Today I presented my council’s submission to the select committee considering the third bill to set up the Auckland Council.

One of the key issues facing the committee is the role and functions of the local boards. My council believes much more work needs to be done to ensure local community interests are reflected in the new governance structure and that the local board powers should be enshrined in legislation.

We believe local boards will be best placed to understand the specific needs of the communities they serve. In order to do so, the boards need meaningful powers, funding and support, and they should be provided for in legislation.

The Discussion Document has provided some reassurance around the types of decisions local boards will make but what we really need to see is stronger legislation that enshrines the powers of local boards and gives them a true place shaping role.

The Local boards must have regulatory responsibilities and adequate resources to get things done. They should be responsible for local decisions on local roads, footpaths, crime prevention (where CCTV cameras should be sited, for example), beautification schemes, building consents, animal control, environmental health, local parks, recreation and sports facilities, libraries and pools, community houses and advisory services, town centre promotion, galleries and museums, beaches, camping grounds, liquor licensing, and more. I spoke more about this here.

While the Discussion Document is a start, we still have a long way to go.

I believe there is a chance that the new Auckland Council could end up in endless litigation, debate and conflict about what things the local boards should be involved in. My council is still advocating for the role and powers of local boards to be strengthened in legislation and I spoke about that today.

Manukau City Council’s submission also covered:

Local Boards

o The need to strengthen in legislation the principles for allocation of powers and functions of local boards.
o The ability of local boards to general additional revenue leading to inequalities in service delivery.
o The impractical timing for local board plans, with the adoption of Local Board Plans by 30 April following the triennial elections resulting in rushed consideration of board and community preferences. The council recommends a change to 30 September for adoption of plan, to allow the local board time to consult adequately with its local communities and other interested parties, and to assess if the existing local board plan needs amending.

Council controlled organisations

o The establishment of CCOs without political input or public consultation.
o The appointments to CCO board being made by Ministers. The council proposes that the legislation should allow for the relevant Ministers to appoint interim boards for CCOs for set time period only.
o The lack of requirement for integration with the Auckland Council’s strategic goals. One of the reasons stated for establishing the Auckland Council is to have the region working towards one strategic direction. The council proposes that the legislation should require CCOs to give effect to the strategic direction of the Auckland Council and reference the four well-beings.
o The potential disestablishment of existing highly successful CCOs without proper consideration of their potential benefit to the new Auckland Council.

Spatial Plan

o The lack of direct reference to sustainable development and the four well-beings in the Bill. The council proposes the Bill reflects the four well-beings of sustainable development.

Maori Advisory Board

o The lack of detail on the role and powers of the Maori advisory board.

Pacific and Ethnic Advisory Boards

o The discrepancies in the appointment process for these panels.
o The unnecessary requirement to disestablish the panels by 1 November 2013.