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Resolution
number DT/2023/26
MOVED by Chairperson T van Tonder, seconded by Member M
Powell:
That
the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board:
a) provide the following feedback on the Draft
Future for Local Government Report to inform the council’s draft
submission:
Revitalising Citizen-led Democracy
i)
support greater use
of deliberative and participatory democracy in local decision-making, noting
that
A)
there is a declining
rate of voter turnout in Local Elections. The Board considers that the
current system is not only inadequate for today’s citizens, but
entirely flawed for the voters of tomorrow
B)
methods of
engagement need to be inclusive and resonate with the target audience, in
particular, groups who are hard to reach and those who are under-represented
in feedback.
C)
trust in democracy
has been eroded for a range of complex reasons, and that Central Government
and Local Government must work collaboratively and immediately to improve
participation and faith in democracy.
ii)
support the review of the legislative provisions
relating to engagement, consultation, and decision-making to ensure they
provide a comprehensive, meaningful, and flexible platform for revitalising
community participation and engagement, noting that
A)
change is required in local government consultation
and engagement. Councils cannot continue to waste resources on meeting
onerous statutory obligations which deliver limited value and contribute to
consultation fatigue
B)
any additional costs to local
government because of changes to legislated engagement and consultation requirements
should come with increased funding from Central Government
C)
consultation timeframes set by
Central Government on matters which impact local areas need to be of
sufficient time to enable councils to provide well considered feedback.
iii)
support a comprehensive review of requirements for
engaging with Māori across local government-related legislation,
considering opportunities to streamline or align those requirements, noting
that
A)
this needs to be a
three-way conversation between Central Government, local government, and
Māori to agree what works best.
B)
different iwi
groups have different levels of capacity and budget to undertake engagement
with local government, a one-size-fits-all approach may not work.
C)
the review should
identify approaches that are already working and ensure that these are not
undermined by any new legislative requirements.
D)
iwi are best placed
to advise the best ways to engage that works for them.
iv)
support investment into internal council systems to
manage and promote good quality engagement with Māori
v)
support the
following, amongst other methods, to improve participation;
A)
the implementation
of politically impartial civics education in high schools as well as for our
migrant communities and new residents at accessible community facilities.
B)
review the requirement in the electoral act
that candidates for Local Government be NZ Citizens, noting many permanent
residents are unable to stand for election as their home country disallows
dual nationality.
C)
the development of a framework that enables
Councils to create Citizen’s Assemblies that are a deliberative
participatory engagement tool where participation is akin to jury service and
seen as a civic duty.
D)
the creation of secure and trustworthy digital
tools that improve civic engagement and participation.
E)
the need for Local and Central Government to
collaborate and improve the legislative provisions relating to engagement,
consultation and decision-making to ensure they provide a comprehensive,
meaningful and flexible platform that reaches diverse communities, not just
those who already participate.
F)
consultation processes must always include
‘closing the loop’ so participation is rewarded with an
understanding of how outcomes have shifted as a result of public input.
G)
the application of the IAP2 International
Association for Public Participation Spectrum to every local government
consultation so that language is commonly used and understood, and the
expectation of the participant is clearly articulated at the outset of any
consultation.
vi)
note that the creation of different engagement
approaches including the utilisation of new digital tools and
developing better approaches to accessing our hard-to-reach communities
requires appropriate funding
Allocating Roles and Functions in a way that enhances
wellbeing
vii) support a clear allocation of roles and functions between central
government and local government and seeks greater clarity on the process
envisaged for that allocation noting that
A)
there is a need for more clarity on the respective roles of central and local
government
B)
the underlying principle should be that regulation is
allocated locally unless there is good reason to allocate it elsewhere
C)
regulation legitimately varies between jurisdictions to
reflect local preferences; Auckland’s unique circumstances need to be
taken into account in any nationally set regulation.
D)
a co designed approach would be preferred
E)
any newly allocated function to local government should
allow for lead-in times to build capacity and capability to deliver.
Local Government as Champion and Activator of Wellbeing
viii) Expresses concerns that often Local Government
planning documents such as Long-Term Plan and Regional Land Transport Plan,
do not adequately address the wellbeing of future residents beyond a ten-year
horizon. Intergenerational wellbeing should be at the heart of decision
making.
ix)
support the
practice of regular ‘health checks’ of both Local Government and
Central Government.
x)
recommend onus be placed on
intergenerational wellbeing, in addition to the immediate well-beings defined
by the LGA 2002 – social, economic, environmental and cultural
well-beings
A Stronger Relationship between Central and Local
Government
xi)
support a stronger relationship between central and
local government, noting
A)
concern that the relationship
between Central Government and Regional Councils is typically strained and
described as broken
B)
maintaining consistent
relationships between central and local government when there is a change of
Government is a significant barrier. Relationships with elected officials
(i.e. ministers) and with public service officials (i.e. departmental or
ministerial chief executives and officers) both need to be maintained.
C)
there needs to be
respect from both parties for the other’s role. Central Government
needs to respect the capacity of local authorities to make decisions and
carry them out.
D)
the need for
Councils to work in partnership with Government on an agreed set of
priorities for each region. Council must at all times be a decision maker
alongside Government on matters that affect their communities.
xii) expresses deep concern about unfunded mandates being
passed down from Government which have resulted in significant implementation
costs and a stretched workforce. Effects of this are immediately felt by
residents when they are left wanting on usual Council matters, as staff have
been deployed elsewhere.
Replenishing and building on representative democracy
xiii) support giving responsibility for overseeing
the administration of local body elections to the Electoral Commission. They
have a proven track record for competently running elections and it makes
sense to use this expertise for local body elections, noting that
A)
making the voter experience in
local body elections as similar as possible to general elections would help
to reduce confusion and encourage greater turnout. Offering in-person voting
and having a strongly promoted voting period, including a final
‘election day’ should be part of this.
xiv) does
not support adopting the Single Transferrable Vote (STV) voting method for
local body elections. STV complicates the voter experience and could act as a
barrier to some voters.
xv) support the implementation of a digital voting
system in addition to paper voting.
xvi) support
a review of current provisions
which prevent those who have reached eligible voting age during an electoral
term being unable to vote until the next election. Consideration could be
given to allowing those who will turn 18 during the electoral term being
eligible
xvii) support of a referendum be conducted on
whether political terms are extended to 4 years.
xviii) recognises
the importance of diverse representational democracy and suggests a limit of
3 terms (if four-year political terms) or 4 terms (if three-year political
terms) be placed on elected members to ensure turnover of governance and an
infusion of new skills and thinking.
Equitable Funding and Finance
xix) supports the inclusion of regulatory impact statement assessments in all
Central Government policy in a way that adequately reflects the impacts on
local government. In addition an assessment of regulation currently in force
which is likely to have significant funding impact for local government,
should be undertaken, noting that
A)
central government agencies need to understand the
regulatory impact of changes before they are proposed and should consult
meaningfully with local government before policies are enacted. There needs
to be acknowledgement of funding gaps from proposed legislation.
B)
funding and financing of infrastructure gaps need
continued support from Government. Many areas within Auckland have seen
significant intensification occur through private plan changes across future
urban-zoned areas as a result of recent national policies such as the
National Policy Statement – Urban Development and requirements for
Medium Density Residential Standards (MDRS). This rezoning has been
implemented without any mechanism to fund the necessary infrastructure and
services or upgrades to existing infrastructure and services to support the
additional growth. Rezoning of land without aligned funding raises
developers’ and communities’ expectations of local
government’s ability to provide infrastructure and services for the
additional growth, leading to poor urban outcomes. The current financing and
funding tools available to local government limit the public funding
available for infrastructure development and upgrades
System Design
xx)
support the establishment of a central government intergenerational fund for
climate change, with the application of the fund requiring appropriate
regional and local decision-making input noting that
A)
central government
funding is crucial and must have a long-term focus. There is a need to
clearly define roles and responsibilities, including the sharing of costs
between levels of government.
xxi)
note that process for allocating central
government funding to meet community priorities should have councils at the
decision-making table and not simply the recipients of funds noting that,
A)
local government is
best placed to understand and deliver on community priorities and must be at
the decision-making table and not simply the recipients of funds.
xxii)
support central government agencies paying local government rates and charges on all properties.
xxiii)
support the
implementation of a mandatory professional development programme for all
elected members and Council staff that includes cultural competency,
understanding of Te Tiriti and te ao māori values.
xxiv)
recommend that
local board members receive market value remuneration for full time
positions. Part time positions are unrealistic for the number of hours that
local board members commit to the role. This could attract a more diverse
range of candidates, not only those who can afford to receive part-time
renumeration.
CARRIED
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