Open Minutes
Commencing: Thursday 11 August 2022, 9.30 am
Venue: Council Chambers, Regional House, 1 Elizabeth Street, Tauranga and via Zoom (Audio Visual Meeting)
Chairperson: Chairman Doug Leeder
Deputy Chairperson: Deputy Chairperson Jane Nees
Members: Cr Bill Clark
Cr Stuart Crosby
Cr David Love
Cr Matemoana McDonald
Cr Stacey Rose (via Zoom)
Cr Paula Thompson
Cr Lyall Thurston
Cr Andrew von Dadelszen
Cr Te Taru White
Cr Kevin Winters
In Attendance: Bay of Plenty Regional Council: Fiona McTavish – Chief Executive; Mat Taylor – General Manager Corporate; Chris Ingle – General Manager Integrated Catchments; Reuben Fraser – Consents Manager; Lorraine Cheyne - Transport & Urban Planning Manager; Kumaren Perumal – Chief Financial Officer; Mark Le Comte – Principal Advisor Finance; Yvonne Tatton – Governance Manager; Stephen Lamb – Environmental Strategy Manager (via Zoom); Toni Briggs - Senior Project Manager, Environmental Strategy (via Zoom); Matt Hunt – Communications Team Leader; Greg Corbett - Biosecurity Manager; Davor Bejakovich - Wallaby Programme Leader; Amber Rowe – Commercial Advisor; Debbie Tate – Commercial Advisor; Merinda Pansegrouw – Committee Advisor.
External: Nick Tait - Lead Advisor Solutions and Development, Dairy NZ – via Zoom (Public Forum); Roger Lincoln - Principal Policy Advisor, Dairy NZ – via Zoom (Public Forum); Mark Butcher – Chief Executive Local Government Funding Agency – via Zoom (item 9.4)
Apologies: Cr Norm Bruning
Absent: Cr Toi Kai Rākau Iti
1. Chairman’s Opening Statement
Chairman Leeder advised those present in Chambers and via Zoom that the meeting was being livestreamed and recorded and that the recording would be made available on the Bay of Plenty Regional Council website following the meeting. Council Meeting - 11 August - YouTube.
A karakia was provided by Cr Te Taru White.
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That the Regional Council: 1 Accepts the apologies from Cr Bruning and Cr Rose (early departure) tendered at the meeting. CARRIED |
4. Public Forum
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4.1 |
Dairy NZ - He Waka Eke Noa Programme Presentation Dairy NZ HWEN 11 August 2022: Objective ID A4174551 |
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Presented by: Dairy NZ Lead Advisor - Solutions and Development, Nick Tait and Principal Policy Advisor, Roger Lincoln. Key Points – Presentation: · He Waka Eke Noa (Primary Sector Climate Action Partnership) was a world-first collaboration between government, the primary sector and Māori agribusiness to create a plan that would reduce agricultural emissions while enabling sustainable food and fibre production for future generations and competitiveness in international markets · Developed a practical framework to support farmers to measure, manage and reduce agricultural emissions; recognise, maintain, or increase integrated sequestration on farms and adapt to a changing climate · Recommended a practical, credible, and effective farm-level pricing system · Summary of key He Waka Eke Noa recommendations were provided to Ministers of the Crown (recommendations were informed by consultation/supported by technical information) · Recommended that the Government introduce a farm-level split-gas levy on agricultural emissions with built-in incentives to reduce emissions and sequester carbon · As the next step, Government would consider the Partnership’s advice alongside advice from the Climate Change Commission, before making decisions later this year on how agricultural emissions were to be priced from 2025. Key Points - Members: · Acknowledged that it was a complex science driven debate · Interface with regional councils as regulators was critical · Emphasised the importance of continued engagement across communities/ongoing communications. Next Steps: · Continued conversation as the programme developed · Dairy NZ provided further information with regard to Farm Case Studies and price implications available on their website: FINAL-He-Waka-Eke-Noa-Recommendations-Report.pdf (hewakaekenoa.nz) |
5. Declaration of Conflicts of Interest
· Cr Stuart Crosby – Item 9.6: Quayside Group Statements of Intent
· Cr Te Taru White - Item 9.6: Quayside Group Statements of Intent.
Minutes to be Confirmed
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Regional Council Minutes - 23 June 2022 |
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That the Regional Council: 1 Confirms the Regional Council Minutes - 23 June 2022 as a true and correct record, subject to the following amendment: · Page 16 , item 7.3: fourth bullet: the typographical error “0.9%” to be corrected to “5.9%”. CARRIED |
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Chairperson's Report Key Points: · Elaborated on the itinerary of the Regional Sector Tour in Palmerston North 18 – 20 July 2022; key places of interest visited/discussion points addressed: Taupō-nui-a-tia, Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board, Tongariro Power Scheme, Whanganui River claims Settlement Te Awa Tupua and locations that highlighted the importance of green hydrogen, primary industries, tourism and rail to regional prosperity · Written summary of the itinerary of the Regional Sector Tour in Palmerston North 18 – 20 July 2022 to be provided to Councillors. |
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That the Regional Council: 1 Receives the report, Chairperson's Report. CARRIED |
Decisions Required
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Recommendations from Public Transport Committee Presented by: Lorraine Cheyne - Transport & Urban Planning Manager. Key Point - Staff: · Staff would continue to work with New Zealand Transport Agency and Waikato Regional Council staff to determine if there was a possibility of a co-funding arrangement being reached. |
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That the Regional Council: 1 Receives the report, Recommendations from Public Transport Committee. 2 Adopts the recommendations from the Public Transport Committee meeting held on 23 June 2022 specific to the report, Contract Renewal of 85 Connector Bus Service to: (a) Endorse the continuation of Waihi Beach passenger transport service as a permanent two day a week service for a further 12 months; and (b) Notes that associated funding has been included in the 2022-2023 Annual Plan. CARRIED |
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Recommendations from Bay of Plenty Regional Navigation Safety Bylaws Review Subcommittee |
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That the Regional Council: 1 Receives the report, Recommendations from Bay of Plenty Regional Navigation Safety Bylaws Review Subcommittee; 2 Approves changing and adopting the Navigation Safety Bylaws Review Subcommittee as a committee of Council and for the purpose of intent retrospectively applies all previous references to ‘subcommittee’ to mean ‘committee’. 3 Notes that Councillor Toi Iti was voted as Deputy Chair for the Navigation Safety Bylaws Review Committee; 4 Adopts the recommendations from the Bay of Plenty Regional Navigation Safety Bylaws Review Committee meeting held on 26 July 2022 specific to the report, Terms of Reference for the Navigation Safety Bylaws Review Committee to: (a) Recommends to Regional Council, adoption of the final Navigation Safety Bylaws Committee Terms of Reference. CARRIED |
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Local Government Funding Agency Statement of Intent Presentation LGFA Mark Butcher 11 August 2022: Objective ID A4177580 Presented by: Mark Butcher Chief Executive, Local Government Funding Agency (LGFA), supported by Kumaren Perumal – Chief Financial Officer and Mark Le Comte – Principal Advisor Finance. Key Points - Presentation: · Recent developments for the period 2021 – 2022 · LGFA Historic Financial Ratios · LGFA Financial Statements for the period 6 Months to December 2021 · Performance targets · Future Director Programme · Approach to sustainability · Lending Framework – borrowing categories · Three Water Reforms - LGFA committed to assisting Central Government and councils with Three Waters Reform Programme. Key Points - Members: · Congratulated LGFA on their sustainability initiatives, particularly the objectives/measures included in the Statement of Intent (SOI). |
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10:35am - Cr Rose withdrew from the meeting. |
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That the Regional Council: 1 Receives the report, Local Government Funding Agency Statement of Intent. 2 Agrees that no formal feedback is required on the Local Government Funding-Agency Statement of Intent 2022-2025. CARRIED |
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Bay of Plenty Local Authority Shared Services Statement of Intent Presented by: Kumaren Perumal – Chief Financial Officer and Mark Le Comte – Principal Advisor Finance. Key Points: · Provided a statement on behalf of Stephen Boyle, Chief Executive Bay of Plenty Local Authority Shared Services (BOPLASS) on the proposed Statement of Intent (SOI): o Since Council’s consideration of the draft BOPLASS SOI in April 2022, the final proposed SOI had no material changes from the draft o BOPLASS’s focus to remain on the improvement of procedures for procurement/other shared services initiatives, taking advantage of inter-regional collaboration to benefit on economies of scale o BOPLASS to keep a watching brief on local government changes; workshops to follow in September 2022 to facilitate taking advantage of any collaborative/shared services initiates that might arise from imminent changes. Key Points - Members: · Highlighted the abundance of opportunities available to BOPLASS to pursue; would be a function of the governance group of BOPLASS to provide further direction in this regard · Suggested BOPLASS reflect on the outcomes/changes effected by the recently rebranded Waikato LASS, now called Co-Lab · Would require a proactive attitude to embrace opportunities that future changes could bring. Key Points - Staff: · In terms of climate change projects/opportunities, BOPLASS was currently considering projects relating to the improvement of waste management systems/processes/improving the efficiency of waste management · BOPLASS staff had recently been relocated to Bay of Plenty Regional Council Toi Moana’s Regional House to optimise/reduce costs · Update on progress with establishing the Regional Local Authority Shared Services: the Legal Team was currently considering the various shareholder agreements to ensure due diligence/compliance. Once this process had been completed the relevant Statement of Intent would be provided to Council. |
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· Future report to Council on the initiatives/projects BOPLASS was considering regarding the improvement and efficiency of waste management systems and processes. |
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That the Regional Council: 1 Receives the report, Bay of Plenty Local Authority Shared Services Statement of Intent; 2 Agrees that no formal feedback is required on the BOPLASS Statement of Intent 2021-2024; and 3 Requests a presentation on the strategic direction of BOPLASS to be provided at the next Council meeting. CARRIED |
10:50am - The meeting adjourned.
11:15am - The meeting reconvened.
11:15am - Cr McDonald withdrew from the meeting.
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Quayside Group Statements of Intent Cr Crosby and Cr White declared an interest in this item and abstained from voting. Presented by: Kumaren Perumal – Chief Financial Officer and Mark Le Comte – Principal Advisor Finance. Key Points - Members: · Acknowledged that the new approach followed in the Quayside Group Statement of Intent (SOI) documents were more informative · Provided the following comments for consideration by staff/Quayside Group Directors: o Explanations on the distribution policy was complex/hard to follow o Requested clarification on the following statement as well as the practical implications thereof: “The value of the Port of Tauranga Shareholding is adjusted to normalise returns with the NZX50” o Encouraged Quayside Group to consider the sustainability initiatives/objectives/measures included in the Local Government Funding Agency (LGFA) Statement of Intent (SOI) · Noted that in terms of governance responsibility/accountability regarding Statements of Intent, the requirement for Council was to receive Statements of Intent. |
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· Advise Councillors of the total number of canopy hectares of kiwi fruit covered by the eight kiwi orchards · Advise Councillors of the size of the forestry block on Mystery Valley Road · Provide an information session with any Councillors interested in obtaining further information/clarification on the Quayside Group Statement of Intent (SOI) documents and provide practical scenarios as examples. |
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11:22am - Cr McDonald entered the meeting. |
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That the Regional Council: 1 Receives the report, Quayside Group Statements of Intent. 2 Agrees that no further formal feedback is required on the Quayside Group Statements of Intent. CARRIED |
Information Only
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Summary of Elected Members' Expenditure July 2021 - June 2022 Tabled Document 1 - Summary of Elected Members Expenditure July 2021- June 2022 BOPRC Councillor Expenditure Updated: Objective ID A4175015 Presented by: Yvonne Tatton, Governance Manager. Key Points - Staff: · Saving of $52,000 travel expenses for the 2021/2022 year was due to COVID restrictions and the large number of meetings attended via Zoom while the Epidemic Preparedness (COVID-19) Notice 2020 Renewal Notice 2022 was in effect. Key Points - Members: · Encouraged Elected Members to prioritise professional development in their governance role and seize opportunities available · Suggested that emphasis be placed on professional development opportunities during the induction process at the commencement of the new triennium. |
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That the Regional Council: 1. Receives the report, Summary of Elected Members' Expenditure July 2021 - June 2022. CARRIED |
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Resolution to exclude the public 1 Excludes the public from the following parts of the proceedings of this meeting as set out below: The general subject of each matter to be considered while the public is excluded, the reason for passing this resolution in relation to each matter, and the specific grounds under section 48(1) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 for the passing of this resolution are as follows:
CARRIED |
A karakia was provided by Cr Te Taru White.
11:52am – the meeting closed.
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Chairperson, Regional Council