Source: http://hawkesbay.infocouncil.biz/Open/2012/03/RC_21032012_AGN_AT.HTM
Timestamp: 2020-07-15 11:07:04
Document Index: 455829207

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 2', 'art 4', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 2']

Agenda of Regional Council Meeting - 21 March 2012
3. Confirmation of Minutes of the Regional Council Meeting held on 29 February 2012
4. Matters Arising from Minutes of the Regional Council Meeting held on 29 February 2012
8. Audited Draft Long Term Plan 2012-22 Adoption for Consultation
9. Draft Long Term Plan 2012-22 Consultation Plan
12. Formal Appointment of Regional Planning Committee Members
13. Directors' and Officers' Insurance for HBRIC
14. Petition to Hawke's Bay Regional Council (9.15am)
15. March 2012 Work Plan - Looking Forward
17. Confirmation of Public Excluded Meeting held on 29 February 2012
18. Matters Arising from Public Excluded Minutes of Meeting held on 29 February 2012
19. Recommendations from Corporate and Strategic Committee
20. Port of Napier Limited Briefing (1.00pm)
Provide councillors with a list of feasibility students being done, when they are due for completion, dates peer reviews expected to have been completed and when the reports will be made available to the public.
Wine Country brand ownership
Paper to be presented at 18 April Council meeting
Is Council achieving what it set out to do through the sale of Napier leasehold properties? And are the methods used satisfying the needs of the leaseholders?
Quarterly Significant Initiatives Update
Water meter installation programme – how to overcome any ‘hurdles’ to reaching the target number of metered wells within the timeframes
AN/KF
Paper to be presented at 9 May Environment & Services Committee
1.1.1 Lot 235
1.1.2 Lot 110
CT E1/69
(cross-lease 10% landlord and 17.5% resides at property)
1.1.3 Lot 200
1.1.4 Lot 98
CT P3/1244
(cross-lease 1x 10% landlord and
3 x 17.5% resides at property)
1.1.6 Lot 373
1.1.7 Lot 13
1.1.8 Lot 188
CT B1/1217
1.1.9 Lot 88
1.1.10 Lot 22
1.1.11 Lot 29
CT E2/144
1.1.12 Lot 455
CT C1/1463
1.1.13 Lot 43
1.1.14 Lot 485
CT 55/117
1.1.15 Lot 66
DP12309
CT HB D2/510
1.1.15 Lot 107
1.1.15 Lot 1
DP13384
1.1.15 Lot 22
1 x 17.5% resides at property)
Awanui Stream Stopbank Reconstruction Upstream Crystal Road Stage 4
Contract No: 11-03-4275C
1.3.1 N. Heath
L. Sadeghi
J. Powrie
1.3.2 A. McNatty
SUBJECT: Audited Draft Long Term Plan 2012-22 Adoption for Consultation
1. Now that the audit of the Draft Long Term Plan 2012-22 (LTP) has been completed, Council needs to consider and adopt it so that it can be finalised, printed and distributed for public consultation by Monday 9 April 2012.
2. Council has discussed the LTP 2012-22 at a number of Council meetings and workshops. The specific workshops put aside for the discussion of the LTP were held 12 September 2011, 10 November 2011, 31 January 2012 and 14 February 2012.
3. During the LTP workshops Council requested additional information on the proposed realisation of the value of the Napier Leasehold Land cashflows. The assumptions used to support the value of this realisation as included in the LTP including a report from Deloitte’s to support these assumptions are set out in attachment 1.
4. The Environmental Management Committee, on Thursday 8 March, approved an increase of $75,000 to be added to the year 2012/13 deficit in the draft LTP to cover science work that enables the scope of the Taharua Plan Change to extend to the whole of the Mohaka Catchment. As this decision was made by a Council committee and is subject to second debate and approval by Council at this meeting (21 March), the adjustments to the draft LTP to incorporate this resolution will be made subsequent to this meeting.
5. Council has also received input on various issues and feedback workshops with members of the public throughout the last 18 months.
6. The decisions made during these discussions have been included in the LTP and the associated rate impacts on any of these initiatives are clearly set out in part 2 of the plan under the Right Debate issues. Part 4 of the LTP analyses changes in total rates over the ten years of the LTP. A further analysis shows proposed rate impacts on specific properties in various districts.
7. This LTP, when adopted by Council, will be released for public consultation on 10 April 2012 for a consultation period of five weeks, submissions closing on 16 May 2012. The LTP, in part 2, provides guidelines for making submissions and submission forms are also included for those in the community wishing to make a submission on the LTP.
8. Section 94 of the Local Government Act 2002 sets out the requirement for audit of the Long Term Council Community Plan. This section of the Act states that a Long Term Council Community Plan must contain a report from the local authority’s auditor on:
8.1. The extent to which the local authority has complied with the requirements of this Act in respect of the plan
8.2. The quality of the information and assumptions underlying the forecast information provided in the plan
9. The draft LTP 2012-22 was provided to the Audit office on Friday 24 February 2012 for a two week audit by Audit New Zealand. The LTP was then sent to the office of the Auditor General on Monday 12 March 2012 for the “hot” review.
10. A few adjustments were required to be made to the LTP by Audit New Zealand and these have now been made. The most significant of these adjustments covered the desirability of repeating in the financial strategy (part 2) the assumptions and mitigation strategies around the risks associated with the investments proposed by Council. Further, it was recommended that it was stated in the LTP that these investments would not proceed without a strong business case and financial viability.
11. Given the large number of LTPs currently being processed by the Office of the Auditor General the “hot” review will not be completed until end of business Friday 16 March 2012. In the event that the Office of the Auditor General requires substantive amendments to the draft LTP as distributed to Council then the detail of any substantive amendments will be provided to Council at this meeting.
12. The Audit Office has undertaken to provide Council with a clearance from audit by the meeting date of 21 March 2012.
13. Attached under separate cover, (under separate cover) and for Councillors only, is the audited Draft Long Term Plan 2012-22. This document may still be edited for spelling, grammar and layout prior to being made available for distribution on 10 April 2012 to commence the public consultation phase.
LTP Summary
14. The summary of the draft LTP as required by section 89 of the Local Government Act 2002 will be sent out to 53,000 households in the week commencing Monday 9 April 2012. The summary of the plan will be included in the “Our Place” publication and will predominantly include the issues raised in the Right Debate (part 2) section of the Long Term Plan.
15. Council is required to make a decision in accordance with the requirements of the Local Government Act 2002 (the Act). Staff have assessed the requirements contained within this section of the Act in relation to this item and concluded that the Long Term Plan as prepared under section 93 of the Act and subpart 2 of this section, states that the Council must use a special consultative procedure as set out in section 83 of the Act when adopting this Long Term Plan.
1. Confirms the decisions recommended in this paper are not able to be implemented until the effect of these decisions are included in the Long Term Plan 2012-22 and that the audited draft LTP be subjected to a special consultative procedure as required by section 93(2) of the Act.
2. Agrees to fund the underlying deficits in the years where the deficits are shown in the LTP, from cash operating balances which are estimated to be at a level which are sufficient to provide such funding.
3. Adopts the proposed scale and schedule of charges set out in the ''Resource Management Charges'' included in Part 4 of the audited draft Long Term Plan 2012-22, and submits to the special consultative procedure as set out in Section 83 of the Local Government Act 2002 (in conjunction with the draft LTP) and is part of the overall Statement of Proposal in accordance with Sections 36(2) of the Resource Management Act 1991.
4. Adopts the audited draft Long Term Plan 2012-22 incorporating the changes initiated by the Council at Council workshops on 12 September 2011, 10 November 2011, 31 January 2012 and 14 February 2012, and any changes made by the Council at their meeting held on 21 March 2012 under Sections 83 and 93 of the Local Government Act 2002 for the purposes of initiating the special consultative procedure and the audited draft Long Term Plan 2012-22 as adopted be part of the Statement of Proposal.
5. Agrees that where the special consultative procedure is required for any significant decisions that are included in the audited draft Long Term Plan 2012-22, the Statement of Proposal as required under Section 83 (1)(a)(i) of the Local Government Act 2002 is the audited draft Long Term Plan 2012-22, the proposed amendments to the Investment Policy, Liability Management Policy and the Revenue and Financing Policy and further, the policies set out in Part 4 of the LTP (excluding accounting policies) being open for review and public comment in line with Council's own policy to review, through a special consultative procedure, these policies every three years.
6. Agrees that the Summary of Information as required by Section 83 (1)(a)(ii) and Section 89 will be in the form of the draft Long Term Plan 2012-22 summary which will be included in the April issue of the Our Place.
7. Gives public notice pursuant to Section 83 (e), (f), and (g) of the Local Government Act 2002, to notify the adoption of the audited draft Long Term Plan 2012-22 with a closing date of submissions on 16 May 2012.
Leasehold Land Portfolio
SUBJECT: Draft Long Term Plan 2012-22 Consultation Plan
1. The Draft Long Term Plan (LTP) enables the regional community to have their say on the work of HBRC proposed for 2012-2022. This item outlines how we plan to promote the Draft LTP and activate the community’s response.
2. For the 2009-2019 Draft LTP, HBRC focused on printed messages, advertising, media releases, HBRC’s website and public expos to gather input and comment from the public.
3. This year, we propose a mix of print, online advertising, social media and video, supported by the traditional channels of press and radio.
4. In addition we propose presentations to groups, by request, to promote the Draft LTP and seek input from the Hawke’s Bay community.
5. The strategic goals and enablers are the visual key to the Strategic Plan (2011) and Draft LTP. The themes below will be reinforced and used to draw attention to the key initiatives outlined in the Draft LTP Statement of Proposal, Chairman and Chief Executive’s Introduction and The Right Debate.
Enabling Strategic Goals
-Water Allocation
-People &
-Fit for Purpose Organisation
Long Term Plan Document
6. The document will be printed and available on the HBRC website. Copies will also be mailed with a covering letter to key stakeholders including Territorial Local Authorities, the Port of Napier, central Government departments, Audit New Zealand and interest groups. Copies are also provided to public libraries throughout the region (8 in all) to have on display and so that the public can access them.
7. The Local Government Act 2002 requires that a Summary of Information be prepared which should be a fair representation of the major matters in the Draft LTP. The Summary will be based on information in the Statement of Proposal, the Introduction and The Right Debate sections. It is proposed that the April issue of Our Place include a four-page feature containing a summary of the Draft LTP. Our Place will be delivered to approximately 53,000 households across the region in the week beginning 10 April 2012.
Digital, Video and Social Media
8. HBRC will promote the Draft LTP and submissions using relevant email databases, the HBRC website, our facebook and LinkedIn pages. Staff will also engage online advertising in Hawke’s Bay Today and investigate TradeMe. Digital channels for Maori will also be investigated.
9. An electronic version of the Draft Plan Summary will be emailed to stakeholder groups, for example iwi, Councillors, Maori Committee, sector, etc. HBRC will encourage this email to be forwarded to others. It will also contain a link to the Draft LTP video.
10. Staff will prepare a short video to cover key points in the Draft LTP and promote the consultation and submission process. This will be available online via the website and social media, uploaded to YouTube, visible on the HBRC reception TV, at the HBRC Open Day, and in ‘shop front’ sessions in Waipukurau and Wairoa.
11. The Local Government Act 2002 requires that public notice be given to advise the availability of the Draft LTP. Public notices will be placed in newspapers throughout the region noting the availability of copies of the Draft LTP and Summary of Information, the public opportunities organised for the area covered by the newspaper, and the closing date for submissions.
CHB Mail and Wairoa Star Tuesday 10 April
Napier Mail and Hastings Mail Wednesday 11 April
Hawke’s Bay Today Wednesday 11 April
12. Radio advertising on The Radio Network and MediaWorks selected stations will also promote the Draft Plan and the window for submissions.
13. An ad promoting the Draft Plan and window for submissions will feature in Hawke’s Bay’s business magazine The Profit, April-June issue. Additional editorial coverage is likely.
14. A reminder ad for the closing date for submissions will be placed in area-specific papers only, due to prior wider notification at the beginning of the consultation period. Closing of Submission Period Reminder ads will appear in Hawke’s Bay Today, CHB Mail and Wairoa Star in the week beginning 7 May.
15. News media will be invited to attend a presentation covering the key issues and proposals within the Plan. This will include a media briefing pack containing the Summary, Submission Form, relevant contact details and an outline of this programme. This will occur on 10 April 2012.
16. Media releases will also be issued to all local newspapers and radio news stations to coincide with the release of the Draft Plan. Maori media will be included.
HBRC Open Day
17. An Open Day will be held for Napier and Hastings people to better understand the work of HBRC, to meet and speak with their local Councillors, and to learn about key issues in the Draft Plan. This will include the HBRC Operations Group with opportunity to include the Port of Napier Limited. A free bus day is also being investigated to coincide with this day, set for Thursday 12 April 2012.
HBRC Shop Fronts – Waipukurau and Wairoa
18. HBRC will book a shop front or suitable venue in CHB and Wairoa to promote the Draft Plan, to enable locals to meet and speak with their local Councillor and answer any public queries. This will occur in the week beginning 17 April.
19. HBRC staff and Councillors will attend sector/ interest group by request. This offer will be promoted via email and/ or personal letters. Presentations are preferred due to the traditional low level of attendance at public meetings.
20. Staff will receive a full briefing on the Draft Long Term Plan prior to its release, with opportunity for further comment in Snapshot or at a CE Briefing.
21. Printing and promotion costs are estimated as follows.
Draft Long Term Plan print and digital $17,000
Final Long Term Plan print $14,000
Our Place feature pages $ 2,000
Open Day and Shop Fronts $10,000
22.2. The decision does not fall within the definition of Council’s policy on significance.
22.3. The persons affected by this decision are all ratepayers in the region.
2. Endorses the proposed promotion and community engagement programme for the Draft Long Term Plan 2012-2022.
1. The following matters were considered by the Environmental Management Committee on Thursday, 8 March 2012 and are now presented to Council for consideration and approval.
Update on Appeal Costs
5. Funds the Science work that enables the scope of the Taharua plan change to extend to the whole of Mohaka Catchment by way of a combination of:
5.1 Section 36 charges where appropriate, and
5.2 Approving a carry forward in June of any under-expenditure identified as a result of the April reforecasting exercise; and
5.3 Approving an increase to the Year 2012-13 deficit of up to $75,000 in the Draft Long Term Plan.
6. Contributes to a gap analysis of all regulations managing all of the aspects of the oil/gas industry to avoid a disjointed approach to this industry.
7. Agrees that New Zealand regulatory agencies should consider adopting overseas standards, where applicable, to ensure consistent regulations rather than develop our own standards
8. Notes that the British Columbia Oil and Gas Commission (BCOGC), Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) and National Energy Board (NEB) have all offered ongoing support to assist the East Coast Councils and New Zealand as a whole, for development of policy, regulations and technical support.
1. The following matters were considered by the Corporate and Strategic Committee on Wednesday 14 March 2012 and are now presented to Council for consideration and approval.
2. Approves the proposal to continue partnerships with the Hawke’s Bay Environmental Action Awards, the Westpac Chamber of Commerce Business Awards, the East Coast Ballance Farm Awards and the Eastern Horticultural Field Day.
3. Adopts the Statement of Proposal for the establishment of the Kairakau Community Scheme, subject to any changes Council may wish to make, for the purpose of distribution to the Kairakau Community and the special consultative process.
4. Requests that the Hearings Committee appoints a Hearing Panel to hear and consider all submissions received and report its decisions back to Council.
5. Instructs staff to liaise with the Hearing Panel members as appointed to set a date for hearing of submissions in accordance with the Local Government Act 2002.
SUBJECT: Formal Appointment of Regional Planning Committee Members
3. In December 2011 Council adopted the Terms of Reference for the Regional Planning Committee set out in Attachment 1.
4. The Committee will ultimately be permanently established through legislation to recognise the unique background to this committee arising from the recognition of cultural redress through Treaty claims. Until this process is completed Council has agreed to establish a “transitional” version of the Committee that can proceed to work on the current policy development initiatives.
5. The purpose of this paper is to appoint the members of the Regional Planning Committee, and the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Committee, so that the Committee can start its meetings.
6. There are several matters to be discussed and these are set out below.
7. The principle of membership which it has been agreed shall apply is that of equal numbers of Councillors and Tāngata Whenua representatives on the Committee at any time.
8. To date, six of the nine Treaty claimant groups with interests in Hawke’s Bay have formally agreed to be members of the Regional Planning Committee, and have undertaken to sign the Deed of Commitment.
9. There are signs that the balance of Tāngata Whenua representation may be sorted out within the next few months, or sooner. So, rather than create uncertainty among Councillors as to when they would be required to join the Regional Planning Committee, and in acknowledgement that policy development is a key governance function of councillors, the Tāngata Whenua representatives have agreed with a staff suggestion that all nine councillors be appointed to the Committee from the time of its establishment.
10. It would be helpful if there could be agreement by the councillors that, in the event of a requirement for a vote the principle of equal representation could be maintained and three councillors could abstain from voting. This is expected to be a very temporary situation.
11. The first meeting of the Regional Planning Committee is scheduled for Tuesday 10 April 2012 (just before Easter). As this first meeting is such a significant stepping stone for the region the Council has invited the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, the Hon. Christopher Finlayson, and the Minister of Māori Affairs, the Hon. Dr Pita Sharples, to attend a formal welcome for the Committee members at the start of the inaugural meeting.
12. At the time of writing the agenda paper confirmation had yet to be received on the attendance of either Minister. Nevertheless it is important to acknowledge the advancement to the relationship between HBRC and iwi that the Committee brings, and suitable recognition will be given to this at the beginning of the meeting. It is then proposed that, following refreshments, training is commenced for the Tāngata Whenua representatives and for any other Committee members who would like to participate.
13. In the Council schedule of meetings, the Regional Planning Committee meetings are set down for 4 April, 20 June and 11 July. Having discussed training requirements with the Tāngata Whenua representatives it is proposed that these three meetings focus on training for the Tāngata Whenua representatives in the following areas.
13.1. Local government meeting processes and procedures
13.2. The Resource Management Act, particularly as it applies to plan development
13.3. HBRC plans and policy statements; HBRC policy development work programme and current issues.
Current Policy Programme
14. It is important that the Tāngata Whenua representatives receive appropriate training for their committee roles. It is also important that Council’s policy development work programme continues along its current timelines given the requirements to have plan changes in place prior to consent expiry dates.
15. It is suggested that in the interim the Environmental Management Committee continues with its responsibility for this work until the end of June and that the new Committee structure operates from 1 July, meaning that the first meeting of the Environment and Services Committee would be held on 15 August.
16. Cabinet has approved a Crown contribution to natural resource arrangement costs of $100,000 to Hawke’s Bay Regional Council for the following:
16.1. pre-settlement iwi/claimant groups’ costs during the transition period; and
16.2. one-off set up cost of new arrangements to involve iwi in the management of natural resources; and
16.3. ongoing costs in a transitional period up to a maximum of three years arising from implementation of new natural resource arrangements;
17. Hawke’s Bay Regional Council will continue to meet the costs of agenda preparation and distribution, travel expenses and meeting expenses (other than meeting fees); and training costs as required
18.4. The persons affected by this decision are all persons with an interest in the region’s management of natural and physical resources under the RMA.
18.5. Options that have been considered include making alternative arrangements for the governance of natural and physical resources including the fragmentation of the region into catchments for governance purposes.
2. Appoints all councillors to the Regional Planning Committee.
3. Appoints Councillor ________ as Chairman of the Regional Planning Committee.
4. Appoints the following persons as members of the Regional Planning Committee:
4.1. Walter Wilson, representing Te Whakaemi o te Wairoa
4.2. Nicky Kirikiri, representing Ruapani ki Waikaremoana
4.3. Toro Waaka, representing Ngati Pahauwera Development Trust
4.4. Karauna Brown, representing Ngati Hineuri Iwi Incorporated
4.5. Tania Hopmans, representing Maungahururu-Tangitu Iwi Incorporated
4.6. Rangi Spooner, representing Mana Ahuriri Incorporated.
5. Appoints __________ as Deputy Chairman of the Regional Planning Committee.
Terms of Reference for Reigonal Planning Committee
Legislation will be introduced to make the Permanent Committee permanent. Negotiations on terms of reference of the Permanent Committee are yet to be concluded. However, in the meantime, the Council and the Member Tāngata Whenua Groups have agreed to establish the Committee with interim terms of reference to begin working together on the matters set out at b) to d) below.
These terms of reference will be superseded by terms of reference of the Permanent Committee when legislation is enacted to give effect to agreements reached in respect of the Permanent Committee. These terms of reference may be amended by the Council and the Member Tāngata Whenua Groups in accordance with (n) below.
The Committee is responsible for preparing Proposed Regional Plans and Proposed Regional Policy Statements, or any Plan Changes or Plan Variations, and recommending to the Council the adoption of those documents for public notification, as provided for further in paragraph (d) below. In the event that the Council does not adopt all or any part of any Proposed Regional Plan, Proposed Regional Policy Statement, Plan Change or Plan Variation or other recommendation, the Council shall refer such document or recommendation in its entirety back to the Committee for further consideration, as soon as practicable but not later than two months after receiving a recommendation from the Committee.
Membership of the Committee (both Councillor members and Tāngata Whenua Representatives) shall be reviewed following the 2013 triennial election of Councillors, unless the Permanent Committee has already been established. The Council will review the appointment of its Council members and Member Tāngata Whenua Groups will review the appointment of their respective Tāngata Whenua Representatives. However, it is recognised that the Tāngata Whenua Representatives are nominated for appointment by their respective Member Tāngata Whenua Groups from time to time (and not necessarily triennially), and in accordance with the processes of their respective Member Tāngata Whenua Groups.
As required in order to achieve the plan and policy development work programme.
· on an interim basis and only to the extent set out in the the Deed of Commitment [ ] between HBRC, Tāngata Whenua Parties and the Crown, Te Toi Kura o Waikaremoana (representing Ruapani ki Waikaremoana); and
Regional Coastal Environmental Plan
SUBJECT: Directors' and Officers' Insurance for HBRIC
1. Hawke’s Bay Regional Investment Company (HBRIC) wishes to effect a Directors & Officers liability insurance to cover any liability arising from the indemnification of all its directors (including all councillor directors, independent directors and the managing director) for any acts or omissions by them in their capacity as directors of the company.
2. HBRIC’s Constitution (Clause 13.2) requires the Council, as the shareholder in HBRIC, to approve it contracting such insurance for directors.
3. This report outlines the situation giving rise to the need for this insurance and recommends the Council approve HBRIC contracting a suitable Directors & Officers liability insurance.
4. In accordance with Clause 13.1 of its Constitution, approved by the Council on 14 December 2011, HBRIC provides an indemnity to its directors for costs and liability incurred as a result of any act or omission in their capacity as directors.
5. This indemnification complies with the Companies Act 1993 and is in respect of costs and liabilities of directors relating to:
5.1. liability for any act or omission in his or her capacity as a director incurred in any proceeding against them [Section 162(3) of the Act]; and,
5.2. liability to any person other than the company [HBRIC] or a related company for any act or omission in his or her capacity as a director and costs incurred by that director or employee in defending or settling any claim or proceeding relating to any such liability- not being criminal liability or liability in breach, in the case of a director, of the duty specified in section 131 [to act in good faith and the best interests of the company] of this Act..[Section 162(4) of the Act].
6. HBRIC wishes to insure its potential liability for the indemnification given to its directors and is permitted to do so by Section 162(5) of the Act, and its own Constitution, subject to the approval of its shareholder.
7. Indemnification of directors and insuring its potential liability is a common and prudent commercial practice, widely followed by limited liability companies in New Zealand.
8. Accordingly Council’s insurance broker, Jardine Lloyd Thompson Limited, was asked to secure quotes and terms for an appropriate Directors’ and Officers’ liability insurance.
8.1. Quotes and acceptable terms were received from two potential underwriters, QBE Insurance and Vero Liability.
8.2. Jardine Lloyd Thompson recommends HBRIC effect insurance with Vero Liability.
9. Council is only being asked to approve HBRIC effecting insurance for a liability HBRIC has already contracted under its approved Constitution.
10. Council is not required to approve the underwriter or the terms of HBRIC’s contract with the underwriter, but clearly HBRIC is expected to, and will, act prudently in effecting a particular contract.
11. Council is not being asked to provide any indemnities to HBRIC or any of HBRIC’s directors in respect of this issue.
12. Nor is Council being asked to pay for any insurance that is effected by HBRIC. The annual premium payable for the insurance is an expense of HBRIC alone.
13. Council is required to make a decision in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 1993 and HBRIC’s constitution.
1. Notes that the decision is required under the Companies Act 1993 and HBRIC’s constitution.
2. Approves HBRIC effecting directors’ and officers’ insurance to cover potential liabilities arising from indemnities given by HBRIC to its directors in accordance with its Constitution, on terms and conditions satisfactory to HBRIC.
SUBJECT: Petition to Hawke's Bay Regional Council
1. Council has received a petition from the community, the text of which states:
1.1. We, the undersigned, request that Hawke’s Bay Regional Council agree to make hydraulic fracturing (fracking) for petroleum (oil & gas) a prohibited activity in the Hawke’s Bay Region until the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment reports to Parliament the findings of an inquiry into the practice of hydraulic fracturing in New Zealand.
2. Representatives of the petition will make a verbal presentation to Council at the meeting on Wednesday 21 March 2012, at 9.15am.
3. While the Regional Resource Management Plan (RRMP) is silent on the specific activity known as hydraulic fracturing, there are currently a range of rules and policy in the RRMP that are in play when Council considers any consent application for bores that are used for petrochemical exploration and associated land based activities.
4. The assessment of the pre-application information that has been provided by the applicant to date has not revealed any activity that is not adequately controlled by provisions in the RRMP.
5. The consents required for petrochemical exploration range in status from controlled to discretionary activities. There are no prohibited activities.
6. The use of a prohibited activity status is very rare in a New Zealand context and is uncommon in the RRMP (only one prohibited activity exists now).
7. A resource consent application cannot be made for a prohibited activity and a consent cannot be granted. The prohibited activity status is the most restrictive of any activity status and therefore must be used with care. The decision to use it should be backed with strong evidence of its necessity, including justification through objectives and policies (see for example Ngatiwai Trust Board v Whangarei District Council [2004] A057/04).
8. Changing the status of any consents required for hydraulic fracturing would require a change in the RRMP. This would require a through and appropriate plan change process including, but not limited to, an assessment of the proposal against Part 2 of the Resource Management Act (RMA) and an associated background assessment process under section 32 of the RMA along with notification and submissions from the public. Depending on the outcome of this process a hearing may then also be required. These processes take on average 8 years in New Zealand at the moment.
9. While changing consent status to prohibited or creating a new consent requirement for hydraulic fracturing is possible, it is not possible in the current timeframes around the possible applications that are due to be lodged at any stage. Even if Council were to agree to begin a process today to change, this would not have any legal status in time to capture consent applications that were lodged over the next few months or longer.
10. So, to summarize, while Council could undertake to make any activity a prohibited one, they are not legally able to change the RRMP without following due process and this would not occur in time to capture current consent processing.
11. It is useful while considering this request to also reflect on what Council’s functions are when considering this type of activity.
11.1. HBRC is required to assess the effects of resource use activities and ensure that any effects are avoided, remedied or mitigated through appropriate conditions in resource consents.
11.2. The RRMP assists HBRC to carry out its functions to achieve the purposes of the RMA. The RRMP has a policy and rule framework for assessing resource use activities.
11.3. HBRC must have regard to the provisions of the RRMP when considering applications for resource consents
11.4. This gives the RRMP the force and effect of a regulation under the RMA
11.5. Council are obliged to receive any consent application but may or may not grant any application.
12. Council might also reflect that the current proposal from the applicant is one for an exploratory bore. It is possible that if an industry was to develop in the future and more bores were required, the tests and assessment process may become broader as a larger number of bores were considered.
13. It should also be noted that any applicant applying for a resource consent has legal rights under the process and Council must apply rigorous and fair processes to any application. Failure to do so may open avenues for legal challenge.
14. It is also useful to reflect on the fact there are a range of other agencies that also have a substantive role and statutory functions in regulating the petrochemical industry. They include;
14.1. Department of Labour – administer the Health Safety and Employment Act, enforce the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HZNO) Act. Control well management in a manner that compliments Council’s interests.
14.2. Ministry of Economic Development – Issues permits to explore and extract petrochemicals. Manages royalty payments to the Crown
14.3. Environmental Protection Authority – Administers the HZNO Act that controls products used in industrial processes that may affect the environment and humans
15. These agencies have complimentary regulatory requirements and we are actively working with them to ensure there is good overlap in their requirements and Councils.
SUBJECT: March 2012 Work Plan - Looking Forward
Reviews of Asset Management Plans substantially complete for HPFCS and UTTS. Peer reviews and audit completed. Some modification required to align AMP’s with LTP financials and levels of service.
Regional Pest Management Strategy and Regional Phytosanitary Pest Management Strategy Hearing held 15 February 2012. Council adopted Hearings Panel recommendations 29Feb. If no references made to Environment Court final adoption of strategies to be put to Council April.
A number of strategies to improve effectiveness of Council land management investment have been developed and included in the LTP 2012-22. An operational plan is being developed and will be presented for Council consideration in May 2012.
Resource consent application notified 28 January 2012, submissions closed 29 February.
A review of infrastructure disaster insurance arrangements is underway. An initial report to Council is planned for May 2012, to provide direction so that insurance negotiations for the 2012/13 year can be initiated.
Continuing to work closely with the planning team with policy development for water allocation and water quality. Work is underway to delineate capture zones for community drinking water supplies to support the Wastewater plan change.
Staff are working closely with the consents team on draft consent application for Apache Oil drilling consent applications. Council is expecting consents to be lodge in March.
Work still to progress on the Ngaruroro with weather conditions unsuitable for aerial surveys over summer 2011/12. Work to resume on the Ngaruroro summer 2012/13.
Ongoing. Technical reports being used to develop the water allocation framework. Stakeholder engagement as per adoption by Council in February.
Hearing to be scheduled May 2012.
Hearing scheduled 19-20 April 2012.
Change 4 (Managing the Built Environment) publicly notified 7 December 2011. 45 submissions received. Further submissions to be invited April 2012. Hearing by end of 2012.
Ongoing. Environment Court to ratify settlement of all appeals in April. RCEP to be approved by Council, then referred to Minister of Conservation for approval of provisions relating to coastal marine area.
The projects in the Regional Land Transport Programme have been confirmed by the Regional Transport Committee. This Programme will form part of the Regional Land Transport Strategy that will go out for public consultation in late April 2012.
Successful launch on 29 February.
Pan Sector cluster was successfully held in early March. The next meeting is planned for April and will focus on terms of reference and draft strategy and work programme.
Projects ongoing.
Inaugural meeting 10 April 2012.
Implementation of consultation plan for LTP – HBRC Open Day 12 April.
Planning underway for Home & Garden Show (May)
Next edition of ‘Our Place’ will be released in April
· Risk workshop for Dam and Reticulation refined design and costing
· Receiving all 7 environmental studies, reviewing findings and accommodating in final project description.
· Progressing Nutrient and Mitigation modelling works.
· Stakeholder and leadership meetings to host.
· Progress remaining Craggy Range section of trail.
· Progress Tiapo and Pondora sections of trail.
· Continue with Ngatarawa and Roys hill section of trail.
Have had 3 meetings in March. Expect clear recommendations to be complete on limit setting and collaborative governance by end of March. More meetings are scheduled for April.
Inaugural meeting of the Regional Planning Committee scheduled 10 April will be attended by Minister for Treaty Settlements
Terms of Reference for the study have been finalised after comment and input from all Councils. Mayoral meeting 5 April to confirm options for Study Leader and timelines. If no agreement, recommend HBRC initiate own study.
Initial due diligence due end of April.
Ÿ Shared Services
1. That Council receives the March 2012 Work Plan Looking Forward report.
SUBJECT: Confirmation of Public Excluded Meeting held on 29 February 2012
That Council excludes the public from this section of the meeting, being Agenda Item 19 Recommendations from Corporate and Strategic Committee with the general subject of the item to be considered while the public is excluded; the reasons for passing the resolution and the specific grounds under Section 48 (1) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 for the passing of this resolution being as follows:
Recommendations from Corporate and Strategic Committee