Decision digest
Regional Strategy and Policy Committee
02 April 2015

Weeds, legal highs and empowered communities go before committee

Auckland Council’s Regional Strategy and Policy Committee today covered a wide range of decisions and updates ranging from legal highs to council’s Empowered Communities Approach Project. The following is a digest of decisions made.

The agenda is available on Auckland Council’s website and minutes will be added once confirmed. This meeting was also webcast on the council’s website and items will be available on demand within 24 hours of the meeting.

Items 1-8 are administrative items, excluding public input which is summarised below. There were no extraordinary items.

Item 5: Public Input – Weed Management Advisory – Hana Blackmore
The committee received a presentation from Hana Blackmore and Dr Meriel Watts on their Weed Management Advisory group’s paper, ‘Human Rights Impact Assessment of Auckland Transport’s Road Corridor Vegetation Control’.

Ms Blackmore and Dr Watt also asked that council consider banning its operational use of glyphosate.

Worth noting is that council has consulted with communities on proposed changes to its weed management practices on local and sports parks as part of its 10 year budget (Long-term Plan 2015-25).

Item 9: Local Approved Products Policy Adoption
This policy details the areas where the sale of psychoactive substances, otherwise known as legal highs, will be allowed in Auckland once licensed by government.
The policy was designed to prevent the sale of the products near vulnerable communities, schools, or treatment centres for mental health issues or substance abuse.
It was publically consulted on between October 2014 and March 2015. The consultation received almost 1500 submissions. A media release has also been issued on this decision.

Item 10: Update on the Empowered Communities Approach Project
The Mayor’s Proposal for the Long-term Plan 2015-25 includes developing a more empowered community approach to the work of Auckland Council. This includes moving away from direct delivery of services and community activities, funding community groups to deliver more and for local boards to play a more active role by allocating more funds through them.

The committee received the report, with many councillors highlighting support for initiatives that see communities working alongside council.

Committee Chair George Wood says, “We often fail to understand the power of our communities to get up and get things done. This approach sees us moving towards becoming an enabling council.”

Item 11: Disposal Recommendation Report – 237R James Fletcher Drive, Ōtāhuhu
Fletcher Steel Limited has enquired about purchasing a narrow strip of council-owned land (238m2) on James Fletcher Drive in Ōtāhuhu. Fletchers owns the surrounding land and the building that has inadvertently encroached on the council property for many decades.

The land, which appears to have once been earmarked for a pedestrian linkage, now serves no useful public purpose for access or as open space. It is classified under the Reserves Act 1977 which council must have revoked before sale. In keeping with Reserves Act requirements, proceeds from the sale would be ring fenced for park acquisition.

The committee approved the recommendation to dispose of this land, subject to the satisfactory conclusion of any required statutory processes.

Item 12: 175th Auckland Anniversary Weekend Events Presentation
The committee received a presentation on the successful 175th anniversary celebrations held at Queens Wharf during Auckland Anniversary Weekend. The presentation highlighted the success of a temporary lower Queen Street ‘plaza’ area with ‘grass’, deck chairs, bean bags and oversized games; people’s appreciation of large scale imagery of early Auckland and the concert held aboard HMNZS Otago.

An amendment to the resolution congratulated all involved in organising the weekend’s events.

Item 13: Update on the Southern Initiative
Southern Initiative manager Gael Surgenor provided a comprehensive update on activity in this area, created as a ‘geographic community-of-place’. Ms Surgenor emphasised her focus on ‘rebooting the Southern Initiative and building a strong foundation for the future.’

The programme’s current activity focuses on employment and skills; Māori Pasifika trades training; the Healthy Families programme; working with the co-located Auckland Co-Design Lab; engaging with central government and championing community-led enterprise and entrepreneurship.

Next steps build on the current programme and also include partnerships with business and social sector groups, and creating a digital strategy.

ENDS

© Scoop Media