IS CORE BUSINESS JUST THE NANNY STATE IN A YELLOW JACKET

Defining the core business of local government to leave out the very things that give cities and communties their edge - that make them places worth living in - is just the concept of that "Nanny knows best" in its crudest form. Beats barmy light bulbs any day. Communities might do weird things - take W(h)anganui for example and Invercargill owning Lotto shops - but that is what makes communities communities rather than a collection of tarmac and pipes full of pooh. Just wind Auckland back a century and apply that formula and what a mean city it would be - it struggles to be civilised now - but under the Hide plan there would be no Civic Theatre, no Central Library and no City Gallery no Town Hall auditorium and a concrete line of wharves from Mission to St Mary's Bay. We have those things and we will keep them and the grumpy troll in the yellow jacket under the bridge is a wake up call of sorts. Neighbourhood government is about the quality of neighbourhood life not just about some tight arsed balance sheet.

WHICH THIRTY IS TOO MANY

Amongst the criticisms be flung about on the subject of the "Super" City is that thirty wards were too many - they are, we only need twenty-two corresponding to the Auckland electorates including the two Maori electorates, but the folk making this criticism are the same folk who think the present system is fine for representing communities. Odd that since across the region we have thirty Community Boards! 

ANOTHER AUCKLAND ARTWORK FOR THE PACKING CASE

During the renovation of Aotea Square Auckland Council bureaucrats endlessly reassured everyone, who they thought would care, that the art works - the Terry Stringer Mountain Fountain and the Selwyn Muru Gate - were safe and would return. More crap apparently. They are planning to "re-locate" the Stringer and remove the Muru. Like Michio Ohara's Wind Tree - which has languished in a packing case for years they have no idea where they would "re-locate" the Stringer and have offered to "drive around town" with the artist looking for a site. All of these works were gifts to the City - would anyone give them public art now?  These decisions are made by a non-elected committee headed by art dealer/consultant Trish Clark and managed by a Swedish import Pontus Kyander. They are supposed to increase the city's public art not reduce it. The council committee responsible is headed by Greg Moyle and it has already overturned one of their decisions it should overturn this one and think again about the whole mess. I lasted two meetings with this lot and resigned when I got the message that they had an agenda public art did not need.

31% NOT YET CONVINCED

The Business Council for Sustainable Development has surveyed views on the Super City with some interesting results. Overall 31% surveyed opposed the plan and  27% supported it, but significantly another 31% were "neutral". That could be taken as "don't care" but a more positive reading could be "not yet convinced". That certainly is the response I am getting on the street and since I have been dropping fliers around Ponsonby I am hearing feedback along those lines. THERE IS STILL NO REAL DISCUSSION IN THE MEDIA ABOUT THE SHAPE OF THE CITY. The only hint I have seen of a Rodney Hide reason for councillors being voted at large is to allow a "political"element in the mix. Well he is right about the intention - Brisbane works because the process is politicised - political parties are political parties and not coy euphemisms like Citizens and Ratepayers and City Vision - but he is wrong about the means. At large will simply provide for capture by faction. The electorate model will do what he wants but do it more effectively and more democratically. A better debate about the electoral process might have an impact on that critical 31%.

FAQ

No I am not standing for mayor or anything else. We are going to get this beast so let's make it the best beast we can get.

My submission is being test driven and as soon as I can get it posted I will

MY SUBMISSION WILL BE POSTED NEXT WEEK

It will be on a separate web page where you can join it if you want.

If you want to make your own you can do it by email AGL@parliament.govt.nz  or on paper by snailmail. 

Don't do both. 

If you are sending paper send two copies to:

Committee Secretariat

Auckland Governance Legislation

Parliament Buildings

WELLINGTON

It is too late to shout so submit a better plan

LOCAL GOVERNMENT (Auckland Council) BILL

Is the correct style.

The closing date for submissions is Friday 26 June 2009. No extensions to this deadline will be granted.

The bill provides for the governance structure of the Auckland Council, including the high level framework (structure, functions, powers, duties and membership), and the powers and functions for the Local Government Commission to determine the names and boundaries of the wards and local boards, the number of local boards and number of members, and to develop a reorganisation scheme for the division of the Franklin District, and its council, between the Auckland Council and the Waikato District Council. It also proposes amendments to two local government Acts to allow remuneration, allowances and expenses payable to be determined by the Remuneration Authority, and for the Auckland Transition Agency to approve a process for, and oversee, the planning and management of the integration of Auckland's water supply and wastewater services by Watercare Services Limited.

The bill is available for download from the `Related documents´ panel. Print copies can be ordered online from Bennetts Government Bookshops.

KEEPING THE LOCAL SPEND LOCAL

Good piece by Todd Niall this morning on Nat Rad's Morning Report about the estimated $100 million local spend by existing councils and the impacts on jobs and small business if that goes to a some central purchasing department of the Super City. It is not argument against the Super City but  it at least needs to be thought through. Curious lack of compassion from Manukau mayor Len Brown who parroted some "business approved" model instead. Not I think what small business wants to hear Len.

No audio available on Nat Rad this morning.