MEDIA RELEASE

Councils want a real partnership with Government

30 May 2013

Councils support the idea of a partnership between central and local government to tackle housing affordability, says Local Government New Zealand.

The Minister of Housing, Hon Dr Nick Smith, introduced legislation to Parliament two weeks ago, under which Housing Accords could be agreed between central government and councils that would allow for the streamlining of consenting procedures in an area where housing affordability is an issue. (Submissions to Parliament’s Social Services Select Committee on the Bill close today).

Under an Accord approach, streamlined alternative processes for considering applications for resource consents and plan changes would be facilitated.

The sticking point in the Bill, however, is the proposed power for the Minister to over-ride a council’s consenting and planning role and move that to Wellington if an Accord cannot be agreed between central government and an affected council. This approach is completely at odds with the partnership approach the Bill purports to be enshrining, said LGNZ President, Lawrence Yule.

“A Ministerial over-ride of a council’s core functions and powers cuts to the heart of the principle of local democracy and the ability of communities to have a say in how developments affect them,” Mr Yule said.

Additionally, the provision is completely unnecessary. Councils with housing affordability issues are willing to work with central government, but to be effective; partnerships should be based on mutual benefit, rather than on the threat of central control from Wellington.

“From a practical point of view, the power to make a decision on a resource consent by over-riding a local authority may also expose a council to risks around infrastructure planning, district planning, asset management, funding, and potentially its credit rating,” Mr Yule said.

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