By Email
S hed 39, 2 Fryat Quay
P ipitea, Wellington 6011
P O Box 11646
24 September 2018
M
anners Street
We
llington 6142
File Ref: OIAP–7-7296
T 04 384 5708
F 04 385 6960
Ben Hassall
w
ww.gw.govt.nz
[FYI request #8373 email]
Dear Mr Hassall
Request for Information 2018-208
I refer to your request for information dated 27 August 2018, which was received by Greater
Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) on 27 August 2018. You have requested the following
information:
1. “Firstly, could the GWRC please provide a proper PDF formatted version of the previously provided
documents as the information in these documents cannot be searched or cut/pasted?
2. Part of my interest is whether the GWRC considered the cost of providing bus and rail services to the
different Territorial Local Authorities.
Can a copy of any information on costs of bus and/or rail services to the different Territorial Local
Authorities used in any part of the GWRC R&F Policy for the 2018-28 Long Term Plan please be
provided?
3. Can I please also have a copy of any independent transport advice or independent peer review
provided to this the GWRC R&F Policy Review?
With respect to the documents provided, I would ask for some of the information referred in them
that would probably help:
4. RE Attachment 1: Presentation 28 July 2017 LTP Finance Working Group Workshop: This outlines
four initial options as well as the “Assessment of the Option” framework and “Next Steps” stated to
be “Model PT Rate Options”.
Can I please have a copy of the meeting agenda and minutes of 28 July 2017 LTP Finance Working
Group Workshop?
RESPONSE TO OIA 2018-208
5. Can I please have a copy of the results of the Modelling of the four PT Rate Options as outlined as
the next step to the 28 July 2017 LTP Finance Working Group Workshop?
6. Can I please have a copy of the final “Assessment of the Option” ratings for each of the four options
as outlined as the next step to the 28 July 2017 LTP Finance Working Group Workshop?
7. Attachment 2: Discussion Paper Council Working Group 20 September 2017 Public Transport Review
of Revenue Financing Policy: This document outlines two options for further consideration as well as
the initial Benefit Ratios for different ratepayer groups under the “Level of Benefit Option”. It states
“These suggested differentials were derived in a series of workshops with economics, policy, finance,
and public transport staff, exploring the relative benefits and impacts of public transport”.
Can I please have a copy of the meeting or management decision that eliminated two of the initial
four options as well as the assessing information on which this decision was based?
8. Can I please have a copy of the meeting agendas, presentation information and minutes for the
“series of workshops with economics, policy, finance, and public transport staff, exploring the
relative benefits and impacts of public transport”?
9. Can I please have a copy of the spreadsheet (or spreadsheets) used to create the charts (or figures)
in this report?
10. Attachment 3: Discussion Paper Council Working Group 18 to 19 October 2017 Revenue Financing
Policy: This includes a reference that the GWRC had “developed a dynamic model so that we can
demonstrate the aggregate rating impacts of the new policy options that are under discussion. The
model will be available for use at the Council workshop on 29 November”.
Can I please have the “dynamic model” referred to in this report?
11. Attachment 4: Discussion Paper Council Workshop 29 November 2017 Revenue Financing Policy
Can I please have a copy of the spreadsheets used to create the bar charts in the PT Rates section of
this report?
12. Attachment 5: Presentation Council Workshop 29 November 2017 Revenue Financing Policy
Can I please have a copy of the workshop agenda and minutes including the “further information
requested by councillors” referred to in the December report?
13. Attachment 6: Discussion Paper Council Workshop 13 December 2017 Revenue Financing Policy
Can I please have a copy of the legal advice received on the PT Rates changes?
14. Attachment 7: Presentation 8 February 2018 LTP Council Workshop
Can I please have a copy of the spreadsheets used to create the bar charts in the PT Rates section of
this report?”
RESPONSE TO OIA 2018-208
PAGE 2 OF 4
GWRC’s response follows (the numbering refers to the questions asked).
1. All documents were provided in pdf format.
2. GWRC does not have the cost of bus/rail services to the different Territorial Authorities. Costs
are not allocated out to the different Territorial Authorities.
3. GWRC did not have independent transport advice or a peer review of the R&F policy.
4. The meeting agenda for the 28 July 2017 LTP Finance Working Group workshop is on page 2 of
the presentation. Regarding the meeting minutes requested, it is necessary for GWRC to extend
the time to provide this 8 until Friday, 26 October 2018. This extension is required because the
information within the scope of this element of your request was prepared and is likely held by a
consultant, who is currently overseas.
5. The four options were discussed at the workshop and it was decided to model 2 options. These
options were included in the Discussion paper for Councillor working group on the 20
September 2017.
6. An assessment of the four options was discussed in the workshop. From the outcome of those
discussions the Discussion paper for Councillor working group 20 September 2017 was
produced.
7. The decision that eliminated two of the initial four options occurred at the workshop on 28 July
2017. This decision was made by Councillors after it was fully discussed in the workshop.
8. It is necessary for GWRC to extend the time to answer your question number 8 until Friday,
26 October 2018. This extension is required because the information within the scope of this
element of your request was prepared and is likely held by a consultant, who is currently
overseas.
9. It is necessary for GWRC to extend the time to answer your question number 9 until Friday,
26 October 2018. This extension is required because the information within the scope of this
element of your request was prepared and is likely held by a consultant, who is currently
overseas.
10. Dynamic model attached.
11. It is necessary for GWRC to extend the time to answer your question number 11 until Friday,
26 October 2018. This extension is required because the information within the scope of this
element of your request was prepared and is likely held by a consultant, who is currently
overseas.
RESPONSE TO OIA 2018-208
PAGE 3 OF 4
12. The workshop agenda is on page 2 of Attachment 5: Presentation Council Workshop 29
November 2017 Revenue Financing Policy. The outcome of that meeting was reflected in the
December report.
13. A legal review of the revenue and financing policy including PT was completed by Simpson
Grierson. This is attached.
14. It is necessary for GWRC to extend the time to answer your question number 14 until Friday,
26 October 2018. This extension is required because the information within the scope of this
element of your request was prepared and is likely held by a consultant, who is currently
overseas.
If you have any concerns with the decision(s) referred to in this letter, you have the right to request
an investigation and review by the Ombudsman under section 27(3) of the Local Government
Official Information and Meetings Act 1987.
Yours sincerely
Dave Humm
General Manager, Corporate Services/CFO
RESPONSE TO OIA 2018-208
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