Questions recorded from Finance and Performance - (Annual Budget 2022/2023)
Action responses from 2 February 2022 workshop
Councillor
Note/Action
Response
name/LB Chair
or
representative
Cr Walker
Can we reduce/avoid acronyms such as WQTR, NETR to
Changes have been made as requested with those acronyms replaced in the rates table.
make the rates section of the document easy to read?
Climate TR, are we showing the relationship between spend The consultation document describes in several places the relationship between making low emissions
and actual reduction in emissions?
transport options available, and the reduction in emissions this will facilitate through replacing private car trips.
As noted at the E&CC workshop in developing the Transport Emission Reduction Plan last year, emission
Reducing emissions is bottom line, we should have
modelling is complex, and more work will need to be done. At this point we can’t quantify the exact emission
maximum transparency on that. One of the concerns I haveis measurement as a result of this climate package, but as we work through the Transport Emissions Reduction
maybe there are other expenditure that can get the
Plan, we will have better data to share.
emissions down more & faster, and more economically?
Richard
Can we choose words more empowering, i.e. improve the
We have updated the document removing use of word “patronage” replacing it with “usage”.
Northey
bus services?
We have also included in the document explanations of how the climate-targeted investments will empower
greater use of lower-emissions transport services through the provision of increased frequency and services.
Lisa Whyte
Not everyone knows their LB area, can we put in the suburb We have updated the physical feedback form to include the option for submitters to reference their suburb.
to direct the feedback to the right LB?
In SI are we putting in comparison of the rates charges in
This question was responded to during the workshop.
different cities, to compare with other cities?
Cr Coom
Page 24 of CD, what must do/should do.
We have included in the consultation document the following text:
It doesn’t refer to the 4 wellbeing, in terms of must do/
should do, what’s our thinking on this? Because that’s what “Our prioritisation will be guided by the Auckland Plan 2050 and its legislative requirement for Council
we statutorily have to do. Can I get a clarification on that?
to promote Auckland’s social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being.”
We have also added the following statement for clarification below the prioritisation table: “Note: This table
sets out proposed principles and criteria only. There are no actual proposals to make changes to
any specific services at this time.”
Izzy Fordham
In the past we only had the generic question, some people
Page numbers are referenced in the LB question on the feedback form, directing people to where they can find
won’t be bothered to answer because it not specific enough, specific local board information. On the digital platform, users can also jump directly to local board specific
It’s difficult to know as an individual board if we are on the
information. The platform also provides prompts to navigate users to locally specific questions.
right path. Really like us to try this, all LBs will be benefit
from it.
We have also included a full page spread in the consultation document for each LB, compared with only a half-
page previously. By providing more locally specific information, it is hoped that this will encourage more people
to submit/comment on locally specific information.
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Councillor
Note/Action
Response
name/LB Chair
or
representative
Cr Hills
Looking at the survey form, can we be clearer about the
We have discussed this with our subject matter experts who feel comfortable that the question provides
government funding, it has been mentioned twice, but
enough context given the limitation of space.
doesn’t really connected, what this fund actually enables?
Another question on decarbonize the ferry fleet, can we
We have changed “decarbonise services” to “low emission services” noting the new ferries will be a mix of
replace with improving ferry service and buy new electric
electric and hybrid ferries.
ferry? Not everyone knows what that mean.
C&E session
Cr Sayers
The independent survey could cost another up to $200K for At this stage we believe the independent survey will cost around $85,000 to cover the climate topic (this cost is
one question, What’s the total cost for the comms and
included below in the total engagement budget). Full costs of the survey will be known once the questionnaire
engagement as a whole package?
has been drafted and piloted. Although it is not expected to be significantly different to what has been quoted.
The associated budgets are forecast at the beginning of each budget process, based on previous years spend.
The communications budget for 2022/23 is approximately $201,000 and includes costs associated with the
overall marketing campaign, campaign research, video production, collateral for events and a campaign closing
the loop with Aucklanders.
The engagement budget is approximately $341,600 and includes costs associated with engaging community
partners to conduct engagement with diverse groups, translation services, Have Your Say events, research
(including the independent survey), peer-reviewing from University of Auckland, processing feedback, digital
services and the printing and distribution of material. This budget also includes direct engagement with mana
whenua and mataawaka. These services are all related to supporting engagement with as many Aucklanders as
possible.
We note that due to current Covid alert levels, the associated costs in the events space are likely to be lower
than budgeted.
Regarding Independent survey – who makes the call of what Refer to the response to Cr Watson’s question below.
question gets priority and who is that decided by?
Julie Fairey
Two Mana whenua reps have strong push back on face to
We are guided by government guidelines and our own vaccination policy when it comes to accessing our
face to be vax pass only. Just want to alert how we going to
facilities and remain focused on the safety of staff being our priority. We have alternative engagement options
deal with this issue.
for those who are unable to physically attend an event or facility, including our online engagement platform
Suggest having a paragraph on Have Your Say events, to
(website), webinars and phone interviews. These options will be advertised as part of our general marketing
advise the options for unvaccinated population.
campaign.
Kenneth Aiolupotea will work with Nga Matarae to ensure we are providing an appropriate level of support to
mana whenua to engage with this process, and he is happy to get in touch with any members who need further
assistance with a particular concern of this nature.
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Councillor
Note/Action
Response
name/LB Chair
or
representative
Lisa Whyte
Can we get some information when hard copies will be
All service centres and libraries across the region will be open and will have hardcopies of the consultation
available, and what’s the nearest location to pickup.
material available. We note local board offices are currently closed under red, however if alert levels change
we will provide further advice. If extra copies of consultation material are required, these can be ordered via
the [email address] email, or directly through Digital Storefront (DSF).
Cr Cashmore
My question is around Webinars – have we tried to improve Aucklanders will be asked to register for webinars to allow us to gauge potential attendance. If numbers are
the process to attract more people to attend webinars?
looking low, we can be flexible and cancel the webinar to avoid unnecessary time commitments from elected
members and staff.
We will promote webinars using our databases, community partners and social media. Councillors will also be
encouraged to promote them through their own social media pages.
Cr Watson
Question regarding reporting of the submissions, this time
We have included the following text in the consultation document to ensure the public is aware of when
we will split the reporting category when it comes back, are feedback reports will be available. Please note, responses will be reported in 4 categories (see below):
the public going to be informed in advance/alongside with
the consultation?
“All feedback received during the consultation period will be processed and made available to decision makers.
A final summary report of all categories of feedback (including summaries of feedback from individuals,
organisations, Māori entities and proforma/petitions) will be made publicly available. Noting that it will only be
your feedback included in public documents. All other personal details provided will remain private.”
Can the questionnaire from the independent survey be
The survey questionnaire will be shared with councillors as part of the summary feedback report in April and
shared with councillors before the end of consultation?
will be available only to technical experts and survey participants until analysis and reporting is completed. The
survey process is an independent process administered by a professional research agency and reviewed by the
University of Auckland to ensure it adheres to best practise without undue influence by any other party.
Officers provide the agency with the factual information from the Consultation Document, Supporting
Information and Feedback Form which elected members will have inputted into and approved, and then allow
and support the agency (reviewed by the University of Auckland) to develop the questionnaire. We have
confidence in the proven technical expertise and capability of our research experts, agency and University of
Auckland who are collaborating on the research approach to ensure value, quality, reliability and accuracy is
delivered in terms of the survey design and output. This includes designing the survey questions. This best
practise approach has been tested and proven in previous Auckland consultation (such as through the 10-year
Budget) where it has been very successful.
In terms of the survey questions, they will be carefully structured to align closely to the questions asked in the
consultation process to ensure results gained through both processes can be broadly compared.
Please refer to the consultation questions for an indication of what the survey questions will closely resemble.
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