Climate Change presentation
Environmentalists Bob Mathieson and Joseph Dougherty of Extinction Rebellion spoke to Council about initiating a conversation and raising awareness of climate change.
As part of their presentation they asked Council to consider declaring a Climate Change Emergency.
They spoke about Council considering ideas to improve landfill emissions and using electric vehicles.
While Council was already doing work around climate change concerns they appreciated Mr Mathieson and Mr Dougherty for presenting to Council and their efforts to raise awareness.
Council adopts new Water and Solid Waste bylaws
Clutha District Councillors adopted the new Water Services Bylaw and Solid Waste Bylaw at the Council Meeting.
Both bylaws will come into force on July 1, 2019.
During the consultation process for the bylaws 10 written submissions were received with three of those making verbal submissions at the hearing held on May 16.
As a result of those submissions Council has also formally noted that it will look at options to provide waste disposal points for camper vans and caravans in the vicinity of Kaka Point, due to the concerns of the submitter regarding raised charges to dump at their camp ground.
Council also noted that the Bylaw Implementation Programme would include a septage discharge assessment to inform future level of service decisions about where facilities and additional discharge points can be made available in the district.
The intention of the bylaws is to improve how Council manages water, trade waste, sewerage and stormwater.
The metering and monitoring is to be phased in by June 30, 2020 with consequential bylaw-related charges to apply only from July 1 2020.
Community housing rental increase
Council has decided to continue with a small 3% rental increases to all its community houses that was consulted on in Council’s Fees and Charges consultation process for the Annual Plan 19-20.
They had considered halting it, or increasing it to meet market rental valuations, till the Council had completed its full Community Housing Rental Review.
The previous review was completed in 2014 and there are currently only three units out of the 98 that are vacant (these are all in Clinton).
Council acknowledged the needs of the community for housing and for Council community housing units to remain self-funding.
The wider strategic goals of the Community Housing Portfolio will be reviewed as part of the Community Housing Review.
Policy on election signs and hoardings approved
Councillors approved a policy on elections signs and hoardings at the Council Meeting.
The policy sets out guidelines relating to signage for electioneering purposes, so that it is not detrimental to motorist safety, and complies with legislative and NZ Transport Agency requirements.
Triennial elections for elected members of the Clutha District Council are to be conducted, by postal vote, on Saturday 12 October 2019 with nominations open on July 19.
Signs displayed throughout the district for electioneering purposes should follow the current rules:
a. Are not erected earlier than 2 months before polling day.
b. All electioneering signs must be removed by midnight on the night prior to polling.
c. All electioneering signs must not exceed 3m2 in area.
d. All electioneering signs must have space between any lines of not less than 50mm.
e. All electioneering signs are not made of or have affixed to it, any reflective material.
f. All electioneering signs must not resemble in shape or colour, and cannot be mistaken for a
traffic sign.
g. All electioneering signs must not have any moving parts.
The policy covers that Election signs must meet minimum requirements for lettering sizes as per the District Plan.
Election signs erected on private land require consent of the landowner.
The approved Council owned sites for election signs include:
• Balclutha Tower Reserve, North Balclutha
• Rosebank Reserve, Corner Clyde and James Streets
• Lawrence Lions Picnic Reserve, Beaumont Road
• Lions Picnic Reserve, Harrington Place
• Tapanui Dorset Street/Station Road intersection Reserve
• Milton Taylor Park and Moore Park
The policy also dictates that electioneering signage must meet the certain safety requirements and the Clutha District Council Chief Executive may authorise the removal of signs in circumstances where they are considered to be unsafe.
Council reimbursement policy to be reviewed
Council is set to review its policy on Council Reimbursement with a draft policy to be brought back to Council for adoption.
The current policy, effective from May 2012, is due to be reviewed and Councillors provided some guidance on the content at today’s meeting.
The policy and principles will form the basis on which Council will provide general grants to assist organisations that provide projects/activities which benefit the residents of communities within the Clutha District.
Additional fees and charges approved
Council approved two additional fees and charges at the Council Meeting.
Council previously adopted the Schedule of Fees and Charges for 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020, subject to any changes that may arise prior to finalisation of the 2019/20 Annual Plan.
Two additional proposed charges have arisen, that are required to be added into the Schedule of Fees & Charges for 2019/20.
The first fee is to add an additional charge $600 to the fees and charges for the Roading Permits section, for Global Traffic Management Plans.
The second fee relates to adding an additional charge to the fees and charges for the Cemeteries section, for Muslim burials.
This has an additional requirement of timber lining inside the burial site, and as such a fee of $590.00 including GST is proposed.
Local Government Act 2002 is the authority for charging fees. In respect of the additional charge for Muslim burial costs, the general authority states because Council is recovering costs that would be incurred then Council did not need to specifically consult.
In respect of the Global Traffic Management Plan, it is intended to replace multiple single application fees that have been approved and would be expected to cost less than those multiple applications.
Applicants have a choice as to whether they wish to take up the option of a Global Plan and it is not considered necessary to have to consult on this charge.
Council insurance update
Councillors agreed to a quantum of property insurance cover as well as a quantum of public liability and indemnity insurance cover at the Council Meeting.
Councillors also confirmed that the quantum of our risk cover approved at the meeting was enough to meet Council’s risk appetite.
Independent commissioners to hear Plan Changes 39-41A
Council agreed that independent commissioners be appointed to hear the proposed Plan Changes 39-41A.
In a report to Council, it stated that the use of independent commissioners allowed for a robust process potentially free of political influence, electioneering and potential conflicts of interest.
It also allowed for councillors to avoid the risk of being drawn into debating the issue outside of the hearings process as a potential election issue in the lead up to the election.
The proposed plan changes to the Clutha District Plan include Plan Changes 39-41 – Balclutha, Stirling and Milton Rezoning; and, Plan Change 41A – Milton Industrial Structure Plan.
The plan changes propose areas of land in and around the towns of Balclutha, Stirling and Milton that could be rezoned to Urban, Transitional or Industrial Resource Areas.
The summary of submissions has been notified for further submissions, which will close on Monday 8 July 2019.
Staff are now turning their attention to preparing for the hearing.
Several submitters have already signalled their intention to be heard in support of their submissions.
The hearing is currently anticipated to be scheduled for some time around mid- August 2019.
2019 Triennial Election update
Councillors were updated on the 2019 Triennial Election at the Council meeting.
Saturday 12 October 2019 is local body election day.
Nominations for the 2019 Triennial elections open on 19 July 2019 and close on 16 August 2019.
Voting documents are delivered from Friday 20 September 2019 and voting closes at 12 noon on election day.
Included in the report to Council was the timetable for the election, staff and elected member protocols.
Due to an amendment of the Local Government Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill, a new subsection has been included that establishes that the chief executive is responsible to their local authority for facilitating and fostering representative and substantial elector participation in elections and polls.
A communications plan has been developed to help promote and encourage people to stand and an information evening will be held on Tuesday July 23 at the Balclutha War Memorial Hall Somerville Lounge at 7pm to advise people on what is involved in standing for Council.
Council staff are on track to have the 2019 Pre-election Report produced before the August 2 deadline.
Investment portfolio update
Council’s current investment portfolio has reported a gain of 1.54% as of year to date.
In a report to Council it said while in May there was a loss of $161,825 this has been offset with a gain of $567,467 in April.
Council is pleased with how the investments were tracking.
Elected members Remuneration Report
Councillors accepted the Remuneration Authority’s provisional decisions regarding the remuneration for elected members of community boards.
Council voted in favour of introducing a childcare allowance for elected members.
This allowance was at the discretion of each council and while some Councillors were against it as they felt their remuneration should cover childcare costs, the majority supported the allowance so as to reduce this as a barrier to someone putting their hand up for election as an elected member.
Telford bursaries presented
George Blyth and Phoebe Cant were officially presented with Telford bursaries at the Council Meeting.
Seven applications were received and the Telford Bursary Committee considered the applications before awarding George with $2,000 and Phoebe with $1000.
Both George and Phoebe spoke to Council about their desires to be working in the industry.