MINUTES OF A meeting of the Hawke's Bay Drinking Water Governance Joint Committee
Date: Thursday 10 May 2018
Time: 10.00am
|
Venue: |
Council Chamber Hawke's Bay Regional Council 159 Dalton Street NAPIER |
Cr TA Aitken – CHB DC
Cr SB Burne-Field – CHB DC
Cr K Watkins – HDC
Cr S Nixon – HDC (Alternate)
Ms A Apatu – HB DHB
Cr P Bailey – HBRC
Cr T Belford – HBRC
Cr K Wise – NCC
Cr C Lambert – WDC
In Attendance: J Palmer – HBRC CE
L Hooper – HBRC Principal Governance Advisor
N Jones – HB DHB
E Lambert – HBRC GM External Relations
S May – WDC Chief Executive
C Thew – HDC
M Davidson – CHBDC CE
J Kingsford – NCC
R Douglas – HBRC Senior Planner
S Swabey – HBRC Manager Science
1. Welcome/Apologies/Notices
Mr James Palmer, acting as Chair to open the meeting, welcomed everyone and Cr Charles Lambert offered a karakia.
|
That the apologies for absence from Mayors Sandra Hazlehurst and Craig Little and Councillor Keith Price be received. CARRIED |
2. Conflict of Interest Declarations
There were no conflicts of interest declared.
3. Confirmation of Minutes of the Hawke's Bay Drinking Water Governance Joint Committee meeting held on 24 October 2017
|
Minutes of the Hawke's Bay Drinking Water Governance Joint Committee held on Tuesday, 24 October 2017, a copy having been circulated prior to the meeting, were taken as read and confirmed as a true and correct record. CARRIED |
|
Appointment of Independent Chairperson |
|
|
|
Cr Kirsten Wise, as Chair of the appointments panel, introduced the item by outlining the process undertaken to arrive at the recommendation for appointment. James Palmer advised that Garth Cowie is chairing the HDC change project, that potential conflicts of interest have been discussed and it is the HDC view that those can be adequately managed if they arise. There was some discussions around the cost allocations for the Chair’s fees. |
|
That the Hawke’s Bay Drinking Water Governance Joint Committee: 1. Exercises its discretion under Sections 79(1)(a) and 82(3) of the Local Government Act 2002 and makes decisions on this issue without conferring directly with the community and persons likely to be affected by or to have an interest in the decision. 2. Accepts the recommendation of the Appointments Panel, and appoints Mr Garth Cowie as Independent Chairperson of the Joint Committee. 3. Agrees that remuneration paid to the Independent Chairperson, shared equally between Hastings District Council, Napier City Council, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council and Hawke’s Bay District Health Board, will be $200 per hour. CARRIED |
James Palmer, vacated the Chair and Garth Cowie assumed the Chair at 10.15am.
|
Formal Confirmation of Member Organisations’ Appointments |
|
|
|
The item was taken as read, and introductions were made around the table. |
|
1. That the Hawke’s Bay Drinking Water Governance Joint Committee receives the “Formal Confirmation of Member Organisations’ Appointments” report, noting those appointments are: 1.1. Councillors Tim Aitken and Shelley Burne-Field representing Central Hawke’s Bay District Council, and Mayor Alex Walker as Alternate 1.2. Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst and Councillor Kevin Watkins representing Hastings District Council, and Councillor Simon Nixon as Alternate 1.3. Mr Kevin Atkinson and Ms Ana Apatu for Hawke’s Bay District Health Board, and Mrs Barbara Arnott as Alternate 1.4. Councillors Tom Belford and Paul Bailey for Hawke’s Bay Regional Council 1.5. Councillors Keith Price and Kirsten Wise representing Napier City Council, and Mayor Bill Dalton as Alternate 1.6. Mayor Craig Little and Councillor Charles Lambert representing Wairoa District Council. CARRIED |
|
Adoption of the Joint Working Group Terms of Reference |
|
|
|
Nick Jones, acting Chair of the Joint Working Group (JWG), introduced the item, outlining the history of the group and development of its Terms of Reference and highlighting the purpose of the JWG and the Independent Chair role’s vacancy. Principle focus on drinking water, however other water management issues can and do impact on drinking water safety and quality. There was a suggestion that the group consider whether the scope of the Joint Committee should be widened to include the ‘3 waters’ and a view expressed that the group firstly focus on drinking water related issues specifically for the time being. Discussions about the requirement for an independent Chair for the JWG included whether that role could be undertaken by the same person that Chairs the Joint Committee (JC), the option to rotate the Chair amongst members of the JWG, as well as accountability. JWG Chair is mostly a facilitation role, and any conflicts could be avoided by removing voting rights for the Chair. |
|
That the Hawke’s Bay Drinking Water Governance Joint Committee: 1. Exercises its discretion under Sections 79(1)(a) and 82(3) of the Local Government Act 2002 and makes decisions on this issue without conferring directly with the community and persons likely to be affected by or to have an interest in the decision. 2. Receives and notes the “Adoption of the Joint Working Group Terms of Reference” staff report. 3. Adopts the Terms of Reference for the Joint Working Group as amended as follows. 3.1 in clauses 1.5 and 1.5.2 remove “fresh” from in front of ‘water management issues’ 3.2 in clause 11.2 remove ‘and the Independent Chairperson’ to remove voting entitlement from the Chair’s role. 4. Appoints Garth Cowie as Chair of the Joint Working Group. CARRIED |
|
Adoption of the Joint Working Group Work Plan |
|
|
|
Nick Jones, as acting Chair of the Joint Working Group (JWG), introduced the item and outlined work and actions undertaken to date. · Group currently focusing on working together collaboratively and sharing information rather than developing a platform for information sharing on the mechanics of regulation and legislation. · Progress on some actions more quickly as priority or as resource has been available. · Communications plan being developed, and will deal with communications internally within the JWG, between all organisations involved, and communications with the public · A request for the work programme to be prioritised was agreed for future reports to the JC · Each organisation has its own communications plan, and although those plans are different the JWG has worked together to make each other aware of each other’s key messages, and the JC suggests that finalising the communications plan be lifted up the priority list. |
|
That the Hawke’s Bay Drinking Water Governance Joint Committee: 1. Exercises its discretion under Sections 79(1)(a) and 82(3) of the Local Government Act 2002 and makes decisions on this issue without conferring directly with the community and persons likely to be affected by or to have an interest in the decision. 2. Receives and notes the “Adoption of the Joint Working Group Work Plan” staff report. 3. Agrees the work plan for the Drinking Water Working Group as amended to prioritise. CARRIED |
|
Drinking Water Safety Policy as Part of the HBRC TANK Plan Change |
|
|
|
Rina Douglas outlined the collaborative stakeholder process under way to develop the Tutaekuri Ahuriri Ngaruroro Karamu (Greater Heretaunga) TANK plan change, noting that the Joint Working Group has engaged Good Earth Matters to deliver the Drinking Water Safety Policy part of the plan change policy. GEM also looking at recommendations for changes to district plans where appropriate, to address drinking water safety provisions. Registered self suppliers (serving over 25) will be included in considerations. Policies and rules that impact on drinking water are within the scope, using an adaptive framework that can be adapted for other catchments in future. Discussion about providing the GEM drafted policies to members of the JC. |
|
That the Hawke’s Bay Drinking Water Governance Joint Committee receives and notes the “Drinking Water Safety Policy as Part of the HBRC TANK Plan Change” staff report. CARRIED |
Mrs Lambert spoke about a recent finding of elevated arsenic levels in their bore water by a member of the public and the following actions undertaken by HBRC, including follow-up testing, public meetings and communications with residents in the area as well as investigations revealing that the arsenic is naturally occurring. Public meeting this week provided information from Public Health, HBRC and NCC about findings and options for what they can do for drinking water supplies and treatment. Additionally, HBRC will now test their monitoring bores for arsenic. HBRC considering what information should be communicated with self suppliers in terms of drinking water safety, monitoring and maintenance, and treatment.
Garth Cowie advised that lab resourcing locally may be feeling pressured with increased testing being requested, and also providing the results in a format understood by a layperson.
Stage 2 Inquiry recommendations relating to self supplies and laboratories.
The next meeting of the Joint Committee will be scheduled in August.
Charles Lambert closed the meeting with a karakia.
Closure:
There being no further business the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 12.15pm on Thursday 10 May 2018.
Signed as a true and correct record.
DATE: ................................................ CHAIRMAN: ...............................................