Darby

Members: 

IMSB appointees (s 85 (1)):

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Schedule of GB and Committees

The schedule is on page 55 but, for your easy reference here is a copy below:

Schedule of meetings for November and December 2013

The venue for all meetings is the Auckland Town Hall

Date Time Meeting

  • 21 November 9.30 am Long Term Plan Committee
  • 26 November 8.30 am Tenders and Procurement Committee
  • 26 November 10.00 am Hearings Committee 
  • 26 November 1.00 pm Unitary Plan Committee 
  • 28 November 9.30 am Urban and Rural Development Committee
  • 3 December 9.30 am Regulatory and Bylaws Committee
  • 3 December 1.00 pm CCO Governance and Monitoring Committee 
  • 4 December 9.30 am Arts, Culture and Events Committee
  • 4 December 1.00 pm Physical Infrastructure Committee
  • 5 December 9.30 am Regional Strategy and Policy Committee
  • 10 December 8.30 am Tenders and Procurement Committee
  • 10 December 10.00 am Hearings Committee
  • 10 December 1.00 pm Unitary Plan Committee
  • 11 December 9.30 am Parks, Recreation and Sport Committee
  • 11 December 1.00 pm Environment, Climate Change and Natural Heritage Committee
  • 11 December 9.30 am Parks, Recreation and Sport Committee
  • 11 December 1.00 pm Environment, Climate Change and Natural Heritage Committee
  • 12 December 9.30 am Finance and Organisational Performance Committee
  • 17 December 9.30 am Audit and Risk Committee
  • 18 December 9.30 am Economy – Rural and Urban Committee
  • 18 December 1.00 pm Community Development, Safety and Social Infrastructure Committee 
  • 19 December 10.00 am Governing Body
  • 12 December 9.30 am Finance and Organisational Performance Committee
  • 17 December 9.30 am Audit and Risk Committee
  • 19 December 10.00 am Governing Body

I have highlighted the Urban and Rural Development Committee in red as a reminder to me to try and get speaking rights for a presentation on that particular committee.

 

If you want to get “involved” Council rocking up to these meetings whether just to observe or like me participating actively is a good way to start 😀 – Just need a pile of patience some days, that’s all 😉

 

Local Government poster png mode

 

Terms of Reference and Meetings Schedule