Not only in Kapiti — another instance of what happens when plans are concocted by autocratic council staff instead of being decided by a democratic community process.

The Pittwater community are angry and dismayed over the Mona Vale Place Plan. After working intensely for a year or so on workshops aimed at developing Mona Vale as a Place everyone would like to visit, via Placemaking techniques, the community has been presented a plan from the new Northern Beaches Council which; does not […]

full post: Storm brewing over the Mona Vale Place Plan

Meadow Fresh plus some other food manufacturers are sponsoring their fifth Café of the Year Contest, and three Waikanae cafés are in the final list for public vote.

In their requirements: “A café is any business that primarily serves home-made cabinet food as a staple offering in addition to any menu items and serves tea and coffee. A high proportion of food should be made on the premise. A café can be a licensed premise. A café can be open in the evenings but daytime (breakfast and lunch) service should be a priority.”

This year there is also a Business/commercial innovation category for

• Marketing innovation
• Food / menu development
• Interior design / construction

The Waikanae cafés in the list are Siggy’s and Olive Grove in Mahara Place plus Harrison’s Garden Centre in Peka Peka (well, it’s officially in the Waikanae Ward for the council).

We figure that any popular vote is going to be skewed by the number of people in the area; regardless, it’s an interesting list:  Details

Clearly, this is looking north-east from the Otaihanga side.

Source

This morning I attended the meeting of the Kapiti Coast District Licensing Committee (KCDLC) that considered the application from Tran Vu Limited (Waikanae Beach Four Square situated at 28 Tutere Street) for the renewal of an Off Licence to sell and supply alcohol for consumption off the premises.

The meeting, held within the Kapiti Coast District Council chamber was well attended – with the public seating area within the Council chamber filled with supportive residents. There was effectively no ratepayer present who opposed the application.

I commend the chair of the KCDLC (Diane Amundsen) for her early communication of the decision that (numbers pending) she would accept three minutes of spoken input from the public present – regardless of whether they had provided a written submission prior to today’s meeting. Several ratepayers (myself included) who had not provided earlier written comment elected to speak. A general practitioner, local business owner and appreciative Waikanae Beach residents spoke supportively –- indicating the valued place that Waikanae Four Square held in their social fabric.

David Roil spoke to his highly relevant submission.

In my view the decision that the KCDLC makes around this application will prove a precedent and such attractive substantial interest going forward.

Despite the prescriptive language of the ‘Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012’ (an Act that of necessity addresses a range of contingencies within its aim to benefit the community as a whole through a new system of control at point of sale and supply of alcohol and so contribute to the safe and responsible consumption of alcohol and the minimisation of harm caused by excessive consumption) – the Act articulates clear expectation that in implementation the new system will be ‘reasonable’.

To me this expectation gives considerable ‘discretion’ to the KCDLC as a decision making body.

It was crucially identified today that the current state of the technical capacity used by the applicant Tran Vu Limited (and in fact potentially all other Four Square outlets) to codify products at point of sale as a basis for the analysis and reporting required by the Act needs significant technical upgrade to assure that reporting does justice to their activity.

Within this context the application of the ‘definition’ of a grocery store could well be regarded as a blunt instrument.

Sections 105 and 106 of the Act discuss and describes ‘the amenity value’ that this premise offers its locality.

It is my opinion that viewed in a wider context, the amenity value that the Waikanae Beach Four Square offers (in the first instance the Waikanae Beach community and the wider ambit of Waikanae and those who visit) will increase significantly due to:

• The positive impact that the expressway will bring in terms in terms of Waikanae becoming the place of choice for people to live and or visit
• The role it will play for Waikanae Beach residents negatively impacted upon by the loss of connectivity within Waikanae that the expressway will bring
• The clear preference for small businesses compatible with a village atmosphere over large corporate interest as expressed by Waikanae Beach residents within the KCDC facilitated consultation
• The older demographic and issues of access and mobility
• Promotion by Mayor Gurunathan of Kapiti as a ‘retirement mecca’

I support entirely the application from Tran Vu Limited (Waikanae Beach Four Square situated at 28 Tutere Street) for the renewal of an Off Licence to sell and supply alcohol for consumption off the premises.

Margaret Stevenson-Wright, Ratepayer, Waikanae

New Kapiti Coast Mayor Guru made the provisions in Section 14 of this Act a feature of his campaign — and all the candidates for the Waikanae Ward seat, except Michael Scott, did too.

It’s worth citing this Section in its entirety with certain phrases underlined:-

14  Principles relating to local authorities
(1)  In performing its role, a local authority must act in accordance with the following principles:

(a)  a local authority should—

(i)  conduct its business in an open, transparent, and democratically accountable manner; and
(ii)  give effect to its identified priorities and desired outcomes in an efficient and effective manner:

(b)  a local authority should make itself aware of, and should have regard to, the views of all of its communities; and

(c)  when making a decision, a local authority should take account of—

(i)  the diversity of the community, and the community’s interests, within its district or region; and
(ii)  the interests of future as well as current communities; and
(iii)  the likely impact of any decision on the interests referred to in subparagraphs (i) and (ii):

(d) a local authority should provide opportunities for Māori to contribute to its decision-making processes:

(e)  a local authority should actively seek to collaborate and co-operate with other local authorities and bodies to improve the effectiveness and efficiency with which it achieves its identified priorities and desired outcomes; and

(f)  a local authority should undertake any commercial transactions in accordance with sound business practices; and
(fa)  a local authority should periodically—

(i)  assess the expected returns to the authority from investing in, or undertaking, a commercial activity; and
(ii)  satisfy itself that the expected returns are likely to outweigh the risks inherent in the investment or activity; and

(g)  a local authority should ensure prudent stewardship and the efficient and effective use of its resources in the interests of its district or region, including by planning effectively for the future management of its assets; and

(h)  in taking a sustainable development approach, a local authority should take into account—

(i) the social, economic, and cultural interests of people and communities; and
(ii)  the need to maintain and enhance the quality of the environment; and
(iii)  the reasonably foreseeable needs of future generations.

(2) If any of these principles conflict in any particular case, the local authority should resolve the conflict in accordance with the principle in subsection (1)(a)(i).

Clearly, the way the KCDC has been run during the years of the Rowan-Church & Dougherty Dynasty has fallen short of these requirements.  The two mayors mentioned were both turfed out by voters — and is what the new council should do with Dougherty.

Guy Burns of the Paraparaumu-Raumati Community Board says that all KCDC documents, baring certain confidential ones, should be on the KCDC website and we agree.   The website, however, like most KCDC documents, is very difficult to negotiate and needs professional redesigning.

I was gratified by all the support expressed during the campaign and the result was very close. Although there were only 9 votes at the second iteration between myself and second placed Iride McCloy (1587 to 1596), I have decided not to seek an official recount as that is still too many for likely counting errors, and we don’t know who preferences from her voters would have favoured if I was number 2 at that stage.

Clearly, there was much dissatisfaction with Michael Scott; not only his own poor vote, but his two close associates, Eric Gregory and Jill Lloyd, were dropped by electors off the Community Board.

Michael Scott has also lost his prime supporter on the council, former Mayor Ross Church.

In answer to the question from several people as to whether I will run again in 2019: it depends totally on Michael Scott.  If he continues to disappoint, then in the words of Arnold Schwarzenegger — “I’ll be back”.

Is that new smartphone burning a hole in your pocket (literally)?  Then rediscover books without batteries and your opportunity to acquire some at rock bottom prices is happening this weekend.

The 2016 book fair is on 15 and 16 October in the Waikanae Memorial Hall; hours are 8.00 am to 6.00 pm on the Saturday and 9.00 am to 2.00 pm on the Sunday

Lions have a large supply of quality books being sorted and readied for the book fair.

See you there.