Mayor loses Living Wage vote despite promising to get it through

Auckland Councillor Cameron Brewer says he’s pleased his push for the council to do the remuneration policy work first as well as comprehensive cost/benefit/impact analysis has beaten Mayor Len Brown’s recent political expediency to push through the Living Wage into the council’s draft 2014/15 annual budget.

“This was set to have a real impact on residential rates in 2014/15 which it now won’t. Council is now not rushing into this. We’re doing the work first and that’s a great outcome and reflects much a better process. What’s more Auckland businesses concerned about the knock-on effects can now stand down and see what council reports and policy work delivers next year.”

“As part of the Government’s recent Better Local Government reforms to strengthen governance provisions, councillors can now set an overall remuneration policy, which includes setting staff numbers. My amendment passed today by 11/10 means we will now embark down this track before even considering the adoption of a living wage. What’s more, this will enable the CEO to deliver the much talked-about report on the living wage’s wider implications in the New Year before any future budgetary decisions are made and the public is formally consulted.”

Mr Brewer’s amendment, seconded by Dick Quax, read: “That the Governing Body agrees that Auckland Council first and foremost prepare a remuneration policy in the 2014/15 financial year, and as part of that policy work fully investigate the costs and wider implications on the organisation, business community and region of the Living Wage policy and have the CE back to the Governing Body at a later date.”

The vote by the Governing Body today as an amendment to its draft 14/15 Annual Plan was as follows:

A division was called for, voting on which was as follows:

AGAINST
Cr AJ Anae
Mayor LCM Brown
Cr CM Casey
Cr RI Clow
Cr C Darby
Cr AM Filipaina
Cr PA Hulse
Cr M Lee
Cr WD Walker
Cr J Watson
FOR
Cr CE Brewer
Cr WB Cashmore
Cr LA Cooper
Cr DA Krum
Cr C Fletcher
Cr CM Penrose
Cr D Quax
Cr SL Stewart
Cr JG Walker
Cr MP Webster
Cr GS Wood
The division was declared CARRIED by 11 votes to 10.
Ends

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