Minutes of a meeting of the Community Services Committee

Held in the Council Chamber, Civic House , 110 Trafalgar Street, Nelson

On Thursday 11 June 2020, commencing at 10.08a.m.

 

Present:              Councillor M Lawrey (Chairperson), Her Worship the Mayor R Reese, Councillors Y Bowater (Deputy Chairperson), T Brand, M Courtney, J Edgar, K Fulton, B McGurk, Councillor G Noonan, R O'Neill-Stevens, P Rainey, R Sanson and T Skinner

In Attendance:    Group Manager Community Services (R Ball), Group Manager Strategy and Communications (N McDonald), Governance Adviser (J Brandt) and Governance Support (K McLean)

Apologies :          Nil

 

 

Karakia Timatanga

 

An opening karakia was given.

 

1        Apologies

There were no apologies.

2.       Confirmation of Order of Business

The Chairperson noted that the meeting would receive the minutes from the previous meeting later in the meeting.

3.       Interests

There were no updates to the Interests Register, and no interests with items on the agenda were declared.

4         Public Forum

3.1      The Salvation Army Nelson Tasman Bays - Housing First Project

Mr Jaap Noteboom and Ms Ros Vercoe presented on the Housing First Project, noting their contribution to housing the homeless during the COVID-19 lockdown period, which saw 74 homeless people housed during this period. The project provided wrap around services in partnership with other organisations such as the Nelson Marlborough District Health Board (NMDHB), Te Piki Oranga and the Male Room.

           Mr Noteboom and Ms Vercoe answered questions about solutions for housing homeless people post COVID-19, and the ongoing need for Housing First services in this region.

3.2      Soroptimist International Nelson Incorporated, Habitat for Humanity (H4H) and Community Action Nelson (CAN) - Lack of Emergency Housing for Women and Children

Ms Megan Riddell, Mr Nick Clark and Ms Joanna Thompson gave a presentation. They spoke about the assistance they provide to help women, children and vulnerable families and individuals into emergency accommodation, transition housing and long term housing solutions, noting the challenges they face in the Nelson area. They answered questions about working in collaboration with other groups.

3.3      Youth Health and Wellbeing Trust (Whanake Youth) - Stoke Community Hall 

Lee-Ann O’Brien gave a Powerpoint presentation (A2401474). Esther Walters and Youth Councillor Nathan Dunn spoke in support of Whanake Youth.

Ms O’Brien answered questions about plans for Stoke, funding agencies Whanake Youth has contracts with and/or intends to apply to, and the number of Whanake Youth employees.

 

Attachments

1    A2401474 - Whanake Youth Powerpoint presentation to Community Services Committee 11Jun2020

 

Attendance: The meeting was adjourned from 11.46a.m. to 11.52a.m. during which time Councillor Skinner left the meeting.

 

4        Nelson Festivals Trust six-monthly Update (Agenda Item 7)

Brent Thawley, Board Chair, and Padma Naidu, Festival Director, from the Nelson Festivals Trust presented their six-monthly update with a PowerPoint presentation (A2400390). Mr Thawley noted that Nelson City Council funding for 2020/21 had been confirmed since the presentation was prepared.

Mr Thawley noted the impacts of COVID-19 and subsequent challenges such as substantial decreases to income and a fast changing environment.

Attendance: Councillor Skinner returned to the meeting at 12.02p.m.

Director Padma Naidu spoke about events currently in the planning for Nelson and answered questions about the Mask Parade, the Trust’s human resources, and views about future large scale events.

The Deputy Mayor thanked Mr Thawley for stepping up as an arts advocate for the region during COVID-19.

 

Attachments

1    A2400390 - Nelson Festivals Trust presentation for Community Services Committee 11Jun2020

 

 

5.       Stoke Community Hall – Lease (Agenda item 8)

Document number R13710, agenda pages 18 - 33 refer.

Principal Parks and Facilities Activity Planner, Andrew Petheram, presented the report.

Mr Petheram answered questions about the name of the facility, the site including the parking area, options officers had explored to find a suitable site, proposed lease charges, as well as past and future funding to activate this part of Stoke for young people.

It was noted that there was an error in the facility’s name in clause 2 of the recommendation wording, which was subsequently corrected to read ‘Stoke Community Hall’.

A correction to agenda page 20 was noted in section 4.5 of the report, which should refer to 4.4, not 4.5.1.

Councillor Noonan raised a Point of Order against Councillor Rainey who had stated that the discussion by Elected Members about the future use of the site was out of scope. Councillor Noonan noted this was a misrepresentation, as item 4.4 of the report referred to the development of a future youth park, therefore making it relevant. The Point of Order was upheld.

 

Resolved CS/2020/012

 

That the Community Services Committee

1.    Receives the report Stoke Community  Hall - Lease (R13710) and its attachment A2351330; and

2.    Allocates the lease of the Stoke Community Hall to Whanake Youth for a period of three years starting July 2020; and

3.    Allows an extension to the lease for a further period of five years subject to Whanake Youth meeting the outcomes specified in the lease agreement.

Fulton/Edgar                                                                                 Carried

 

 

The meeting was adjourned from 12.59p.m. to 1.45p.m. during which time Councillor Rainey and Councillor Fulton left the meeting.

 

6         Public Forum continued (Agenda item 3)

 

Resolved CS/2020/013

 

That the Community Services Committee

1.        Records a vote of thanks to Housing First and all organisations involved in supporting vulnerable populations with their housing needs in the Nelson region for their work during COVID-19. 

 

Her Worship the Mayor/Lawrey                                                      Carried

 

6        Apologies (Agenda item 1) continued

 

Resolved CS/2020/014

 

That the Community Services Committee

1.        Receives and accepts the apology from Councillor Rainey for early departure.

Sanson/Bowater                                                                           Carried

 

7.       Confirmation of Minutes (Agenda item 2)

7.1      12 March 2020

Document number M7762, agenda pages 6 - 14 refer.

 

Resolved CS/2020/015

 

That the Community Services Committee

1.    Confirms the minutes of the meeting of the Community Services Committee, held on 12 March 2020, as a true and correct record.

Courtney/Edgar                                                                            Carried

 

8.       Chairperson's Report (Agenda item 6)

Document number R18053, agenda pages 15 - 17 refer.

Councillor Lawrey presented his report, noting the significant changes the community had experienced moving through different COVID-19 alert levels. He noted positives, such as the Digital Heritage Festival which was still available on YouTube, and ongoing work to create a hub for housing the homeless.

Councillor Lawrey thanked officers for stepping up during COVID-19. A correction to the report was made, noting that Group Manager Community Services, Roger Ball, during his secondment as Nelson Tasman Group Controller, had assisted the National Civil Defence Controller in Wellington.

Attendance: Her Worship the Mayor left the meeting from 1.51p.m. to 1.54p.m. and Councillor Edgar left the meeting at 1.53p.m.

Discussion took place about the portacom unit that was being considered for future use as hub for homeless people. It was noted that if the portacom was used for people who are homeless, replacement of the unit needed to be considered and that the delegation for this matter sat with the Sports and Recreation Committee. 

Mr Ball answered questions regarding available funding for the hub through the Community Partnerships Fund.

Attendance: Councillor Edgar returned to the meeting at 2.11p.m.

Resolved CS/2020/016

 

That the Community Services Committee

1.    Receives the report Chairperson's Report (R18053).

 

O'Neill-Stevens/Courtney                                                              Carried

  

9.       Fees and Charges relating to Community Services

Document number R14833, agenda pages 34 - 41 refer.

Manager Parks and Facilities, Rosie Bartlett, and Financial Accountant, Margie French, presented the report. Ms Bartlett answered questions about the timeframe for increases for fees and charges.

Resolved CS/2020/017

 

That the Community Services Committee

1.    Receives the report Fees and Charges relating to Community Services (R14833) and;

2.    Notes there are only Nil or CPI increases for Community Services fees and charges for activities included in Report 14833 commencing 1 July 2020.

 

McGurk/Skinner                                                                            Carried

 

10.     COVID-19 Update Report: Implications for Community Services

Document number R17018, agenda pages 42 - 47 refer.

Team Leader Arts and Heritage, Shanine Hermsen, presented the report. Manager Libraries, Sarina Barron, answered questions about library visits post-COVID-19. Ms Hermsen answered questions about plans for the upcoming Matariki celebrations in July 2020.

The Chairperson asked that thanks be expressed on behalf of the Committee to Nelmac for carrying out pall bearer duties for burials during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Resolved CS/2020/018

 

That the Community Services Committee

1.    Receives the report COVID-19 Update Report: Implications for Community Services (R17018)

Noonan/Bowater                                                                           Carried

 

 

 

There being no further business the meeting ended at 2.42p.m.

 

Confirmed as a correct record of proceedings:

 

 

 

                                                       Chairperson                                     Date