Category: Local Boards

Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill Submission

The government’s proposed changes to the purpose of local government are poorly thought through.    It especially makes no sense to change the purpose of Local Boards when they have been in existance for less than 2 years. Submissions close today. My submission focuses on the impact of the Bill on the role of local boards.

Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill Submission

I wish to make a submission on the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill strongly opposing the introduction of the new purpose statement and the removal of the four well beings from the 2002 Act. I am particularly concerned about the impact of the proposed changes on the role of Auckland Council’s 21 local boards.

I make this submission in my personal capacity but draw on my experience as Deputy Chair of the Waitemata Local Board, Auckland Council in providing my comments on the Bill.

The Royal Commission on Auckland Governance identified two systemic problems – fragmented regional governance and poor community engagement. Addressing the first of these issues was the principal rationale underlying the establishment of Auckland Council, while the creation of 21 local boards as part of the council structure was the primary means of addressing the issue of poor community engagement.
Under the Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009 local boards are a key part of Auckland’s governance, enabling local representation and decision making on behalf of local communities. Local boards within the Auckland Council structure are best placed to understand and advocate for the aspirations of their communities.

Local boards have been in existence for less than two years and in that time have developed, following extensive consultation, aspirational plans with their communities that reflect local priorities and preferences. These plans contain a wide range of activities, some of which may sit outside the narrow focus of the new purpose statement for local boards.

For example the Waitemata Local Board plan covers a whole range of projects that could be interpreted to fall outside the proposed purpose of local boards such as local events, community gardens, fruit tree planting in local parks, support for local business associations, installation of water fountains, and community-led waste minimisation projects to name but a few.

I support the need for local government activities to be undertaken in a cost effective manner. However there is no evidence at all to suggest that the well beings have caused a blowout in local government costs.

There is also no evidence that local boards are acting ineffectively or have diverted into areas covered by central government. Most local projects are low cost but highly effective at building strong local communities. The activities of local boards complement and facilitate the role of central government and the private sector.

I am concerned that just as local boards are starting to find their feet that the proposed change to their purpose will undermine their autonomy and their ability to deliver on their communities’ priorities as set out in their three year plans. Local boards may be required to re-write their local board plans before they have been in place for even one full three year term.

Furthermore the proposed changes to the Act will undermine the Auckland government reorganisation and the concept of co-governance on which it is founded.

I therefore strongly oppose the introduction of the new purpose statement and strongly oppose a change to the role of local boards before the new structure has been fully tested and allowed to work.

I wish to appear before the committee to speak to this submission.

 

 

 

Local Board Members unite to oppose privatisation and contracting out at Ports of Auckland

Local Board Members call for urgent change of approach at Ports of Auckland

Media Release: 23 February 2012

Thirty four Auckland Local Board members from twelve different Boards* are jointly calling for urgent action to resolve the Ports of Auckland dispute ahead of a planned two week strike starting tomorrow, Friday February 24.

“We repeat our call for the one hundred percent AucklandCouncil owned Ports Company to urgently get back into negotiations with theunion for a new Collective Agreement. The strategic importance of resolving thedispute is overwhelming now, and it is time for Ports management to listen andadopt a different approach”, say the Board members.

“The chorus of voices calling for Ports of Auckland totake a more pragmatic approach is growing rapidly. A group of business leadersand major port stakeholders last week called for a new vision for the port and an end to labour casualisation proposals, and key Council leaders havecalled for a return to good faith bargaining with a focus on productivityimprovements with a directly employed workforce”

“The message is simple. The Port company needs to backoff from its extreme proposals to outsource or casualise the workforce. Theseproposals are a barrier to reaching a settlement, and they run counter to thevision of secure employment and stable communities that runs through many LocalBoard Plans, and the draft Auckland Plan. Improved productivity should bedeveloped through a negotiated partnership approach with the workforce, rather than by firingall existing staff and contracting work out”

“The Maritime Union has publicly stated that it will liftthe planned strike action if negotiations resume. We strongly urge Ports ofAuckland to publicly re-commit to negotiations without the threat of out-sourcing.  The approach taken to date is creatingunnecessary economic and legal risk for the city and the Council. That isunacceptable and it is incumbent on Ports of Auckland, as a company ultimatelyresponsible to Council and ratepayers in our communities, to re-assess their approach”, conclude the Board members.

ENDS

Contact: Michael Wood – 022-659-6360

Full list of Local Board Members issuing this statement: * Please note that each Board member issuing this statement does so in their own right only, and not on behalf of their Board.

Helga Arlington, Albert-Eden Josephine Bartley, Maungakiekie-Tamaki Leila Boyle, Maungakiekie-Tamak (Chair) Jesse Chalmbers, Waitemata Shale Chambers, Waitemata (Chair) Caroline Conroy, Papakura Pippa Coom, Waitemata Christopher Dempsey, Waitemata Graeme Easte, Albert-Eden Carrol Elliot, Mangere-Otahuhu Tunumafono Ava Fa’amoe, Otara-Papatoetoe Julie Fairey, Puketapapa Catherine Farmer, Whau Grant Gillon, Kaipataki John Gillon, Kaipataki Mary Gush, Otara-Papatoetoe Peter Haynes, Albert-Eden (Chair) Neil Henderson, Waitakere Ranges Richard Hills, Kaipataki Viv Keohane, Kaipataki Chris Makoare, Maungakiekie-Tamaki Tracey Martin, Rodney Christine O’Brien, Mangere-Otahuhu Greg Presland, Waitakere Ranges Simon Randall, Maungakiekie-Tamaki Tricia Reade, Waitemata Denise Roche, Waiheke Leau Peter Skelton, Mangere-Otahuhu (Chair) Lydia Sosene, Mangere-Otahuhu Rob Thomas, Waitemata Alan Verrall, Maungakiekie-Tamaki Margi Watson, Albert-Eden Michael Wood, Puketapapa Denise Yates, Waitakere Ranges (Chair)

 

Local Board Members unite to oppose privatisation and contracting out at Ports of Auckland

Media Release 16 January 2012

In an unprecedented move, 28 Auckland Local Board members from 10 different Boards are uniting to call for Ports of Auckland to return to good faith bargaining and drop plans to outsource jobs at the port (a full list of Board Members is below).

“Ports of Auckland Ltd is a Council-owned company. We support its operational independence, but the current dispute has escalated to a strategic level.  We are particularly concerned that actions being taken by Port management, including what appears to be a pre-determined strategy to contract out port jobs, are inflaming matters”, say the Board members.

Internal POAL strategy documents released last week show that Ports management was considering a contracting out strategy well in advance of negotiations. http://www.munz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/poal_labour_strategy.pdf

“Along with everyone else involved, we recognise the need for competitive levels of operational efficiency at the port. But Port management’s proposal to fire a skilled workforce and contract out their jobs to an external provider, with few work-life balance protections for employees and their families, is not the best way to achieve this.”

“We believe that Ports of Auckland has a responsibility to be a good employer, and to live up to the principles that its 100% owner the Auckland Council promotes in the draft Auckland Plan and in numerous Local Board Plans. Driving Aucklanders’ employment conditions and job security down in a race to the bottom is no way to build the world’s most liveable city.”

“We’re also concerned that the dispute is being used as a wedge by some councillors and interest groups to promote port privatisation. We support Mayor Len Brown’s unequivocal pro-public ownership platform, and believe the Port CEO would be well advised to publicly support it too.”

“The details of any settlement are for the parties to negotiate, but it is quite clear to us that a way forward should be possible that improves productivity without privatisation and contracting out being threatened, neither of which are proven cures. We hope that Port management and the Maritime Union will take a constructive approach and negotiate a settlement in good faith on this basis”, conclude the Board members.

ENDS

Contact: Michael Wood – 022-659-6360

Full list of Local Board Members issuing this statement:
* Please note that each Board member issuing this statement does so in their own right only, and not on behalf of their Board.

Helga Arlington, Albert-Eden
Josephine Bartley, Maungakiekie-Tamaki
Leila Boyle, Maungakiekie-Tamak (Chair)
Jesse Chalmbers, Waitemata
Shale Chambers, Waitemata (Chair)
Pippa Coom, Waitemata
Christopher Dempsey, Waitemata
Graeme Easte, Albert-Eden
Carrol Elliot, Mangere-Otahuhu
Tunumafono Ava Fa’amoe, Otara-Papatoetoe
Julie Fairey, Puketapapa
Catherine Farmer, Whau
Grant Gillon, Kaipataki
John Gillon, Kaipataki
Mary Gush, Otara-Papatoetoe
Peter Haynes, Albert-Eden (Chair)
Neil Henderson, Waitakere Ranges
Richard Hills, Kaipataki
Chris Makoare, Maungakiekie-Tamaki
Greg Presland, Waitakere Ranges
Simon Randall, Maungakiekie-Tamaki
Tricia Reade, Waitemata
Denise Roche, Waiheke
Leau Peter Skelton, Mangere-Otahuhu (Chair)
Lydia Sosene, Mangere-Otahuhu
Alan Verrall, Maungakiekie-Tamaki
Michael Wood, Puketapapa
Denise Yates, Waitakere Ranges (Chair)

Strong Local Boards crucial for an effective Auckland Council

Strong local boards are going to be crucial to the effective governance of the Auckland Super City. If the boards across the Auckland Region don’t work well with each other, the CCOs and the Auckland Council we are going to end up in a complete mess of parochial decision making.

The structure is intended to give the local boards and Auckland Council complimentary and non-hierarchical decision making functions. However much of the decision making will be delegated or allocated from the Council as the governing body. Through the select committee process, my community group Grey Lynn 2030, like many others, argued that the local boards should have powers and responsibilities prescribed in legislation so they could act as a counter balance to the powers of Auckland Council.

The lack of prescription could in fact end up being a good thing if the first mayor sets the framework for local boards that provides for real local decision making functions. Len Brown’s policy document on local democracy &  local boards gives a clear commitment on the extensive role he would like for the local boards.

Local boards should be involved in planning and policy related to their communities. They should develop long term community plans and annual plans, as well as contributing to regional policy-making and giving effect to regional plans. They should then develop local policy within the regional framework in areas like, for example, dog control, gambling and gaming machines, licensing of cafes, bars and liquor outlets, brothels, and the development of town centres.

Local boards should be responsible for local decisions on local roads, footpaths, pedestrian zones and bus stops, speed limits for local roads, public transport, crime prevention (where CCTV cameras should be sited, for example), community engagement, beautification schemes, building consents, local economic development, animal control, environmental protection, 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 also want local boards to be involved in resource management hearings for their areas. Read the full document here.

It is a big list of responsibilities, which are potentially far wider that we could have hoped for from the Super City legislation. We just have to make sure Len Brown is elected so that strong Local boards become a reality.