Civic Leadership Te Whiri Mātārae CIVIC LEADERSHIP
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03 Civic Leadership Te whiri mātārae CIVIC LEADERSHIP 48 TAURANGA CITY COUNCIL CIVIC LEADERSHIP Our Mayor and Councillors Tauranga has a mayor and 10 councillors. Collectively, they are known as elected members. Four of the councillors are elected ‘at large’ to represent the Local-government elections are held throughout New city as a whole and the remaining six are elected to represent Zealand every three years on the second Saturday in one of three wards: October, with the next being scheduled for 2022. The last election was held on 12 October 2019 using the Single • two councillors for the Te Papa/Welcome Bay ward; Transferable Vote (STV) electoral system. • two councillors for the Otumoetai/Pyes Pa ward; and Elections are conducted under the provisions of the Local • two councillors for the Mount Maunganui/Pāpāmoa Electoral Act 2001, the Local Electoral Regulations 2001 and ward. the Local Government Act 2002. Matakana Island Key Moturiki Island Mauao Tauranga City Council boundary Mount Approximate suburb boundaries Maunganui Ward oundaries Otumoetai – Pyes Pa Ward Sulphur Omanu Matua Point Mount Maunganui – Pāpāmoa Ward Otumoetai Te Papa – Welcome Bay Ward Arataki Bellevue Tauranga city centre Bethlehem Judea Matapihi N Tauranga South Kairua Papamoa Beach Gate Pa pu ta Waitao Maunga Merivale Wairakei Greerton Poike Tauriko Welcome Bay Te Tumu Pyes Pa Oropi Hairini Papamoa Hills Omana wa ANNUAL REPORT 2019/20 49 CIVIC LEADERSHIP Mayor Councillors Tauranga City Te Papa/Welcome Bay Ward Mayor Tenby Powell Cr. Bill Grainger Tina Salisbury 027 205 3945 027 415 5545 027 343 4810 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Councillors Councillors Mount Maunganui/Pāpāmoa Ward Otumoetai/Pyes Pa Ward Cr. Steve Morris Cr. Dawn Kiddie Cr. Larry Baldock Cr. Jako Abrie* 021 519 941 027 425 0722 021 864 833 027 343 9547 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Councillors At large (city-wide) Cr. Heidi Hughes Cr. Andrew Hollis Cr. Kelvin Clout Cr. John Robson 021 671 584 027 343 2550 027 222 3771 021 443 703 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] * Councillor Jako Abrie resigned his position effective 16 October 2020 50 TAURANGA CITY COUNCIL CIVIC LEADERSHIP How we govern The role of Council Council decisions Tauranga City Council is a representative democracy. Our The Council is recognised as a single entity. The mayor and role is to determine the public interest and prioritise services councillors only have the authority to make group decisions, and activities for the good of the city and its people. Under when they are acting as ‘Council’. At Council and committee the Local Government Act 2002, our roles are: meetings, reports from council staff are submitted, with recommendations for elected members to consider. • to enable democratic local decision-making and action by, and on behalf of, communities Depending on the nature of the issue, a committee may have delegated authority to make resolutions that will be • to promote the social, economic, environmental and implemented by council staff. cultural well-being of communities in the present and for the future. If a committee does not have the appropriate delegated authority, the committee will either refer, or make a The council’s chief executive is responsible for administration recommendation to Council for determination. of the council. We perform our statutory roles, functions and objectives Delegating decision-making through a corporate and civic governance structure that The purpose of the Council is to make decisions on all non- comprises: delegable and non-delegated functions and powers. • the Council (mayor and councillors); The powers that the Council cannot legally delegate include: • a chief executive; and • the power to make a rate • an executive leadership team. • the power to make a bylaw The elected Council weighs up the issues facing our growing • the power to borrow money, or purchase or dispose city and ensures that ratepayers’ money is allocated to of assets, other than in accordance with the long- priority areas and spent in the most effective way. This term plan means balancing the needs of the community against the needs of individuals and taking into account the long- and • the power to adopt a long-term plan, annual plan, or short-term implications of decisions. annual report Together, the mayor and councillors form the ‘Council’ • the power to appoint a chief executive governing body. This is a public statutory body constituted • the power to adopt policies required to be adopted under the Local Government Act 2002. Control of day-to- and consulted on under the LGA 2002, in association day operations is delegated to the chief executive, while with the long-term plan or developed for the purpose corporate performance is monitored through reports to of the local governance statement Council, the community, and this annual report. • 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 power to compulsorily acquire land under the Public Works Act 1981. ANNUAL REPORT 2019/20 51 CIVIC LEADERSHIP Council meetings The code also covers the disclosure of information received in their capacity as elected members; and information that Council and committee meetings generally take place in the members receive in their capacity as elected members and council’s main building at 91 Willow Street in the city centre. information which impacts on the ability of the local authority Council and committee meetings are live-streamed through to give effect to its statutory responsibilities. YouTube and our website. The meetings are open to the public, though Council may exclude the public if there is a The code sets-out the mayor’s and councillors’ roles and need for confidentiality. All Council and committee meetings responsibilities, and outlines the steps to be followed when are carried out in accordance with standing orders. Refer to making and investigating allegations of breaches of the code. pages 54-58 for details of mayor and councillor involvement During 2019/20, there was one code of conduct complaint in the various committees. made against the mayor. At a meeting on 24 March 2020, Council’s meeting schedule, agendas and minutes are the Council concurred with the findings of an independent available on our website. investigation that found there was a breach of the code. A letter of censure was sent to the mayor and the mayor was The mayor’s role, as chair of council meetings and the leader requested to send letters of apology to two councillors. of council, is crucial in managing effective relationships with the chief executive and upholding good governance. Key The code requires elected members to complete a roles include presiding at Council meetings and maintaining declaration of interest at least annually. These are recorded orderly conduct. in a public Register of Interest. Code of conduct How you can have your say The Code of Conduct (the code) provides guidance on There are many ways to have your say on the governing of the standards of behaviour expected from the mayor and Tauranga City Council. You can: councillors. • vote for the mayor and councillors every three years The objective of the code is to enhance: through the local government election • the effectiveness of the Council in meeting its • arrange to speak in the public forum section of a statutory responsibilities for good local government Council or committee meeting of Tauranga • contact the mayor and councillors • the credibility and accountability of the Council within • connect with us on our social media channels, its community including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube • mutual trust, respect and tolerance between all • make submissions on plans, projects or notified elected members and between elected members and consents that are being advertised or consulted on. management Our Significance and Engagement Policy recognises • engagement with the community in a professional that community information sharing, consultation and and respectful manner. participation are vital for effective decision-making. We The code applies to councillors and those appointed to the are committed to engaging our residents, stakeholders governance structure of Council in their dealings with: and council staff in the development of policies, plans and services for the community. • each other • the chief executive • all staff employed by the chief executive on behalf of the Council • the public. 52 TAURANGA CITY COUNCIL CIVIC LEADERSHIP The mayor and councillors’ fees and The Authority also sets maximum amounts for allowances expenses and expenses that can be claimed and approves the mayor and councillor expenses rules. Under schedule 7 of the Local Government Act 2002, the Remuneration Authority (the Authority) determines the Up-to-date remuneration and expenses rules and claim mayor’s salary and makes a separate determination on the forms are available on our website at www.tauranga.govt. total size of the councillors’ remuneration pool. This is based nz/council/about-your-council/governance/mayor-and- on factors including population size. The councillors decide councillors-remuneration.