Council Information Session/Workshop

Agenda

Notice of Information Session/Workshop:

A Council Information Session/Workshop will be held on:

Date:                                    Thursday 16 May 2024

Time:                                   9.30 am - 12.00 pm

Venue:                                 Council Chambers, Civic Offices,
53 Hereford Street, Christchurch
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6439418430?omn=86418455067
Meeting ID: 643 941 8430

Membership

Chairperson Deputy Chairperson Members

Mayor Phil Mauger Deputy Mayor Pauline Cotter Councillor Kelly Barber Councillor Melanie Coker Councillor Celeste Donovan Councillor Tyrone Fields Councillor James Gough Councillor Tyla Harrison-Hunt Councillor Victoria Henstock Councillor Yani Johanson Councillor Aaron Keown Councillor Sam MacDonald Councillor Jake McLellan Councillor Andrei Moore Councillor Mark Peters Councillor Tim Scandrett Councillor Sara Templeton

14 May 2024

Principal Advisor

Mary Richardson

Interim Chief Executive

Tel: 941 8999

www.ccc.govt.nz

Please Note:

This forum has no decision-making powers and is purely for information sharing.

TABLE OF CONTENTS NGĀ IHIRANGI

 1.       Apologies Ngā Whakapāha................................................................................. 3

Information Session/Workshop Items

2.        Local Water Done Well Update ............................................................................ 5

9.30am-11.00am

             Presenter: Mary Richardson – Interim Chief Executive

Break: 11.00am – 11.15am

3.        Elected Member Professional Development.......................................................... 7

11.15am-11.45am

             Presenter: Helen White - General Counsel / Head of Legal and Democractic Services

4.        Better Off Funding update................................................................................ 15

             11.45am-12.00pm

             Presenters: Mary Richardson – Interim Chief Executive and Libby Elvidge – Principal Advisor, Citizens & Community

1.   Apologies Ngā Whakapāha

At the close of the agenda no apologies had been received.

2.     Local Water Done Well Update
Reference Te Tohutoro:	24/596719
Presenter(s) Te Kaipāhō :	Mary Richardson – Interim Chief Executive

1. Detail Te Whakamahuki

Purpose and Origin of the Workshop	·    Provide Mayor and Council with information about the Local Water Done Well (LWDW) legislative framework and process. ·    Provide an opportunity for Council to discuss options going forward.
Timing	This workshop is expected to last for 60 to 90 minutes.
Confidentiality	The workshop and any shared information are not confidential.
Outcome Sought	The Council has an understanding of LWDW legislative framework and process. The Council has an understanding of its requirements under LWDW framework, including timelines.
Next Steps	Staff paper of options and proposed process and timeline.
Key points / Background	·    The LWDW framework replaces the previous Three Waters reforms and establishes a new approach to water services. ·    LWDW puts the onus on the Council to develop a financially sustainable plan that ensures safe water, meets upgraded infrastructure standards, and allows for future growth. Transparency and potential collaboration between councils are encouraged. Key deadlines: ·    Mid-2024: Core LWDW legislation enacted. ·    Within 12 Months from the above: Council's Water Services Delivery Plan must be submitted to the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) for approval. ·    Mid-2025: Further LWDW legislation on long-term sustainability, structure, and regulation is expected.

Attachments Ngā Tāpirihanga

There are no attachments to this coversheet.

Signatories Ngā Kaiwaitohu

Author	Mary Richardson - Interim Chief Executive
Approved By	Mary Richardson - Interim Chief Executive

3.     Elected Member Professional Development
Reference Te Tohutoro:	24/758001
Presenter(s) Te Kaipāhō :	Helen White, General Counsel / Head of Legal and Democractic Services

1. Detail Te Whakamahuki

Purpose and Origin of the Workshop	To seek elected member guidance on how they would like future professional development budgets (covering individual and group training, and conference and course attendance) allocated.
Timing	This workshop is expected to last for 30 minutes.
Confidentiality	The workshop and any shared information are not confidential.
Outcome Sought	Guidance from Councillors on how they would to allocate the elected members’ professional development budget for the Mayor and Councillors.
ELT Consideration	N/A.
Next Steps	Following councillor feedback staff will prepare a revised version of  Elected Member Allowances and Expenses Policy 2019.  It would separate Section 9 which covers   Attendance at conferences, courses, training, professional development and travel into a stand-alone policy.  If required, a report with proposed amendments could go to Council on 19 June 2024 for consideration and decision.   This would also include an updated draft policy on the balance of the Elected Member Allowances and Expenses Policy 2019.
Key points / Background	The current policy is set out in section 9 of the Elected Member Allowances and Expenses Policy 2019 (please refer to the link below) which provides for: •     Up to $4,000 is allocated to each councillor for individual training as of right (covers course/conference fees, accommodation, travel). •     An additional $2,000 is available for Committee Chairs. •     Elected members formerly appointed by Council to an external organisation can attend conferences or seminars held by that external organisation (prior approval of Council required). Policy needs a review: •     Committee structure has changed with only one Committee of the Whole. •     There is no budget specifically allocated for Council representatives on external organisations. •     The current budget has no specific allocation for group professional development (e.g. post- election induction). This is currently being met by any collective underspend by councillors.
Useful Links	·    Elected Member Allowances and Expenses Policy 2019.  https://ccc.govt.nz/the-council/plans-strategies-policies-and-bylaws/policies/finance-and-funding-policies/elected-members-expenses-allowances

Attachments Ngā Tāpirihanga

No.	Title	Reference	Page
a ⇩	Elected Member Professional Development	24/818784	9

Signatories Ngā Kaiwaitohu

Author	David Corlett - Democratic Services Advisor
Approved By	Helen White - General Counsel / Head of Legal & Democratic Services

4.     Better Off Funding update
Reference Te Tohutoro:	24/788899
Presenter(s) Te Kaipāhō :	Libby Elvidge, Principal Advisor Citizens and Community

1. Detail Te Whakamahuki

Purpose and Origin	·    For councillors to provide input into the Council’s response to the Department of Internal Affairs letter (Attachment A) regarding Better Off Funding. ·    Cabinet has directed the Department of Internal Affairs to work with councils to: -      Review the status of current BOF projects; and -      Identify, by mutual agreement, if any opportunities exist to redirect unspent BOF to increase investment in water infrastructure or help establish new water services delivery organisations.
Timing	This information session is expected to last 15 minutes.
Confidentiality	The session and any shared information are not confidential.
Outcome Sought	Direction from councillors for the Council’s response to DIA on Better Off Funding projects.
ELT Consideration	ELT have been kept informed of the correspondence from DIA.
Next Steps	Staff will respond to the DIA letter by the requested deadline of Friday 17 May 2024.
Key points / Background	·    The Council was allocated $30.61m for Better Off Funding. The previous Government created this funding pool to recognise the impact on councils resulting from shifting three waters assets and service delivery from councils to Water Service Entities. ·    The Council took a strategic approach to using its funding allocation to ensure proposed projects met the Government’s wellbeing criteria and aligned with Ngā Rūnanga priorities and the Council’s own strategic direction. ·    The projects the funding was allocated to were agreed to by the Council on 7 December 2022 (item 12). These are included in a Funding Agreement with DIA: -      Active Travel: $2m -      City Safety: $2.08m -      Coastal Hazards Adaptation Planning: $1.65m -      Community Facilities: $10.88m -      Community Partnerships: $4m -      Papatipu Runanga Priorities: $3.1m -      Trees and Biodiversity: $6.9m ·    All seven projects are underway and have been scheduled through to 30 June 2027, as per the Funding Agreement. ·    The new Government has confirmed that councils will retain existing funding allocations of BOF. DIA will work in partnership with councils to identify, by mutual agreement, any opportunities to redirect unspent BOF to increase investment in water infrastructure or to help establish new water services delivery organisations.
Useful Links

Attachments Ngā Tāpirihanga

No.	Title	Reference	Page
a ⇩	Letter from DIA dated 18 April 2024 - Transitioning BOF	24/798818	17

Signatories Ngā Kaiwaitohu

Author	Libby Elvidge - Principal Advisor Citizens & Community
Approved By	Mary Richardson - Interim Chief Executive