From the Council meeting
Emergency Housing update
An update on actions underway and progress being made with regards to emergency housing was presented by DCE District Development Jean-Paul Gaston.
Go directly to this part of the recording of the livestreamed meeting via THIS LINK
See the presentation slides related to this matter HERE
Committee structure
The committee structure for the 2022 to 2025 term which was approved today reflects the priorities the Council has set for this term, Mayor Tania Tapsell says.
The change in structure aims to be more future-focussed as elected members, working with the council organisation, forge ahead with a change in direction, she said in announcing the new structure at today’s Council meeting.
Delegations and other details about the committees will come to Council for approval in February with the first meetings of the new committees scheduled for March.
There will be two main committees – an Infrastructure and Environment Committee and a Community and District Development with the mayor and all councillors members of these.
An 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 have been appointed as co-deputy chairs.
A 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 the co-deputy chairs.
Further appointments may be made to the committees in future, Mayor Tapsell noted.
The District Licensing Committee will continue to be chaired by former councillor 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 members of the committee.
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.
Go to p19 of the meeting agenda to read the full report on this matter
Standing orders, meetings and appointments
Council adopted 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 adopted a schedule of meetings – go to p29 of the meeting agenda to see the report about this. Committee and Council meetings will be held on Wednesdays.
Council was to confirm the appointment of members to other entities such as sub-committees, boards and trusts that have Rotorua Lakes Council elected member representation. Mayor Tapsell announced that this would be deferred until February to give elected members more time to familiarise themselves with the entities and consider the proposed appointments. Go to p33 of the meeting agenda to see the report about this.
Financial update
Council services and finances are under pressure from high inflation, contractor availability challenges, interest rates and weather events resulting in additional costs.
The key pressures were outlined by council’s Chief Financial Officer, DCE Organisational Enablement Thomas Collé.
His written report to Council for the four months ended 31 October noted an operating deficit of $1.2m, compared to a budgeted surplus of $11.1m with most of the variance related to due capital subsidies linked to key capital projects.
The overall capital works programme spend was $26m as at 31 October, against a budgeted $43m, the under-spend mainly related to timing of projects and planned infrastructure renewals, the rate of which is expected to accelerate during the summer months.
Income is tracking $363,000 ahead of budget overall with fees and charges, financial and development contributions and capital subsidies and grants behind budget but rates revenue, investment income and operating subsidies and grants all ahead of budget.
Operating expenses are tracking $666,000 over budget. While administration expenses, finance costs, maintenance, utilities and staff costs are 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.
See the presentation slides related to this matter HERE on Council’s website.
Go directly to this part of the recording of the livestreamed meeting via THIS LINK
Consultation on proposed change of reserve purpose
Council has approved public consultation on a proposal to change the purpose of the northern part of the Rotorua Cemetery Reserve, which is unsuitable for burials, to enable its use by mana whenua for housing.
A further report will be progressed on the process to revoke the reserve status of that part of the reserve but this will be a longer process, generally a minimum of two years. Changing the purpose will take just a few months and is an interim step to enable access to and preparation of the site for housing in advance of reserve status being revoked.
Pukeroa Ōruawhata Trust has signalled its intention to provide housing on the reserve as part of the Ngāti Whakaue contribution to the Rotorua Housing Accord.
The Trust is in ongoing discussions with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development regarding funding opportunities to enable housing on the site, a report to the Council notes. The report notes that the provision of community housing is consistent with the intent of the Rotorua Housing Accord.
It is proposed that the stated purpose be changed under Section 24A of the Reserves Act 1977 from Local Purpose (Cemetery) Reserve to Local Purpose (Community Housing) Reserve.
The site, on the corner of Sala Street and Te Ngae Road, is not being used for the purpose for which it was originally gifted by Ngāti Whakaue and must therefore be returned to Pukeroa Ōruawhata Trust on behalf of Ngāti Whakaue. The reserve classification must be revoked before it is returned.
Go to p37 of the meeting agenda to read the full report on this matter
Go directly to this part of the recording of the livestreamed meeting via THIS LINK
Petition presented
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.
Go directly to this part of the recording of the livestreamed meeting via THIS LINK