Ashburton Mayor Neil Brown Contemplates Third Term

Thursday, 23 January 2025, 5:11 pm
Article: Jonathan Leask - Local Democracy Reporter

Neil Brown isn't rushing to decide on a third term as Ashburton district mayor, but don't mistake that as hesitation.

Brown said he spent his summer holiday break mulling over his future at the council and he planned to make a decision by March on whether he would stand again.

“The direction is getting clearer, but I still haven’t made a decision.”

As the district leader, he said he doesn’t feel the need to announce his intentions any sooner as he prepares to tackle the final 10 months of the current term.

“I don’t know what difference it will make to the ratepayer knowing sooner or later as we are still doing business as usual. The job’s still happening up until the election in October.

“March is six months out from an election and it’s three months before you have to put your name forward, so I think the timing is ideal.”

But he did confirm that if he does stand, it would only be for the mayoralty.

“It's the top job or no job.”

Now in the final year of his second term, Brown said he still has the energy for the mayoralty job, but some questions remain about whether it is right to pursue a third term or let someone else lead the district.

“It’s a big decision.

“It takes a lot of commitment, but it is an enjoyable job - when everything runs right. And when they are not, you have the support around you to get it back on track.”

Ashburton was lucky to have good help, in the chief executive and senior staff, to keep everything on track, he said.

“The councillors are all in for the best decision for the district, which is great. We don’t always agree on decisions, but we all want what’s best for the district.”

Brown has only had to use his casting vote powers twice this term. Once on the roading contract renewal decision last year and a stockwater closure decision in 2022.

Now, in the final 10 months of the local Governance term, Brown's priority was to “keep delivering the services to the community as best as we can”.

The council has budget workshops next week for the annual plan. The year two of its long-term plan has forecast a rate increase of 10.1%.

“The question will be what is the impact of 10.1%?”

Interest rates coming down from the 2024 budget will have an impact, he said.

Then there was the decision on what to do with $2.46 million of road funding budgeted by the council that was unmatched by NZTA.

This financial year the council put the money towards an extra 50km of road reseals.

“Should we spend it again next year or not? [That] will be the big question,” Brown said.

If the council doesn't approve the $2.46 million funding, it could reduce any proposed rate increase by about 4.7%. But the councillors would have to balance that with the community's continued calls to improve the roads.

Setting rates is always contentious, whether it is an election year or not, Brown said.

“For me, it’s not about rate increases. It’s the services and whether are you delivering what the people want.

“If they don’t want an increase, you have to reduce services.”

Once the annual plan is locked in there are two crucial pieces of work to focus on, Brown said.

One was working with the community on the future of water delivery as part of the new three waters reforms.

The other is figuring out the plans and tendering the new road to connect to the new Government-funded Ashburton Bridge.

The ideal result would be it coming in at $7.5m – the figure already in the council budgets for its contribution to the second bridge, Brown said.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

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