Bay of Plenty Mayoral Forum

Open Minutes

Commencing:             Wednesday 8 June 2022, 9.30 am

Venue:                         Council Chambers, Regional House, 1 Elizabeth Street, Tauranga and via Zoom (Audio Visual Meeting)

Chairperson:               Commission Chair Anne Tolley – Tauranga City Council (for this meeting)

Members:                    Mayor Steve Chadwick – Rotorua Lakes Council (via Zoom)

Mayor Judy Turner – Whakatāne District Council

Chairman Doug Leeder – Bay of Plenty Regional Council

Mayor Garry Webber – Western Bay of Plenty District Council (via Zoom)

Mayor Lyn Riesterer – Ōpōtiki District Council

Mayor Malcolm Campbell – Kawerau District Council

In Attendance:            Deputy Mayor Faylene Tunui – Kawerau District Council

Deputy Chair Jane Nees – Bay of Plenty Regional Council

 

Geoff Williams - Chief Executive, Rotorua Lakes Council (via Zoom)

Stephanie O'Sullivan - Chief Executive, Whakatāne District Council

Sarah Omundsen – General Manager Regulatory Services, Bay of Plenty Regional Council

Fiona McTavish - Chief Executive, Bay of Plenty Regional Council

Aileen Lawrie - Chief Executive; Ōpōtiki District Council

Marty Grenfell - Chief Executive; Tauranga City Council

Russell George - Chief Executive; Kawerau District Council

 

Cr Andrew von Dadelszen – Bay of Plenty Regional Council (via Zoom), Cr Bill Clark – Bay of Plenty Regional Council (via Zoom)

 

Sam Fellows - Manager: Sustainability and Waste, Tauranga City Council (TCC); Ezra Shuster - Regional Public Service Commissioner (via Zoom), Jacqui Rolleston-Steed – Regional Commissioner Advisor, Bay of Plenty Regional Council (via Zoom), Tone Nerdrum Smith – Committee Advisor

Apologies:                  Mayor David Trewavas – Taupō District Council (entire meeting); Chairman Doug Leeder – Bay of Plenty Regional Council (early departure); Gareth Green - Chief Executive, Taupō District Council (entire meeting); John Holyoake - Chief Executive, Western Bay of Plenty District Council (entire meeting) and Stephanie O'Sullivan - Chief Executive, Whakatāne District Council (late arrival)

 

1.     Opening and Welcome by Commission Chair Anne Tolley - Tauranga City Council  

Commission Chair Tolley welcomed those present, both in person and via Zoom, and advised that the meeting was being recorded and that the recording would be available on the BOPRC website after the meeting via this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCYsRp5Xtuk

2.     Apologies

Resolved

That the Bay of Plenty Mayoral Forum:

1           Accepts the apologies from Mayor David Trewavas – Taupō District Council (entire meeting); Chairman Doug Leeder – Bay of Plenty Regional Council (early departure); Gareth Green - Chief Executive, Taupō District Council (entire meeting); John Holyoake - Chief Executive, Western Bay of Plenty District Council (entire meeting) and Stephanie O'Sullivan - Chief Executive, Whakatāne District Council (late arrival) tendered at the meeting.

Campbell/Turner

CARRIED

3.     Items not on the Agenda

3.1

Additional Item/Item Not on the Agenda

 

Resolved

That the Bay of Plenty Mayoral Forum:

1           Accepts the inclusion of the item: Recognition of Retiring Mayors on this agenda and note that it is added as the 9 September 2022 Mayoral Forum meeting may not proceed;

2           Agrees that this item be covered first on the agenda.

Turner/Riesterer

CARRIED

 

3.2

Recognition of Retiring Mayors

 

Presented by Commission Chair Anne Tolley

Recognised the three mayors who had publicly announced they would not be standing again for mayoralty at the end of this triennium: Mayor Campbell, Mayor Chadwick, and Mayor Webber.

Highlighted the following regarding each Mayor:

Mayor Chadwick – Rotorua Lakes Council:

·     Mayor since 2013 and Councillor 1996-1999

·     Member of Parliament for Rotorua 1999 – 2011

·     Appointed Companion of the Queen's Service Order for services to local government and as a Member of Parliament in 2022.

Mayor Chadwick in Response:

·     Had enjoyed her time as the Mayor and did not consider her decision a ‘retirement’, rather a change of direction and pursuit of other opportunities

·     Recognised the crucial relationship between a Mayor and Chief Executive, and was grateful for the support she had received

·     Building the strong partnership with Te Arawa Lakes Trust was a highlight.

Mayor Webber – Western Bay of Plenty District Council:

·     Mayor since 2016 and a Councillor since 2010

·     A qualified Hearings Commissioner

·     Part of the Three Waters National Working Group

·     Significant contribution and support to the wider region, in particular after the Tauranga City Commission was appointed,

Mayor Webber in Response:

·     Had commenced local government career as a non-elected community board member

·     A highlight had been working with mana whenua in achieving positive outcomes for the district

·     Recognised the ‘under the radar’ support from the Regional Council Chairman, in particular with regards to infrastructure projects.

9.49am – Chief Executive Stephanie O’Sullivan entered the meeting.

Mayor Campbell – Kawerau District Council:

·     Mayor since 2007 and Councillor since 2001

·     Chair, then Deputy Chair of the national Mayors’ Taskforce for Jobs

·     Kawerau was a small town with ongoing challenges, which had prospered during the Mayor’s tenure

·     A leader with the community at heart.

Mayor Campbell in Response:

·     Recognised the challenges associated with being a Mayor and the toll it took on personal life and business

·     Acknowledged the support of the Deputy Mayor, Chief Executive and Personal Assistant

·     Intended to stand for Regional Council election and considered it a natural progression from the current role.

Key Points – Members:

·     Recognised the longstanding commitment to both Kawerau and the Bay of Plenty region.

4.     Minutes

Minutes to be Confirmed

4.1

Bay of Plenty Mayoral Forum Minutes - 15 October 2021

 

Resolved

That the Bay of Plenty Mayoral Forum:

1           Confirms the Bay of Plenty Mayoral Forum Minutes - 15 October 2021 as a true and correct record.

Turner/Campbell

CARRIED

 

10.05am – Chairman Leeder withdrew from the meeting.

5.     Presentations

5.1

Trade Waste Strategy

Presentation - Regional Waste Strategy - Te Maunga Redevelopment - Mayoral Forum 8 June 2022: Objective ID A4115529 ⇨  

Presented by Sam Fellows - Manager: Sustainability and Waste, Tauranga City Council.

 

Key Points:

·     The existing Te Maunga Transfer Station catered for the local population only, rather than the wider region

·     Recognised the need to improve the co-operation across the region

·     Noted the standardisation of kerbside waste collection in Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty, which now also included food waste

·     The planned upgrade would make the facility more automated, which would be less labour intensive and increase safety

·     The ‘Tinker Shed’ would provide an opportunity for community interaction and initiatives, e.g. working with older machinery etc.

·     Total cost for the upgraded facility was estimated to $40M, whereof $15M would be carried by TCC. However, discussions could take place regarding regionwide funding/contribution

·     Careful planning had been undertaken for the Te Maunga facility to ensure it was fit for purpose; could withstand climatic changes; and that it would not leach/contaminate into the surrounding area

·     Important to recognise and be respectful of the cultural significance of the surrounding area

·     The new facility would have provisions for safe asbestos collection and storage, which was currently not available

·     Future-proofing for waste minimisation and management was a priority of the Ministry for the Environment.

Key Points - Members:

·     The facility’s location at Truman Lane provided opportunities for co-operation with KiwiRail, which should be further explored

·     Emphasised the importance of capturing the agricultural waste from the wider region, e.g. with an upgraded station in Paengaroa

·     Region wide co-operation would garner support from central government

·     Encouraged the facility be installed with a roof from the beginning to minimise/eliminate odour and dust complaints

·     Considered that a regionally applied rate would be both fair and in recognition of the facility’s wide benefit

·     Mana whenua needed to be involved at a concept design stage, rather than engagement taking place at the later detail design stage

·     Suggested approaching the Ministry for the Environment to seek support towards the new facility, emphasising the regional approach and co-operation.

 

Resolved

That the Bay of Plenty Mayoral Forum:

1           Directs the Bay of Plenty Local and Regional Authority staff to work together in the development of a Regional Waste Strategy.

Webber/Campbell

CARRIED

 

5.2

Ōpōtiki Harbour Project Update

Presentation - Opotiki Harbour Update - Mayoral Forum 8 June 2022: Objective ID A4115537 ⇨  

Presented by Mayor Lyn Riesterer - Ōpōtiki District Council.

 

Key Points - Presentation:

·     Harbour Development

·     Ōpōtiki Aquaculture – Spatial Plan

·     Ōpōtiki Harbour Conceptual Image

·     Overview of Harbour Area

·     Eastern and Western Sea Walls

·     Harbour Timeline

·     Rock Supply

·     Hanbar Production on site

·     Challenges

·     Local Employment

·     Business Confidence Growing

·     Open Ocean – Whakatōhea Mussel Processing Plant.

Key Points - Members:

·     Recognised the support and perseverance of both the current and previous Mayor (John Forbes) in this project.

 

 

11.20am – The meeting adjourned.

 

11.36am – The meeting reconvened.

 

5.3

Update on Waiariki Bay of Plenty Regional Leadership Group

Presentation - Waiariki BoP Regional Leadership Group - Mayoral Forum 8 June 2022: Objective ID A4115572 ⇨  

 

Presented by Ezra Shuster – Regional Public Service Commissioner and Jacqui Rolleston-Steed – Regional Commissioner Advisor, seconded from Bay of Plenty Regional Council (both via Zoom).

Key Points - Presentation:

·     Public Service Leadership

o   The Why

o   What is it and How

·     Covid Protection Framework

·     Regional Leadership

·     Group – BOP: What was said?

o   Purpose

o   Issues & Concerns

o   People

o   Working Well & Opportunities.

11.42am – Chief Executive Fiona McTavish entered the meeting.

Key Points/In Response to Questions:

·     The spatial boundaries for the Leadership Group were set by Iwi and did not necessarily follow geographical boundaries

·     The waka approach encouraged and fostered co-operation across the wider Bay of Plenty rohe.

Key Points - Members:

·     Recognised the poverty/social issues resulting from Covid and the long-term effects it would have

·     Local government had been forced to rapidly adapt to continue to deliver the four wellbeings to its communities during and after Covid.

 

5.4

Update on Resource Management Reforms

Presentation - RM Reforms Update - Mayoral Forum 8 June 2022: Objective ID A4115540 ⇨  

Presented by Chief Executive Aileen Lawrie – Ōpōtiki District Council.

 

Key Points - Presentation:

·     RM Reforms

·     Reform Objectives

·     Local Government RM Reform Steering Group

·     Comparison with RMA system

·     Regional Spatial Strategies (RSS)

·     Local Voice Proposal

·     Plan Development – Consider, Hear, Decide – Implementation

·     Timing.

Key Points - Members:

·     Recognised the significant effort of the Steering Group in these comprehensive and wide reaching reforms

·     Concerned over the challenges of managing and mitigating environmental effects under the new legislation

·     The increased levels of permitted activities supported development, however, these could be detrimental to the environment and local communities

·     There was always a risk of unintended consequences if legislation was fast-tracked.

In Response to Questions:

·     Generally, existing consents would run until the end of their term despite the reforms, unless reviewed and amended for other/specific purposes. They would not be expected to comply with new legislation if already in place.

 

5.5

Withdrawn: Update by Infrastructure Commission CE Ross Copland (Tentative Item)

This tentative item was withdrawn as the presenter was not available.

6.     Reports

Information Only

6.1

Treaty of Waitangi Settlements, Claims and Related Kaupapa

Presented by Fiona McTavish – Chief Executive Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

Key Points:

·     The report was taken as read.

 

Items for Staff Follow Up:

·     Regionwide Treaty of Waitangi settlement updates to be provided at future meeting of the Forum.

 

Resolved

That the Bay of Plenty Mayoral Forum:

1           Receives the report, Treaty of Waitangi Settlements, Claims and Related Kaupapa.

Webber/Chadwick

CARRIED

 

6.2

Climate Change Programme Update

Key Points:

·     The report was taken as read.

 

Resolved

That the Bay of Plenty Mayoral Forum:

1           Receives the report, Climate Change Programme Update.

Riesterer/Turner

CARRIED

7.     Recognition of Chief Executive Aileen Lawrie – Ōpōtiki District Council

Presented by Mayor Lyn Riesterer - Ōpōtiki District Council.

Key Points:

·     This was the final meeting of Aileen Lawrie as the Chief Executive of Ōpōtiki District Council before taking on the role of Chief Executive of Thames-Coromandel District Council

·     Noted the delivery of the Ōpōtiki Harbour Upgrade during her tenure.

Key Points – Aileen Lawrie:

·     Recognised the intense workload over the past two years, with the impact of Covid and significant increase in projects due to funding from the Provincial Growth Fund

·     Acknowledged the ongoing and competent support by staff, Councillors, and the community.

Key Points - Members:

·     Recognised the significant effort and competence of Chief Executive Lawrie

·     Had built trust with central government that a small Council like Ōpōtiki District Council could competently deliver the Ōpōtiki Harbour development.

8.     Closing Karakia

A karakia was provided by Deputy Mayor Faylene Tunui.

 

12.45pm – the meeting closed.

 

 

Confirmed