Minutes of Environment and Climate Committee

A verbal update was provided on the Nelson Tasman Climate Forum’s Climate Action Week and an acknowledgment made of the Youth Councillors attending the meeting, James Ivamy and Finnean Mackay.

7. Environmental Management Fees and Charges Review 2022 - Deliberations Report

Document number R26885, agenda pages 25 - 58 refer.

Manager Consents and Compliance, Mandy Bishop, took her report as read. Manager Building, Mark Hunter, provided a synopsis of the submissions received.

Ms Bishop and Mr Hunter answered questions relating to the submissions content - a suggestion to increase in fees and changing payment timing to be up front. There were additional questions on the cost recovery ratio, impact of salary costs and code of compliance applicants.

Resolved EC/2022/036

That the Environment and Climate Committee

1. Receives the report Environmental Management Fees and Charges Review 2022 - Deliberations Report (R26885) and its attachments (A2889656, A2829788, A890509, A2783885, A2895034); and

2. Notes the submissions received as part of the special consultative procedure on the review of the Environmental Management fees and charges in Attachments 1 and 5 (A2889656, A2895034); and

3. Approves amendments to the fees and charges under the Building Act 2004 as outlined in Attachment 2 (A2829788) to commence from 1 July 2022; and

4. Approves amendments to the charges under the Resource Management Act 1991 as outlined in Attachment 3 (A2890509) to commence from 1 July 2022; and

5. Approves amendments to the Food Act 2014 fees and charges as outlined in Attachment 4 (A2783885) to commence from 1 December 2022.

McGurk/Courtney Carried

8. The Effectiveness of the Compliance Strategy 2020

Document number R26899, agenda pages 59 - 82 refer.

Manager Consents and Compliance, Mandy Bishop, took her report as read noting consultation with other councils needed to be undertaken. A correction was made required to Recommendation 2, correcting ‘Enforcement Strategy’ to ‘Compliance Strategy’.

Ms Bishop answered questions on the importance of the document, consultation undertaken, broadening the scope of review, decline in reactive response rates, moving to a three yearly review to tie in with the Long Term Plan, recent peak in parking enforcement, ability to measure the effectiveness of the strategy, impact of three year review on new legislation and the ability to change the strategy during the three year review.

Attendance: Councillor T Skinner joined the meeting at 09.41a.m.

Resolved EC/2022/037

That the Environment and Climate Committee

1. Receives the report The Effectiveness of the Compliance Strategy 2020 (R26899) and its attachment (A2275547); and

2. Notes officers will request an external review of the Compliance Strategy by the regional sector Compliance and Enforcement Special Interest Group in the 2022/2023 year.

McGurk/Courtney Carried

9. Strategic framework for climate change - next steps

Document number R26882, agenda pages 83 - 96 refer.

Manager Climate Change, Rachel Pemberton, presented her report and noted the terms of reference for the Climate Change Taskforce membership will be brought to a future meeting.

The Chairperson proposed an additional resolution endorsing consideration of Good Food Cities as part of the strategy.

Ms Pemberton answered questions on alignment with other policies and strategies, ensuring youth will be represented in the ongoing project, ensuring community focus/partnership is at the forefront of the project, which proposed option would progress matters more quickly, and input from other groups.

The Chairperson requested the following points/additions be recorded for inclusion in the scope/content of the Climate Change Strategy:

· Pg 89, 5.8

o Reducing waste – add:’(including food waste through composting etc)’

o Amend ‘increase energy efficiency’ to: ‘increase energy efficiency and resiliency"

· Pg 90, 5.8

o include ‘avoid maladaptation’

o include ‘minimising financial risks from maladaptation through robust cost/benefit analysis’

o Amend ‘the needs of all members of the community’ to ‘the needs and wellbeing of all members of the community’

o Include an additional item: ‘Realtime transparent reporting enabling the community to monitor impacts and outcomes and support behavioural transformation.’

· include a definition of degrowth and an aspiration of moving towards this:

o "Degrowth is qualitatively different from negative economic growth. Sustainable degrowth reduces industrial throughput to avoid global warming and nature loss, and restructures the economy to avoid recession and ensure wellbeing outcomes." – (Jennifer Wilkins, https://heliocene.org/)

· amend ‘reducing waste’ to ‘reducing consumption and waste’.

· add additional content on regenerative economies and what that looks like.

During discussion on membership of potential taskforce membership Councillor Sanson declared an interest, noting she was on the board of Nayland College.

The meeting was adjourned at 10.35 a.m. and reconvened at 10.59 a.m.

Following discussion on potential group makeup, the officers’ recommendation on the establishment of a Climate Change Taskforce was withdrawn and a recommendation added, requesting that staff bring a future report outlining a proposed structure and membership for the Taskforce.

The inclusion in the framework of a glossary of definitions and terms was proposed.

During discussion on the proposed Chairpersons additional motion to include Good Food Cities, Councillor Sanson raised a Point of Order against Councillor Skinner for use of disrespectful language against the chair. The Point of Order was upheld.

The meeting was adjourned at 11.33a.m. and reconvened at 11.39a.m.

The motion was taken in parts.

Resolved EC/2022/038

That the Environment and Climate Committee

1. Receives the report (R26944); and

2. Renames the ‘strategic framework for climate change’ the ‘Nelson climate change strategy’; and

3. Endorses the proposed structure and content for the Nelson climate change strategy as set out in R26882; and

4. Agrees that the Nelson climate change strategy should be a community strategy involving the entire community including Council, government agencies, iwi, business, community groups and individuals; and

5. Notes that new issues for consideration in the development of the Climate Change Strategy, as raised during the meeting and minuted, will be added to the scope of work for the Strategy

6. Requests staff to bring a report to the August Environment & Climate Committee meeting with a proposal for an appropriate structure and membership of group(s) to support development of the Climate Change Strategy

7. Endorses that delivery of Good Food Cities objectives, by a range of partners, be considered as part of the climate change strategy including the following key elements:

1. Reduce food loss and waste by supporting community initiatives and encouraging infrastructure projects which turn food waste into compost.

2. Develop organisational food procurement policies which align with sustainable and healthy food production and consumption.

3. Support local food resiliency and enable an overall increase of healthy plant-based food consumption in our city. This will include a focus on supporting cultural diversity, inclusion, accessibility, equity and collaborative opportunities to engage communities in food system changes.

4. Collaborate with iwi, community, businesses, health, education and other organisations and encouraging the promotion of the Good Food Cities objectives.

Fulton/O'Neill-Stevens Carried

The Chairperson vacated the chair at 12.00p.m. and the Deputy Chairperson, Councillor M Courtney, assumed the chair.

10. Submission on reducing pokies harm

Document number R26791, agenda pages 97 - 105 refer.

Group Manager Strategy and Communications, Nicky McDonald, presented the report and answered questions on the potential to include out of scope items, including references where Council’s position has already been established and why the submission was considered conservative.

The Deputy Chairperson vacated the chair at 12.11p.m. and the Chairperson assumed the chair.

Resolved EC/2022/039

That the Environment and Climate Committee

1. Receives the report Submission on reducing pokies harm (R26791) and its attachment and

2. Approves retrospectively the submission on reducing pokies harm.

Noonan/Bowater Carried

11. Submission on the draft national adaptation plan and managed retreat proposals

Document number R26881, agenda pages 106 - 129 refer.

Manager Climate Change, Rachel Pemberton, presented her report and answered questions on consultation with the community on changes to Land Information Memorandums, the method of advertising and method for delivery of consultation materials and around reassurance for property owners if falling into managed retreat category.

Attendance: Ms G Paine left the meeting at 12.17p.m.

Resolved EC/2022/040

That the Environment and Climate Committee

1. Receives the report Submission on the draft national adaptation plan and managed retreat proposals (R26881) and its attachment (A2902002); and

2. Approves retrospectively the submission on the Government’s draft national adaptation plan and managed retreat proposals (A2902002).

O'Neill-Stevens/Sanson Carried

The meeting was adjourned at 12.28p.m. and reconvened at 1.16p.m. at which time Councillor Skinner had left the meeting.

12. Environmental Management Quarterly Report 1 January 2022 - 31 March 2022

Document number R26830, agenda pages 130 - 197 refer.

Group Manager Environmental Management, Clare Barton, spoke to the report noting the significant amount of work being delivered despite a number of positions being vacant with recruitment underway. Manager Climate Change, Rachel Pemberton, reported work by officers on procurement for an electric car sharing scheme.

Ms Pemberton answered questions on the procurement process and next steps for the electric car sharing scheme, how many electric vehicles the Council currently has, the ability to encourage Council funded organisations to purchase electric only vehicles, if Council has purchased any non-electric vehicles since the climate emergency was declared, progress on the feasibility of installing solar panels on Council buildings.

Manager Building, Mark Hunter, answered questions about preparation for the next round of accreditation, staff resourcing, progression of complex inspections and the minor variation process.

Manager Environmental Planning, Maxine Day, and Manager Science and Environment, Jo Martin, answered questions on progressing the Plan Change 28, submissions on freshwater and wetlands and the annual budget for Project Mahitahi.

Guillaume Teerling, Manager City Development, answered questions on progressing an inner city play space and progress on tactical streets trails. Strategic Housing Adviser, Lisa Gibellini, provided an update on the Linear Active Transport Corridor and progress on Totara Street.

Group Manager Strategy and Communications, Nicky McDonald, answered questions on progress with the Urban Greening Strategy and updates on the development of a SmokeFree Policy and a Glyphosate Policy.

Resolved EC/2022/041

That the Environment and Climate Committee

1. Receives the report Environmental Management Quarterly Report 1 January 2022 - 31 March 2022 (R26830) and its attachments (A2888077, A2876356, A2887323, A2862473, A2886850, A2886938)

Fulton/Sanson Carried

13. Exclusion of the Public

Resolved EC/2022/042

That the Environment and Climate Committee

1. Excludes the public from the following parts of the proceedings of this meeting.

2. The general subject of each matter to be considered while the public is excluded, the reason for passing this resolution in relation to each matter and the specific grounds under section 48(1) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 for the passing of this resolution are as follows:

Item	General subject of each matter to be considered	Reason for passing this resolution in relation to each matter	Particular interests protected (where applicable)
1	Environment and Climate Committee Meeting - Confidential Minutes - 7 April 2022	Section 48(1)(a) The public conduct of this matter would be likely to result in disclosure of information for which good reason exists under section 7.	The withholding of the information is necessary: · Section 7(2)(i) To enable the local authority to carry on, without prejudice or disadvantage, negotiations (including commercial and industrial negotiations)
2	Status Report - Confidential	Section 48(1)(a) The public conduct of this matter would be likely to result in disclosure of information for which good reason exists under section 7	The withholding of the information is necessary: · Section 7(2)(a) To protect the privacy of natural persons, including that of a deceased person · Section 7(2)(i) To enable the local authority to carry on, without prejudice or disadvantage, negotiations (including commercial and industrial negotiations)
3	Resource Consents team progress on recommended improvements	Section 48(1)(a) The public conduct of this matter would be likely to result in disclosure of information for which good reason exists under section 7	The withholding of the information is necessary: · Section 7(2)(a) To protect the privacy of natural persons, including that of a deceased person
4	Harbourmaster vessel	Section 48(1)(a) The public conduct of this matter would be likely to result in disclosure of information for which good reason exists under section 7	The withholding of the information is necessary: · Section 7(2)(i) To enable the local authority to carry on, without prejudice or disadvantage, negotiations (including commercial and industrial negotiations)

Fulton/Noonan

The meeting was adjourned at 2.05p.m. and reconvened at 2.10p.m.

The meeting went into confidential session at 2.10p.m. and resumed in public session at 3.00p.m.

Karakia Whakamutanga

14. Restatements

It was resolved while the public was excluded:

2	Resource Consents team progress on recommended improvements
	3. Agrees that Report R23719, its attachment (A2893174) and the decision remain confidential at this time.

3	Harbourmaster vessel
	3. Agrees that Report (R26944), Attachments (A2895733, A2895734) and the decision remain confidential at this time, until negotiations for the purchase of the replacement vessel have been concluded.

There being no further business the meeting ended at 3.00p.m.

Confirmed as a correct record of proceedings by resolution on 11 August 2022.

That the Environment and Climate Committee

1. Confirms the minutes of the meeting of the Environment and Climate Committee, held on 16 June 2022, as a true and correct record.