Decision digest | Governing Body
30 July 2015

Confirmation of Legacy Bylaws, review of 2019 Elections representation arrangements and a new chair for Audit and Risk committee.

Items 1-8 were administrative items. There was no, local board input or extraordinary items or notices of motion.

Public input:
Penny Bright presented on Auckland Population Growth Triggers.

Nicola Owen, representing “save Auckland Council Disability Advisors”, presented a petition with regards to the proposed disestablishment of two Disability Advisors roles.

Lisa Prager presented on Auckland Unitary Plan Independent Hearings Panel.

Item 11: Decisions on remaining legacy bylaws – recommendation from the Legacy and Bylaws Committee
Background: When Auckland Council was established on 1 November 2010, it inherited 140 legacy bylaws from the former Auckland-based local authorities. Under the Local Government (Auckland Transitional Provisions) Act 2010, we are required to confirm, revoke or amend all bylaws by 31 October 2015.The council has now reviewed most of these bylaws and has adopted 16 new, region-wide bylaws with two more pending approval.
Governing Body was presented with a proposal today to make a decision on the remaining legacy council bylaws which would ensure that the bylaws will not be revoked on 31 October. Specifically, this will allow further work on the topics/issues relating to these legacy bylaws and public consultation in the future. The proposal included:
• confirm the legacy bylaws (or parts thereof) on freedom camping, electric and barbed wire fences on property next to public land, wharves, construction activities in the road corridor and public places and onsite wastewater until 31 October 2020, at which time these bylaws (or parts thereof) will be automatically revoked.
• the proposal to confirm Auckland City Council Bylaws: Bylaw No. 27B Billboards 2007, until the relevant signage provisions of the Auckland Unitary Plan become operative, at which time this bylaw will be automatically revoked.

Decision: Governing Body received the report

Item 12: Report of the Hearings Panel on the proposed Stormwater Bylaw 2015
The Governing Body was asked to receive and adopt the recommendations of the Hearings Panel on the Stormwater Bylaw. The bylaw consolidates existing practices and procedures currently used by the council to manage the public stormwater network.

The Stormwater Bylaw will come into effect 1 November 2015.

Decision: Governing Body received the report

Item 13 2019 Elections – review of Representation Arrangements
Background: in September 2014 Governing body established the Representation
Review Working Party to look at whether legislative change is required before the next council conducts its review before the 2019 election.
Unlike other councils Auckland Council cannot review the number of Governing Body members as the Local Government Act sets the number at 20.

The law requires that ward boundaries should, as far as practical, coincide with local board boundaries. The process for aligning local board boundaries requires a local government reorganisation and cannot be undertaken through the representation review.

The recommendation was to (A) seek legislative change to remove the set membership of the Governing Body (B) seek legislative change that provide the Local government commission the power to determine a change to a local board boundary where the key purpose is to achieve alignment with a ward boundary.

Decision: Governing Body received the report

Item 14 Audit and Risk committee Chairperson
Background: Councillor Sir John Walker has advised of his decision to step down from the role of Chairperson of the Audit and Risk Committee due to other commitments. Councillor Walker has chaired the committee since November 2013.

Recommendations: note that Councillor Bill Cashmore has been appointed as the Chairperson of the committee for the remainder of this political term.
The Mayor Len Brown said “I want to acknowledge the service of Sir John, being the Chair of Audit and Risk Committee is not an easy job but we know how much you have enjoyed this role and appreciate not only your work but the thought that has gone into your decision.”
Councillor Casey has stepped down as the Deputy Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee.

Decision: The Governing Body received the report. Councillor Ross Clow and Councillor Linda Cooper were appointed to the Audit and Risk committee and that committee appoint a new deputy chair.

ENDS

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