Notice is given that an ordinary meeting of the Full Council will be held on:
Date:
Time:
Meeting Room:
Venue:
Thursday 5 March 2015 9.30 am
Tasman Council Chamber 189 Queen Street
Richmond
Full Council LATE ITEMS
LATE ITEMS
5 LATE ITEMS
That the late item, 8.9, be considered at today's meeting. The Chief Executive was still preparing the item when the agenda was published. The matters need to be reported at this meeting to remain current.
8 REPORTS
8.9 Chief Executive's Activity Report ... 5
Councillors - the REVENUE AND FINANCING POLICY, item 8.4 Attachment Two, is also attached to this set of late items.
Item 8. 9 8 REPORTS
8.9 CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S ACTIVITY REPORT
Decision Required Report To: Full Council
Meeting Date: 5 March 2015
Report Author: Lindsay McKenzie, Chief Executive Report Number: RCN15-03-08
1 Summary
1.1 This report summarises the activities that I have been involved in since the Council’s 11 December 2014 meeting. You had a brief update from me at your 19 February meeting.
1.2 The financial reports for the period ended January 2015 show an accounting deficit of
$1.227m compared with a budgeted accounting surplus of $4.005m. This is a negative variance of $5.232m. Most of the variance is due to a loss on interest swap revaluations.
Council has a positive variance of $3.112m over and above budget expectations for its operating activities. That is a really strong result.
1.3 The final step in the process of adopting the Consultation Document on the Long Term Plan 2015-2025 and the supporting documents occurs at this meeting. The effort that everyone has put into this work has been massive and the results that have been achieved are really positive.
1.4 There are some benefits in having a Consultation Document instead of a draft Long Term Plan but many of us are concerned that the whole process feels disjointed. I believe that the legal requirements relating to the content of the Consultation Document have worked for us this time, because we have a quite different story to tell about our financial and
infrastructure strategies than in the past. The content may frustrate many in the community who are used to more detail.
1.5 The Local Government Act was amended in August 2014 to allow members to attend meetings of the Council and its committees by audio or audio visual link. Council has previously asked that Standing Orders be amended to take advantage of this amendment to the Act. LGNZ have provided a set of Standing Orders. They are attached for your
information. You will see that they are quite complex and it will take time and cost to be able to implement them.
2 Draft Resolution
That the Full Council receives the Chief Executive's Activity Report RCN15-03-08.
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3 Purpose of the Report
3.1 The purpose of this report is to inform Council about my activities since Council’s 11 December 2014 meeting. This report is for noting.
4 Strategy and Planning – vision, direction, plans and policies, Long Term Plan, implementing
4.1 The ‘Able Tasman – Changing for Good’ programme of organisational development is over two years old now. Our focus on it has reduced in the past six months as the Long Term Plan has been the priority. That is not a bad thing as the Long Term Plan is the means of delivery for some of the work. Over the next few months we will review the projects that came out of the programme and are now part of normal business. Later in the year the eight strategic challenges that the Council signed off in 2013 will be reviewed. The planning for the challenge that we refer to as ‘SC2’ will be in place when the Long Term Plan 2015-2025 is adopted. The delivery stage remains.
That challenge read -
Financial Stability: Meeting community needs for assets and services in a way that is financially sustainable and affordable in the face of changing economic, political and regulatory environments.
4.2 The Waimea Water Augmentation Project is demanding on our resources. As reported to you recently, work on the business case for establishing the Council Controlled Organisation is underway. Beca has been contracted to review the construction cost estimates for the dam and its scope. They will report in mid-April on their work. Their preliminary advice confirms that the assumptions in the Consultation Document about the construction cost and overall project cost are reasonable given the level of certainty around forecasting at this stage of the project.
4.3 The Waimea Community Dam Company will report by 16 March on its activities over the time since the Funding and Support Agreement was signed. By the time you consider this report it is likely that the resource consent decision on the dam will have been released.
5 Advice and Reporting – Long Term Plan, annual report, current issues, governance support
5.1 The Local Government Act was amended in August 2014 to allow members to attend meetings of the Council and its committees by audio or audio visual link. Council has previously asked that Standing Orders be amended to take advantage of this amendment to the Act. We advised that LGNZ were commissioning work on a set of Standing Orders that would allow members to attend meetings by audio or audio visual link. We have just obtained LGNZ’s proposals. They are attached for your information. You will see that they are quite complex. (Please note the numbering may not align to our Standing Orders).
5.2 The challenge for us will be providing the technology that will enable the Chairs of meetings to be satisfied that the obligations they have under the Standing Orders can be met.
Realistically that will take us several months to source and cost. Whether the funds are committed will be a Council decision. No equipment is likely to go into Takaka until the service centre is rebuilt. Our priority should be on making savings through reduced staff
Item 8. 9
time and travel and on members’ convenience. Public participation by audio or audio visual link would be a third priority.
5.3 The Regional Sector Group and Regional CEOs Forum both met in Wellington over the last two weeks. The agendas covered –
The rights and interests of Iwi in freshwater: Members of the Freshwater Iwi Leaders Forum attended to present the Sapere report. That report promotes a proprietary rights and interests basis for allocating water to Iwi. The Government’s views are fairly clear on that. It will also be a challenge to promote this sort of approach as Iwi don’t favour a national settlement on water but rather an Iwi/hapu based settlement.
RMA amendments and reform: Minister Smith covered some of the same material that he covered in his Nelson Rotary speech. Sections 6 and 7 are likely to make reference to natural hazards, the urban environment and infrastructure as matters of national importance and ‘other matters’. The Minister is keen on role separation for elected members (policy making) and commissioners and the courts (implementing).
The Land and Water Forum: LAWF is being funded by the Minister for three years to manage some of the work to implement the National Policy Statement on Freshwater.
That work includes managing within limits including allocation limits and maximizing economic benefit; populating the National Objectives Framework and advising on further refinements to the water management system. Local government has a role this time as a partner rather than and observer.
Review of Special Interest Groups: The regional and unitary councils are supported in their work by specialist staff groups. They primarily serve the CEOs but also
support the work of the Regional Sector Group (Mayors and Chairs). A recent review of how these groups operate and support the sector is currently being implemented.
While the special interest groups have been successful in their professional disciplines in the past we can do better at meeting the strategic policy needs of the sector.
Other items covered –
Local Government Funding Review
MPIs Biosecuity Strategy Review
Wilding Pines management
Afforestation Grants Scheme
PCEs Fracking Report
Animal Health Board/OSPRI funding for Tb vector control
Civil Defence and Emergency Management – improving the resilience of New Zealand
5.4 I attended the SOLGM Colloquium held at the Marlborough Convention Centre on 23 & 24 January. The speakers included –
Bruce Robertson, Assistant Auditor General and Head of the Local Government group within the Office of the Auditor General. Bruce spoke about risk management in councils citing the woes of Rotorua District Council, where the story is one of focus on the detail, miss the big picture and Dunedin City Council, where the issue is focus on
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the big picture, miss the detail. Both of the enquiry reports into the troubles these councils are worth reading.. He reminded us that we are dealing with something different now (with the consultation document on the long term plan) and should take the opportunity that the law presents to shift the debate with communities.
Steve Waldergrave, General Manager Policy with the Department of Internal Affairs. He focused on the common interests between central government staff, especially DIA and local government officers as stewards of the system of local democracy. It appears that the rules reduction review has only received 200 inputs.
Expect the Ministers to ramp this up over the next few months.
Dame Beverley Wakem, Chief Ombudsman was great to hear. She spoke about the role of her office is creating trust in government and their ‘stand in the middle’ role.
Only 13% of complaints against local bodies under LGOIMA are upheld, mostly for time delays. She reminded us that private emails sent by Councillors are still official information if they are about the business of Council. She encouraged us to use LGOIMA proactively rather than as a defence and reminded us that justice delayed is justice denied.
Miles O’Connor, Corporate Services Manager at Bancorp Treasury Services Ltd ran us through some charts focussed on the global economy and monetary policy. He commented that there is a big global monetary policy experiment going on and nobody knows how or when or if it will end. His prediction is that interest rates will stay low and he forecast that you ought to be able to fund an organisation for the next eight years at an average interest rate cost of less than 4.5%.
JLT Presentation – Stephen Tustin and Martin Holden spoke about building an insurance strategy including the role of insurance within broader risk funding
strategies. They promoted a consideration of insurance cover linked to and aligned with an organization’s statutory obligations, compliance regimes, none insurable risk profile and stakeholder needs. Risk retention modeling was promoted as an approach to working out what financial capacity an organisation had to take a hit.
Peter Radich, Chair of Broadcasting Standards Authority spoke about the Authority’s work and the Bill of Rights. The most insightful message to us all was, in the face of public criticism tough it out, suck it up - it goes with the territory. He said we needed to adjust and relate but protect and defend your staff at all costs.
Susan Rowe, Partner with Buddle Finlay. Susan’s focus was on changes to section 10 in the Local Government Act and the deliberate narrowing of its focus, as well as the lack of definition of words in the section except for ‘community’ and ‘network infrastructure’. She proposed a three step process of thinking about compliance with section 10 – ‘need, quality and cost’. Section 10 should be the starting point for all decision making.
6 Management of Council Resources – finance, operations, systems and processes 6.1 The financial reports for the period ended January 2015 show an accounting deficit of
$1.227m compared with a budgeted accounting surplus of $4.005m. This is a negative variance of $5.232m. A significant portion of this is due to a loss on interest swap revaluations.
Item 8. 9
6.2 The table that follows reconciles the accounting surplus with the concept of the controllable operational surplus. This table strips out non-cash items and items that can only be used to fund capital expenditure (i.e. Development Contributions). When the loss on revaluation of interest rate swaps is removed the Council is in a strong financial position at this stage of the year.
Actual Budget Variance
YTD YTD YTD
January January January
Accounting Surplus/(Deficit) (1,227) 4,005 (5,232)
Less
Vested Assets (non cash) 2,759 3,044 (285)
Revaluation of Swaps (non cash) (8,922) 78 (9,000)
Development Contributions (fund BS) 2,699 1,758 941
Total 2,237 4,880 (8,344)
Controllable Operational Surplus/(Deficit) 2,237 (-875) 3,112
Explained by
Income (favourable variance) 54,183 54,547 (364)
Expenditure (favourable variance) 51,946 55,422 (3,476)
Total 2,237 (875) 3,112
6.3 Council has a positive variance of $3.112m over and above budget expectations for operating activities.
6.4 On a year to date basis income is $0.364m above budget. Areas contributing positively to this included:
general rates $0.18m which reflects growth over and above budget expectations
harvesting income $0.340m
water revenue $0.240m
6.5 These were offset by NZTA income which was behind budget due to the timing of this type of work i.e. summer months.
6.6 On a year to date basis expenditure is $3.476m below budget. Areas contributing to this included:
interest costs $1.21m
emergency works $0.144m
maintenance costs across Council $2.582m
6.7 These were offset by harvesting costs which is relate to the increased forestry income and higher legal costs for the Waimea Community Dam.
6.8 Two non cash items have had significant movement in the month being:
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the continued good performance against budget of Development Contributions due in part to Integrity Care Group Limited’s Lifestyle Village that is being developed in Richmond; and
the interest rate swap revaluation.
6.9 The balance sheet remains in a reasonably strong position. External debt was $149.1m and forecast to be $174.3m at 2014/15 year end. These figures are in line with expectations.
6.10 The overall Capital Expenditure budget is $48.4m which includes $17.14m of carry overs approved in October by Council. Capital expenditure is $17.989m compared with a year to date budget of $35.913m. A reforecast occurred in February of the Engineering Services capital spend.
7 Managing People – good employer, performance, health and safety, policies
7.1 We are still waiting on the government to announce on when the Health and Safety Reform Bill will become law. It is anticipated to be September 2015. In February our Human
Resources Manager participated in a WorkSafe NZ one day consultation group review of the draft Worker Engagement, Representation and Participation Draft Guidance (Approved Code of Practice). The revised draft will be released for public consultation. We’ve also been chosen to take part in ‘road-testing’ the Government’s proposed Safety Star Rating Scheme (SSRS) later this year. This is a pilot for a new voluntary programme that assesses a business’s health and safety performance. If implemented, the SSRS will replace ACC’s Workplace Safety Management Programme (WSMP) levies discount scheme.
7.2 Several staff attended Vault health and safety training in late January and hazard management training in late February. Vault is the Council’s electronic health and safety information management system.
7.3 There have been twelve accident and incidents involving staff in the past ten weeks.
These were split 50/50 personal (all minor) and vehicles. Four of the vehicle accidents caused minor damage and happened when the drivers were maneuvering the vehicle. One vehicle accident caused substantial damage to a canopy and had the potential to cause serious injury. Fortunately a member of the public alerted our driver to the danger.
7.4 As previously reported to the 11 December 2014 Council meeting the review of the
Environment & Planning Department structure has now been completed. Job mapping of existing staff has started and advertising for the new positions in the Building Control Section will begin in March.
7.5 Staff turnover for the December quarter was low with only 2 departures (<1%). We
employed 235 full time equivalents and the head count was 264. As often happens after the Christmas break, there has been more movement. We are currently at various stages of recruiting for the following positions:
GIS Analyst
Consent Planner – Natural Resources
Consent Planner – Land Use
Customer Services Officer – Motueka
Item 8. 9
Building Consent Officer
Utilities Manager – as a result of an internal transfer 7.6 Since my last report four appointments have been made.
Senior Building Consents Officer – commenced 25 January
Building Inspector – commencing 2 March
Project Manager – filled internally
Senior Engineer, Utilities – filled internally
7.7 Most of you have been advised about the new role that Jeff Cuthbertson is taking on in the Utilities team. I know he will do very well there.
7.8 I have approved the appointment of a two year fixed term Project Leader position that will be solely focused on the implementation of an electronic document management system (EDRMS). We have also recently employed two fixed term employees to provide additional short term support to clear a backlog of liquor licensing and historical water usage data analysis.
7.9 We have signed an agreement with Organisation Development Institute (ODI) to deliver a five day in-house leadership development programme. The programme starts in April and will be spread over five months i.e. one day a month. The course will be attended by 23 staff - me, Department and Third Tier Managers. The managers have recently completed a 360 survey as part of the course. Several ‘emerging leaders’ will also take part. ODI have previously worked with other councils around the country providing similar training.
8 Relationship Management – Iwi, customers/ratepayers, media, other councils, CCOs 8.1 The grant for the Murchison Museum to operate the visitor information centre has been
paid. Some assurances have been sought that the museum is ready to step up into the role and meet the expectations set when the grant was agreed to.
8.2 Other contacts included –
Ngati Rarua Atiawa Iwi Trust representatives to discuss the terms of a possible relationship MOU with the Council
Chris Ward of Nelson City to progress a work plan for the economic development outcomes the Council proposes to fund
Vision Motueka to discuss their priorities and how these may ‘gel’ with the Council’s budgets and Long Term Plan. Some form of MOU is also proposed here.
Some Best Island residents to assist them understand the Council’s processes and the benefits of negotiating agreements for rights of way to properties rather than acquiring land for a road through the public Works Act.
People seeking official information about HAIL sites and the Waimea Water Augmentation Project.
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1. Attachments
1. Suggested clauses for Standing Orders to allow for audio visual attendance at meetings
13
Att ac hm ent 1 Item 8. 9
2.19 ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS BY MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL AUTHORITY OR OF ANY COMMITTEE OF THE LOCAL AUTHORITY BY AUDIO LINK OR AUDIOVISUAL LINK
Statutory provision for attendance at meetings by audio link or audiovisual link
2.19.1
“A member of a local authority, or of a committee of a local authority, has, unless lawfully excluded, the right to attend any meeting of the local authority or committee by means of audio link or audiovisual link if … the presiding member at that meeting is satisfied that all conditions and requirements in the standing orders in relation to
attendance at that meeting by means of audio link or audiovisual link are met.”
[Clauses 25A(1) and 27(5)(a), Schedule 7, LGA]
Definitions for the
purposes of this Standing Order
2.19.2
“ ‘audio link’ means facilities that enable audio communication between participants at a meeting when 1 or more of them is not physically present at the place of the meeting
“ ‘audiovisual’ link means facilities that enable audio and visual communication between participants at a meeting when 1 or more of them is not physically present at the place of the meeting.”
[Clause 25A(7), Schedule 7, LGA]
Meetings to which Standing Order 2.19 applies
2.19.3
Subject to the provisos below the presiding member may permit
attendance by a member at meetings of the local authority or of the committee by means of audio link or audiovisual link either generally or for specified meetings:
(a) If the member is representing the Council at some place which makes the member’s physical presence at the meeting impossible or impracticable,
(b) If the member lives more than 75 kilometres by road from the place of the meeting, or
(c) If the member is temporarily absent from the member’s usual place of residence and more than 75 kilometres by road from the place of the meeting, or
(d) To accommodate the member’s illness or infirmity, or (e) To accommodate unforeseen circumstances such that
physical attendance is not possible,
Provided however that Standing Order 2.19 does not apply to
meetings in the nature of hearings (for instance, hearings under
the Local Government Act 2002 or the Resource Management
Act 1991), and
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Provided that the necessary audio or audiovisual technology is available to facilitate the member’s request.
[Clause 25A(1), Schedule 7, LGA]
Prior arrangements to enable a member of a local authority, or of a
committee of a local authority to attend any meeting of the local authority or committee by means of audio link or audiovisual link under Standing Order 2.19
2.19.4
(a) Where it is possible to do so, a member of the local authority or of any committee shall give the chairperson and the chief executive not less than two clear working days’ written notice of the member’s desire to attend a meeting of the local authority or of the committee by means of audio link or audiovisual link for specified meetings.
(b) Where, because of the member’s illness or infirmity or some emergency, it is not possible for a member to give the chairperson and chief executive not less than two working days’ written notice of the member’s desire to attend a meeting of the local authority or of the
committee by means of audio link or audiovisual link the member may give less than two working days’ written notice.
(c) The chief executive shall take reasonable steps to seek to facilitate a member’s desire to attend a meeting of the local authority or of the committee by means of audio link or audiovisual link.
(d) An act or proceeding of the local authority or committee is not invalidated if a member’s request under this Standing Order 2.19 is not accommodated or if there is any technological failure or defect in any audio link or audiovisual link for a meeting.
[Clauses 25A(1) and 27(5), Schedule 7, LGA]
Duties of the person presiding where a member of a local authority, or of a committee of a local authority, participates in a meeting under Standing Order 2.19
2.19.5
(a) Where a member of a local authority, or of a committee of a local authority attends any meeting of the local authority or committee by means of audio link or audiovisual link the “person presiding must … ensure that—
[(i)] technology for the audio link or audiovisual link is available and is of suitable quality; and
[(ii)] the procedure for the use of that technology in all the circumstances of the particular meeting will ensure that—
[
A] all those participating in the meeting can hear
and be heard by each other; and
Att ac hm ent 1 Item 8. 9
[
B] in relation to [Standing Order 2.19.1], the attendance of a member by means of audio link or audiovisual link does not reduce the accountability or accessibility of that person in relation to the meeting; and
[
C] the requirements of Part 7 of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 are met.”
(b) Where a member of a local authority, or of a committee of a local authority, participates in a meeting under this Standing Order the chairperson may direct that the audio link or audiovisual link be terminated after taking into account relevant factors including:
(i) That having people participating by audio link or audiovisual link has unreasonably increased or may unreasonably increase the length of the meeting, (ii) The behaviour of the people participating by audio
link or audiovisual link,
(iii) The style, degree and extent of inter-action
between the different people participating by audio link or audiovisual link, and
(iv) Any distraction to those physically present at the meeting caused as a result of having people participating by audio link or audiovisual link.
[Clause 25A(1) and (3), Schedule 7, LGA]
Member not physically present at meeting not to be counted as present for the purposes of the quorum
2.19.6
(a) “Despite [Standing Order 2.20.1], a member of the local authority who is not physically present at the meeting is not to be counted as present for the purposes of clause 23 [of Schedule 7 of the Local Government Act 2002].”
[Clause 25A(4), Schedule 7, LGA]
Local authority not
required to make technology for an audio link or audiovisual link available
2.19.7
“Nothing in this [Standing Order] requires [the] local authority to make technology for an audio link or audiovisual link available.”
[Clause 25A(5), Schedule 7, LGA]
Giving or showing documents to a person appearing at a meeting by way of audio link or audiovisual link
2.19.8
“A document may be given or shown to, or by, a person appearing at a meeting by way of audio link or audiovisual link—
(a) by transmitting it electronically; or
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(b) by use of audiovisual link (if the person is appearing by audiovisual link); or
(c) by any other manner that the person presiding thinks fit.”
[Clause 25A(6), Schedule 7, LGA]
Local authority not
responsible for the failure of any audio link or audiovisual link
2.19.9
“The local authority is not responsible for the consequences of any inadequacies or any failure of an audio link or audiovisual link, but if any member ceases to be able to participate in a meeting by reason of any technological failure or defect in any audio link or audiovisual link for the meeting that member shall be deemed to have ceased to be in attendance at the meeting.”
[Clause 25A(1), Schedule 7, LGA]
2.20 ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AT MEETINGS OF THE LOCAL AUTHORITY OR OF ANY COMMITTEE OF THE LOCAL AUTHORITY BY AUDIO LINK OR AUDIOVISUAL LINK
Statutory provision for attendance at meetings by audio link or audiovisual link
2.20.1
“A person other than a member of a local authority, or committee, may participate in a meeting of the local authority or committee by means of audio link or
audiovisual link if … the presiding member at that meeting is satisfied that all conditions and requirements in the standing orders are met in relation to—
(i) participation at that meeting by persons other than members; and
(ii) the use of audio link or audiovisual link for that participation.”
[Clauses 25A(2) and 27(5)(a), Schedule 7, LGA]
Definitions for the
purposes of this Standing Order
2.20.2
“ ‘audio link’ means facilities that enable audio communication between participants at a meeting when 1 or more of them is not physically present at the place of the meeting
“ ‘audiovisual’ link means facilities that enable audio and visual communication between participants at a meeting when 1 or more of them is not physically present at the place of the meeting.”
[Clause 25A(7), Schedule 7, LGA]
Meetings to which 2.20.3
Att ac hm ent 1 Item 8. 9
Standing Order 2.20 applies
Subject to the provisos below the presiding member may permit
a person other than a member of a local authority or committee, to participate in a meeting by means of audio link or audiovisual link for specified meetings. When considering whether or not to grant such permission the presiding member may take into account factors such as:
(a) The likely length of the meeting and the possibility that having people participating by audio link or audiovisual link may unreasonably increase the length of the meeting, (b) The potential behaviour of people participating by audio
link or audiovisual link,
(c) The likely style, degree and extent of inter-action between the different people participating by audio link or
audiovisual link, and
(d) The potential that having people participating by audio link or audiovisual link may have to distract those physically present at the meeting
[Clause 25A(2), Schedule 7, LGA]
Prior arrangements to enable a person other than a member of a local
authority or committee to participate in a meeting under Standing Order 2.20
2.20.4
(a) A person other than a member of a local authority or committee shall give the chairperson and the chief executive not less than two clear working days’ written notice of that person’s desire to participate in a specified meeting of the local authority or of the committee by means of audio link or audiovisual link.
(b) The local authority shall take reasonable steps to seek to facilitate that person’s desire to participate in a specified meeting of the local authority or of the committee by means of audio link or audiovisual link.
(c) An act or proceeding of the local authority or committee is not invalidated if that person’s request under this Standing Order 2.20 is not accommodated or if there is any technological failure or defect in any audio link or audiovisual link for a meeting.
[Clause 25A(2), Schedule 7, LGA]
Duties of the person presiding where a person other than a member of a local authority or
committee participates in a meeting under Standing Order 2.20
2.20.5
(a) Where a person other than a member of a local authority or committee participates in a meeting of the local authority or committee by means of audio link or audiovisual link the “person presiding must … ensure that—
[(a)] technology for the audio link or audiovisual link is
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Agenda Page 18
available and is of suitable quality; and
[(b)] the procedure for the use of that technology in all the circumstances of the particular meeting will ensure that—
[(
A)] all those participating in the meeting can hear and be heard by each other; and
[(
B)] in relation to [Standing Order 2.20.1], the attendance of a member by means of audio link or audiovisual link does not reduce the accountability or accessibility of that person in relation to the meeting; and
[(
C)] the requirements of Part 7 of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 are met.”
(b) Where a person other than a member of a local authority or committee participates in a meeting under this
Standing Order the meeting may direct that the audio link or audiovisual link be terminated after taking into account relevant factors including:
(i) That having people participating by audio link or audiovisual link has unreasonably increased or may unreasonably increase the length of the meeting, (ii) The behaviour of people participating by audio link
or audiovisual link,
(iii) The style, degree and extent of inter-action between the different people participating by audio link or audiovisual link, and
(iv) Any distraction to those physically present at the meeting caused as a result of having people participating by audio link or audiovisual link.
[Clause 25A (2) and (3), Schedule 7, LGA]
Local authority not required to make technology for an audio link or audiovisual link available
2.20.6
“Nothing in this [Standing Order 2.20] requires [the] local authority to make technology for an audio link or audiovisual link available.”
[Clause 25A(5), Schedule 7, LGA]
Giving or showing documents to a person appearing at a meeting by way of audio link or audiovisual link
2.20.7
“A document may be given or shown to, or by, a person appearing at a meeting by way of audio link or audiovisual link—
(a) by transmitting it electronically; or
(b) by use of audiovisual link (if the person is appearing by
Att ac hm ent 1 Item 8. 9
audiovisual link); or
(c) by any other manner that the person presiding thinks fit.”
[Clause 25A(6), Schedule 7, LGA]
Local authority not
responsible for the failure of any audio link or audiovisual link
2.20.8
“The local authority is not responsible for the consequences of any technological failure or defect in any audio link or
audiovisual link for a meeting.”
[Clause 25A(1), Schedule 7, LGA]
Consequential amendment to Standing Order 3.17.2:
In the third line of SO 3.17.2 after the phrase “the names of those members present;” add “the names of those members attending the meeting by means of audio link or audiovisual link;”