Need for Auckland governance to be integrated, effective and accountable

Auckland City Council is ready to make its submission on the third Auckland governance Bill, which was presented to Parliament in December.

The Local Government (Auckland Law Reform) Bill will complete the legislation for on-going governance in Auckland, and for the establishment of the Auckland Council on 1 November 2010.

The submission was approved yesterday by the Regional Governance Committee, endorsed by council today, and will be submitted to Government tomorrow.

The submission reiterates the council’s general support of the proposed restructuring of Auckland’s local government, but raises some concerns, particularly about how council-controlled organisations, including Auckland Transport, will operate.

Council-controlled organisations will be set up before the new Auckland Council is established and will control significant areas such as transport, water, regional facilities, and economic development. The submission argues that greater guidance should be provided on when CCOs should be established, which should be when the activity has a well-defined purpose and focus.

The submission supports the additional accountability requirements for CCOs but advocates that Auckland Council should be given power to make its own governance arrangements in the same way other councils around New Zealand do.

The submission argues for Auckland Transport to be responsible for strategic transport assets and functions, focusing on delivering regionally significant transport activities, while leaving decision-making for local transport with the Auckland Council, including the local boards. It is essential that there is good integration between transport and other Auckland Council functions. The committee also suggests Auckland Transport be established in the same way as all other CCOs under the Local Government Act 2002.

“Transport was a key driver for change to Auckland’s governance, so it is essential that we get it right,” says Deputy Mayor David Hay, chairperson of the Regional Governance Committee.

The council is supportive of the presence and role of local boards in local place shaping. It is aware that more work needs to be done to determine the boards’ responsibilities in areas such as local transport projects, given the proposed role of Auckland Transport. The submission’s main focus is on practical elements, to ensure the local board plans and agreements work effectively.

Local boards must have the power, the influence, the responsibilities and the budget to meet the needs of the local communities, and provide effective grassroots democracy while the governing body should focus on the ‘big picture’, representing one voice for Auckland nationally and internationally.

The submission supports the spatial plan outlined in the Bill and proposes using this opportunity to streamline diverse planning documents into one plan.

“Auckland local government is undergoing an unprecedented transformation which will shape the region for many decades ahead,” says Deputy Mayor Hay. “The new council must provide strong regional leadership and effective local level democracy. Its components need to work well together and complement each other to provide the best outcome for the people of Auckland.”

ENDS

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