LOCAL GOVERNANCE STATEMENT A guide to Whakatāne District Council LOCAL GOVERNANCE STATEMENT 2019-2022 TE MAHI A TE KAUNIHERA O WHAKATĀNE 1 of 42 LOCAL GOVERNANCE STATEMENT Contents Local Governance Statement .................................................................................................................. 3 Introduction ................................................................LOCAL GOVERNANCE................................ STATEMENT................................ ............ 4 About Us……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………5 The Region…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………6 What we do and why we do it ................................................................................................................ 9 Groups of activities ............................................................................................................................... 11 What guides us? .................................................................................................................................... 12 Bylaws ................................................................................................................................................... 13 Key strategies and documents .............................................................................................................. 14 How Council operates ........................................................................................................................... 16 How are councillors elected? ........................................................................................................ 16 Electoral Representation Review .................................................................................................. 16 Wards ............................................................................................................................................ 17 Māori wards .................................................................................................................................. 17 Changing the District's boundaries or functions ........................................................................... 18 Roles and responsibilities ..................................................................................................................... 19 Code of Conduct ................................................................................................................................... 22 Governance Structure ........................................................................................................................... 23 Standing Committees ............................................................................................................................ 24 1. Risk and Assurance Committee ............................................................................................ 24 2. Strategy and Policy Committee ............................................................................................. 24 3. Projects and Services Committee ......................................................................................... 25 4. Organisational Performance Committee .............................................................................. 25 Hearings Panel ...................................................................................................................................... 25 Joint Committees .................................................................................................................................. 26 1. Bay of Plenty Civil Defence Emergency Management Group ............................................... 26 2. Regional Transport Committee ............................................................................................. 26 3. Eastern Bay of Plenty Joint Committee................................................................................. 27 4. Eastern Bay District Licensing Committee ............................................................................ 27 5. Eastern Bay Road Safety Committee .................................................................................... 28 Joint Forums .......................................................................................................................................... 29 1. Rangitāiki River Forum .......................................................................................................... 29 2. Ōhiwa Harbour Implementation Forum ............................................................................... 29 Chief Executive’s Sub-Committee ................................................................................................. 30 Commercial Advisory Board .................................................................................................................. 30 Iwi Chairs Forum ................................................................................................................................... 30 Special Committees .............................................................................................................................. 31 1. Funding Allocation and Young Achievers Special Committee .............................................. 31 2. Creative New Zealand Local Communities Funding Assessment Special Committee .......... 31 Project Steering Groups ........................................................................................................................ 32 1. Walking and Cycling .............................................................................................................. 32 2020 February A1676591 2 of 42 LOCAL GOVERNANCE STATEMENT 2. Ngā Awa Puheke ................................................................................................................... 32 Whakatāne District Youth Council ........................................................................................................ 33 Quasi-Council Bodies ............................................................................................................................ 33 1. Whakatāne District Sister Cities Association ........................................................................ 33 2. Pride Whakatāne DistrictLOCAL Committee GOVERNANCE ................................ STATEMENT................................ ................... 33 Delegations held by Council .................................................................................................................. 34 Council meetings ................................................................................................................................... 35 Can I attend and speak at meetings? ............................................................................................ 35 Agendas and minutes .................................................................................................................... 35 Standing Orders ............................................................................................................................. 36 Consultation and Engagement with the Community ........................................................................... 36 Consultation and Engagement with Iwi/Māori .................................................................................... 37 Management structure and relationships ............................................................................................ 38 Equal Employment Opportunities ........................................................................................................ 40 Ko Konei – Our Place ............................................................................................................................ 40 Contact us ............................................................................................................................................. 40 Official information ............................................................................................................................... 41 Local Governance Statement A Local Governance Statement is a collection of information about how Council operates, how it makes decisions, and how members of the community can influence these processes. It supports the purpose of local government by promoting democracy and provides you with information on how to influence local democratic processes. 2020 February A1676591 3 of 42 LOCAL GOVERNANCE STATEMENT Introduction Tēnā hoki koutou me ngā āhuatangaLOCAL o te wa. GOVERNANCE STATEMENT Our District is a place we can be proud of. We have a rich history, a strong cultural identity and a diverse and beautiful natural landscape. The Whakatāne District Council is here to look after residents’ interests and endeavour to create an environment in which current and future generations will want to live, work, play and invest. The Council is responsible for providing families, households and businesses with key facilities, leadership and District support they can rely on. We deliver 37 internal and external activities under 12 activity groups and manage approximately $700 million worth of community assets. At the top of our list of priorities is providing services that ensure the health and safety of our community, such as clean drinking water, appropriate treatment and disposal of sewage, and a local roading network that allows people to move safely about the District. We also manage a range of community