An iwi representative has been proposed as a co-chairman for a new committee at the council to oversee environmental policy, including the development of the council’s contentious land and water plan.
The reorganisation of council committees outlined in a report to councillors at today’s meeting in Cromwell includes a proposal for a new environmental policy and science committee to consider reviews of the council’s air plan and its coastal plan, as well as to oversee the development of the land and water plan.
The land and water plan is subject to a deadline of December 31 next year because of an agreement the council reached with Environment Minister David Parker in 2019.
During the last term, in August last year, when staff asked the council to note minimum flows and the method for determining water take limits to be included in the land and water plan for the Manuherikia River, the meeting exposed a divided group of councillors, who argued for hours over whether there was a robust, defendable rationale underpinning the proposed minimum flows.
Instead of following the staff recommendation, a majority of councillors asked instead for further reports into the scientific rationale behind the minimum flow settings.
At the time of the meeting, the council’s present chairwoman, Cr Gretchen Robertson, noted she supported the staff recommendations in the report.
Further, before the election, an investigator appointed by Mr Parker, Prof Peter Skelton, said it was "hard to accept" councillors were genuinely seeking information to allay their concerns about the science.
In today’s report to the new set of councillors, Cr Robertson nominated first-term councillor deputy chairman Cr Lloyd McCall as the other co-chairman of the committee, alongside the iwi representative.
The draft committee restructuring includes a new public transport committee, jointly chaired by Crs Alexa Forbes and Andrew Noone; a new regional leadership committee, which also includes an iwi representative, with co-chairmen Crs Bryan Scott, Elliot Weir and Michael Laws; and a safety and resilience committee, with co-chairmen Crs Gary Kelliher and Alan Somerville.
The new committee structure has eight committees and an audit and risk subcommittee.
In the last term, there were nine committees and the audit and risk subcommittee.
The strategy and planning committee, which included two iwi representatives last term, is no longer included in the committees structure.
Today’s report to councillors said Cr Robertson recommended the new structure after discussion with the other elected members.
Further, while the areas of responsibility of each committee were outlined in the report, it said the terms of reference for each would be developed and adopted later.
It was also proposed the committee structure would be reviewed in 18 months' time, following the adoption of the next long-term plan, to ensure it remained fit for purpose.
