New committee structure for Kaipara District Council

 

Kaipara District Council (KDC) has adopted a new committee structure, with a focus on ‘cross-pollination’ of elected members across the district, collaboration and using the skills of elected members. Kaipara Mayor, Dr Jason Smith, says elected members have sworn an oath to serve all Kaipara District and each of the wards should be represented on the major committees, particularly for the district’s three priority parks. Committees will also contain a mix of new and more experienced councillors and workloads have been evened out.

 “We have a representative range of views from people across the district,” says Mayor Smith. “Community representation has also been cemented in the committees to make sure we include the perspectives of iwi partners, other councils and other groups within the community.

We want to draw on the strengths, talents and experience that sits within these groups and focus on making good decisions.” The KDC Customer Perception Survey from 2019 found financial management and preparedness for the future were the top community priorities. Mayor Smith has made them the Council’s priorities too. “I’ve strengthened the committee structure around financial management by establishing a new Deputy Chair role for Audit, Risk and Finance Committee to work closely with the external Chair and key KDC officers to support financial governance,”

Long term issues and planning will be considered by the newly established Kaipara Horizons Committee. “Some of these issues can appear distant and small at first but these can be things that will likely become significant as they draw nearer.

They would cover things like the Kaipara Moana Treaty Settlement, climate change ideas, future sea level risks, and so on. This Committee will bring these matters together and refer them to full Council for decisions.” Several grants and awards committees have been amalgamated to help streamline the governance efforts.

The whole Council will continue to work on regulatory matters and make decisions. At the same meeting, remuneration was discussed for elected members. The Mayor’s salary is established by the Remuneration Authority at $119,000. The Deputy Mayor will receive a base annual payment of $55,000, for leadership and assisting with the duties and responsibilities of the Mayor.

Councillors will all receive a flat $43,489, reflecting the evenly shared committee workload.

n Find the full list of committee appointments at kaipara.govt.nz.