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Resolution
number MR/2022/120
MOVED by Chairperson J Allan, seconded by Member D
Pizzini:
That
the Manurewa Local Board:
a) provide
the following feedback on the Local Government Electoral Legislation Bill:
i)
the board supports removing
the restriction on the number of councillors on the Governing Body. This
gives Auckland Council the same ability to review its governing arrangements
as other councils, and allows for consideration of the growing population of Tāmaki
Makaurau
ii)
the board supports the
proposed process for reviewing Māori representation on Governing Body
and establishing of Māori wards
iii)
any decisions on how
Māori should be represented on Governing Body and whether to establish
Māori wards should be made in consultation with, and in accordance with,
the preferences of mana whenua iwi and mataawaka
iv)
the board requests that
consideration is given to including in legislation a process for local boards
to consider Māori representation on the board, including a process to
establish Māori subdivisions
v)
the board does not support the
proposed changes to the process for making minor changes to local board
boundaries for the following reasons:
A)
changes to local board
boundaries should be made only rarely and when there is a compelling reason
to do so, as any changes can have significant implications for local board
funding and asset bases
B)
local board boundary changes
also have the potential to adversely affect community groups. In some cases,
these groups may have spent years building relationships with or advocating
to the board. They may have projects that have been included in the Local
Board Plan. If these groups find themselves in a new local board area due to
a boundary change, they might have to start this process over again, which
would be an unjust outcome
C)
the Bill does not provide
clear guidance on under what circumstances a change to local board boundaries
may be made, or a clear definition of what is considered to be a minor
boundary change. The limitations on these
changes is proposed to be defined through regulations which are yet to be
determined. The board cannot give its support to this proposal without
knowing what limits the regulations will prescribe
D)
the board recommends that a
minor change to local board boundaries should be defined as one that would
not significantly reduce the local board’s funding, and would not
remove significant local assets from the area
E)
the board recommends that any
process for changing local board boundaries should include approval of the
change by the affected local boards as part of the process
vi)
the board supports the
proposed schedule setting out the process for the establishment or
reorganisation of local board areas, and note the requirement in this process
to take into account the views and preferences of affected local boards
vii)
the board supports the
proposal to resolve tied elections with a judicial recount rather than by lot
viii) the board supports allowing candidates to submit
nominations in a manner approved by the Electoral Officer, such as
electronically
CARRIED
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