MINUTES OF A meeting of the Regional Council

 

Date:                                  Wednesday 24 November 2021

Time:                                  11.00am

Venue:

Council Chamber

Hawke's Bay Regional Council

159 Dalton Street

NAPIER

 

Present:                             Cr R Barker, Chair

Cr W Foley

Cr C Foss

Cr N Kirton

Cr C Lambert

M McIlroy (Māori Committee Co-Chair)(via zoom from 11.20am)

Cr H Ormsby

A Tapine (RPC Rep)(via zoom)

Cr J Taylor

Cr J van Beek

Cr M Williams (via zoom)

 

In Attendance:                J Palmer – Chief Executive

P Munro – Te Pou Whakarae Māori Partnerships

K Nimon – Transport Manager

C Dolley – Group Manager Asset Management

J Ellerm – Group Manager Corporate Services

I Maxwell – Group Manager Integrated Catchment Management

L Hooper – Team Leader Governance

K Brunton – Group Manager Policy & Regulation

T Dawson – Napier Port Chief Executive

K Lie – Napier Port Chief Financial Officer

A McLeod – Napier Board Chairman

 

 


1.        Welcome/Karakia/Apologies/Notices

The Chair welcomed everyone and Councillor Will Foley led the group in offering a karakia to open the meeting.

Resolution

RC95/21

That the apology for absence from Mike Paku and for lateness from Michelle McIlroy be accepted.

Ormsby/Foley

CARRIED

 

2.        Conflict of Interest Declarations

There were no Conflict of Interest Declarations.

 

3.        Confirmation of Minutes of the Regional Council Meeting held on 27 October 2021

RC96/21

Resolution

Minutes of the Regional Council meeting held on Wednesday, 27 October 2021, a copy having been circulated prior to the meeting, were taken as read and confirmed as a true and correct record.

van Beek/Foss

CARRIED

 

4.

Follow-ups from previous Regional Council meetings

 

James Palmer introduced the item, which was taken as read.

RC97/21

Resolution

That Hawke’s Bay Regional Council receives and notes the “Follow-up Items from Previous Regional Council Meetings”.

Foley/van Beek

CARRIED

 

5.

Significant Organisational Activities looking forward through December 2021 and January 2022

 

James Palmer introduced the item, and discussions covered:

·    The results of the riparian margin monitoring using high definition aerial photography will be shared at a future Environment & Integrated Catchments Committee (EICC) meeting

·    Delays to the project have been caused by Executive capacity to design and size the roles that will commence development of the Karamu and Ahuriri catchment plans. It’s anticipated the roles will be advertised early in the New Year. The work programme for the roles can be shared at a future EICC meeting. Because the roles are funded from within community engagement budgets there are no separate budget line items in the project reporting.

·    Public communication to display and explain the SkyTEM results is due to be released early in the New Year so staff will present the material to the 15 December Council meeting

·    The Regional Water Security programme is prioritised as a strategic project and adequately resourced as far as the technical work being done however some delays have resulted from Covide-19

·    The purpose of the deep well drilling programme is to calibrate the SkyTEM data in accordance with the project design

·    Farm Environment Management Plans, subject to audits, must be completed by an accredited provider and are not retained as a whole by Council however specific information required by Council is drawn out and held on file. Sediment management plans are required prior to any Council funding for erosion control being granted.

·    The National Hill Country Erosion Fund administered by Ministry for Primary Industries awarded HBRC in partnership with Gisborne District Council $5.4M which is leveraged against Council’s erosion control funding targeted to projects in the Wairoa/Gisborne area. A general update including GIS maps of where activity is occurring will be provided to a future EICC meeting.

·    Query in relation to iwi engagement to be made via email to James Palmer

·    Fast-track Consenting process has been approved for the Riverbend residential development and is being administered by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA). HBRC will be involved as a party/submitter.

RC98/21

Resolution

That the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council receives and notes the “Significant Organisational Activities Looking Forward through December 2021 and January 2022” staff report.

van Beek/Foley

CARRIED

 

6.

Call for Minor Items not on the Agenda

 

Recommendations

That Council accepts the following “Minor Items Not on the Agenda” for discussion as Item 14:

Topic

Raised by

Te Angiangi marine reserve

Cr Craig Foss

 

 

 

7.

Affixing of the Common Seal

 

The Common Seal of the Council has been affixed to the following documents and signed by the Chairman or Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive or a Group Manager.

 

 

Seal No.

Date

1.1

Staff Warrants

1.1.1     D. McCarthy

                S. Smithers

            (Delegations under Resource Management Act 1991; Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Act 1941; Land Drainage Act 1908 and Civil Defence Act 1983 (s.60-64); Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002 (s.86-91) and Local Government Act 2002 (Clauses 32(1) and 32B Schedule 7))

 

1.1.2      J. Diphoorn

            (Delegations under Biosecurity Act 1993; Civil Defence Act 1983 (s.60-64); Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002 (s.86-91) and Local Government Act 2002 (s.174))

 

4476

4477

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4475

 

9 November 2021

9 November 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3 November 2021

 

 

RC99/21

Resolutions

That Hawke’s Bay Regional Council:

1.        Agrees that the decisions to be made are not significant under the criteria contained in Council’s adopted Significance and Engagement Policy, and that Council 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.

2.        Confirms the action to affix the Common Seal.

van Beek/Foley

CARRIED

 

8.

Report and Recommendations from 17 November 2021 Corporate and Strategic Committee meeting

 

Councillor Neil Kirton, as Chair of the Committee, introduced the item.

Michelle McIlroy arrived at 11.20am

Queries and discussions covered:

·    Amendments to the Compliance Annual Report will be made prior to its being published to the Council’s website.

·    An indicative reporting schedule for the Biosecurity Working Party (BWP) has been added into the Terms of Reference as requested. The BWP will be making recommendations to the May EICC meeting for recommending final decisions to the Regional Council.

·    The economic development review and PCA cost-benefit analysis reports are all available as part of the Corporate and Strategic Committee 17 November 2021 Agenda.

·    If the Regional Council was to decide to significantly change the way it ‘delivers’ economic development it would be required to consult with the community through the next long term plan process.

RC100/21

Resolutions

The Corporate and Strategic Committee recommends that Hawke’s Bay Regional Council:

1.        Receives and considers the “Report and Recommendations from the 17 November 2021 Corporate and Strategic Committee

2         Agrees that the decisions to be made are not significant under the criteria contained in Council’s adopted Significance and Engagement Policy, and that Council can exercise its discretion and make decisions on these items without conferring directly with the community or persons likely to have an interest in them.

2020-21 Compliance Annual Report

9        Adopts the HBRC Annual Compliance Report 2020-21, as amended, for publication on the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council website.

Possum Control Area - Partial Regional Pest Management Plan Review

10       Acting under clause 32 of Schedule 7 of the Local Government Act 2002:

10.1       Establishes the Biosecurity Working Party with the Terms of Reference proposed.

10.2       Appoints councillors Will Foley, Jerf van Beek, Craig Foss, Charles Lambert and Jacqueline Taylor, Dr Roger Maaka and Katarina Kawana as members of the Biosecurity Working Party.

10.3       Delegates to the Biosecurity Working Party the powers, functions and duties of the Council set out in sections 71 to 74 (excluding sections 72(5)) and 100D(6)(b)) of the Biosecurity Act 1993, in respect of the Proposed Regional Pest Management Plan 2018-2038 Possum Control Area Partial Plan Review.

10.4        Delegates to the Biosecurity Working Party the powers functions and duties of the Council to hear submissions and make recommendations on the proposal to amend the Regional Pest Management Plan.

10.5        Delegates to the Biosecurity Working Party the powers, functions and duties of the Council set out in sections 75(1) and (2) of the Biosecurity Act 1993 to prepare a written report on the Regional Pest Management Plan.

10.6       Directs that the Biosecurity Working Party provides recommendations to Council as to Council’s decision on the Regional Pest Management Plan.

10.7       Authorises the Chair of the Biosecurity Working Party acting alone to exercise any powers, functions and duties delegated in respect of the conduct of the Hearing.

Proxy for the HBRIC Ltd Annual General Meeting

11       Notes the date of the Hawke’s Bay Regional Investment Company Limited Annual General Meeting is 16 December 2021.

12       Appoints Cr Will Foley to act as Council’s proxy at the Annual General Meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Regional Investment Company Limited to be held at 4:00pm on Friday, 16 December 2021, and to vote as proxy holder on behalf of the Council.

13       Appoints Cr Rick Barker to act as Council’s alternate.

Reports Received

14       Notes that the following reports were provided to the Corporate and Strategic Committee:

14.1        HBRIC Ltd Quarterly update

14.2        Report from the Finance Audit and Risk Sub-committee meeting

14.3        National Policy Statement on Urban Development - Napier-Hastings housing assessment

14.4        Organisational Performance Report for the period 1 July - 30 September 2021

14.5        Hawke's Bay Tourism Six-monthly Update.

Kirton/Foley

CARRIED

Hawke's Bay Economic Development Review

3         Supports the Stage 2 Review recommendations for priority activities/services and the focus for ratepayer investment in business and industry support and notes that the transfer of funds will incur no extra cost to HBRC nor reduced level of service.

4         Supports the establishment of a regional development entity in Hawke’s Bay.

5         Supports the recommended funding split and notes the financial implications for the Regional Council.

6         Endorses the Hawke’s Bay councils’ partnership approach with iwi/hapū

7         Agrees to accommodate the Regional Council’s funding contribution for the new entity from reprioritisation within the targeted rate funded regional development budget in the 2022-23 Annual Plan.

8         Notes that this effectively removes HBRC from direct delivery of business and industry development and transfers that activity to the new entity.  This does not affect HBRC’s existing relationship and funding with HB Tourism.

Kirton/Foley

6 for

3 against

CARRIED

 


 

9.

Napier Port presentation of 2020-21 Results

 

Alasdair McLeod (Chair), Tod Dawson (CE) and Kristen Lie (CFO), presented the Napier Port’s results for the 2020-21 financial year, and highlighted:

·    Mandated vaccinations for all Napier Port staff and in the New Year will be extending that to include all visitors to the Port.

·    Strong financial results due to a resilient local economy and rural sector, and buoyant export markets.

·    Will stop methyl bromide treatment from 1 January 2022, and replace with an on-Port debarker. The bark will be taken by BioRich for composting.

·    6 Wharf major construction project ahead of schedule and $10M less than budgeted, with ‘go-live’ expected between July and September 2022.

·    Record volumes for total cargo, bulk cargo and log exports despite shipping and supply chain disruptions caused by Covid-19 and revenue up $9M.

·    Have implemented a Covid-19 rapid testing regime that costs approx. $5 per test and tests employees 2-3 times per week.

·    Whakatu Inland Port project remains an integral component of the Port’s Master Plan for 5-10 years in the future.

·    James Palmer noted that the dividend paid to the Council by the Port was $1M less than forecast.

RC101/21

Resolution

That Hawke’s Bay Regional Council receives and notes the “Napier Port Presentation of 2020-21 Results”.

Barker/Foss

CARRIED

 

10.

Report from the Regional Planning Committee

 

The item was taken as read.

RC102/21

Resolutions

That the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council:

1.        Receives and notes the “Report from the Regional Planning Committee”.

Reports Received

2.        Notes that the following reports for information were provided to the Regional Planning Committee:

2.1.         Regional Planning Committee Work Programme for Kotahi

2.2.         Regional Planning Committee Tangata Whenua Co-Chair

2.3.         October 2021 Policy Projects update

2.4.         October 2021 Statutory Advocacy Update

2.5.         Verbal Update on Central Government Programme of Reforms.

Barker/Ormsby

CARRIED

 


 

11.

Report from the 3 November 2021 Māori Committee meeting

 

The item was taken as read.

RC103/21

Resolution

That Hawke’s Bay Regional Council receives and notes the “Report from the 3 November 2021 Māori Committee Meeting”.

Barker/Ormsby

CARRIED

 

12.

Report from the Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee meeting

 

Councillor Hinewai Ormsby, as Chair of the Committee, introduced the item which was taken as read.

RC104/21

Resolution

That Hawke’s Bay Regional Council:

1.        Receives and notes the “Report from the Environment and Integrated Catchments Committee”.

Reports Received

2.        Notes that the following reports for information were provided to the Committee:

2.1.         Future Farming Trust 2020-21 Annual Report

2.2.         Biodiversity - Achieving Our Biodiversity Outcomes

2.3.         Erosion Control - The Big Picture for Our Region

2.4.         Tukipo Wetland

2.5.         Update on IRG Flood Control Resilience Funded Projects

2.6.         Youth Environment Council Update

2.7.         Works Group 2020-21 Performance Update

2.8.         Chilean Needle Grass Control Programme Review Update

2.9.         Social Ecology Technical Report from Edgar Burns, Waikato University Professorial Chair.

Ormsby/Taylor

CARRIED

 

13.

Councillors' Reports From November 2021 Meetings of Outside Bodies

 

There were no reports.

 

14.

Discussion of Minor Items not on the Agenda

 

 

Topic

Raised by

Te Angiangi marine reserve – Media report saying the reserve is being plundered. Reserve not being monitored currently and under threat as there is no DoC ranger to police activities. Plea to the public to report anyone fishing in the Reserve. Plea to HBRC to step in and do what it can to help protect the reserve.

Cr Craig Foss

 

 

 

15.

Confirmation of Public Excluded Minutes of the Regional Council Meeting held on 27 October 2021

RC105/21

Resolution

That Hawke’s Bay Regional Council excludes the public from this section of the meeting being Confirmation of Public Excluded Minutes of the Regional Council meeting held on 27 October 2021 Agenda Item 15 with the general subject of the item to be considered while the public is excluded; the reasons for passing the resolution and the specific grounds under Section 48 (1) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 for the passing of this resolution being:

GENERAL SUBJECT OF THE ITEM TO BE CONSIDERED

REASON FOR PASSING THIS RESOLUTION

GROUNDS UNDER SECTION 48(1) FOR THE PASSING OF THE RESOLUTION

Nominations for 2021 Environmental Certificates of Appreciation

s7(2)(a) That the public conduct of this agenda item would be likely to result in the disclosure of information where the withholding of the information is necessary to protect the privacy of natural persons

The Council is specified, in the First Schedule to this Act, as a body to which the Act applies.

Napier Port Director Appointments

s7(2)(a) That the public conduct of this agenda item would be likely to result in the disclosure of information where the withholding of the information is necessary to protect the privacy of natural persons

The Council is specified, in the First Schedule to this Act, as a body to which the Act applies.

Ormsby/Foley

CARRIED

 

15.                  Confirmation of Public Excluded Minutes of the Regional Council Meeting held on 27 October 2021

RC106/21      Public Excluded Minutes of the Regional Council meeting held on Wednesday, 27 October 2021, a copy having been circulated prior to the meeting, were taken as read and confirmed as a true and correct record.

van Beek/Taylor

CARRIED

 

Resolution

RC107/21      That the meeting moves out of Public Excluded session.

van Beek/Ormsby

CARRIED

 

The meeting went into public excluded session at 12.29pm and out of public excluded session at 12.30pm

 

Pieri Munro led the group in offering a karakia to close the meeting.

 

Closure:

There being no further business the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 12.31pm on Wednesday, 24 November 2021.

 

Signed as a true and correct record.

 

 

DATE: ................................................                         CHAIR: ...............................................