A meeting of the full Porirua City Council was held this morning, Thursday 14 December. This was the final full Council meeting for 2023. Here is a wrap of what was covered:
Mayor Anita Baker thanked the Councillors and council officers for their work this year, especially adopting the District Plan and the Māori and Pacific strategies. Since the last Council meeting, she has attended various school prizegivings, Creekfest, fundraising Christmas markets, opening of the commemorative park at Titahi Bay, a performance by Virtuoso Strings, Malaga the Journey, celebrating with our planting and harbour volunteers, and Christmas functions for different community groups.
Ngāti Toa kaumatua Dr Taku Parai applauded the Council for the way they had conducted themselves with mana tangata around the council table this year, showing respect to one another’s views. He wished everyone a good break over summer.
First on the agenda, Council received a draft submission to be lodged on Greater Wellington Regional Council’s Plan Change 1 to the Natural Resources Plan. After some questions and clarifications, they agreed to go ahead with the submission.
Council then adopted the updated Significance and Engagement Policy 2023, which outlines the types of engagement or consultation required for various decisions Council needs to make.
Next up Council received the Dog Control Annual Report covering the year to 30 June 2023. Questions were asked about the uptake of desexing services for dogs, statistics on microchipping and signage improvements.
Local water reform was next on the agenda, with Council receiving a report outlining changes and a potential reorientation of thinking required by councils due to changes indicated by the new government. On the subject of water, Council then delegated authority to Chief Executive Wendy Walker to set and notify and water restrictions for the city, if needed, in accordance with the Water Supply Bylaw 2019.
Next on the agenda, Council agreed on indicative rate levels, key focus areas and consultation items that will form the basis of consultation on the Long-term Plan 2024-34 (LTP). The key focus areas for the LTP are:
- Three waters
- Balance long-term community outcomes with what Council and residents can afford
- Getting Council’s balance sheet right
- Preparing for climate resilience and sustainability.
Consultation on the LTP will happen in March next year and there will be lots more information released closer to this time.
Also in preparation for the LTP process, Council adopted the Rating Policy, and Revenue and Financing Policy.
Finally on the agenda, Council adopted the Waste Minimisation and Management Plan 2023-2029, which establishes a pathway for reducing waste across the Wellington region over the coming six years.
There were no speakers in the public forum.
You watch the livestream of the meeting here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T73z843Lx5M&list=PL0COG4gbk0tPfy1qd1PdNRlklIUSkQzKh&index=1
On the meetings page of our website you can also see what meetings are coming up, with agendas posted a few days before each meeting. The public is welcome to attend most meetings and they are also livestreamed.
14 Dec 2023
