MINUTES OF A meeting of the Hawke's Bay Drinking Water Governance Joint Committee

Date:                          Monday 29 March 2021

Time:                          1.00pm

Venue:

Council Chamber Hawke's Bay Regional Council 159 Dalton Street NAPIER

Present:                     G Cowie - Chair

A Apatu (HBDHB)

Mayor C Little (WDC)

Cr B Muggeridge (CHBDC) – via Zoom

Cr H Ormsby (HBRC)

Cr N Simpson (NCC)

Cr M Williams (HBRC)

Mayor S Hazlehurst (HDC) – via Zoom

In Attendance:          E Lambert – Consultant

K Brunton – HBRC Group Manager Policy & Regulation

P Martin – HBRC Senior Governance Advisor

A Roets – HBRC Governance Advisor

T Goodlass – NCC

C Thew – HDC

Dr. N Jones – HBDHB

Cathy Bayly – NCC

J Lloyd – CHBDC – via Zoom

1. Welcome/Karakia /Apologies/Notices

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and Councillor Hinewai Ormsby opened with a karakia.

DWG7/21

Resolution That the apologies for absence from Mayor Alex Walker, Councillors Ronda Chrystal, Kevin Watkins and Denise Eaglesome-Karekare, and Heather Skipworth be accepted. Ormsby/Apatu 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 3 August 2020

DWG8/21

Resolution Minutes of the Hawke's Bay Drinking Water Governance Joint Committee meeting held on Friday, 3 August 2020, a copy having been circulated prior to the meeting, were taken as read and confirmed as a true and correct record. Ormsby/Simpson CARRIED

3.1    Confirmation of Minutes of the Hawke's Bay Drinking Water Governance Joint Committee meeting held on 4 December 2020

DWG9/21

Resolution Minutes of the Hawke's Bay Drinking Water Governance Joint Committee meeting held on Friday, 4 December 2020, a copy having been circulated prior to the meeting, were taken as read and confirmed as a true and correct record. Little/Simpson CARRIED

4.

Call for Minor Items Not on the Agenda

DWG10/21

Resolution

That the HB Drinking Water Governance Joint Committee accepts the following “Minor Items Not on the Agenda” for discussion as Item 10:

Topic	Raised by
Ngati Kahungunu Iwi - representation	Ana Apatu

Apatu/Ormsby

CARRIED

5.	Further Submission on TANK Plan Change 9 Drinking Water Provisions
	Liz Lambert provided an overview of the further submission made on behalf of the Committee to the TANK plan change drinking water provisions, lodged on 8 December 2020. Hearings are scheduled for May and June 2021
DWG11/21	Resolutions That the Hawke’s Bay Drinking Water Governance Joint Committee: 1.      Receives and considers the “Further Submission on TANK Plan Change 9 Drinking Water Provisions“ staff report. 2.      Agrees that the decisions to be made are not significant under the criteria contained in Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s adopted Significance and Engagement Policy, and that the Joint Committee can exercise its discretion and make decisions on this issue without conferring directly with the community or persons likely to have an interest in the decision. 3.      Approves the further submission to TANK Plan Change 9 as lodged with the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council on 8 December 2020. Simpson/Little CARRIED

6.	Submission to Water Services Bill
	Liz Lambert provided an overview of submission lodged with the Health Select Committee on 2 March 2021 on behalf of the Joint Committee, highlighting: · Submission prepared by a sub-group of the Drinking Water Joint Working Group (JWG) focussed on public health issues. · Garth Cowie presented the submission at the Health Select Committee hearing, with Dr Nick Jones also present. · Emphasis of the HB submission was on public health issues and rural community matters (including Marae) · Committee members re-iterated concerns about the difficulties likely to be experienced by rural communities, the timing of the changes and the ongoing uncertainty about how costs will be met. · The CEO of Taumata Arowai has been invited to the 2 July 2021 Joint Committee meeting.
DWG12/21	Resolutions That the Hawke’s Bay Drinking Water Governance Joint Committee: 1.     Receives and considers the “Submission to Water Services Bill” staff report. 2.     Agrees that the decisions to be made are not significant under the criteria contained in Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s adopted Significance and Engagement Policy, and that the Joint Committee can exercise its discretion and make decisions on this issue without conferring directly with the community or persons likely to have an interest in the decision. 3.     Endorses the submission on the Water Services Bill as lodged with the Health Select Committee on 2 March 2021 and supports the additional information  provided to the Select Committee by Garth Cowie in person. Williams/Ormsby CARRIED

7.	Review of HB Drinking Water Governance Joint Committee Terms of Reference
	Liz Lambert introduced the item, noting it may be timely to review the Joint Committee’s  role and Terms of Reference in light of three waters reform. Discussions covered: · A review of the Terms of Reference not be the right way to approach the issues · The need to be aware of the local councils’ Executive Leadership Group working in this same area · It was agreed to establish a sub-committee made up of members of the Joint Working Group and councillors Ormsby and Simpson, to undertake a review of the Terms of Reference, including consideration of practical amendments such as the appointment of alternates, quorum and membership (of both the JWG and joint committee). · It was also agreed to extend an invitation to Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Inc to talk with the sub-committee regarding their views on representation and participation on the Joint Committee. · The sub-committee will present proposed changes to the Terms of Reference as soon as possible.
DWG13/21	Resolutions That the Hawke’s Bay Drinking Water Governance Joint Committee 1.      Receives and considers the “Review of Drinking Water Committee Terms of Reference” staff report. 2.      Agrees that the decisions to be made are not significant under the criteria contained in Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s adopted Significance and Engagement Policy, and that the Joint Committee can exercise its discretion and make decisions on this issue without conferring directly with the community or persons likely to have an interest in the decision. 3.      Agrees that the Terms of Reference for the HB Drinking Water Governance Joint Committee will be reviewed by a sub-committee comprising members of the Joint Working Group and Councillors Hinewai Ormsby and Nigel Simpson. Little/Apatu CARRIED

8.	Drinking Water Joint Working Group Work Plan Update
	Liz Lambert introduced this item which sought agreement to changes to align the JWG’s Work Plan with the review of the Terms of Reference being undertaken.
DWG14/21	Resolutions That the Hawke’s Bay Drinking Water Governance Joint Committee: 1.      Receives the “Working Group Work Plan Update” staff report. 2.      Agrees that the decisions to be made are not significant under the criteria contained in Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s adopted Significance and Engagement Policy, and that the Joint Committee can exercise its discretion and make decisions on this issue without conferring directly with the community or persons likely to have an interest in the decision. 3.      Approves the changes to the work plan for implementation by the Joint Drinking Water Working Group. Little/Simpson CARRIED

Mayor Little left the meeting at 02.55 pm

9.	Roundtable Verbal Organisational Updates
	Toni Goodlass presented a Three Waters Reform Update which covered: · An overview of the Department of Internal Affairs hui held on 11 March 2021 · $110B cost estimate over 30 to 40-year period · All Councils required to decide, between September and December 2021, whether they wish to opt in or out of the reform process. Councillor Muggeridge left the meeting at 03.05 pm. Cathy Bayley, Napier City Council, presented the findings of NCC’s Chlorine Free Review which examined Napier’s drinking water issues, highlighting: · Maintaining the status quo (chlorinated water) would cost approx. $200 M over 20 years · Upgrading the water system to an ideal solution would cost approx. $320 M over 20 years · Cast iron pipes are causing high leakage rates and will need to be replaced by 2030 · Achieving a Chlorine Free water network is a major undertaking requiring a significant ongoing programme of waterpipe replacement and the introduction of water metering.
DWG15/21	Resolution That the Hawke’s Bay Drinking Water Governance Joint Committee receives the “Roundtable Verbal Organisational Updates”. Hazlehurst/Williams CARRIED

10.

Discussion of Minor Items Not on the Agenda

Topic	Raised by
Ngati Kahungunu Iwi – representation This will be investigated through the Terms of Reference review	Ana Apatu

Councillor Hinewai Ormsby offered a karakia to bring the meeting to a close.

Closure:

There being no further business the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 3.10pm on Monday, 29 March 2021.

Signed as a true and correct record.

DATE: ................................................               CHAIRMAN: ...............................................