Economic Development Committee

MINUTES

 

Minutes of an ordinary meeting of the Economic Development Committee held in the Edinburgh Room, Municipal Chambers, The Octagon, Dunedin on Tuesday 19 March 2019, commencing at 2.35 pm (or at the conclusion of the previous meeting, whichever is later)

 

PRESENT

 

Chairperson

Cr Chris Staynes

 

Deputy Chairperson

Cr Christine Garey

Cr Andrew Whiley

 

Members

Cr David Benson-Pope

Mayor Dave Cull

 

Cr Rachel Elder

Cr Doug Hall

 

Cr Aaron Hawkins

Cr Marie Laufiso

 

Cr Mike Lord

Cr Damian Newell

 

Cr Jim O'Malley

Cr Lee Vandervis

 

Cr Kate Wilson

 

 

 

IN ATTENDANCE

John Christie (Director Enterprise Dunedin), Sandy Graham (General Manager City Services), Fraser Liggett (Economic Development Programme Manager), Scott Campbell (Policy Advisor), Margo Reid (Study Dunedin Co-ordinator), Gil Abercrombie (Travel Trade Sales Marketing Advisor), Emily Byrne (Tourism Industry Aotearoa), Robert West (Group Manager Parks and Recreation), Claire Swift (Senior Parks and Recreation Planner) and Andrea Jones (Communications Team Leader)

 

Governance Support Officer       Wendy Collard

 

 

 

1       Public Forum

There was no Public Forum.  

 

2       Apologies

 

Moved (Cr Chris Staynes/Cr Doug Hall):

That the Committee:

 

Accepts the apology from Mayor Dave Cull.

 

Motion carried (ED/2019/001)

 

3       Confirmation of agenda

 

 

Moved (Cr Chris Staynes/Cr Andrew Whiley):

That the Committee:

 

        Confirms the agenda with the following alteration:

 

       In regard to Standing Order 2.1, Option C be adopted in relation to moving and

       seconding and speaking to amendments.

 

Motion carried (ED/2019/002)

 

 

4       Declarations of interest

Members were reminded of the need to stand aside from decision-making when a conflict arose between their role as an elected representative and any private or other external interest they might have.

 

There were no declarations

 

 

Moved (Cr Chris Staynes/Cr Rachel Elder):

That the Committee:

 

a)     Notes the Elected Members' Interest Register; and

b)     Confirms the proposed management plan for Elected Members' Interests.

Motion carried (ED/2019/003)

      

Part A Reports

5       TRENZ 2018 Update Report

 

A report from Enterprise Dunedin provided an update on the Dunedin hosted TRENZ 2018 event survey results and outcomes. 

The report noted that Enterprise Dunedin in partnership with Tourism Waitaki, Venture Southland and Dunedin Airport, hosted TRENZ 2018 in Dunedin from 7 to 10 May 2018.  The TRENZ 2018 event showcased the region to international travel trade buyers, sellers from around New Zealand, and media delegates via the welcome and closing ceremonies and planned activity days.

It also noted that the economic impact study conducted for TRENZ 2018 estimated $10.3 million in additional forward booking revenues for Dunedin, Waitaki and Southland, from travel trade over and above business that had previously been placed with the region.

The Director of Marketing, Partnership and Events, Tourism Industry Aotearoa (Emily Byrne) spoke to a PowerPoint presentation on the TRENZ 2018 and in particular the success of the event and the positive comments from participants 

Ms Byrne commented on the wonderful support that she had received from the Enterprise Dunedin staff which had ensured the event was as successful as it was.

The Travel Trade Sales Marketing Advisor (Gil Abercrombie) then spoke to the report and responded to questions.

 

Moved (Cr Christine Garey/Cr Andrew Whiley):

That the Committee:

 

a)     Notes the TRENZ 2018 Update Report

Motion carried (ED/2019/004)

 

6       Enterprise Dunedin October to December 2018 Activity Report

 

A report from Enterprise Dunedin provided an update on a selection of Enterprise Dunedin activities during the period October to December 2018.

The Director Enterprise Dunedin (John Christie), the Economic Development Programme Manager (Fraser Liggett) and the Study Dunedin Co-ordinator (Margo Reid) spoke to the report and responded to questions.

 

 

Moved (Cr Mike Lord/Cr Christine Garey):

That the Committee:

 

a)     Notes the Enterprise Dunedin 1 October to 31 December 2018 Activity Report.

Motion carried (ED/2019/005)

 

7       DCC submission: a new approach to employer-assisted work visas and regional workforce planning

 

A report from Corporate Policy sought approval of a Dunedin City Council (DCC) submission to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) on a new approach to employer-assisted work visas and regional workforce planning.

The report noted that the draft DCC submission outlined economic development, talent attraction and workforce planning initiatives which were already underway in Dunedin and Otago, upcoming projects and trends likely to have significant impacts on Dunedin’s workforce needs and provided general comments and recommendations on the proposed documents.

It also noted that the recommendations in the draft DCC submission aimed to enhance workforce planning outcomes for Dunedin and the wider Otago region.

 

The Director Enterprise Dunedin (John Christie) and the Economic Development Programme Manager (Fraser Liggett) spoke to the report and responded to questions.

 

There was discussion on overlap of the new approach to employer-assisted work visas and regional workforce planning and the proposal for reform of the Polytechnic and vocational training sector.

 

The meeting adjourned at 3.20 pm and reconvened at 3.24 pm.

 

 

Moved (Cr Aaron Hawkins/Cr Kate Wilson):

That the Committee:

 

 

a)     Approves the submission as drafted, with the inclusion of the following:

1.         Noting the overlap between this visa reform proposal and the current proposal for reform of the Polytechnic and vocational training sector; 

2.         Asking that any final decision on this matter be deferred such that it can incorporate final decisions around the future of the Polytechnic reform; and

3.         Seeks the opportunity to speak to this submission should the opportunity arise. 

Motion carried (ED/2019/006)

 

8       Items for Consideration by the Chair

 

There were no items notified

             

 

Resolution to exclude the public

Moved (Cr Chris Staynes/Cr Christine Garey):

That the Committee:

 

Pursuant to the provisions of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987, exclude the public from the following part of the proceedings of this meeting namely:

 

General subject of the matter to be considered

Reasons for passing this resolution in relation to each matter

Ground(s) under section 48(1) for the passing of this resolution

 

Reason for Confidentiality

C1  Tunnel Beach Tourism Infrastructure Fund (TIF) Application

S7(2)(h)

The withholding of the information is necessary to enable the local authority to carry out, without prejudice or disadvantage, commercial activities.

 

S7(2)(i)

The withholding of the information is necessary to enable the local authority to carry on, without prejudice or disadvantage, negotiations (including commercial and industrial negotiations).

S48(1)(a)

The public conduct of the part of the meeting would be likely to result in the disclosure of information for which good reason for withholding exists under section 7.

The Department of Conservation is currently negotiating for a property required for the project.  Until those negotiations are complete, the information needs to remain non-public.

This resolution is made in reliance on Section 48(1)(a) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987, and the particular interest or interests protected by Section 6 or Section 7 of that Act, or Section 6 or Section 7 or Section 9 of the Official Information Act 1982, as the case may require, which would be prejudiced by the holding of the whole or the relevant part of the proceedings of the meeting in public are as shown above after each item.

 

Motion carried (ED/2019/007)

 

 

The meeting moved into confidential at 3.34 pm and concluded at 4.36 pm.

 

 

 

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

CHAIRPERSON