There were no apologies.

Pursuant to Section 46A(7) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987, the Chairman called for late items to be accepted. There were none.

RESOLVED

THAT the minutes of the meeting of the Planning and Finance Committee held on Thursday 13 July 2000 be taken as read and confirmed.

PF00/75 Hayden/Munro CARRIED

Cr Munro advised that the Millennium Forest planting programme had now been completed.

The Community Services Manager’s monthly report was attached for the Committee’s consideration.

The General Manager presented the report in the Community Services Manager’s absence.

RESOLVED

THAT the report be received.

PF00/76 Laurich/Gordon CARRIED

The matter of providing tangible incentive to landowners as recognition for undertaking measures to conserve natural and historical features has been a point of many past discussions. No resolution had yet been achieved in developing a practical strategy for the application of assistance from Council to the landowner.

Cr Carmine advised that at the recent Local Government Conference this matter had been discussed.

It was suggested that the current policy be revoked and that as a starting point for discussions; those areas of significant native vegetation identified on the District Plan, in the first instance, become eligible for a fencing subsidy to be determined by Council on a case by case basis.

RESOLVED

THAT staff investigate further and report back.

PF00/77 Munro/Tregidga CARRIED

At the August Plains Ward Committee meeting, the matter of the higher than expected cots for the Hugh Hayward Domain upgrade was discussed. The Plains Ward Committee asked that Council considered awarding a grant of $37,000 from the District Community Facilities fund towards the completion cost of the Domain development.

RESOLVED

THAT Council grants $37,000 to the completion costs of the Hugh Hayward Domain development from the District Community Facilities Fund.

PF00/78 His Worship/Hayden CARRIED

The Waihi Streetscape Project Group had recommended to Council that the addition of a vacant lot in Seddon Street would enhance the public amenity of Streetscape.

Members of the Waihi Ward Committee expressed their views and were in agreement with the idea.

RESOLVED

THAT Council offers to purchase Lot 2 DPS 18842 situated in Seddon Street, Waihi for the sum of $25,000 plus GST.

PF00/79 His Worship/Gordon CARRIED

The Corporate Services Manager’s report on the operations of the Corporate Services Department for the month of July 2000 and financial statements for the 12 months ended 30 June 2000 were attached for members’ consideration.

A payments listing for the month of July 2000 was tabled at the meeting for members’ information.

RESOLVED

THAT the report on the operations of the Corporate Services Department for July 2000 and the interim financial reports for the 12 months ended 30 June 2000 be received.

PF00/80 His Worship/Hayden CARRIED

The Corporate Services Manager advised that the General Manager verbally reported to the last Council meeting regarding the issue of rating of school dwellings. A number of requests for refund of past rates paid by schools had been received.

A number of schools were quoting a legal opinion given by Brookfields that indicated that rates were not payable by a school for a schoolhouse. The situation was not as clear-cut as some of the schools would have us believe.

Simpson and Griersons had provided a legal opinion to Local Government New Zealand, which was not in itself clear cut. Their advice was not to make any refunds at this time as the interpretation of the law may be subject to a court ruling.

Council needed to determine a position in respect of the rates on school dwellings.

A letter from the Principal of Netherton School was tabled for member’s information. There was concern from members as to the incorrect statements made in the letter.

RESOLVED

THAT Council not make any rate refunds to schools until the matter had been resolved at National level.

PF00/81 Tregidga/Munro CARRIED

RESOLVED

THAT Council writes to the Chairman of the Netherton Board of Trustees expressing concern at the incorrect statements and the general tone of the letter.

PF00/82 His Worship/Gordon CARRIED

Cr Tregidga requested that the Works Committee Financial Statements be presented to the Planning & Finance Committee for their information.

The Committee agreed that more detail in the financial reports could be helpful. However one Committee was not subservient to the other and both reports were presented to Council.

Reports of the matters dealt with by way of delegation from the period 1 July 2000 were attached separately for the Committee’s information.

RESOLVED

THAT the reports of delegated matters be received.

PF00/83 Gordon/Laurich CARRIED

The Planning and Environmental Services Manager had reported on the recent activities of the Planning and Environmental Services Department.

The report, which included details on both the Consents and Monitoring Divisions, was attached for the Committee’s consideration.

RESOLVED

THAT the report be received.

PF00/84 Gordon/Hayden CARRIED

The Planning & Environmental Services Manager advised that the Ministry for the Environment undertakes an annual survey of Local Authority implementation of the Resource Management Act. The 1998-1999 Survey was released in July 2000. The Survey included a review of consent processing time, charging regimes and other matters.

Correspondence from the company regarding hours of work and particular "extra" hours was presented. Work continued on the preparation of the Social Impact Assessment required by the conditions of the Consents. The assessment was nearing completion.

Council’s Liaison Officers report for July 2000 was also presented.

Work was continuing on development of changes to the Rural Subdivision Rules. A number of comments were received to the draft that was circulated for discussion. A separate report was provided on the matter.

The Schedule of Significant Urban Trees was presented along with the criteria for protection set out in the District Plan.

It was suggested that a sub-committee be formed to look further at this issue.

RESOLVED

THAT a sub-committee comprising of Cr Munro, Laurich and Carmine be formed.

PF00/85 Gordon/Hayden CARRIED

WEST FOREST HARVEST 1999/2000 (46.100.030)

Attached was a report from the Community Services Manager regarding the West Forest Harvest 1999/2000.

The General Manager presented the report in the Community Services Manager’s absence.

RESOLVED

THAT the report be received.

PF00/86 Hayden/Gordon CARRIED

Attached was a report from the Planning & Environmental Services Manager on Rural Subdivision Rules.

RESOLVED

THAT the Planning & Environmental Services Managers report on Rural Subdivision Rules be received.

PF00/87 Hayden/Munro CARRIED

After going through the report the Committee decided:

RESOLVED

THAT it be recommended to Council that District Plan Change No 4 proceed as previously adopted but

2.1 that any subdivision of class IV – VI land (of titles that exist at the time the plan change is notified) on sealed roads may proceed as a controlled activity where the subdivision is for five or less lots

2.2 subsequent subdivisions of the land would be a discretionary activity

2.3 Subdivision of class IV – VI land on unsealed roads should remain as discretionary.

PF00/88 Tregidga/Munro CARRIED

Attached was a report from the Hauraki District Sport Co-ordinator Jennifer Riley for the period from 1^st July 1999 to 30^th June 2000.

Jennifer Riley attended the meeting to present her report.

RESOLVED

THAT the report be received.

PF00/89 Laurich/His Worship CARRIED

Attached were letters from Carol Stigley and Louise Rosson announcing Carol’s resignation as CEO.

RESOLVED

THAT the information be received.

PF00/90 Hayden/Laurich CARRIED

His Worship commented that this had been a difficult issue for Local Government New Zealand.

LATE ITEMS

There were no late items.

The meeting closed at 3.35 pm.

CONFIRMED

D M Carmine

September 2000