Media Release
City Vision-Labour Councillors - Auckland City Council
For Immediate Release
Wednesday 23 September 2009

C&R Pre-empt Supercity Decisions on Procurement and Budgeting

Citizens and Ratepayers (C&R) Councillors have rammed through Auckland City Council’s Performance Monitoring Committee a proposed new Procurement System costing $5.56 million and a proposed new Planning and Budgeting System for $4.46 million for Auckland City Council that they explicitly resolved they wanted the new Supercity to be obliged to implement over the whole region once it is established. They rejected amendments from Councillor Richard Northey asking them to get approval first from the other Councils in the region to ensure that there was regional agreement that they were appropriate systems, and to seek a contribution from the other Councils towards the $10.02 million cost that is now going to be borne entirely by ratepayers across the current Auckland City Council boundaries.

Councillor Richard Northey said, “C&R have shown great arrogance in resolving that the procurement and budgeting systems they decide on should be purchased now and then endeavour to impose it across the whole of the new Supercity area. It could prove to be a $10 million ‘white elephant’ for Auckland City Council if the newly elected Auckland Supercity Councillors decide to adopt a different system, possibly one already working satisfactorily for another Council in the region. I just could not comprehend their short-sightedness in voting down my motion seeking approval and a financial contribution now from the other Councils in the region, rather than just from the Auckland Transition Agency, before proceeding with these two very costly projects.”

Councillor Cathy Casey said, “It is completely undemocratic for three councillors (Hay, Armstrong and Baguley) to commit Auckland city ratepayers to expenditure of over $10 million for new business systems during this transition phase to the new council. It should be up to the new Auckland Council to decide which operating systems are best for the region and the cost of those systems should be borne by the whole region, not just by the ratepayers of Auckland city.”

Councillor Fryer said, “It is critical that there be a planning and budgeting system with the ability to provide transformational change to address the capability gaps and to meet organisational and legislative demands. However the payment for that $5.56 million system should be spread over the whole of Auckland not just fall onto the shoulders of Auckland City ratepayers, and it must have buy-in from all of the other councils in the region.”

ENDS

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