Eketāhuna Community Board

Minutes of a meeting of the Eketāhuna Community Board held in the Eketāhuna War Memorial Hall, corner of Jones Street and State Highway 2, Eketāhuna on Monday 10 May 2021 commencing at 10.00am.

1. Present

Board Members S C McGhie (Deputy Chairperson), T M Carew, D F Clifton and Cr R A Treder (Council appointed Community Board member).

In Attendance

Mr R Taylor         -        Manager - Democracy Services

Mr J Sweeney      -        Eketāhuna resident

2.               Apologies

2.1	That an apology be sustained from Chairperson Board Member Charlie Death for non-attendance at the meeting. Clifton/Carew                                                                                                  Carried

3.               Personal Matters

3.1

Nil

4.               Notification of Items Not on the Agenda

4.1	The following matter is notified as an item of general business not on the agenda for discussion at today’s meeting: · Esther Bunning Anzac Day flags

5.               Confirmation of Minutes

5.1	That the minutes of the Eketāhuna Community Board meeting held on 12 April 2021 (as circulated) be confirmed as a true and accurate record of the meeting. Carew/Clifton                                                                                                  Carried

6.               Matters Arising from the Minutes

6.1	Anzac Day (Item 6.1)
6.1.1	Very well attended Anzac Day community services were held in Eketāhuna and the Anzac Memorial Bridge at Kaiparoro.
6.2	New Residents Welcome Afternoon Tea (Item 6.2)
6.2.1	Details are to be placed in the community newsletter and Bush Telegraph regarding the new resident’s welcome afternoon tea held at the Eketāhuna Club on 13 June 2021.
6.3	Town Signage (Item 8)
6.3.1	The Board’s preferences to be used for Eketāhuna town signage project at each entrance are to include the white kiwi as the image with blue and green as the sign’s colours.
6.4	Town Centre CCTV Security Cameras Monitoring System (Item 12.1)
6.4.1	Eketāhuna Our Town Committee is applying for funding to upgrade the existing security cameras monitoring system in Eketāhuna.

7.                Tararua District Council Report

7.1	That the report of the Tararua District Council meeting held on 28 April 2021 (as circulated) be received. Carew/Clifton                                                                                                  Carried

8.               Reports from Board Representatives Appointed to Organisations  and Assigned Responsibilities                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Assigne

8.1	Newman Reserve Board
8.1.1	Board Member Terry Carew reported at the Newman Reserve Board Annual General Meeting held on 14 April 2021 discussion included considering funding the cost of replacing a power pole and repairing the swimming pool at the reserve.
8.2	Great Eketāhuna Ball
8.2.1	The Great Eketāhuna Ball was very successful and well received, with $1,500 raised to support Eketāhuna Health Centre.
8.2.2	This event was greatly enjoyed by those attending, and it is intended the Great Eketāhuna Ball will again be arranged next year.

9.                Correspondence

9.1	It is noted the Eketāhuna Camping Ground and its managers were the subject of very complimentary remarks received by Council from a group that stayed at this facility.

10.            General Assistance Grants Scheme

10.1	Board Member Denise Clifton declared a conflict of interest in the applications of Eketāhuna Community Radio Society and Eketāhuna and Districts Early Settlers Museum Society, and abstained from discussion and determining the amount of funding granted to those organisations.
10.2	Board Member Terry Carew declared a conflict of interest in the application of Eketāhuna Menz Shed, and abstained from discussion and determining the amount of funding granted to that organisation.
10.3	That the following grants be approved for disbursement from the Eketāhuna Community Board’s General Assistance Grants Scheme for the 2020/2021 annual funding allocation. Name                                               Project                                                       Amount                                                                                                                               Granted Eketāhuna Community             Equipment and public liability                  Radio Society                              insurance                                                        $ 767.17 Eketāhuna and Districts           Digital collection catalogue Early Settlers Museum Society                                                                                                                   $1,450.00 Eketāhuna Golf Club                 Water rates relief                                         $1,055.00 Eketāhuna Lawn Tennis Club                                              Turf and pavilion insurance                          $ 350.96 Eketāhuna Menz Shed              Build extension to store materials             $1,000.00 Friends of the Anzac                  Walkway and Anzac Bridge Memorial Bridge                        surrounds maintenance                               $ 170.00 Eketāhuna Bowling Club          Rates remission                                              $ 610.38                                                                                                                               ________ Total amount granted                                                                                     $5,403.51 And that the grants allocated to Eketāhuna Community Radio Society and Eketāhuna Bowling Club are subject to receiving from them a copy of their balance sheet or statement of income and expenditure for the recent financial year that has been reviewed independently. McGhie/Treder                                                                                                Carried

11.             2021/2031 Long Term Plan

11.1	Resident Joe Sweeney conveyed to board members his concern about the significant rates increase Council is proposing for the forthcoming financial year and beyond, and its impact on ratepayers with low fixed incomes.
11.2	The Board considered the 2021/2031 Long Term Plan Consultation Document, with Council appointed Community Board Member Cr Raylene Treder abstaining from discussion regarding this item of business.
11.3	The Board agreed to make a submission supporting the Council’s preferred option 2 of the right debate matters concerning recycling, community development and road financial reserves.
11.4	The Board agreed to support option 3 of the right debate matters concerning debt repayment that proposes to repay debt at a compounding rate of 3% of rates each year.
11.5	This will enable Council to achieve its debt target sooner, and build some headroom in order to be prepared for unknowns that are potentially likely to occur in the future.

12.             Chairperson’s Remarks

12.1

Nil

13.             Items Not on the Agenda

13.1	Esther Bunning Anzac Day Flags
13.1.1	Artist Esther Bunning created Anzac Day flags, with one of the flags depicting the Anzac Mounted Troopers riders at Armistice Day in formation along the Anzac Memorial Bridge at Kaiparoro.
13.1.2	While Eketāhuna Community Board had not been contacted or approached to purchase these flags the Eketāhuna and Districts Early Settlers Museum Society acquired some for display in the town.
13.1.3	Community groups and organisations had helped to raise the flags in recognition of the horses of World War One, and they featured in six Wairarapa towns.
13.1.4	The flags featured horses, riders and children’s art, with support provided from Eketāhuna and Districts Early Settlers Museum Society, Masterton District Council, Carterton District Council, Greytown Community Board, Property Brokers Featherston and Martinborough Community Board.

There being no further business the Deputy Chairperson thanked those present for their attendance and contributions, and declared the meeting closed at 11.55am.

____________________________

                   Chairperson