7 March 2023
Memo to: Elected
Members
Memo
from: Governance Advisers
Subject: Council – 9 March
2023 – LATE ITEM
14. Late
Item: Approval of Terms of Reference and External Members - Right Tree Right
Place Taskforce 109 - 114
Document
R27485
A report
titled Approval of Terms of Reference and External Members - Right Tree Right
Place Taskforce is attached and to be considered as a major late item at this
meeting.
Section
46A(1)-(6) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987
and Standing Order 9.8 require that agendas are distributed with the associated
reports. As this report was not distributed with the agenda for this
meeting, it must be treated as a major late item to be considered at this
meeting.
In accordance
with section 46A(7) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings
Act 1987 and Standing Order 9.12, a procedural resolution is required before a
major item that is not on the agenda for the meeting may be dealt with.
In accordance
with section 46A(7)(b)(i) the reason why the item was not on the agenda is
because it came to hand after the agenda had been distributed.
In accordance
with section 46A(7)(b)(ii) the reason why discussion of this item cannot be
delayed until a subsequent meeting is because a resolution on the matter is
required before the next scheduled meeting of the Council to enable external
members to be confirmed and inducted prior to the Taskforce meeting.
Recommendation
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That
the Council
1. Considers
the item regarding Approval of Terms of Reference and External Members -
Right Tree Right Place Taskforce at this meeting as a major item not on the
agenda, pursuant to Section 46A(7)(a) of the Local Government Official
Information and Meetings Act 1987, to enable a timely decision to be made.
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Item 14: Approval of
Terms of Reference and External Members - Right Tree Right Place Taskforce
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Council
9 March 2023
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REPORT R27485
Approval of Terms of
Reference and External Members - Right Tree Right Place Taskforce
1. Purpose of Report
1.1 To approve both the
Terms of Reference (TOR) for and external members to the Right Tree Right Place
Taskforce (Taskforce).
2. Recommendation
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That
the Council
1. Receives the report Approval
of Terms of Reference and External Members - Right Tree Right Place Taskforce
(R27485) and its attachment (1833911234-34); and
2. Approves the Right Tree Right Place Taskforce Terms of Reference;
and
3. Approves the
appointment to the Right Tree Right Place Taskforce of the following external
members:
· Andrew
Fenemor;
· Stuart
Orme;
· Joanne
Clapcott; and
· Māori
representative.
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3. Background
3.1 On 9 February
2023 Council established the Taskforce with Dr Morgan Williams as independent
chair and noting the TOR and list of external members would be brought to the 9
March 2023 Council meeting.
3.2 The Taskforce
met on 23 February 2023 and agreed a final draft TOR and external members to be
presented to Council.
4. Discussion
Terms of reference
4.1 The
purpose of the Taskforce is to:
4.1.1 become conversant with the
current objectives of Nelson Council-owned land currently managed for
production forestry including recently harvested areas taking into account the
wider goals and functions of the Council; and
4.1.2 draw on the high-level forestry
review reports, other relevant research data and stakeholder views to provide
recommendations for future land use and management of Council-owned land
currently managed for production forestry.
4.2 The role of the
Taskforce is to consider the technical advice and find a constructive way
forward that enables well-informed decisions to be considered and to provide
clear direction on how these areas to be managed while considering:
· a
range of climate change and adaptation matters
· conservation
benefits
· the
financial implications and opportunities for Council and the Nelson-Tasman
economy
· recreational
benefits for a variety of users such as walkers and mountain bikers
· meeting
national and regional regulations and guidelines associated with exotic
forestry, particularly around the spread of wilding pines
· effects
on Nelson’s biodiversity
· landscape
and aesthetic benefit from a backdrop of permanent native forestry or amenity
land cover compared to short rotation commercial forests
· social
license to undertake production forestry in urban fringe
Membership
4.3 The Taskforce
agreed on the following external membership:
4.3.1 Andrew Fenemor (catchment
expertise);
4.3.2 Stuart Orme (forestry
expertise);
4.3.3 Joanne Clapcott (Cawthron
Institute – fresh water and river health ecosystems expertise); and
4.3.4 Māori representation.
5. Options
5.1 Council can either approve the draft Taskforce TOR or alternatively choose to amend or not approve the
TOR.
5.2 Council can approve the proposed Taskforce membership or
alternatively choose to amend or not approve the
proposed membership.
5.3 Officers recommend that Council approve the draft Taskforce
TOR and membership.
6. Next Steps
6.1 The next steps,
if Council approves the Taskforce TOR, is to:
6.1.1 Finalise contracts with the
external appointees;
6.1.2 Approach iwi for representation
on the Taskforce; and
6.1.3 Schedule Taskforce meetings to
meet the Long-Term Plan timelines.
Author: Alec
Louverdis, Group Manager Infrastructure
Attachments
Attachment 1: 1833911234-34
Terms of Reference for the Forestry Taskforce ⇩
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Important considerations for decision making
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Fit with Purpose of
Local Government
The setting up of this Taskforce meets the purpose of local
government by providing information about Council’s planned forestry activities,
which contributes to local decision-making.
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Consistency with
Community Outcomes and Council Policy
The Taskforce aligns with the
following outcome: “Our Council provides leadership and is supported by
an innovative and sustainable economy”.
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Risk
The recommendation to approve
the Taskforce TOR and appoint its members is low risk. The Taskforce has been
set up to specifically have an oversight on forestry matters to reduce the
risk to Council and will only have the power to recommend to Council.
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Financial impact
Costs associated with the Taskforce
will be met within existing forestry budgets.
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Degree of
significance and level of engagement
This matter is of low
significance because the Taskforce will not have decision-making powers.
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Climate Impact
There is no impact on climate
change of adopting the ToR or appointing members.
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Inclusion of
Māori in the decision making process
No engagement with Māori has been undertaken in
preparing this report.
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· Delegations
This decision is a matter for
Council.
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