Source: Auckland Council
Auckland Council’s Emergency Committee today approved the levy for funding Auckland’s regional amenities for the next financial year, appointed a Group Recovery Manager for COVID-19 and received its regular Auckland Emergency Management update.
The following is a summary of decisions made. The agenda is available on Auckland Council’s website and minutes will be added once confirmed. This meeting was also webcast on the council’s website and items are available on demand.
Item 8: COVID-19 briefing and Auckland Emergency Management status update
The regular weekly update on the COVID-19 pandemic and the Auckland Emergency Management response was received by the committee.
This week’s updates included:
- Watercare Chief Executive Raveen Jaduram on Auckland’s water shortage situation and the requirements for stage one water restrictions
- Kate Crawford, Group Controller Auckland Emergency Management, on the status update about the Auckland Emergency coordination centre and the emergency response.
- Ian Maxwell, Director Executive Programmes, on the Auckland Council Group response and the council services that will be available under COVID-19 Alert Level 3.
The full updates are available to view on the Auckland Council website here.
Item 9: Community Loan Guarantees and Loans
The committee approved alternative arrangements for community groups needing to renegotiate loan and guarantee arrangements because of COVID-19 related issues.
The Acting Group Chief Financial Officer has been delegated authority to approve temporary loan repayment arrangements for all existing community loans and community loan guarantees during the COVID-19 Alert Level 4 to Alert Levels 1 phases.
Auckland Council provides loan guarantees to the ASB Bank for five community groups ranging in value from $150,000 to $2.5 million.
Item 10: Approval of the Auckland Regional Amenities Funding Levy 2020-2021
A funding levy of $14,680,500 was approved for the 2020-2021 financial year for the Auckland Regional Amenities Funding Board to distribute across nine regional amenities.
In addition, a two-year funding agreement between Auckland Council and Coastguard New Zealand will be developed for $824,000 to cover the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 financial years. This funding must only be used for activities in the Auckland region.
Item 11: Risk and Assurance Update – approach to risk management and assurance activities during COVID-19 lockdown and recovery
The committee was updated in the confidential session on how Auckland Council and the council-controlled organisations are maintaining risk management and assurance functions during COVID-19 Alert 4 lockdown.
Item 12: Appointment of Group Recovery Manager COVID-19
The committee has appointed Auckland Council Governance Director Phil Wilson to the role of Group Recovery Manager COVID-19. The decision was made in the committee’s capacity as the Civil Defence Emergency Management Group under Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002.
The role of a Group Recovery Manager is required under the CDEM Act 2002, and it will lead preparations for Auckland Council’s role in recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic in line with National Emergency Management Agency efforts.
Public input
Matthew Williams, chair Auckland Regional Amenities Board and Barbara Glaser, Chief Executive Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra spoke about how the group has responded to COVID-19 and key updates for the upcoming financial year (item 5).
