On the Agenda
Elected members are set to confirm their priorities and committee structure for the 2022 to 2025 term when Council meets this Thursday for the final meeting of this year.
Priorities
The Council’s priorities will set the focus and drive work programmes for the next three years.
The priorities will be presented during Thursday’s meeting and follow an in-depth induction programme to guide them towards identifying the key priorities for this term of Council.
The induction programme has focused on:
- Leadership and the role of governance;
- Setting priorities for 2022-2025;
- Te Arawa Partnerships;
- Delivering the priorities – decision-making framework, delegations of committees and the values and behaviours of elected members;
- Financial governance – understanding the current financial framework in order to develop a plan to lead the development of the Annual Plan 2023/24 and the Long-term Plan in order to deliver on priorities.
A report for Thursday’s Council meeting notes that the priorities set by elected members are based on their induction programme, their experiences during their election campaigns and alignment of challenges identified in the Pre-Election Report.
The Council will be asked to endorse the priorities presented on Thursday and to direct officers to develop and bring back to Council the work programme and/or workstreams to deliver these.
Future financial considerations will be required when the work programme is defined and delivery of the work programme required.
Go to p17 of the meeting agenda to read the full report on this matter
Committee structure
Council will be asked to confirm the establishment of two committees for the 2022 to 2025 term – an Infrastructure and Environment Committee and a Community and District Development.
These will replace the previous Council’s committee structure.
The Infrastructure and Environment Committee, to be chaired by Mayor Tania Tapsell, will deal with the development and monitoring of strategy, policy and action plans associated with Infrastructure and Environment activities. Councillors Fisher Wang and Karen Barker are to be co-deputy chairs.
The Community and District Development Committee, to be chaired by Deputy Mayor Sandra Kai Fong, will deal with the development and monitoring of strategy, policy and action plans associated with District Development and Community Services activities. Councillors Gregg Brown and Rawiri Waru are to be co-deputy chairs.
The District Licensing Committee will continue to be chaired by Karen Hunt with three external appointments.
The Chief Executive’s Performance Review Committee will be chaired by the Mayor with Deputy Mayor Kai Fong the deputy chair and all councillors to be members.
A chair and deputy chair for the Audit and Risk Committee are to be appointed externally with Mayor Tapsell, Deputy Mayor Kai Fong and Councillors Wang and Gregg Brown also members of the committee.
Other appointments may be added following further consultation, a report seeking confirmation of the two new committees and appointments notes. A paper will be prepared for the February meeting of Council to adopt the full purpose and delegations of the committees.
Go to p19 of the meeting agenda to read the full report on this matter
Financial update
Council services and finances are under pressure from high inflation, contractor availability challenges, interest rates and weather events that have resulted in additional costs.
The key pressures are outlined in a report for Thursday's meeting on the council's financial performance for the four months ended 31 October.
An operating deficit of $1.2m compares to a budgeted surplus of $11.1m with most of the variance related to due capital subsidies that are linked to key capital project, the report says.
Capital spend for the year to 31 October totalled $26m against a budgeted $43m, the under-spend mainly related to timing of projects and planned infrastructure renewals which are expected to accelerate during the summer months.
Income is tracking $363,000 ahead of budget overall. Rates revenue, investment income and operating subsidies and grants are ahead of budget while fees and charges, financial and development contributions and capital subsidies and grants are behind budget.
Operating expenses are tracking $666,000 over budget with administration expenses, finance costs, maintenance, utilities and staff costs either on or under budget. Overall operating expenses are tracking unfavourably due to additional spending on roading following recent weather events, emergency housing costs and additional spending on security contracts. Council is also being impacted by higher-than-budgeted contractual CPI adjustments on major operational contracts due to current inflation rates.
Council staff are preparing a forecast for revenue and expenditure to inform how the organisation is tracking towards achieving budgets for the current (2022/23) financial year and to identify any necessary corrective actions.
Go to p12 of the meeting agenda to read the full financial update.
Also on the agenda
- A petition to oppose any further Kāinga Ora developments in Rotorua will be received by Council from the Save Glenholme group. You can view the petition HERE on Council’s website.
- Council will receive an update from DCE Community Wellbeing Anaru Pewhairangi about this year’s Summer Safety Plan.
- An update on emergency housing will be presented by DCE District Development Jean-Paul Gaston.
- Council will adopt Standing Orders – go to p25 of the meeting agenda to see the report about this. You can view the Standing Orders HERE on Council’s website.
- Council will adopt a schedule of meetings – go to p29 of the meeting agenda to see the report about this. Meetings will be held on Wednesdays, a change from Thursdays under the previous Council.
- Council will confirm the appointment of members on other entities such as sub-committees, boards and trusts that have Rotorua Lakes Council elected member representation – go to p33 of the meeting agenda to see the report about this.
- Council will be asked to approve public consultation on a proposal to change the purpose of the northern part of the Rotorua Cemetery Reserve, under Section 24A of the Reserves Act 1977, from Local Purpose (Cemetery) Reserve to Local Purpose (Community Housing) Reserve. Go to p37 of the meeting agenda to see the report about this.
View the full agenda HERE on Council’s website.
Thursday’s Council meeting is open to the public to attend. It starts at 9.30am in the Council Chamber.
The meeting will be livestreamed and you can watch live or later via Council’s YouTube channel HERE.