Minutes of Strategy and Recovery Committee Meeting

Tuesday, 19 August 2025

Te Hui o Te Kaunihera ā-Rohe o Heretaunga

Hastings District Council: Strategy and Recovery Committee Meeting

Ngā Miniti
Minutes

Kua Tae ā-tinana:
Present:

Chair: Councillor Wendy Schollum

Councillors: Ana Apatu, Marcus Buddo, Alwyn Corban, Malcolm Dixon, Michael Fowler, Damon Harvey, Henry Heke, Kellie Jessup, Tania Kerr, Hana Montaperto-Hendry, Heather Te Au-Skipworth and Kevin Watkins

Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst

Hastings District Rural Community Board Appointee: Jonathan Stockley (RCB Deputy Chair)

Kua Tatū:
In attendance:

Chief Executive – Nigel Bickle

Deputy Chief Executive - Bruce Allan

Interim Group Manager - Strategy - Gus Charteris

Group Manager: Democracy & Emergency Management – Craig Cameron

Group Manager: Infrastructure - Craig Thew

Group Manager: Community Wellbeing & Services – Rebekah Dinwoodie

Manager – Strategic Projects – Dean Ferguson

Project Manager - Graham Palmer

Financial Advisor – Ross Franklin

Chief Financial Officer – Graham Watson

Director – Growth & Development – Raoul Oosterkamp

Chief Risk Officer – Regan Smith

General Counsel: Scott Smith

Manager: Democracy & Governance Services – Louise Stettner

Senior Advisor - Democracy and Governance - Lynne Cox

Democracy and Governance Services Advisor – Christine Hilton

Kei Konei:
Also present:

Andrew Caseley and Chris Dolley (Hawke’s Bay Regional Council) – Item 5

Councillor Heke opened the meeting with a karakia.

1. Apologies – Ngā Whakapāhatanga

Councillor Watkins/Mayor Hazlehurst

That apologies for absence from Ngaio Tiuka be accepted.

Leave of Absence had previously been granted to Councillor Nixon.

CARRIED

2. Conflicts of Interest - He Ngākau Kōnatunatu

There were no declarations of conflicts of interest.

3. Confirmation of Minutes - Te Whakamana i Ngā Miniti

Councillor Buddo/Councillor Dixon

That the minutes of the Strategy and Recovery Committee Meeting held Tuesday 27 May 2025 be confirmed as an accurate record.

CARRIED

4.	Strategy and Recovery CommitTee: Chair's Report
	(Document 25/323)
	Councillor Schollum, Chair of the Strategy and Recovery Committee spoke to the report and thanked all the Hastings District Council staff who have contributed to this work with professionalism, depth of expertise and commitment over the last three years.
	Councillor Watkins/Councillor Apatu That the Strategy and Recovery Committee Meeting receive the report titled Strategy and Recovery Committee: Chair's Report dated 19 August 2025 CARRIED

Resilience and Climate Adaptation Work Programmes

(Document 25/318)

The Chair, Councillor Schollum introduced Andrew Caseley and Chris Dolley from Hawke’s Bay Regional Council (HBRC).

Manager – Strategic Projects, Dean Ferguson gave a brief overview of the report.

Andrew Caseley (HBRC) spoke to the report on the Hawke’s Bay Flood Protection Led Projects and gave a PowerPoint presentation (CG-17-32-00210).

Mr Caseley also advised that a further piece of work that is nearing completion is the rock revetment work on the Clive River alongside Farndon Road to avoid erosion.

The Chief Executive acknowledged the HBRC for their joint work with the Hastings District Council and the landowners on the stopbank at Whakatu.

Chris Dolley also spoke to the report on the Reimaging Flood Resilience work and the Clifton to Tangoio Coastal Hazards Strategy Update.

Councillor Jessup left the room at 9.24am and returned at 9.29am.

The officers responded to questions from the Committee.

Mayor Hazlehurst/Councillor Heke

A) That the Strategy and Recovery Committee receive the report titled Resilience and Climate Adaptation Work Programmes dated 19 August 2025.

B) That the Committee notes the ongoing work programmes and that these work programmes will be reported as a standing item at each Strategy and Recovery Committee meeting going forward.

CARRIED

Update on Strategic Work Programme

(Document 25/304)

Chief Executive, Nigel Bickle spoke to the report and responded to questions from the Committee.

Councillor Harvey left the room at 9.56 am and returned at 10.01am.

Mayor Hazlehurst felt it was important that the work for different revenue opportunities is highlighted in this work programme.

Councillor Buddo/Councillor Te Au-Skipworth

A) That the Strategy and Recovery Committee receive the report titled Update on Strategic Work Programme dated 19 August 2025.

B) That the Committee note good progress is being made on the Strategic Work Programme that will inform the 2027 - 2037 Long Term Plan.

C) That the Committee note officers have begun additional work to inform the key strategic choices for the incoming Council. The strategic work underway will inform the choices and trade-offs available to Council.

CARRIED

Civil Defence Emergency Management Update and Planning

(Document 25/301)

Chief Risk Officer, Regan Smith spoke to the report and responded to questions from the Committee.

Councillor Kerr acknowledged the staff and all they had done, from the small things enabling rural communities to the bigger things on the night of Cyclone Gabrielle.

Mayor Hazlehurst/Councillor Fowler

That the Strategy and Recovery Committee receive the report titled Civil Defence Emergency Management Update and Planning dated 19 August 2025.

CARRIED

Growth and Development Activity Update

(Document 25/320) (Attachment CG-17-32-00200)

Director – Growth & Development, Raoul Oosterkamp spoke to the report, gave a PowerPoint presentation (CG-17-32-00211) and responded to questions from the Committee.

Councillor Jessup left the meeting at 10.17am and returned at 10.24am.

Councillor Dixon/Councillor Watkins

That the Strategy and Recovery Committee receive the report titled Growth and Development Activity Update dated 19 August 2025.

CARRIED

The meeting adjourned for morning tea at 10.30am

and resumed at 10.45am

Councillor Heke left the meeting at 10.45am and did not return.

Chair's Review of the Community Wellbeing Subcommittee 2025

(Document 25/321)

Councillor Apatu, Chair of the Community Wellbeing Subcommittee spoke to the report and responded to questions from the Committee.

The Committee thanked Councillor Apatu for her leadership and passion with all the important work carried out with this Subcommittee.

Councillor Jessup/Councillor Te Au-Skipworth

That the Strategy and Recovery Committee receive the report titled Chair's Review of the Community Wellbeing Subcommittee 2025 dated 19 August 2025.

CARRIED

10.

Update on Review of Development Contributions

(Document 25/310) (Attachment CG-17-32-00196)

Chief Executive, Nigel Bickle introduced the report and gave some opening comments in relation to the current situation regarding the review of Development Contributions.

Deputy Chief Executive, Bruce Allan and Financial Advisor, Ross Franklin both spoke to the report and responded to questions from the Committee.

Councillor Schollum/Councillor Fowler

A) That the Strategy and Recovery Committee receive the report titled Update on Review of Development Contributions dated 19 August 2025.

B) That the Committee note the Chief Executive has commissioned a review of Council’s Development Contribution Policy and that this forms part of the Strategic Work Programme.

C) That the Committee note that the initial phase of work has focussed on the issues or matters that need to be addressed through the Policy development process. The second phase of work will consider changes needed to the Council’s Development Contribution Policy, the processes, procedures, data, and resourcing that is required to meet the District’s growth and rating objectives and effective transition to the Government’s proposed Development Levy system, and support an effective transition to the new regional water entity (for 3-waters related development contributions).

D) That the Committee note the Mayoral Advisory Finance will provide governance oversight in the form of a working party as the Development Contribution Policy is reviewed.

CARRIED

11.

Receipt of 'Regional Climate Change Risk Assessment Report'

(Document 25/233) (Attachment STR-08-05-01-25-4)

Project Manager, Graham Palmer spoke to the report and responded to questions from the Committee.

Councillor Kerr/Mayor Hazlehurst

A) That the Strategy and Recovery Committee Meeting receive the report titled Receipt of 'Regional Climate Change Risk Assessment Report' dated 19 August 2025.

B) That the Committee receive the Hawke’s Bay Climate Change Risk Assessment Report.

C) That the Committee notes the resolutions from the Climate Action Joint Committee meeting held on 9 May 2025, that Council:

i. Consider the findings and opportunities for further work outlined in the Hawke’s Bay Climate Change Risk Assessment technical report, including how to integrate climate risk information into decision-making at all levels.

ii. Commit to providing staff resource and funding for ongoing collaboration on climate action, including allocating budget in the next Long Term Plan to enable a future iteration of the Hawke’s Bay Climate Change Risk Assessment to be undertaken during the 2027-2037 period.

iii. Commit to regional collaboration on climate action to continue building resilience.

iv. Commit to processes of continuous improvement to address the impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities including tangata whenua.

CARRIED

12. Minor Items - Ngā Take Iti

There were no additional business items.

13. Urgent Items - Ngā Take WhakahihirI

There were no extraordinary business items.

Mayor, Sandra Hazlehurst acknowledged the Chair, Councillor Schollum for the all the work and dedication she has given in leading this important Committee.

Councillor Jessup closed the meeting with a karakia.

________________________

The meeting closed at 11.10am

Confirmed:

Chairman:

Date: