Council

MINUTES

 

Minutes of the Inaugural meeting of the Dunedin City Council held in the Fullwood Room, Dunedin Centre, Harrop Street, Dunedin on Friday 25 October 2019, commencing at 1.00 pm

 

PRESENT

 

Mayor

Mayor Aaron Hawkins

 

Deputy Mayor

Cr Christine Garey

 

 

Members

Cr Sophie Barker

Cr David Benson-Pope

 

Cr Rachel Elder

Cr Doug Hall

 

Cr Carmen Houlahan

Cr Marie Laufiso

 

Cr Mike Lord

Cr Jim O'Malley

 

Cr Jules Radich

Cr Chris Staynes

 

Cr Lee Vandervis

Cr Steve Walker

 

 

IN ATTENDANCE

Sue Bidrose (Chief Executive Officer), Sandy Graham (General Manager City Services), Simon Drew (General Manager Infrastructure Services), Simon Pickford (General Manager Community Services), Dave Tombs (General Manager Finance and Commercial), John Christie (Director Enterprise Dunedin), Graham McKerracher (Manager, Council Communications and Marketing) and Sharon Bodeker (Team Leader Civic) and  mana whenua representatives

 

Governance Support Officer                  Lynne Adamson

 

 

 

 

The Council was piped in to the Fullwood Room by Dugald McKay. 

 

Dr Bidrose assumed the Chair.

1          Opening

Edward Ellison, representing local Rūnanga, opened the meeting with a mihi whakatau.  Manawhenua performed a Waiata.

Mayor Aaron Hawkins responded to the welcome, supported by the Dunedin City Council Waiata Group.

2          Public Forum

There was no Public Forum.   

3          Apologies

It was noted that there was an apology from Cr Andrew Whiley.

 

 

4          Confirmation of agenda

 

The agenda for the meeting was noted.

 

 

 

5          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.

 

Reports

6          Welcome by the Chief Executive - Dr Sue Bidrose

 

The Chief Executive Officer welcomed elected members, families, staff and members of the public to the meeting.

 

7          Declaration by Members

 

a)             The Mayor

The Chief Executive Officer outlined the history of the position of Mayor and the Robes and Chain of Office and wished the Council a successful term.

The Mayor made the required declaration under Schedule 7, Clause 14 of the Local Government Act 2002, which was witnessed by the Chief Executive Officer.

The Mayor then took the Chair.

b)            Councillors

Councillors made the declarations required by Schedule 7, Clause 14 of the Local Government Act 2002, which were witnessed by the Mayor.

 

8          Welcome by the Mayor

 

Mayor Aaron Hawkins conveyed a welcome to those present at the meeting and extended his congratulations to Councillors on their election.

 

Mayor Hawkins thanked his family and supporters and commented that it was a privilege to be chosen as Mayor of the city.  He advised that he looked forward to working with all members over the triennium.

 

9          Acknowledgement of Retiring Councillor

 

The Mayor acknowledged the services given by Damian Newell for his term in office. 

Councillors paid tribute to the work undertaken by Mr Newell during his term in office and spoke of his passion, energy, ideas, commitment and strengths.

 

Moved (Mayor Aaron Hawkins/Cr David Benson-Pope):

That the Council:

 

a)         Records its sincere thanks to Damian Newell for the loyal and conscientious service he has given to the Dunedin community as a member of the Dunedin City Council for 3 years during the period 2016 to 2019.

b)        Extends sincere appreciation for the services rendered and every good wish for the future.

Motion carried (CNL/2019/037)

 

10        Acknowledgement of Retiring Community Board Members

 

The Mayor acknowledged the services given by retiring Community Board members for their terms in office. 

 

 

Moved (Mayor Aaron Hawkins/Cr Christine Garey):

That the Council:

 

a)     Records its sincere thanks to the following retiring Community Board members for their loyal and conscientious service given to the Dunedin community.

Saddle Hill Community Board

Peter Gouverneur

 

 

2016 - 2019

Waikouaiti Coast Community Board

Rose Stringer-Wright

 

 

2016 - 2019

 

Motion carried (CNL/2019/038)

 

 

11        Chairs and Committee Structure for the 2019 - 2022 Triennium

 

A report from Mayor Aaron Hawkins provided Councillors with formal details of the new Committee structure and Chairs and Deputy Chairs.  It also detailed his choice for the Deputy Mayor.

The report noted that the delegations for each Committee would be re-written to reflect the structure and would be presented to the December Council meeting for adoption.  The membership of some Subcommittees were not yet finalised and would also be reported back to Council.

 

Moved (Mayor Aaron Hawkins/Cr David Benson-Pope):

That the Council:

 

a)     Notes the appointment of Cr Christine Garey as Deputy Mayor.

b)     Notes the new Committee structure attached to the report.

c)     Notes the appointment of the Chairs, Deputy Chairs and various Councillor appointments to those Committees, Subcommittees and Community Boards.

d)     Approves the delegations for the Hearings, Grants and Audit and Risk Subcommittees as detailed in Attachment B.

e)     Notes the Committee Structure and Delegations Manual would be presented to the December Council meeting for adoption.

Motion carried (CNL/2019/039) with Cr Vandervis recording his vote against

 

12        Appointment of Acting Deputy Mayor

 

A report from Mayor Aaron Hawkins noted that there were occasions when the Mayor and Deputy Mayor were out of Dunedin at the same time and it is necessary to have an elected member designated to deal with any issues that arose during these times. 

He proposed appointing an Acting Deputy Mayor to act during any joint absences for the current triennium.

 

Moved (Mayor Aaron Hawkins/Cr Christine Garey):

That the Council:

 

a)     Appoints Councillor David Benson-Pope as Acting Deputy Mayor for any joint absences of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor during this triennium.

Motion carried (CNL/2019/040)

 

13        Appointment of Representatives on Zone 6 Committee of Local Government New Zealand

 

A report from Mayor Aaron Hawkins noted that Local Government New Zealand had a committee for representatives of local authorities in Zone 6.  The report recommended the appointment of three elected members to the Local Government New Zealand Zone 6 Committee.

 

Moved (Cr David Benson-Pope/Cr Marie Laufiso):

That the Council:

 

a)     Appoints Mayor Aaron Hawkins, Councillors Christine Garey, and Chris Staynes to be appointed as the representatives to the Local Government New Zealand Zone 6 Committee. 

Motion carried (CNL/2019/041)

14        Elected Member Remuneration for 2019/20

 

A report from the Mayor advised that the Local Government Act 2002 (LGA) gave the Remuneration Authority (the Authority) the responsibility for setting remuneration for local government elected members. 

The report sought consideration to the allocation of the pool to remunerate councillors; and to update the current Rules for Recovery of Expenses (the Rules).

 

Moved (Mayor Aaron Hawkins/Cr Chris Staynes):

That the Council:

 

a)     Approves annual remuneration of $90,970 for the Deputy Mayor. 

b)     Approves annual remuneration of $85,786 for Chairs of Standing Committees and the Chair of the Bylaws Subcommittee.

c)     Approves annual remuneration of $71,488 for Councillors.

d)     Notes the updated Rules for Recovery of Expenses.

e)     Notes that the proposed remuneration levels and updated Rules for the Recovery of Expenses would be forwarded to the Remuneration Authority for approval.

Motion carried (CNL/2019/042) with Cr Vandervis recording against

 

15        Meeting Schedule for the Remainder of 2019

 

A report from Civic noted that a meeting schedule for the remainder of 2019 was included for consideration in accordance with Schedule 7, Clause 21 of the Local Government Act 2002.


 

 

Moved (Mayor Aaron Hawkins/Cr Christine Garey):

That the Council:

 

a)     Adopts the meeting schedule for the remainder of the 2019 year.

b)     Notes that a meeting schedule for the 2020 year would be prepared for consideration at the Council meeting on 10 December 2019.

c)     Notes that the Community Boards would consider and confirm their own meeting schedules.

Motion carried (CNL/2019/043)

 

16        Local Government Legislation - Briefing for the Inaugural Council Meeting

 

A report from Civic advised that Clause 21 of Schedule 7 of the Local Government Act 2002 required that at the inaugural meeting of the Council and Community Boards following the triennial election, the Chief Executive Officer must provide a general explanation of the following legislation:

a)         The Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987;

b)        The Local Authorities (Members' Interests) Act 1968;

c)         Sections 99, 105 and 105A of the Crimes Act 1961;

d)        The Secret Commissions Act 1910; and

e)        The Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013.

 

Moved (Mayor Aaron Hawkins/Cr  Christine Garey):

That the Council:

 

a)     Notes the advice regarding key legislation that applies to members of Council, its Committees and Community Boards.

Motion carried (CNL/2019/044)

 

 

 

The meeting concluded at 1.50 pm.

 

 

 

 

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

MAYOR