Council finance committee holds meeting online

The Coronavirus lockdown has led to the majority of people working from home, and New Plymouth District Councillors are no exception.

Yesterday, councillors held their first fully remote meeting, with the seven members of Finance, Audit & Risk Committee gathering, along with other councillors and staff, over the internet.

As New Zealand went into lockdown, the Government rushed through a law change allowing councils to hold meetings remotely. Previously a minimum number had to be physically present in the room.

But with about 30 people taking part from various locations, running such a meeting was not a simple process.

There were a handful of technical difficulties, including interference.

There were serious matters on the agenda, which included an update on the council’s Asset Discovery Project.

This is a review of the current state of NPDC’s three water networks – drinking water, wastewater and storm water.

The review came about after ex-Cyclone Gita hit on February 19, 2018 and uprooted a tree, causing it to fall on a water pipe and sever supply to 10,000 properties.

A debrief report later found issues with the accuracy and reliability of the council’s information on its own assets Twenty-eight recommendations were made for improvement, including the Asset Discovery Project, which will underpin the case for investment in the 2021-2031 long-term plan.

The project is nearing completion, and council is looking to get it peer reviewed by an independent third party.

The report was noted.