Key announces amended version of super city
The Government has backed an Auckland 'super city' council and says it should be in place in time for next year's local body elections. ... Rather than having six local councils, there will be between 20 and 30 community boards. These will not be able to raise revenue or appoint staff. (Via New Zealand Herald)
Local democracy was identified by many, including myself, as the major problem of the Royal Commission report. However, I don't see this is best the solution. I disliked community boards from start, waste of time, not many actually attends, and its power cannot change much for the community. I prefer the parliamentary electorate style, each community elects its own member to the Auckland Council, the member manage local issues and represent that at the higher level.
Anyway, the difference in government recommendation[pdf] is, community boards will gain extra power, such as :
- advocate for their local community and have input into the Auckland Council’s plans
- develop local operational policies for local issues, for example dog control, liquor licensing and graffiti control
- influence the Auckland Council by petitioning for extra services that their community wants. Services would be paid for through a targeted rate for the local area, a local rate rise or a change in priorities. The local boards will not have the power to set rates, so any rate rise would have to be agreed by the Auckland Council.
Can you imagine 30 sets of dog control and and operational policies? Anyone who still thinks the change will save their rate bill should check if the sky in their little world is still blue. Also I did not notice anything in that report mentioning the delivery of council services, does that mean all people need to travel to Auckland CBD to get their resource consent done?
The grand council will increase overall efficiency but I don't see a way that could reduce overall costs in both Royal Commission and government report.
Also another thing worth noticing:
Privatising water services?
Nice try. So National.
