Agenda of Ordinary Council meeting - Tuesday, 13 May 2025

Membership

Chairperson	Mayor Mahé Drysdale
Deputy Chairperson	Deputy Mayor Jen Scoular
Members	Cr Hautapu Baker Cr Glen Crowther Cr Rick Curach Cr Steve Morris Cr Hēmi Rolleston Cr Marten Rozeboom Cr Kevin Schuler Cr Rod Taylor
Quorum	Half of the members present, where the number of members (including vacancies) is even; and a majority of the members present, where the number of members (including vacancies) is odd.
Meeting frequency	Three weekly or as required

Role

· To ensure the effective and efficient governance of the City.

· To enable leadership of the City including advocacy and facilitation on behalf of the community.

· To review and monitor the performance of the Chief Executive.

Scope

· Oversee the work of all committees and subcommittees.

· Exercise all non-delegable and non-delegated functions and powers of the Council.

· The powers Council is legally prohibited from delegating include:

○ Power to make a rate.

○ Power to make a bylaw.

○ Power to borrow money, or purchase or dispose of assets, other than in accordance with the long-term plan.

○ Power to adopt a long-term plan, annual plan, or annual report.

○ Power to appoint a chief executive.

○ Power to adopt policies required to be adopted and consulted on under the Local Government Act 2002 in association with the long-term plan or developed for the purpose of the local governance statement.

○ All final decisions required to be made by resolution of the territorial authority/Council pursuant to relevant legislation (for example: the approval of the City Plan or City Plan changes as per section 34A Resource Management Act 1991).

· Council has chosen not to delegate the following:

○ Power to compulsorily acquire land under the Public Works Act 1981.

· Make those decisions which are required by legislation to be made by resolution of the local authority.

· Authorise all expenditure not delegated to officers, Committees or other subordinate decision‑making bodies of Council.

· Make appointments of members to the council-controlled organisation Boards of Directors/Trustees and representatives of Council to external organisations.

· Undertake all statutory duties in regard to Council-controlled organisations, including reviewing statements of intent and receiving reporting, with the exception of the Local Government Funding Agency where such roles are delegated to the City Delivery Committee. This also includes Priority One reporting.

· Consider all matters related to Local Water Done Well.

· Consider any matters referred from any of the Standing or Special Committees, Joint Committees, Chief Executive or General Managers.

· Review and monitor the Chief Executive’s performance.

· Develop Long Term Plans and Annual Plans including hearings, deliberations and adoption.

· For clarity the Council will develop, review, undertake hearings of and deliberations on community submissions to bylaws as well as the adoption of the final bylaw.

Procedural matters

· Delegation of Council powers to Council’s committees and other subordinate decision-making bodies.

· Adoption of Standing Orders.

· Receipt of Joint Committee minutes.

· Approval of Special Orders.

· Employment of Chief Executive.

· Other Delegations of Council’s powers, duties and responsibilities.

Regulatory matters

Administration, monitoring and enforcement of all regulatory matters that have not otherwise been delegated or that are referred to Council for determination (by a committee, subordinate decision‑making body, Chief Executive or relevant General Manager).

Ordinary Council meeting Agenda

13 May 2025

11 Business

11.1 Annual Plan 2025/26 and Local Waters Done Well - Hearings

File Number: A17520266

Author: Josh Logan, Team Leader: Corporate Planning

Authoriser: Christine Jones, General Manager: Strategy, Growth & Governance

Please note that this report contains confidential attachments.

Public Excluded Attachment	Reason why Public Excluded
Item 11.1 - Annual Plan 2025/26 and Local Waters Done Well - Hearings - Attachment 7 - Submission 027 - Heidi Hughes - CONFIDENTIAL	s7(2)(h) - The withholding of the information is necessary to enable Council to carry out, without prejudice or disadvantage, commercial activities.

Purpose of the Report

1. To receive and hear submissions from the public on the Draft Annual Plan 2025/26 and the Local Waters Done Well consultation.

Recommendations

That the Council:

(a) Receives the report "Annual Plan 2025/26 and Local Waters Done Well - Hearings".

(b) Receives the written and verbal submissions to the Draft Annual Plan 2025/26 and Local Waters Done Well consultation.

Executive Summary

2. The Hearings are an opportunity for Elected Members to listen to the views of the community and ask questions.

3. This cover report is presented to Council to enable the hearing of submissions on the Draft Annual Plan 2025/26 and the Local Waters Done Well consultation, and the Statements of Proposal for User Fees and Charges and for the Development Contributions Policy.

4. Decisions on the material consulted on will be made at the Deliberations meeting in late May where Issues and Options papers and comment responses will be reported to Council.

5. From the consultation period, 968 submissions were received, with 96 submitters requesting to speak at hearings at the time of writing this report.

6. A list of the order of speakers is attached to this agenda (Attachment 1). This will be subject to change as speakers are confirmed and will be updated and tabled at the hearings.

7. Attachments 2-6 provide all the written submissions to all consultations at the time of writing. Copies of all submissions received after the time of writing will be provided at the hearing.

8. A number of submissions in Attachments 2-6 have been redacted due to offensive language and to remove the personal contact details of submitters.

9. It should be noted that submissions 69 and 430 were requested to be withdrawn by the submitters and do not appear in the attachments.

10. Lastly, Attachment 6 contains submission 970 which was received prior to the consultation period closing but had not been entered into the processing system yet when Attachments 2-5 were being prepared. Also contained in Attachment 6 is additional information to submission 957 which again was received by council prior to the close of submissions but not entered into our processing system before Attachments 2-5 were prepared.

Background

11. At its meeting of 24 March 2025, Council adopted the consultation document and supporting documents for the proposed Draft Annual Plan 2025/26 and the Local Waters Done Well consultation.

12. Council also adopted the supporting documentation for the Draft Annual Plan 2025/26, including:

· Supporting financial information

· Activity financial information

· Capital programme

· Operating revenue and expenditure summary by activity

· ‘What this means for rates’ document

13. At the same meeting Council adopted the Statement of Proposals for the Draft User Fees and Charges and the Draft Development Contributions Policy.

14. The consultation period opened on 28 March 2025 and concluded 5pm on 28 April 2025.

15. The consultation document on the Draft Annual Plan 2025/26 presented eight questions for consideration.

1) Future priorities of Council (the two “how would you spend a $100” questions CAPEX and OPEX)

2) Do you agree that Council should undertake a comprehensive review of Fees and Charges?

3) What is your opinion on our proposed annual plan?

4) What do you think we should do with the proposed list of capital projects for 2025/26?

5) Which option do you prefer for the overall direction for Council’s annual plan and future operational budget cost savings?

6) Changes to other rates, fees and charges and DC Policy – any comments?

7) Do you have any comments or feedback on the Annual Plan 2025/2026?

16. The consultation document on Local Water Done Well presented two questions for consideration.

1) What matters to you? (indication of how important the following five statements are to submitters - Community, tangata whenua and stakeholder influence; Governance; Access to sufficient funding; Managing debt levels and Ring-fencing revenue and debt)

2) Let’s find out what you think about the options (asking submitters to rank the three options with a free text box to comment on like and dislikes of each option).

Statutory Context

17. The Local Government Act 2002 (LGA) requires local authorities to prepare and adopt an annual plan for each financial year. This report is in relation to the 2025/26 financial year, which is the second year of the LTP. Developing an annual plan requires consultation on changes that are significantly or materially different from the LTP.

18. Local Water Done Well is the Coalition Government’s plan to address New Zealand’s longstanding water infrastructure challenges. It was announced as part of the Coalition Government’s 100-day plan, replacing the former government’s Three Waters Reform Programme. A key feature of Local Water Done Well is to provide councils with the flexibility to determine the optimal structure and delivery method for water services, including the establishment of new, financially separate water organisations with greater access to funding.

19. Legislation is currently being progressed and the third and final Bill has yet to be introduced to Parliament. Until legislation is enacted there will be uncertainty over the specific provisions.

20. All councils need to develop a Water Services Delivery Plan to publicly demonstrate the intention and commitment to deliver water services in ways that are financially sustainable, meet regulatory quality standards for water infrastructure and water quality, and unlock housing growth. This approach aims to provide transparency to communities in relation to costs and financing of water services. These plans need to be submitted to Government by 3 September 2025.

STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT

21. This contributes to the promotion or achievement of the following strategic community outcome(s):

	Contributes
We are an inclusive city	ü
We value, protect and enhance the environment	ü
We are a well-planned city	ü
We can move around our city easily	ü
We are a city that supports business and education	ü

22. Fair and equitable funding of council’s investment in services and infrastructure through a proportional allocation of rates liability on the whole community will contribute to all of the above outcomes.

23. Water services are fundamental to social wellbeing and provide a daily necessity. The health and social wellbeing of our communities rely on adequate, reliable, and resilient water networks.

24. Tangata Whenua have a significant relationship with water that also needs strong consideration, regardless of which future water service delivery model is decided on.

25. The ability for the community to have their say on the future of water services for Tauranga is an important issue. Providing that opportunity through an open, transparent and inclusive consultation process helps to achieve a more inclusive city.

Options Analysis

26. No options are presented as part of this report.

Financial Considerations

27. There are no financial considerations as part of this report.

Legal Implications / Risks

28. In accordance with the Local Government Act 2002, Council must consult with the community if the annual plan includes significant or material differences from the content of the LTP for the financial year to which the proposed annual plan relates.

29. Part 3 of the Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Act sets out the alternative requirements and additional powers (from the Local Government Act 2022) for decision-making and consultation. These alternative requirements apply where Council 'is deciding whether to establish, join, or amend a water services council-controlled organisation', or 'before adopting its water services delivery plan, is making decisions in relation to an anticipated or proposed model or arrangement for delivering water services in its water services delivery plan'.

30. As part of the decision-making process section 61 of the Act sets out that Council:

(a) must identify both of the following 2 options for delivering water services:

(i) Remaining with the existing approach for delivering water services: and

(ii) Establishing, joining, or amending (as the case may be) the Water Services Council-Controlled Organisation (“CCO”) or the joint local government arrangement; but

(b) may identify additional options for delivering water services; and

(c) must assess the advantages and disadvantages of all options identified.

31. As outlined above Council must include two models for consultation - the current model and one other. The conclusions of the analysis identified that there are two other models that Council could consider as alternatives to the status quo - a single Council CCO or a multi-council CCO. All three options were included in the Why Wai Matters Consultation Document, as resolved at the 9 December 2024 Council meeting.

Consultation / Engagement

32. Consultation took place between 28 March 2025 and 28 April 2025. Consultation on the Draft Annual Plan, Council’s preferred option for Local Waters Done Well, Statement of Proposals for User Fees and Charges and for the Development Contributions Policy were all held concurrently.

Significance

33. The Local Government Act 2002 requires an assessment of the significance of matters, issues, proposals and decisions in this report against Council’s Significance and Engagement Policy. Council acknowledges that in some instances a matter, issue, proposal or decision may have a high degree of importance to individuals, groups, or agencies affected by the report.

34. In making this assessment, consideration has been given to the likely impact, and likely consequences for:

(a) the current and future social, economic, environmental, or cultural well-being of the district or region

(b) any persons who are likely to be particularly affected by, or interested in, the proposal.

35. In accordance with the considerations above, criteria and thresholds in the policy, it is considered that the matter is of high significance.

ENGAGEMENT

36. Taking into consideration the above assessment, that the Draft Annual Plan 2025/26, Local Water Done Well, User Fees and Charges and the Development Contributions Policy are of high significance, officers are of the opinion that no further engagement is required prior to Council making a decision due to the consultation period having just concluded.

Next Steps

37. Deliberations are scheduled to take place for the Annual Plan 2025/26 and Local Waters Done Well from 26 May 2025.

Attachments

1. Annual Plan Hearings Schdule as at 7 May 2025 - A18071861 ⇩

2. AP_LWDW - Submissions 001-372 - A18024432 (Separate Attachments 1)

3. AP_LWDW - Submissions 373-510 - A18027189 (Separate Attachments 1)

4. AP_LWDW - Submissions 511-643 - A18052008 (Separate Attachments 1)

5. AP_LWDW - Submissions 643-969 - A18019090 (Separate Attachments 1)

6. AP_LWDW - Submissions 970 and 957 Attachment - A18068702 (Separate Attachments 1)

7. Submission 027 - Heidi Hughes - CONFIDENTIAL - A17835281 - Public Excluded

Ordinary Council meeting Agenda

13 May 2025

11.2 Authorise International Air Travel for Mayor to China

File Number: A18011200

Author: Coral Hair, Manager: Democracy and Governance Services

Authoriser: Christine Jones, General Manager: Strategy, Growth & Governance

Purpose of the Report

1. The Mayor is attending a Mayoral delegation from New Zealand to China and a resolution of Council is required to authorise the international air travel.

Recommendations

That the Council:

(a) Receives the report "Authorise International Air Travel for Mayor to China".

(b) Authorises the Mayor’s international air travel of $3,938.28 (airfares $3,410.48 and accommodation $527.80) as part of a New Zealand Mayoral Delegation to China from 17 May 2025 to 23 May 2025.

Executive Summary

2. The Mayor is travelling to China as part of a Mayoral Delegation from New Zealand from 17 May to 23 May 2025 and a Council resolution to authorise the international air travel is required. This includes airfares of $3,410.48 and accommodation of $527.80 for two nights in Shanghai.

3. The other nights’ accommodation, meals and transport in Chengdu (4 days, 3 nights) is covered by the organisers of the China-New Zealand Mayoral Forum and Festival being hosted by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the Global Cities of New Zealand.

Background

4. The Mayoral delegation is travelling to Shanghai and Chengdu, China. Other New Zealand cities attending are Auckland, Hamilton, Rotorua, Palmerston North, Hastings and Marlborough.

5. The Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the Global Cities of New Zealand are co-hosting the 3^rd China-New Zealand Mayoral Forum and Festival from 19-22 May 2025 in Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, China. The theme of the event will be “Mapping out for the new decade of Sister City Relationship”. Representatives of cities from New Zealand and China have been invited to join in this event which includes demonstrating the achievements of bilateral sister city exchanges and co-operation in fields such as the economy and trade, tourism, education, culture and urban governance.

6. Tauranga delegates attending along with the Mayor are Greg Simmonds, Priority One and two representatives from Zespri International.

7. Mayor Drysdale and Greg Simmonds, Priority One, will present a session on Sister Cities “Introduction to Tauranga City and our 40-year Sister City relationship with Yantai”. There will be a Zespri presentation “From Tauranga to Chengdu – the growth story of NZ Kiwifruit in China”.

8. Alongside the Mayoral Forum, visits are planned to the Zespris’ China headquarters, Chengdu city planning centre and water management plants, as well as a model school, 20-storey robotic vertical farm and one of the largest companies building high-rise buildings in China.

9. The cost of the Mayor’s airfares and two nights accommodation are to be met by the Council and the other three nights accommodation, meals and transport during the stay in Chengdu City will be covered by the Mayoral Forum and Festival organisers.

Statutory Context

10. Clause 5.1.2 of the Elected Members Expenses and Resources Policy states that “International air travel paid for by council must be authorised by resolution of Council”.

11. Other expenses that may be claimed by the Mayor on his trip to China are set out in Clause 5.4 of the Elected Members Expenses and Resources Policy and any claims made by the Mayor must be authorised by the Deputy Mayor and one other elected member (Clause 6.3) and these expense claims are made available on the Council’s website.

Options Analysis

12. The Council has the option of authorising or not authorising the Mayor’s international air travel to China.

13. The advantages of the Mayor attending the Mayoral forum in China includes enhancing the sister city exchanges and furthering co-operation in fields such as the economy and trade, tourism, education, culture and urban governance that may be of long-term benefit to Tauranga.

14. The disadvantages of the Mayor attending the Mayoral forum in China are the cost of travel.

Financial Considerations

15. The expected cost is airfares of $3,410.48 and accommodation of $527.80 for two nights in Shanghai, a total of $3,933.28.

16. The Mayoral cost centre has budget provision to cover the cost of the airfares and accommodation to China, and any other expenses that may be incurred. Costs in Chengdu are covered by the forum organisers.

Legal Implications / Risks

17. There are no risks or legal implications associated with this decision. The Council has in the past paid for Mayoral air travel and accommodation associated with Sister City travel.

Significance

18. The Local Government Act 2002 requires an assessment of the significance of matters, issues, proposals and decisions in this report against Council’s Significance and Engagement Policy. Council acknowledges that in some instances a matter, issue, proposal or decision may have a high degree of importance to individuals, groups, or agencies affected by the report.

19. In making this assessment, consideration has been given to the likely impact, and likely consequences for:

(a) the current and future social, economic, environmental, or cultural well-being of the district or region

(b) any persons who are likely to be particularly affected by, or interested in, the decision.

20. In accordance with the considerations above, criteria and thresholds in the policy, it is considered that the decision is of low significance.

ENGAGEMENT

21. Taking into consideration the above assessment, that the decision is of low significance, officers are of the opinion that no further engagement is required prior to Council making a decision.

Next Steps

22. The Mayor travels to China as part of the New Zealand-China Mayoral Delegation.

Attachments

Nil

Ordinary Council meeting Agenda

13 May 2025

13 Public excluded session

Resolution to exclude the public

Recommendations

That the public be excluded from the following parts of the proceedings of this meeting.

The general subject matter 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 of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 for the passing of this resolution are as follows:

General subject of each matter to be considered	Reason for passing this resolution in relation to each matter	Ground(s) under section 48 for the passing of this resolution
13.1 - Tauriko West Funding Agreement - Variation of Commercial Feasibility Condition	s7(2)(i) - The withholding of the information is necessary to enable Council to carry on, without prejudice or disadvantage, negotiations (including commercial and industrial negotiations)	s48(1)(a) - the public conduct of the relevant part of the proceedings of the meeting would be likely to result in the disclosure of information for which good reason for withholding would exist under section 6 or section 7
13.2 - Tauranga Art Gallery Refurbishment Project Update	s7(2)(b)(ii) - The withholding of the information is necessary to protect information where the making available of the information would be likely unreasonably to prejudice the commercial position of the person who supplied or who is the subject of the information s7(2)(i) - The withholding of the information is necessary to enable Council to carry on, without prejudice or disadvantage, negotiations (including commercial and industrial negotiations)	s48(1)(a) - the public conduct of the relevant part of the proceedings of the meeting would be likely to result in the disclosure of information for which good reason for withholding would exist under section 6 or section 7
Confidential Attachment 7 - 11.1 - Annual Plan 2025/26 and Local Waters Done Well - Hearings	s7(2)(h) - The withholding of the information is necessary to enable Council to carry out, without prejudice or disadvantage, commercial activities	s48(1)(a) the public conduct of the relevant part of the proceedings of the meeting would be likely to result in the disclosure of information for which good reason for withholding would exist under section 6 or section 7


AGENDA Ordinary Council meeting Tuesday, 13 May 2025
I hereby give notice that an Ordinary meeting of Council will be held on:
Date:	Tuesday, 13 May 2025
Time:	9.30am (Annual Plan Hearings) Council - 13 to 16 May 2025
Location:	Tauranga City Council Chambers Level 1 - 90 Devonport Road Tauranga
Please note that this meeting will be livestreamed and the recording will be publicly available on Tauranga City Council's website: www.tauranga.govt.nz.
Marty Grenfell Chief Executive