RESOLVED

THAT the apology of Crs A G Gray, T J Meyers and I D Troughton be received and sustained.

07/65 Milner/Lockwood CARRIED

Request for Leave of absence – Cr M J Hayden

Cr Hayden requested leave of absence from 16 March to 22 April 2007.

RESOLVED

THAT the request for Leave of Absence of Cr Hayden be approved.

07/66 Tregidga/Bubb CARRIED

There were no late items.

ORDINARY MEETING HELD THURSDAY 15 FEBRUARY 2007

RESOLVED

THAT the minutes of the meeting of the Hauraki District Council held on Thursday 15 February 2007 be taken as read and confirmed.

07/67 Trembath/Milner CARRIED

The District Engineer advised the members that it was expected that the resurfacing of the netball courts with asphalt would be completed within the next few days.

The Mayor and the Chief Executive reported on the Rating Inquiry Public meeting they attended in Hamilton on Monday, 26 February 2007.

PLAINS WARD COMMITTEE (01.005.030) – Tuesday 13 February 2007

Cr Challis presented the minutes.

RESOLVED

THAT the minutes of the Plains Ward Committee meeting held on Tuesday 13 February 2007 be received and the recommendations contained therein adopted.

07/68 Challis/Gordon CARRIED

A member inquired if the pool covers were to be split into three sections and if floats were to be attached to them to improve their manoeuvrability due to the difficulty pool staff have encountered when covering the pool.

It was advised that after discussion with the suppliers it was decided not to split up the covers but leave them as they are and have organised floats to be attached to them by the manufacturer.

PAEROA WARD COMMITTEE (01.007.030) – Tuesday 13 February 2007

Cr Bubb presented the minutes.

RESOLVED

THAT the minutes of the Paeroa Ward Committee meeting held on Tuesday 13 February 2007 be received and the recommendations contained therein adopted.

07/69 Bubb/Milner CARRIED

WAIHI WARD COMMITTEE (01.008.030) – Tuesday 13 February 2007

Cr Baker presented the minutes.

RESOLVED

THAT the minutes of the Waihi Ward Committee meeting held on Tuesday 13 February 2007 be received and the recommendations contained therein adopted.

07/70 Baker/Carmine CARRIED

RESOLVED

THAT the minutes of the Western Plains Drainage District meeting held on Wednesday 24 January 2007 be received and the recommendations contained therein adopted.

07/71 Lockwood/Hayden CARRIED

CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPORT (01.000.020) (24KB)

The Chief Executive’s monthly report was presented.

RESOLVED

THAT the Chief Executive’s monthly report be received.

07/72 Baker/Carmine CARRIED

Staffing Matters

The Chief Executive updated the members on recent staff matters.

Three vacancies remain after the Christmas period, with difficulties in recruiting for the positions of Drainage Foreman, Senior Engineer and Consents Engineer.

New staff recruited in the Planning and Environmental Services Department are Glenn East, Graduate Planner for a two-year fixed term period, Jeff Mather, Planner. Planner, Naomi Simmonds is now working part time as she has taken up further study, Richard Clifton from Paeroa has been appointed as Building Control Officer.

Other positions filled in the Technical Services Business Unit are Phanida Phukoetphim, Engineering Assistant, Maxine Strydom, Engineering Cadet for a four year period and are presently awaiting immigration confirmation before an applicant from the Phillipines can accept the position of Assistant Engineer.

Additional hours have been offered to the part-time library staff following the retirement of Julia Lowe.

The Chief Executive advised of a complaint received from a member of the public that the Mayor and the Chief Executive have breached the Councils Code of Conduct. The complaint related to an ongoing dispute the person has with Council regarding the standard of the entranceway to the Kerepehi Domain.

It was advised that the Code of Conduct requires that any breaches of the Code be reported to the Conduct Review Committee. The Conduct Review Committee is required to investigate the alleged breach and prepare a report for the consideration of Council.

As the Governance Structure of the Council has changed since the Code of Conduct was adopted, and there is no longer a Works and Services or Planning and Finance Committee the Council needs to amend the section of the Code of Conduct that relates to the composition of the Conduct Review Committee.

It was requested that the Code of Conduct be revised so that the Conduct Review Committee will now comprise of the Deputy Mayor, the Ward Committee Chairs and the Mayor as ex-officio member. A copy of the Code of Conduct amended in this regard was attached as Appendix 1 for the Council’s consideration.

THAT the Code of Conduct be amended with the Conduct Review Committee comprising the Deputy Mayor and the Ward Committee Chairs.

07/73 Gordon/Hayden CARRIED

Appeal to Local Government Commission on Environment Waikato Representation Review

The members were given notice of Councils appeal to the final representation proposal of the Waikato Regional Council. The hearing is to be held on Thursday, 8 March 2007 at the Waikato Regional Council office. The Chief Executive is presently formulating Councils submission to the appeal to the Local Government Commission.

FINANCIAL REPORT TO JANUARY 2007 (01.012.024) (40KB)

The Corporate Services Manager’s financial report for the month ended 31 January 2007 was presented for the members’ information.

RESOLVED

THAT the report be received.

07/74 Gordon/Trembath CARRIED

Revaluation

The Corporate Services Manager advised that the Office of the Valuer General (OVG) has not been able to provide to Council an audit clearance on the 2006 rating values at this stage. The OVG is working closely with Council’s valuation service provider to obtain all the required information so a clearance can be issued. Council has secured a file of draft values for residential and rural properties to allow setup of the value and rating models for use in the Annual Plan. Commercial and industrial property values have not been available as further work is being done on this category.

PLAN CHANGE – ADVICE OF LODGING FOR A PLAN CHANGE NGATEA & WAIHI (03.220.006) (20KB)

The Chief Executive presented a report from the Community Services Manager which advised of two Plan Change applications to the District Plan being lodged which seek zone changes for two areas within Ngatea and one in Waihi.

The purpose of the report was to advise members of a ‘change of use’ for the subject areas. In the case of Ngatea, the change requires rezoning from rural to residential and in Waihi from industrial to residential. It was advised that these Plan Changes will be heard by an independent commissioner.

The members were requested to approve the lodgement of the applications.

RESOLVED

THAT the report be received

AND THAT Council approves of the lodging of the Plan Change applications as generally described in the report.

07/75 Baker/Gordon CARRIED

MONITORING REPORT – PERIOD ENDING 31 JANUARY 2007 (01.000.023) (80KB)

The Planning and Environmental Services Manager’s monthly monitoring report for the month of January 2007 was presented for the members’ consideration.

RESOLVED

THAT the report be received.

07/76 Milner/Trembath CARRIED

Discussions on District Plan and Annual Plan Meeting with Local Iwi

The Mayor advised that a meeting is proposed to be held with local Iwi for discussions on Councils’ District Plan and Annual Plan on 16^th of March 2007 at 10.00am in the Council Chambers.

DRAFT POSITIVE AGEING STRATEGY (70.000.995) (334KB) 

The Strategic Planning Manager presented a report and the Hauraki District Draft Positive Ageing Strategy. For the member’s information, a copy of the strategy was attached and a copy of the 2007 update of trends for the 55 year and over age group within the Hauraki District using the 2006 census data was tabled.

RESOLVED

THAT the report be received.

07/77 Bubb/Carmine CARRIED

The Strategic Planning Manager explained that in the Hauraki Community Plan 2006-16, Council committed to drafting and consulting on a Positive Ageing Strategy. This commitment followed the direction provided by the community during the Community Outcome forums and further independent meetings held by local organisations.

Council is committed to working with relevant organisations, locally, regionally and where possible nationally to develop a Positive Ageing Strategy relevant to Hauraki District.

The members were requested to review the document and advise of any changes they considered were required within the document before the commencement of the Special Consultative Procedure in conjunction with the Draft Annual Plan 2007/08.

• Requested that additional information be added under heading; ‘How will this action happen’ – Provision of town events that all generations can attend. To state that events held in the Ngatea and Waihi townships also be included with the Paeroa township.

• Change to wording under heading; ‘How will action happen’ – Provision for swimming pools. Members commented that there is limited provision for elderly to access a swimming pool in Waihi area i.e. Waihi College Pool has limited hours of access. Requested that consideration be given to this issue in the strategy.

• Requested that consideration be given to addressing the shortage of seating in parks and reserves which is of particular concern to the elderly.

Due to the unavailability of the up-to-date census figures on population statistics in the Hauraki District, it was requested that these final figures from Statistics New Zealand are reported to Council when they are to hand and that if they are available to be included in the information sent out for public consultation.

It was requested that the Draft Strategy, as amended, be approved for the Special Consultative Procedure.

RESOLVED

THAT the Draft Positive Ageing Strategy as amended be approved for consultation via the Special Consultative Procedure with the Draft Annual Plan 2007/08.

07/78 Trembath/Gordon CARRIED

PRESENTATION : DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INTERVENTION NETWORK

Sally Christie and Joanna Fictoor from Hauraki Domestic Violence Intervention Network attended to present to Council on the role of the Hauraki Domestic Violence Intervention Network and the current issues facing the Hauraki Community. 

The Hauraki Domestic Violence Intervention Network works with key agencies to reduce family violence across the Thames-Coromandel District Council and Hauraki District Council boundaries.  Since October 2005, the organisation has employed a co-ordinator to focus on the two regions due to high incidence of family abuse, particularly in Hauraki District.

Particular acknowledgement was made by the presenters thanking Council for its leadership and support on the issue of family violence.

MONITORING REPORT – PERIOD ENDING 31 JANUARY 2007 (01.000.023)

The Planning and Environmental Services Manager continued his presentation of the Monitoring Report updating the members on current activities and projects being undertaken in the planning and regulatory area.

The members requested an update on the Hauraki Youth Leadership Camp in Rotorua. It was advised that the camp visiting Da Bomb Youth Centre in Rotorua has tentatively been booked for the 17, 18, 19 and 20^th April, 2006. Sarah Warne is currently finalising the College students who will attend the camp.

An update was provided to members on the Youth in Paeroa project Sarah Warne and John McIver are involved in. It was advised that Sarah and John have been attending meetings with Paeroa Youth.

It was the intention of staff to present to Council the initial draft parts to the Draft Hauraki District Council Consolidated Bylaw at the meeting of 1^st March 2007. On collation of the report, it became evident that it was likely that the report may more appropriately be considered at a workshop to enable greater discussion on the extensive content of the bylaws.

It was therefore requested that a workshop date be set to discuss the Introductory, Public Safety and Land Transport parts to the bylaw.

RESOLVED

THAT it be approved that a workshop be held on Tuesday 20^th March 2007 at 9.00am in the Council Chambers, Hauraki District Council for the purposes of discussing the Draft Hauraki District Council Consolidated Bylaw, Part 1, 2 and 3.

07/79 Carmine/Baker CARRIED

DRAFT DOG CONTROL POLICY (63.100.000) (108KB)

A report on the Dog Control Policy from the Planning and Environmental Services Manager was presented.

It is proposed the Draft Dog Control Policy be approved for inclusion into the Draft Annual Plan 2007/08 for consultation through the Special Consultative Procedure.

RESOLVED

THAT the report be received.

07/80 Trembath/Carmine CARRIED

Cr Hayden advised that he had received an inquiry from a resident who recently attended the Whiritoa Community meeting. The resident would like Council to allocate an area of land at Whiritoa for use as a dog exercise area away from the present exercise area of the beach and reserve. They consider that the present restrictions of use imposed for only part of the year is not enough.

The Planning and Environmental Services Manager advised that concerned residents need to forward a formal submission to the draft policy and if the residents can suggest an alternative area for a dog exercise area, that would be beneficial. He also advised that if any residents wish to speak to him directly, he is agreeable to meet with them to discuss their concerns on the matter.

RESOLVED

THAT the Draft Dog Control Policy be approved

AND THAT the Draft Dog Control Policy be approved for consultation through the Special Consultative Procedure in the Draft Annual Plan 2007/08.

07/81 Carmine/Baker CARRIED

DOG FEES REPORT 2006/2007 (63.100.000)

Council, at its meeting of 25 January 2007, gave consideration to a draft report on dog registration fees that offered a number of options for the 2007/08 year. At that meeting, Council indicated it favoured Option 4 as detailed in the report but requested staff to confirm dog numbers and the actual costs of registering dogs in the situation where there is more the 3 dogs registered by one owner.

RESOLVED

THAT the report be received.

07/82 Bubb/Challis CARRIED

A review of the costs to register dogs in excess of 3 has since been undertaken which has revealed that these costs fall between $15 and $20 per additional dog depending on the costing method applied and what overheads are included in the calculation. It was therefore recommended that a fee of $17.50 per dog be charged for dogs registered in excess of 3 by one owner. The members agreed that the fee for this category should be raised and that in cases where dogs have been de-sexed, a rebate be offered.

This would set the proposed registration fees for 2007/08 as shown.

RESOLVED

THAT pursuant to Section 37 of the Dog Control Act, 1996 the Schedule of Fees as detailed in the report be adopted as the scale of fees for Dog Registration for the 2007/08 registration year.

07/83 Gordon/Milner CARRIED

The Mayor put the motion and requested a vote be taken.

RESOLVED

THAT the report be received.

07/84 Carmine/Challis CARRIED

It was explained that the Ministry of Economic Development intends to report to Cabinet by 30 April 2007 with proposed amendments for changes to legislation, involving the Electricity Act 1992, Gas Act 1992, Transit New Zealand Act 2001, Railways Act 2005 and Local Government Acts. The intention of the proposed changes is to better regulate the management of road corridors, aimed at minimising the total cost to communities arising from the use of road corridors for a wide range of services in addition to the roadway itself.

Council were requested to consider responses to proposals for the amendments to the legislation which would potentially affect Council

RESOLVED

THAT the recommended responses contained in the report be conveyed to the New Zealand Utilities Advisory Group as Hauraki District Council’s response on the proposals presented.

07/85 Gordon/Baker CARRIED

COUNCIL ESTIMATES – DRAFT ANNUAL PLAN 2007/08 (24.003.206) (57KB)

The Chief Executive provided a report on the Council Estimates for inclusion in the Draft Annual Plan for 2007/08.

RESOLVED

THAT the report be received.

07/86 Carmine/Bubb CARRIED

An addendum to the report was tabled which covered a number of amendments made to the report contained on pages 140 and 141 of the agenda titled Section 2 – Key Projects for 2007/08.

The members were requested to verify these key projects as approved in the Hauraki Community Plan 2006-16 and approve their minor amendments for inclusion in the Draft Annual Plan.

RESOLVED

THAT the 2007/08 Council Estimates be approved, as amended, and be included as appropriate in the Draft Annual Plan 2007/08 for presentation to Council at the 15^th March 2007 Council meeting

07/87 Hayden/Milner CARRIED

MATTERS TO BE TAKEN WITH THE PUBLIC EXCLUDED

The general subject of each matter to be considered while the public is excluded, the reason for passing this resolution in relation to each matter and the specific grounds under section 48(1) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 for the passing of this resolution are as follows:

07/88 Trembath/Milner CARRIED

RESOLVED

THAT the public be re-admitted to the meeting and the business discussed confirmed.

07/94 Baker/Bubb CARRIED

The meeting closed at 3.55pm.

CONFIRMED

J P Tregidga

15 March 2007