The Council voted today to resign its membership of Local Government New Zealand Inc (LGNZ). An additional resolution (#3 below) was added to the motion, allocating the LGNZ membership budget to professional development and support for elected members and to a ‘parliamentary engagement’ budget line.
The full resolution passed by Council is:
That the Council:
1. Receives the information in the New Zealand Local Government Association Inc: payment of annual membership subscription report.
2. Declines to renew its membership of Local Government New Zealand Inc and:
a. Resolves to resign its membership of Local Government New Zealand Inc; and
b. Authorises the Mayor to give notice of the resignation in writing to Local Government New Zealand Inc.
3. Allocates the unspent portion of the budget for Financial Year 2025 and future years for membership levies to Local Government New Zealand to the following budgets in the following priorities:
a. Additional Community Board Member Professional Development Training and Workplace Support services of $60,000, (the training component is split equally between the Community Boards);
b. Additional Councillor Professional Training and Workplace Support services of $30,000 (the training component is split equally between the Councillors and excludes the Mayor)
c. A new budget line for Parliamentary Engagement of $30,000 which will accommodate:
i. promotion of the Council’s interests;
ii. advocacy on matters affecting the interests of the Council and its communities; and
iii. facilitation of effective engagement
with Government, Parliamentarians and other agencies of the Government.
d. Return the balance of any budget to the operating surplus/deficit in Financial Year 2025.
4. Notes that the decision in this report is assessed as low significance based on the Christchurch City Council’s Significance and Engagement Policy, as it is a decision regarding membership of an organisation and does not affect strategic assets or levels of services.
The division was declared carried by 9 votes to 8 votes the voting being as follows:
For: Mayor Mauger, Councillor Barber, Councillor Gough, Councillor Henstock, Councillor Keown, Councillor MacDonald, Councillor McLellan, Councillor Peters and Councillor Scandrett
Against: Deputy Mayor Cotter, Councillor Coker, Councillor Donovan, Councillor Fields, Councillor Harrison-Hunt, Councillor Johanson, Councillor Moore and Councillor Templeton
Link to meeting minutes:
https://christchurch.infocouncil.biz/Open/2024/06/CNCL_20240619_MIN_8516_AT_WEB.htm