Council

MINUTES

 

Minutes of an ordinary meeting of the Dunedin City Council held in the Council Chamber, Dunedin Public Art Gallery, the Octagon, Dunedin on Thursday 19 February 2026, commencing at 1:00 p.m.

 

PRESENT

 

Mayor

Mayor Sophie Barker

 

Deputy Mayor

Cr Cherry Lucas

 

 

Members

Cr John Chambers

Cr Christine Garey

 

Cr Doug Hall

Cr Marie Laufiso

 

Cr Russell Lund

Cr Mandy Mayhem

 

Cr Benedict Ong

Cr Andrew Simms

 

Cr Mickey Treadwell

Cr Lee Vandervis

 

Cr Steve Walker

Cr Brent Weatherall

 

IN ATTENDANCE

Sandy Graham (Chief Executive), Carolyn Allan (Chief Financial Officer), Scott MacLean (General Manager City Services), David Ward (General Manager 3 Waters, Property and Urban Development), Danielle Tolson (Policy Analyst)

 

Governance Support Officer                  Lynne Adamson

 

 

 

1          Public Forum

There was no Public Forum.

 

2          Apologies

 

There were apologies for lateness from Crs Cherry Lucas and Russell Lund.

 

 

Moved (Mayor Sophie Barker/Cr Mickey Treadwell):

That the Council:

             Accepts the apologies for lateness from Crs Cherry Lucas and Russell Lund.

Motion carried (CNL/2026/032)

 

 

3          Confirmation of agenda

 

Moved (Mayor Sophie Barker/Cr Mickey Treadwell):

That the Council:

 

Confirms the agenda without addition or alteration.

 

Motion carried (CNL/2026/033)

 

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.

 

 

Moved (Mayor Sophie Barker/Cr Mickey Treadwell):

That the Council:

 

a)         Notes the Elected Members' Interest Register; and

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

c)         Notes the proposed management plan for the Executive Leadership Team’s Interests.

Motion carried (CNL/2026/034)

   

Reports

5          Simplifying Local Government Submission

 

A report from Policy sought approval of a draft Dunedin City Council submission to the Department of Internal Affairs on the Simplifying Local Government consultation.

 

The Chief Executive (Sandy Graham), General Manager City Services (Scott MacLean) and Policy Analyst (Danielle Tolson) provided a correction to paragraph 32 in the cover report and noted that it should read “does not provide an evidence base to support”.  They then spoke to the report and responded to questions.

 

During discussion, Cr Cherry Lucas entered the meeting at 1.48 pm.

 

 

Moved (Mayor Sophie Barker/Cr Mickey Treadwell):

That the Council:

 

a)         Approves the draft Dunedin City Council submission, with any amendments, to the Department of Internal Affairs on the Simplifying Local Government consultation.

b)        Authorises the Chief Executive to make any minor editorial amendments to the draft submission.

c)         Notes that there are no hearings for this consultation.

d)         Notes that a briefing paper on unitary councils would be prepared for a future Council meeting Chief Executive Dunedin City Council.

Division

The Council voted by division

For:                 Crs John Chambers, Christine Garey, Doug Hall, Marie Laufiso, Cherry Lucas, Mandy Mayhem, Benedict Ong, Andrew Simms, Mickey Treadwell, Steve Walker, Brent Weatherall and Mayor Sophie Barker (12).

Against:         Cr Lee Vandervis (1).

Abstained:   Nil

 

The division was declared CARRIED by 12 votes to 1

 

Motion carried (CNL/2026/035)

        

 

 

The meeting closed at 2.02 pm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

MAYOR