Minutes of a meeting of the

Nelson City Council

Te Kaunihera o Whakatū

Held in the Council Chamber, Floor 2A, Civic House, 110 Trafalgar Street, Nelson on Thursday 23 March 2023, commencing at 1.01p.m. 

 

Present:              His Worship the Mayor N Smith (Chairperson), Councillors M Anderson, M Benge, T Brand, M Courtney, J Hodgson, Deputy Mayor R O'Neill-Stevens (Deputy Mayor), K Paki Paki, P Rainey, C Rollo, R Sanson, T Skinner and A Stallard

In Attendance:    Interim Chief Executive (L McKenzie), Group Manager Infrastructure (A Louverdis), Group Manager Environmental Management (D Bush-King), Group Manager Community Services (A White), Group Manager Corporate Services (N Harrison), Group Manager Strategy and Communications (N McDonald) Team Leader Governance (R Byrne)and Governance Adviser (K Libeau)

Apologies :          Nil

 

 

Karakia and Mihi Timatanga

1.       Apologies

2.       Confirmation of Order of Business

His Worship the Mayor Hon Dr Smith advised that on reviewing the Confidential Item, Request for a Private Plan Change he proposed that the it be considered in the public session.  He reminded members to constrain their comments to the process questions and not the merits of the issue.

Resolved CL/2023/054

 

That the Council

1.        Confirms that the  Confidential Item:  Request for a Private Plan Change - Nelson Airport will be considered in public. 

His Worship the Mayor/Sanson                                                      Carried

Attachments

1    1982984479-5743 Request for Private Plan Change - Nelson Airport

 

3.       Interests

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

4.       Public Forum

There was no public forum.

5.       Adoption of the Annual Plan 2023/24 Consultation Document and Supporting Information

Document number R27501, agenda pages 7 - 76 refer.

Attendance: Councillor Paki Paki joined the meeting at 1.06pm 

Interim Chief Executive, Lindsay McKenzie, introduced the Draft Annual Report  noting that it complied by law in content and supporting documentation, including the order in which the decisions were to be taken. He advised that a significant part of Council’s revenues were in relation to a tax and the obligations for this were significant, and that there was significant value in the proposition the consultation document contained for the community.  He confirmed the consultation document reported on exceptions to Year 3 of the Long Term Plan. 

Group Manager Strategy and Communication, Nicky McDonald, Group Manager Corporate Services, Nikki Harrison and Senior Policy Adviser, Louis Dalzell presented the report and it was taken as read. Ms McDonald outlined the process following the adoption of the consultation document. 

Ms McDonald and Ms Harrison answered questions on unspent capital grant contributions noting this would be reported on in the Annual Report 2022/23, and on community group funding,   

Members had provided officers with editorial clarification amendments to the Consultation document and these were reviewed and accepted. An addition was included on Page 25 – to include in the Action Plan  “..provides opportunities for consultative and representative collaboration with te tauihu iwi.”   

The meeting adjourned from 2.10p.m. until 2.17p.m.

The  motion was taken in parts.

Resolved CL/2023/055

 

That the Council

1.    Receives the report Adoption of the Annual Plan 2023/24 Consultation Document and Supporting Information(R27501) and its attachments (839498445-13646 and 839498445-14090); and

2.    Adopts the Supporting Information for the Annual Plan 2023/24 Consultation Document (839498445-13958) that is relied on for the Annual Plan 2023/24 Consultation Document, as required by section 95A(4) of the Local Government Act 2002; and

His Worship the Mayor/Courtney                                                  Carried

Resolved CL/2023/056

3.    Agrees that the Annual Plan 2023/24 Consultation Document (839498445-13646) provides the basis for effective public consultation and clearly identifies and explains the significant or material differences between the proposed Annual Plan 2023/24 and year three of the Long Term Plan 2021–31; and

4.    Notes under section 80 of the Local Government Act 2022, that the proposed work programme, rates increases and debt projections in the Annual Plan 2023/24 Consultation Document and supporting information:

a.  Are significantly inconsistent with the Long Term Plan 2021–31 and the Financial Strategy; and

b.  That the reasons for this inconsistency are principally the costs of recovery from the August 2022 severe weather event, inflationary pressures, rising interest costs, bringing forward funding for projects to take advantage of available Government financial support, and decisions to respond to the changing needs of the Nelson community; and

c.  That Council does not intend to amend the Long Term Plan 2021–31 or the Financial Strategy to accommodate the proposed decisions; and

5.    Agrees to maintain the commercial differential to collect 22.6% of total rates (excluding water annual charge and water volumetric rate) for 2023/24 consistent with the level collected in 2022/23; and

6.    Notes that, having had regard to the matters in section 100(2) of the Local Government Act 2002 and as approved in the Long Term Plan 2021-31,  the setting of an unbalanced budget in the Annual Plan 2023/24 remains prudent given the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the local economy and ratepayers and further notes that, more recently, Council budgets have been impacted by the unforeseen additional costs associated with the August 2022 severe weather event and the sharp rise in inflation and interest costs; and

7.    Adopts the Annual Plan 2023/24 Consultation Document (839498445-13646) for public consultation, as required by section 95A of the Local Government Act 2002; and

8.    Agrees that His Worship Mayor and Chief Executive be delegated authority to approve any minor amendments required to the Annual Plan 2023/24 Consultation Document and the supporting information prior to them being published and made available for public consultation; and

9.    Approves the consultation approach (set out in paragraphs 5.12 to 5.14 of this report (R27501) and agrees that the approach:

a.  includes sufficient steps to ensure the Annual Plan 2023/24 Consultation Document and supporting information will be reasonably accessible to the public and will be publicised in a manner appropriate to its purpose and significance; and

b.  will result in the Annual Plan 2023/24 Consultation Document and supporting information being as widely publicised as is reasonably practicable as a basis for consultation; and

c.  meets the requirements of section 82 of the Local Government Act 2002; and

10.  Notes that the statement of proposal for changes to Council’s schedule of fees and charges for 2023/24 will be consulted on alongside consultation on the Annual Plan 2023/24 Consultation Document.

His Worship the Mayor/Courtney                                                   Carried

 

The meeting adjourned from 3.13p.m. until 3.20p.m.

6.       Request for a Private Plan Change - Nelson Airport

Document number R27573

Group Manager Environment, Dennis Bush-King, presented the report and it was taken as read. He clarified that the options available were to adopt, accept or reject the private plan change.  

Mr Bush-King answered questions on a panel of commissioners, costs, and consultation.

The motion was moved by Councillor Skinner, seconded by Councillor  Rollo.  

His Worship the Mayor Hon Dr Smith left the meeting at 3.52p.m. on local government business.  Deputy Mayor O’Neill-Stevens assumed the chair.

Resolved CL/2023/057

 

That the Council

1.    Receives the report Request for a Private Plan Change - Nelson Airport (R27573) and its attachment (539570224-14194); and

2.    Accepts the Request for the Private Plan Change for Nelson Airport as Private Plan Change 30; and

3.    Agrees independent accredited commissioners will be appointed to consider Private Plan Change 30 and to make recommendations to Council, noting the same Panel will also be engaged to make recommendations to Council in relation to an accompanying Notice of Requirement; and

4.    Agrees that the decision-making options are set out in clause 25 of the First Schedule of the Resource Management Act (RMA) and that this clause 25 decision is a process decision in Council's capacity as regulator, noting this decision will be significant for those affected landowners.

Skinner/Rollo                                                                                Carried

 

Karakia Whakamutanga

There being no further business the meeting ended at 3.59p.m.

Confirmed as a correct record of proceedings by resolution on 13 April 2023.

 

 

That the Council

1.     Confirms the minutes of the meeting of the Council, held on 23 March 2023, as a true and correct record.