Local government doesn't want "reforms" Survey data released today by the Green Party shows there is considerable opposition amongst councillors and community board members to Government's proposed changes to local government.
The Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill makes the biggest changes to
local government since the restructuring of 1989.
"The Government has claimed that most local government politicians are very
supportive of these reforms, but this is clearly not the case," Green Party
local government spokesperson Eugenie Sage said.
"The lack of consultation is obvious as the Government's claims are so out
of touch with views in local government.
"Unlike the Government, we asked all local body politicians about what they
think and the results were overwhelmingly opposed to the proposed changes.
"
Our survey responses show that the changes proposed threaten local
democracy.
"As one councillor said "local government's contract is with its own
citizens. It is not an arm of central government".
"The Bill muddles that distinction. It would put local government under
Wellington's thumb."
The Green Party sent a survey to elected local government representatives to
gather their views on the Bill. The survey was sent to all local council,
local board, and community board members and collected 175 responses from
all over New Zealand over 2 weeks.
. 66% of respondents said they had not been consulted about the
changes.
. 70% of respondents disagree with the proposed changes to the
purpose of local government including removing councils' function to promote
social, economic, environmental and cultural wellbeing of their communities.
. 71% oppose the changes to the Act to "streamline" the process for
council amalgamations and remove the need for a poll of affected electors.
. 74% of respondents disagree with changes to the Act which would
allow central government and the Minister to intervene more in local
government.
"I am calling on communities to make submissions to the Select Committee on
why this Bill is bad for local democracy, bad for our communities, and bad
for the economy," said Ms Sage.
Submissions on the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill close on 26
July.
9 comments:
Whilst sitting councillors don't want change to the status quo I'd bet on it that the majority of ratepayers do. Just ask those in [insert most local body regions here]. The worst thing possible occured in 02 act when Uncle Helen gave councils the power of general competence. Oxymoron enactment.
Liarbour were warned of the damage, but as they see local government as a part of the Liarbour training ground they weren't going to listen. We're all living with the results now.
Certainly in our neck of the woods the council are really feeling the heat. It will be interesting if any of the muck starting to emerge hits the lame stream media. I'd be stunned if any sitting councillors make it through the next election.
Paranormal
Good, evidence-based comments, paranormal.
That's what this discussion needs :-)
Are you suggesting that a survey of turkeys asking if they would like christmas to come early is sound evidence? Surely your vaunted Greens could do a little better?
If you want evidence just google "rate payers rates revolt". The list of districts making the news speaks volumes. I'm involved with the Taupo Rate Payers and I have never seen such public support or involvment in a campaign.
Paranormal
Please highlight the evidence you provided in your first comment, para. Then I'll know you're not just making sweeping, unsubstantiated comments. There are ratepayers disgruntled with Councils that rate them?
Good Lord!
I'm astonished to hear that!
And the sun today - did it rise and set?
You really do live in a rarified environment if you haven't seen any of the furore around the country.
But don't just rely on my say so. Just type the words into google and see the headlines. You must have seen the Kaipara issues? A Whangarei councillor even made the headlines on State radio about their issues. The Taupo issues have not all come out in the lame Stream media yet. And lets not start on Loopy Len.
The financial mismanagement by councils throughout the country, admittedly exacerbated by Liarbour pushing more costs onto them, has been woeful.
Mind you I shouldn't be surprised by the inane comments of a tax, borrow and spend like there's no tomorrow advocate.
Paranormal
Actually Paranormal- knowing the Taupo district Council very well as well the locals have a long history of kept voting in a bunch of right wingers who only seem interested in feathering their own nests.
They also sold their power lines company early one and it was one of the jewels as it had its own hydro generation at Hinemaia. They got $70 Million for it twenty years ago - thought they were really clever not figuring that the $70million plus profits was going to be repaid out of their own ratepayers pockets. They then proceeded to spend like mad men (and women) on all sorts of monuments in the park which consumed all sorts of huge staff numbers and high maintenance costs.
I actually tried to do something about it at the time and have the headlines from the Taupo Times still to remember the fight. The good ratepayers of Taupo were mostly all to busy to engage.
The ratepayers have the chance to fix things every three year and they have the chance like you do to do a better job as councillors than the duds doing the job - but it never seems to happen - I would guess Para by the way you think and write that you would be as big a dud as any of them.
The reforms that this government are bringing in are guaranteed to make things worse they are based on prejudice and dogma not vision and identification of opportunity - like so much else inflicted on us by our leadership.
Ouch! You okay, paranormal?
Darkhorse can be very truthful and that can sting!
headlines, paranormal? You're using headlines from town rags to illustrate your sweeping prejudice about Councils? Powerful stuff, those headlines!
Your view of Councils, and the way you extrapolate, subscribe the failings of the few to the totality, is just the same thing you do with the weather - it's raining at para's place, so the country's underwater.
Local and regional government do need a shake-up, paranormal. The shake-up that the government are preparing is quite the opposite of what is needed.
Actually Darkhorse I agree with you on how useless the TDC has been for more than a decade. Their decision making and wanton spending on white elephants has been disgraceful at best. I'm sure you're aware of the stupidity that is the AC baths.
As for the trust money - that's why you can't trust politicians. It's now being subsumed into general council expenses.
Your comments about 'right wingers' shows your true colours and myopic outlook. The councillors that are tax and spend promoters could as easily be called left whingers. Which has been a consistent theme of my comments. It seems fiscal responsibility is not a requirement to be a politican - either central or local. It's all about spend, spend, spend to provide boondoggles for the proles. Bread and games to keep us happy.
And keep up the ad-hominem stuff - really shows you're right up there with some of the top thinkers on this site.
Paranormal
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