Emergency Regional Council

Open Minutes

Commencing:             Thursday 15 August 2024, 9.00AM

Venue:                         Council Chambers, Regional House, 1 Elizabeth Street, Tauranga

Chairperson:               Deputy Chairperson Jane Nees – Chair for the purposes of this meeting

Members:                    Cr Malcolm Campbell

Cr Stuart Crosby

Cr Toi Kai Rākau Iti – via Zoom

Cr Kat Macmillan

Cr Ron Scott

Cr Ken Shirley

Cr Paula Thompson – via Zoom

Cr Lyall Thurston

Cr Te Taru White – via Zoom

Cr Kevin Winters

In Attendance:            Fiona McTavish – Chief Executive; Mat Taylor – General Manager Corporate; Chris Ingle – General Manager Integrated Catchments; Reuben Fraser – General Manager Regulatory Services; Kumaren Perumal – Chief Financial Officer, Tone Nerdrum Smith – Senior Advisor Governance

Apologies:                  Chairman Doug Leeder

Cr Matemoana McDonald

Cr Andrew von Dadelszen

 

Livestreaming Statement

Chair Nees reminded those present that this 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 Bay of Plenty Regional Council - 15 August 2024 - YouTube.

 

1.     Opening Karakia

A karakia was provided by Cr Lyall Thurston.

2.     Apologies

Resolved

That the Regional Council:

1           Accepts the apologies from Chairman Doug Leeder, Cr Matemoana McDonald and Cr Andrew von Dadelszen tendered at the meeting.

Thurston/Scott

CARRIED

 

3.     Declaration of Conflicts of Interest

None declared.

4.     Reports

Decisions Required

4.1

2024/25 Minor River and Drainage Scheme Rates

Presented by Mat Taylor – General Manager Corporate, Chris Ingle – General Manager Integrated Catchments and Kumaren Perumal – Chief Financial Officer

Key Points:

·     Recognised the error that had necessitated the re-set of Scheme Rates, and advised that this was the commencement of a process that would culminate in the new rates being set at the Council meeting in September 2024

·     Noted that internal processes had been put in place to ensure such errors did not reoccur

·     Available funding reserves meant Council was not required to set the Omeheu West Communal Pumped Drainage Scheme targeted rates for the 2024/25 year

·     Staff would be contacting the affected ratepayers and the re-set would provide a level of comfort that the correct rates were being charged.

Key Points - Members:

·     Sought assurance there were no further rates re-setting required.

 

Resolved

That the Emergency Regional Council:

1           Receives the report, 2024/25 Minor River and Drainage Scheme Rates;

2           Notes that several rates for the Minor River and Drainage schemes have been set at a higher amount than intended;

3           Agrees that it is desirable to set the Minor River and Drainage scheme rates again to correct the error in the rates;

4           Directs staff to commence the process to reset Minor River and Drainage Scheme rates that have been set too high, including releasing a public notice;

5           Notes that at the September 2024 Council meeting, a recommendation to re-set the Minor River Scheme Rates will be made to Council, in order to comply with the Local Government (Rating) Act 2002 and Council Standing Orders.

Crosby/Thurston

CARRIED

 

5.     Closing Karakia

A karakia was provided by Cr Te Taru White.

 

9.08 am – the meeting closed.

 

 

Confirmed                                                                                          

                                                                         Chairman Doug Leeder

Chairperson, Regional Council