Environment and Regulatory Committee Meeting Minutes                                       14 February 2019

   MINUTES OF Central HAwkes Bay District Council
Environment and Regulatory Committee Meeting
HELD AT THE
Council Chamber, 28-32 Ruataniwha Street, Waipawa
ON
Thursday, 14 February 2019 AT at the conclusion of the Community Development Committee Meeting

 

PRESENT:              Cr David Tennent

                                 Mayor Alex Walker

Cr Ian Sharp (Deputy Mayor)

Cr Tim Chote

Cr Brent Muggeridge

 

IN ATTENDANCE: Joshua Lloyd (Group Manager, Community Infrastructure and Development)

Monique Davidson (CEO)

Bronda Smith (Group Manager, Corporate Support and Services)

Doug Tate (Group Manager, Customer and Community Partnerships)

Nicola Bousfield (People and Capability Manager)

Leigh Collecutt (Governance and Support Officer)

1            Apologies

 

2            Declarations of Conflicts of Interest

          None

3            Standing Orders

Committee Resolution  

Moved:       Cr Ian Sharp

Seconded:  Mayor Alex Walker

THAT the following standing orders are suspended for the duration of the meeting:

·      20.2 Time limits on speakers

·      20.5 Members may speak only once

·      20.6 Limits on number of speakers

AND THAT 21.4 Option C under section 21 General procedures for speaking and moving motions be used for the meeting.

Carried

 

 

4            Confirmation of Minutes

Committee Resolution  

Moved:       Cr Ian Sharp

Seconded:  Cr Tim Chote

That the minutes of the Environment and Regulatory Committee Meeting held on 29 November 2018 as circulated, be confirmed as true and correct.

Carried

 

 

5            Local Government Act Compliance – Planning, Decision Making and Accountability

Council is required to make decisions in accordance with the requirements of Part 6 Subpart 1 of the Local Government Act 2002.

RECOMMENDATION

THAT Council has read the reports associated with items 6.1 to 6.4 and considers in its discretion under Section 79(1)(a) that sufficient consultation has taken place in addition to the Councillors knowledge of the items to meet the requirements of Section 82(3) in such a manner that it is appropriate for decisions to be made during the course of this meeting.

Amendment

Moved:       Cr Ian Sharp

Seconded:  Mayor Alex Walker

That Item 5 – Local Government Act Compliance – Planning, Decision Making and Accountability is removed from all Environment and Regulatory Committee Meeting Agendas going forward..

 

 

6            Report Section

6.1         Environment and Regulatory Committee Update

PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to provide the Environment and Regulatory Committee with information on key activities that fit within the Committee’s terms of reference.

 

Committee Resolution  

Moved:       Cr Ian Sharp

Seconded:  Mayor Alex Walker

That, having considered all matters raised in the report, the report be noted.

Carried

 

·         The following items were discussed as part of the Environment and Regulatory Committee update:

 

3 Waters Review

Waste Water

Drinking Water

Environmental Strategy

Leachate to Land

Buildings and Consents

 

·         Cr Sharp commented that it was pleasing to see that Higgins had been praised by the public and officers for their work on the Porritt Place pipe renewal.

·         The Mayor made comment that for drinking water updates that it would be good to see future reports for this committee focussed on regulatory compliance not just capital work.  Mr Lloyd confirmed that compliance is a huge component of the current work programme and that officers would continue to work alongside the District Health Board.  Mr Lloyd also commended the work that Veolia have been doing and the ownership they have been taking in dealing with these matters.

·         Cr Tennent sought clarification about whether there is an opportunity for the Council to have a representative involved in the Three Waters review.  It was confirmed that Her Worship the Mayor would have some oversight.

 

 

6.2         Adoption of Draft Environmental and Sustainability Strategy for Consultation

PURPOSE

The matter for consideration by the Council is approval of the Draft Environmental and Sustainability Strategy for public consultation.

 

Committee Resolution  

Moved:       Cr Ian Sharp

Seconded:  Cr Tim Chote

That having considered all matters raised in the report:

a)   That the Environment and Regulatory Committee recommends to Council the modified Draft Environmental and Sustainability Strategy for public consultation, to be included in the Draft Annual Plan 2019/20.   

Carried

·         Cr Sharp suggested a change in wording in the strategy from “Managing impact on waterways” to “Miniminsing impact on waterways”

·         Mayor Walker requested that the strategy outline specific actions for the Council.

·         Officers confirmed that wording would be amended in the strategy for the Council meeting on 28th February 2019.

 

 

6.3         Establishment of Environmental and Sustainability Fund

PURPOSE

The matter for consideration by the Environment and Regulatory Committee is the adoption of the Environmental Funding Policy.

 

Committee Resolution  

Moved:       Cr Ian Sharp

Seconded:  Cr Brent Muggeridge

That having considered all matters raised in the report:

a)         That the Environment and Regulatory Committee adopt the Environmental Funding Policy

Carried

·         Councillors discussed the desire to widen the scope of the funding policy to include environmental intiatives other than solid waste.  Officers raised the point that the current fund utilised money made available by the Council National Waste Levy and that this levy could only be allocated to waste intiatives.  The table requested that the policy accommodate potential funding from other sources in future which could be used for broader initiatives.

·         It was agreed that if changes to the policy are required in future, the policy would be brought back before committee to adopt amendments.

 

 

6.4         Wastewater Treatment Plants Project Update #3

PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to provide elected members with an update on the wastewater treatment plants project and our progress towards a best practicable option (BPO) and solution report to meet our requirements as laid out in our enforcement order with the court and HBRC.

 

Committee Resolution  

Moved:       Cr Tim Chote

Seconded:  Mayor Alex Walker

That, having considered all matters raised in the report, the report be noted.

 Carried

 

·         Cr Tennent highlighted the excellent progress being made around the work programme for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade

·          Mr De Klerk discussed the options that have been presented to the community reference group and potential models for a solution to take to the regional council with clear milestone dates. 

·         Mr De Klerk discussed results from the January community survey, and discussed the exploration of alternative funding options.

·         Cr Burne-Field asked about what thinking had been done around external funding options.  Officers confirmed that this was actively being explored. 

·         It was discussed that although the upgrade was currently out of scope for Provincial Growth Fund Funding, that officers should prepare information in case the scope for the fund changes.

·         Cr Sharp raised that the reference group supported removal of all waste from waterways, which meant that it would need to be discharged to land.  However noted that there are implications of doing this.

·         Cr Sharp congratulated Mr De Klerk on the way in which he was engaging the community and that it is working well.

 

7            Date of Next Meeting

Committee Resolution  

Moved:       Mayor Alex Walker

Seconded:  Cr Brent Muggeridge

THAT the next meeting of the Environment and Regulatory Committee be held on 28 March 2019.

Carried

 

 

8            Time of Closure

 

The Meeting closed at 12.40pm

 

The minutes of this meeting were confirmed at the Environment and Regulatory Committee Meeting held on 28 March 2019.

 

...................................................

CHAIRPERSON