Council is struggling on with direction to staff on the review of the District Plan.

Unlike past Councils, this one is not keen on the heavy handed, regulatory, 'you will do it our way” approach.
Urban design sold to the past Council as educational and advisory only was showing a tendency towards regulation. So have some of the staff-generated discussion points considered so far in our debates. In my opinion a District Plan is a necessary document to give certainty to those already here and protect their assets, but as with all regulation, the devil is in the detail. We continually get told that this or that is undesirable or unsuitable. In whose opinion? The planners of course.
This Council seems a lot more relaxed and not hell bent on regulation. Taken to the extreme, Council would be dictating what kind of front door knob and what colour your house would be. Not on this watch it won't be.
The last two meetings on this weren't completed due in part to divergence of opinion with staff, so we're well behind the eight ball on this. Throw in the Ten Year Plan meetings and normal Council and Committees and I contemplate some rushed decisions coming.

Whining socialists
In the Herald the socialists are already whining about Rodney Hide's proposals to get Councils focused on core business. I will fight all the way on privatisation of core assets like water/wastewater but he's right to focus on core assets. The only reason Councils are in the business of social amenity is because successive Governments with lefty tendencies encouraged it. Why wouldn't they? It off-loaded social responsibility on to property owners, who of course are, in some people's eyes, rich and ripe for pillaging and plundering through the rates. Well hopefully no more. Social amenity, if it's anyone's responsibility, is Central Government and they can levy extra cultural taxes on every income earner and see how they like the heat of spiralling taxes required to feed these cultural beasts, which presently contribute to spiralling rates.

Consensus on zoning regulations
Council considered the Port zoning regulations and consensus is that we have to help not hinder their operation. Some mitigation by way of landscaping is underway but as I've said previously, there's a limit to how much you can hide. A container crane 10 metres higher than the existing cranes will be added by next April.

Expenses policy of elected members
The elected members expenses policy was reviewed and left unchanged. With one or two exceptions over my time on Council, elected members expenses have been very frugal. The Bay Times, always chasing big stories have made enquiry as to how much Council is spending on the elected members' Christmas Party. Let me scotch the rumour here and now. That twin-engined Falcon jet seen over the city last week does not belong to Council and consequently elected members are not flying to Fiji for a night out like the Hanover people did recently. Nope it's a fish ‘n' chip evening and we're paying for our own drinks.
Rick Curach, a computer whiz, has all the answers for recording Council meetings. I asked staff opinion on implications for Council's computer system and costs, but Rick is insistent there's no problem. Good luck! One wit suggested this addition will replace the Bay Times. It's hard to imagine anyone sitting and listening to these debates, but no doubt a few will. Some elected members won't be that happy with some of the downstream consequences from these people as they are misquoted and taken out of context. But I'm in support – democracy, warts and all.

Removal request for native tree
A request for a Pohutukawa tree in Kiriwai Place to be removed did not succeed. It will instead be managed. Contrary to opinion in some quarters, this Council will not cut down trees on demand. We operate a responsible policy that does have a practical and humanitarian leaning but not to the extent of preservation at all costs. Most elected members personally look at each tree.

Ohauiti walkway remains open
A contentious walkway at Ohauiti will not be closed. Connecting Harrisfield Drive with Sapphire Drive, it's perceived to be a conduit for vandalism, graffiti, burglary and offensive behaviour. Council declined to close it but will implement some CYPTED principles – Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design. It's a people problem not a walkway problem. We will encourage more pro-active measures including cameras and policing to stop the cretins and have another look in six months.

Catherine Stewart resigned from the Hearings Committee.
She cited lack of opportunity as she has not been on a hearing yet. Here's the situation. Hearings are a quasi judicial body – decisions are subject to legal process.
To get appointment to the committee, elected members have to attend a course at ratepayers' expense – in this case $2058 plus GST each and five attended – Mike Baker, Wayne Moultrie, Catherine, Bill Grainger and Hayden Evans. Total $10,000 approx. At the end of the course, there is an open book assessment.
I understand Wayne and Mike passed on the first attempt and on the second attempt Catherine and Bill did and Hayden has yet to complete.
Committee members are paid at a rate of $85 per hour (chair) and $65 per hour each for committee, with applicants' fees going towards the cost of the hearing, so it is prudent to keep numbers down, plus of course they must have experience, so it has been practice to have Greg Brownless and Wayne Moultrie (a lawyer), with one other on a rotational basis. And there haven't been a lot of hearings either, so opportunity has been limited.
Mayor Stuart Crosby outlined his disappointment and hoped Catherine would reconsider her decision and said that succession planning would not be solved by resignation.