LGOIMA Requests
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Search results: 632
| Received | Subject | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28/03/2024 | Information about Councils payments to Taituara (SOLGM) | Complete | Details |
| 19/03/2024 | Dates and costs contributed to any function/event held in Council owned buildings, including libraries) by Rainbow Storytime since June 2020. | Complete | Details |
| 13/03/2024 | Information about any proposed rates increase this year and debt servicing, in particular with relation to water services and water infrastructure.. | Complete | Details |
| 11/03/2024 | Information about Council’s strategy and progress towards reducing Council fleet emissions. | Complete | Details |
| 07/03/2024 | All information held by the MDC relating to property at 1 Dundas Road, Sanson. | Complete | Details |
| 29/02/2024 | Number of claims against Council, Total settlements paid by Council, Total legal and expert costs incurred, did any Building Deflect Claims involve Natural hazards and how many built by Group Housing Companies all these within the Calendar year. | Complete | Details |
| 20/02/2024 | Three waters spending implications for the LTP | Complete | Details |
| 15/02/2024 | Opawe Road paper road stopping - Details of person who initiated the process in 2012-13 and 2022-2023, and the MDC staff member who initially processed the applications. | Complete | Details |
| 15/02/2024 | Request for waste and recycling data | Complete | Details |
| 08/02/2024 | Information around active dune management and investment Foxton Beach, Himatangi Beach, Tangimoana, Waikawa Beach and Turakina | Complete | Details |
LGOIMA Request Details: LG2254
Date received: 28/03/2024
Requested information: Information about Councils payments to Taituara (SOLGM)
Status: Complete
Response:
Please provide for the 2023 calendar year:
A list of all payments from the Council group (i.e. including any CCOs) to Taituarā
See linked spreadsheet
2. For each payment:
a. the date, invoice number, and what the payment was for* and
b. whether it was recovered (or deducted from the pay) from the relevant employee enjoying the membership or services related to the same.
See linked spreadsheet as above
Many of the invoices relate to various attendances at Taituarā events and forums, these are training and development opportunities covering particular skills and topics specific to local government etc. These are all undertaken on a user pays basis and are usually online programmes.
Council register and pay for staff to attend these opportunities to provide them with training and knowledge to do their jobs well – just as any good employer would do. We observe that it is generally unusual for a council (or other employer for that matter) to recover that cost from an employee.
Invoices relating to payment of Taituarā memberships, are also covered by council as negotiated between the relevant employee and manager. A membership is currently $275excl per year. The membership allows members to receive access to member-only webinars, event registration discounts and many other professional development opportunities. We observe that it is common practice in councils (and other organisations) to include the payment of one member fee for a professional body as a term of employment for professional development.
Given the nature of Taituarā as a membership organisation – in effect the employment union for local government managers – if membership dues are not recovered or deducted, please provide:
a. the reasoning (if any) for not deducting the amounts (i.e. Why should ratepayers pay for a private organisation/benefit?) and
Please see answer 2b above
b. whether the Council does this for any other employment union or professional/networking association. If so, which ones?
The council does cover the costs of membership for various staff to their professional bodies that are relevant to the roles they hold. This is not deducted from staff salaries as this is deemed as an essential cost of their employment, many roles require professional body registration to keep their qualifications, and many require specific training, which is provided by those professional bodies.
MDC currently pays membership fees to the following professional bodies:
• NZ Planning Institute
• Manawatu Chamber of Business
• Institute of Directors
• Admin NZ Manawatu
• NZ Institute of Liquor Licencing
• BOINZ
• Recreation Aotearoa
• Local Authority Property Assn
• NZ & Aust Institute of Chartered Accountants
• ALGIM
• Renumeration Authority
• Waste Management Institute
• Water NZ - Corporate membership
• Engineering New Zealand
• IPWEA New Zealand
• Association of Public Library Managers
• NZ Institute of Planning
• Human Resources Institute of NZ Incorporated
• Archives and Records Assn of NZ
• Local Government NZ
Union fees are paid by individual union members. The PSA Union set the fees for their members and the fees are deducted from their pay and forwarded to the PSA Union
If the Council considers that the membership for Council officers is as part of their role at the Council (and therefore not for private benefit) please provide this information and explain how Taituarā is not therefore treated as a CCO under s 6(1) of the Local Government Act 2002 for the purposes of the Council group’s statutory reporting.
Taituarā is an incorporated society. It is the professional body for local government managers and staff. Membership is voluntary rather than a requirement as is the case for example with lawyers, accountants etc. Taituarā are not a union and play no role in the negotiation of employment contracts or employment relations for any individual or group within the sector.
With regards to the status under the Local Government Act. Taituarā does not meet the legal definition of a CCO. It is the individual not the council that is a member of Taituarā. No local authority or group of local authorities own or control 50 percent or more of the voting rights at any meeting of Taituarā, nor does any local authority or group of local authorities have the right to appoint 50 percent or more of the members of the governing body.
LGOIMA Request Details: LG2252
Date received: 19/03/2024
Requested information: Dates and costs contributed to any function/event held in Council owned buildings, including libraries) by Rainbow Storytime since June 2020.
Status: Complete
Response:
We can confirm that there have been no functions/events involving Rainbow Storytime in Manawatu District Council facilities.
LGOIMA Request Details: LG2251
Date received: 13/03/2024
Requested information: Information about any proposed rates increase this year and debt servicing, in particular with relation to water services and water infrastructure..
Status: Complete
Response:
Please note that the Long Term Plan for 2024-2034 is not yet approved by Council and is still subject to change after consultation.
1. What is your Council's proposed rates increase this year?
The Council's proposed rates increase for the 24/25 Financial year is 8.7%
Rates increase % 8.70%
Less Growth % -1.61%
Rates increase – existing ratepayers % 7.09%
a. What proportion of that is for water services and water infrastructure? 28%
b. What proportion of any proposed rates increase is to service the debt for water infrastructure? 18.83%
2. What proportion of any proposed rates is to service debt for water infrastructure?
Repeat of Question 1b?
3. How much debt is your Council currently servicing for water infrastructure?
$87,055,653
- What is your Council's current projected costs of servicing this debt over the next 10 years?
See table below
LGOIMA Request Details: LG2250
Date received: 11/03/2024
Requested information: Information about Council’s strategy and progress towards reducing Council fleet emissions.
Status: Complete
Response:
We currently have two hybrids and one PHEV in our fleet. With our next round of general pool replacements vehicles in the next few years we hope to increase our hybrids in our general fleet.
Council recently conducted a GHG emissions inventory on Council operations and the report identified other sources of council activities that generate higher emissions. We are in the process of developing a comprehensive strategy aimed at significantly reducing emissions from our Council operations.
While specific initiatives to address emissions reduction particularly, in our council fleet is not the immediate focus of the developing environmental strategy, sustainability and environmental stewardship are key priorities for us.
While we work our way through tackling our highest emissions sources, we are committed to setting ambitious targets and timelines to ensure measurable progress towards our emissions reduction goals. This will include transitioning the rest of our fleet to low-emission vehicles and optimizing fleet utilization.
LGOIMA Request Details: LG2249
Date received: 07/03/2024
Requested information: All information held by the MDC relating to property at 1 Dundas Road, Sanson.
Status: Complete
Response:
As requested, all information on Council files relating to 1 Dundas
Road, Sanson (excluding the property file) are included in this link -
LGOIMA Request Details: LG2248
Date received: 29/02/2024
Requested information: Number of claims against Council, Total settlements paid by Council, Total legal and expert costs incurred, did any Building Deflect Claims involve Natural hazards and how many built by Group Housing Companies all these within the Calendar year.
Status: Complete
Response:
Number of claims brought against Council in the calendar year, relating to its functions and performance under the Building Act 1991 and/or 2004, including granting building consents, carrying out inspections and/or issuing Code Compliance Certificates (Building Defect Claims)
We have been able to easily identify 3 claims, one each for the years 2005, 2010 & 2015.
Any details other than these cannot be accessed without substantial research and collation and is therefore refused under section 17(f) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act.
Total amount (including GST if any) Council paid out in settlements and/or judgments for building defect claims in the calendar year
We are unable to release this information as the settlements were confidential, therefore refused under section 7(2)(c) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act – subject to an obligation of confidence.
Total legal and expert costs incurred during the calendar year for defending and/or resolving Building Defect Claims
These details cannot be accessed without substantial research and collation and is therefore refused under section 17(f) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act.
Did any of the Building Defect Claims in the calendar year involve natural hazards as defined in s 71(3) of the Building Act 2004? (Y/N)
No
How many Building Defect Claims in the calendar year involved buildings built by Group Housing Companies (Group Housing Company definition - builds or built more than 10 homes per year)
None
LGOIMA Request Details: LG2247
Date received: 20/02/2024
Requested information: Three waters spending implications for the LTP
Status: Complete
Response:
The information you have requested is below, please note that any figures for the 2024-34 Long Term Plan period are draft and subject to audit and then will be subject to consultation before final decisions and adoption before 30 June 2024.
1) What is the council's current debt? $93.9M 31/1/2024
2) What is the forecast three waters infrastructure spending required over the next decade?
Proposed/draft 2024-34 LTP (subject to audit and then consultation) $273,462,000 operational spend
Propose/draft 2024-34 LTP (subject to audit and then consultation) $170,803,325 capital spend
3) How many rating units are in the council's boundary? 14,625 (23/24 Annual plan)
4) What is the council's current debt limit? $121,900,000 as per LGFA limits based on proposed/draft 2024-34 LTP
5) What was the council's income for FY 22/23? $77,800,000 (23/24 Annual Plan)
6) What is the council's forecast income for FY 23/24? $76,237,800 (Proposed/Draft 2024-34 LTP )
LGOIMA Request Details: LG2245
Date received: 15/02/2024
Requested information: Opawe Road paper road stopping - Details of person who initiated the process in 2012-13 and 2022-2023, and the MDC staff member who initially processed the applications.
Status: Complete
Response:
We provide our response on these requests separately below.
Request (a)
The request for the road stopping proposal was made by the Roading Manager at the time. A Council paper describes that this decision was made following consultation with various parties (the landowner, the Department of Conservation, some members of the public). However, to our knowledge, this was not specifically requested by any of them.
As such, we have decided to grant your request in part and have enclosed the Council paper which commenced the road stopping process for the relevant section of Opawe Road in 2011. This explains the background to the first proposal to stop the relevant section of Opawe Road.
We refuse the balance of your request under section 17(e) of the LGOIMA, as the information requested does not exist.
Request (b)
We have decided to refuse this request under section 7(2)(c) of the LGOIMA. The information is subject to an obligation of confidence arising out of court proceedings.
In the Council’s view the reasons for withholding the details are not outweighed by public interest considerations.
LGOIMA Request Details: LG2246
Date received: 15/02/2024
Requested information: Request for waste and recycling data
Status: Complete
Response:
I refer to your official information request dated 15 February 2024.
Part of the information you have requested is enclosed. However, we have decided to refuse your request for information which relates to the Export market for plastic by resin type – cost of shipment/port costs + revenue under section 7(2)(b)(ii) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act as it is considered commercially sensitive.
Number of households for kerbside collection – and how materials are collected (glass separate/ commingled + rubbish)
7704 households/businesses in Feilding have access to rubbish bag, glass separate and commingle recycling kerbside collection.
A further 1408 households receive kerbside rubbish collection.
Split by material type of what is collected at kerbside so that we can isolate the plastic component – for transport and for sortation at the Material Recovery Facility (MRF)
As of 1 February 2024 we collect the following, however we do not have tonnage data as yet.
Plastics 1, 2 and 5
Paper and Cardboard
Aluminium and steel cans and tins
Glass bottles and Jar
Prior to 1 Feb:
Plastics 1 – 5
Paper and Cardboard
Aluminium and steel cans and tins
Glass bottles and Jar
In 22/23 we collected 364.55t of Glass via kerbside collection. Another 297.99t and 266.04t of glass was collected at our mobile recycling centres and our resource recovery centre.
Our plastic, paper and aluminium/steel is collected as comingle, and we collected 671.96t of comingle via kerbside collection in 22/23. Another 203.8t and 196.98t of comingle was collected at our mobile recycling centres and our resource recovery centre.
Between Jan 23-Jan 24 we collected 125.28t of plastic, broken down as follows:
HDPE 21.52
Janitorial 21.42
Mixed 38
PET 44.34
Cost of the kerbside collection or the Council’s budget for kerbside collections
Urban Bag collection costs $12,642.10 per month.
Comingle recyclables collection is $14,733,79 per month.
Glass crate collection is $9,422.80 per month.
This does not include processing costs or waste transport to landfill costs.
Cost of MRF process or Council’s budget for MRF process
Processing of recyclables (comingle) is $205.12 per tonne, and MRF fixed plan costs is $3,567.10 per month.
Export market for plastic by resin type – cost of shipment/port costs + revenue
Withheld under section 7(2)(b)(ii) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act as it is considered commercially sensitive.
LGOIMA Request Details: LG2243
Date received: 08/02/2024
Requested information: Information around active dune management and investment Foxton Beach, Himatangi Beach, Tangimoana, Waikawa Beach and Turakina
Status: Complete
Response:
Further to my email of 16 February 2024 advising that we have partially transferred your request to Horowhenua District Council, Horizons Regional Council and Massey University. I have today also partially transferred your request to Rangitikei District Council as they deal with Turakina.
In these circumstances, we are required by section 12 of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act to transfer your request.
You will hear further from Rangitikei District Council concerning that part your request.
The information you have requested regarding Himatangi Beach is below.
Himatangi Beach dune management overview:
Partners:
Manawatu District Council
Horizons Regional Council
Massey University
Key Challanges:
Dune blowouts resulting from motorised vehicles, sand buildup and lack of vegetation cover.
Sustainable supply of coastal native vegetation – Spinifex and pingao
Education for users
Sustainable supply of spinifex – difficult to grow at a large scale
Financial contributions:
Drone surveying of dune blowout areas – plan to do approx every 5 years
Planting and planting prep – annual planting of dune blow outs using spinifex and some marram grasses – annual cost of 5k for last 3 years.
Fencing – 10k initial and 2k every 2 years to maintain fencing
Moving and depositing driftwood build up on the dune toe - $1500 annually