Community Services Committee

Open Minutes

 

Meeting Date:

Tuesday 4 September 2018

Time:

4.03pm-4.25pm

Venue

Council Chamber
Hawke’s Bay Regional Council
159 Dalton Street
Napier

 

 

Present

Mayor Dalton, Councillor Wise (In the Chair), Councillors Boag, Brosnan, Dallimore, Hague, Jeffery, McGrath, Price, Tapine, White and Wright

In Attendance

Chief Executive, Director Community Services, Director Infrastructure Services, Director City Services, Director City Strategy, Manager Communications and Marketing, Manager Community Strategies, Strategic Planning Lead, Marketing Manager, Venues Manager, Community Advisor, Community Funding Advisor

Administration

Governance Team

 

Community Services Committee - 04 September 2018 - Open Minutes

 

Apologies

Councillors Price / Tapine

That the apology from Councillor Taylor be accepted.

 

Conflicts of interest

Nil

Public forum

Nil

Announcements by the Mayor

Nil

Announcements by the Chairperson

Nil

Announcements by the management

The Chief Executive introduced the new Bay Skate Manager, Justin Dwyer, to Council.

Confirmation of minutes

Councillors Boag / Hague

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 24 July 2018 were taken as a true and accurate record of the meeting.

 

 

 

Community Services Committee - 04 September 2018 - Open Minutes

Agenda Items

 

1.    Community Services Grants - Allocation

Type of Report:

Operational

Legal Reference:

N/A

Document ID:

604443

Reporting Officer/s & Unit:

Natasha Carswell, Manager Community Strategies

 

1.1   Purpose of Report

To assess the adequacy of the current budget allocation for the Community Services Grants scheme and to identify options for any increase.

 

At the Meeting

A substitute motion was moved to replace the officer’s recommendation with option b, increasing the allocation using a combination of population and CPI adjustments and increasing the per head allocation to $1.80. It was confirmed that the proposed increase would need to be allocated from Council contingency as this is not currently budgeted for.

The following points were made in favour of increasing the allocation:

·         The proposed increase will cost an additional $16,380 per annum, based on the current population statistics.

·         While hardship has increased since the rate was set in 2014, the fund has remained static.

·         Staff analysis show that the number of applications has increased over the last few years from 45 to 65. An increasing number of applications made in these rounds were ineligible and the committee are taking steps to reduce this.

·         Although there are larger numbers of applications, the amounts requested are less therefore the committee were advised to raise the proposed increase for the next Annual Plan. However, the committee will not meet again until June next year which is after the Annual Plan adjustment, making 2020 the earliest opportunity to propose an increase.

·         It was noted that although the applications are requesting lesser amounts, this is not for lack of need.

·         The social housing register was tabled at the meeting, which lists the people and families in every city waiting for state houses. In June 2014 there were 87 people on the list in Napier, in 2018 this number has risen to 245. This places increased pressure on our not-for-profits.

 

 

 

In response to questions from Councillors the Manager Community Strategies clarified the following:

·         The additional funding would not be required until the 2019/20 funding round and therefore could be allocated through the Annual Plan and possibly sourced from the contingency.

·         The preference would be to use one or the other of population or CPI as a combination of the two complicates a relatively small fund.

·         Applying the CPI figure could affect the timing of the funds as the CPI may not be received until the end of September. The increase in CPI annually is usually very low.

·         Currently population is applied when the census data is received, which is every five years. It was suggested that Council could consider population increase based on annual projections, rather than using a combination of population and CPI.

Officer's recommendation

The Community Services Committee:

a.     Approve to remain with the current funding allocation and formula for the Community Services Grants Scheme.

 

Substitute Motion

Councillors Boag / Jeffery

The Community Services Committee:

a.     Increase the allocation to the Community Services Grants scheme using a         combination of population and CPI adjustments and increasing the per head         allocation to $1.80. 

Attachments

1     Social Housing Register

 

Councillor Wise left the meeting at 4.15pm.

 

 

2.    White Night - Provision of Food Trucks

Type of Report:

Procedural

Legal Reference:

Local Government Act 2002

Document ID:

623967

Reporting Officer/s & Unit:

Fleur Lincoln, Strategic Planning Lead

 

2.1   Purpose of Report

The purpose of this report is to obtain a resolution of Council to allow the sale of food and drink to the public within Herschell Street as part of the White Night event on the 20th October 2018.

 

At the Meeting

It was noted that reports regarding events should confirm the steps being taken towards being zero waste conscious, in accordance with the newly adopted Waste Minimisation Plan.

Committee's recommendation

The Community Services Committee:

a.     Resolve to allow the sale of food and drink to the public within Herschell Street at the White Night event on Saturday 20th October 2018.

 

 

 

3.    Youth Policy Review - Public Feedback

Type of Report:

Operational

Legal Reference:

N/A

Document ID:

620996

Reporting Officer/s & Unit:

Jessica Wilson, Community Advisor

 

3.1   Purpose of Report

To advise Council on the process undertaken in reviewing the Youth Policy and to request approval to release the draft Strategy (attachment one) for stakeholder and public feedback prior to adoption by Council.

 

At the Meeting

The Napier Youth Council presented two videos to Council regarding the draft Napier Youth Strategy, noting how they plan to identify the current and future needs of youth in Napier.

Councillors supported the draft strategy and acknowledged the work that the Youth Council have been doing. The following points were noted by Councillors:

·         Council should consider how they can contribute to employment pathways for youth.

·         The current perception is that there is nothing for youth in Napier. The Youth Council is well positioned to help promote the work that Council is doing in this area.

·         It is important that our stories and culture are not lost to our youth and it was suggested that this could be highlighted in the strategy.

Committee's recommendation

The Community Services Committee:

a.     Approve the release of the draft Napier Youth Strategy for stakeholder and public feedback.

 

  

 The meeting closed at 4.25pm.

 

 

Approved and adopted as a true and accurate record of the meeting.

 

 

Chairperson .............................................................................................................................

 

 

Date of approval ......................................................................................................................