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Resolution
number UH/2023/13
MOVED by Deputy Chairperson U Casuri Balouch,
seconded by Chairperson A Atkinson:
That the Upper Harbour Local Board:
a) provides the
following feedback on the Review into the Future for Local Government draft
report dated October 2022:
i)
agree transformational
change is needed to enable local government to respond to the challenges of
climate change, bio-diversity loss, pandemics and social and economic
inequity, which are causing our communities to lose trust in democratic
institutions and to disengage
ii)
agree central
government reform is creating further uncertainty in our communities
iii) support undertaking this review, on the basis
that any additional costs to local government as a result of changes to
legislated engagement and consultation requirements should come with
increased funding from central government
iv) support including the concept of subsidiarity as a core principle
and request that any devolution of roles or functions to local government
needs to be accompanied by appropriate funding allocations
v)
support some use of deliberative and participatory
democracy practices including genuine representative democracy practices to
revitalise democracy and rebuild trust
vi) expresses concern over the ability of
participatory and deliberative practices, on their own, to effectively
represent a cross-section of a community affected by a decision. Lengthy
processes will always favour those who have time and other resources
vii) agree building capacity and capability is
vital for councils to facilitate citizen led democracy and both local and
central government need to invest in this
viii) supports and seeks transformational change
from statutory, time-bound consultation and engagement practices that are
onerous, provide limited value and contribute to consultation fatigue
ix) accept that in the Auckland context the
relationship between council-controlled organisations and
‘council’ can be further evolved with even further emphasis on
well-beings, community outcomes and communication
x)
support the implementation of the two recommended improvements
to the council-controlled organisation model: providing clearer strategic
direction to the council-controlled organisations and providing guidance on
how to strike a balance between commercial and public interests which will
lead to improvement in the wellbeing of the communities through the services
that these council-controlled organisations provide
xi) endorse the current model which ensures that
all members sitting around the decision making table are democratically
elected representatives of their communities and do not support selected
appointees supplementing elected members
xii) express concern about local government being
expected to play an enhanced well-being role without increased investment and
improved partnership models and mechanisms with central government that would
provide clarity of role and function
xiii) agree that the well-being challenges are too big for central
government or local government alone, and that there needs to be greater
collaboration with the business sector and community groups including
iwi/Māori organisations
xiv) note that in their current form, the funding tools available to council i.e.
charges on land, rates and development contributions are no longer
appropriate for the demands and decisions council is responsible for or the
scale of growth. Open and transparent discussions between
central and local government are required on the cost of infrastructure to
support growth and how that will be financed and funded
xv) note that the dilution of the council’s role, as is
currently occurring, will exacerbate piecemeal planning and infrastructure
provision, making it harder to ensure we have pipes and roads in the right
places at the right time. The cumulative impact of these reforms will
fragment decision making, planning and the provision of infrastructure for
Auckland and this needs to be addressed
xvi) note that the
Upper Harbour Local Board
area has seen significant intensification occur through private plan changes
across future urban zoned areas as a result of recent government policies
such as the National Policy Statement on 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 to support the additional
growth and will lead to a dysfunctional urban environment. This funding gap needs
central government support
xvii) note with concern that as a set of
recommendations, in the Review into the Future for Local Government draft
report, they do not necessarily describe the pathway to transformational
change or to new local governance arrangements
xviii) express concern that the failure to identify the pathway may
result in cherry-picking or short-term investment in a number of areas,
rather than adhering to a long-term, strategic plan to make the shifts needed
xix) endorse the introduction of civics and citizenship education
becoming compulsory as a part of the curriculum in schools which should
include components on both local and central government
xx) endorse the introduction of consistent
approaches, systems and tools supporting the capacity building, effective
relationships, and engagement with Māori, provided that any funding
needed to support this is provided by central government
xxi) support central and local government, in
conjunction with the Remuneration Authority, reviewing the criteria for
setting elected member remuneration to recognise the increasing complexity of
the role and enable a more diverse range of people to consider standing for
election
xxii) support the introduction of a four-year
electoral term for local government
xxiii) support a mandatory professional development
and support programme for elected members
xxiv) request the Review Panel to consider what a
future model would look like where local government is an equal partner of
central government and funded long term by it to deliver on the infrastructure
challenges being faced by councils and their communities. Currently, local government does not have a
formally recognised constitutional status and is a creature of statute.
CARRIED
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