If Councils stick to “core business” and we can afford our amenities

Our Regional, District & City Councils all seem to think that they are responsible for the social wellbeing of our communities. This is a “nice to do” but is not a requirement, and is costing ratepayers hugely. It is time for our Councils to get back to their “core business”, and the 2010 Amendments to the Local Government Act 2002 lay this out clearly. The 2010 Amendment “encourages councils to focus on core services by requiring councils to have particular regard to the contribution to their communities of:

• network infrastructure;

• public transport services;

• solid waste collection and disposal;

• the avoidance and mitigation of natural hazards; and

• libraries, museums, reserves, recreational facilities, and other community infrastructure.”

The 2002 Act (section 14) requires all councils to take a consistent approach to their activities, including:

• Conducting their business in a clear, transparent and democratically accountable way.

• Operating in an efficient and effective manner.

• Making themselves aware of and having regard to the views of all their communities.

• Taking a sustainable development approach (thinking about the social, economic and cultural interests of people and communities, the need to maintain and enhance the quality of the environment, and the reasonably foreseeable needs of future generations).

Issues like social housing are not part of council’s core business (this is a Central Government issue), but improving our public amenities is. If our current councillors stuck to their mandate, then Tauranga City would have been able to afford its libraries, museums, reserves, recreational facilities, and other community infrastructure (as stated in the Act). I am one who believes that we have to build a substantive sports stadium close to downtown Tauranga. How do we afford it? That’s easy - we prioritise and don’t waste money on things outside Council’s mandate. Just as importantly, Council operates in an efficient and effective manner. Come on Tauranga - canvas your elected representatives to operate within their mandate, so that we can get the amenities that we so deserve.

If you have a view on these or any other local government issues, I invite you to email me at andrew@vond.co.nz , or visit www.vond.co.nz

"Money Matters" - Yes BOPRC it sure does..

Regional Councillor Jane Nees, in her editorial last week, posed the question “Where do we find the funds?” saying that Local Government has a major funding problem. ANSWER: No it doesn’t. It just has to stick to its core business, and concentrate on effectiveness and efficiency. The trouble is that while Central government has forced government departments into zero cost budgeting, Local Government has continued on with its “cost plus” mentality – with no respect to the ratepayers that are paying the bills.

The Regional Council has increased its income from $76.9m in 2010 to $94.6m expected in 2015. That is a 23% increase in total income, with rates having risen 67% in that same period. This is plain outrageous, because while the Regional Council might be doing a good job on environmental protection, I certainly can’t see how this increase is justified. What is more, in their Long Term Plan, they expect income to increase to $110.1m by 2020/21, with rates increasing to $48.5m. That is an increase of 14.6% in total income, BUT a staggering 42% increase in rates collected. This is a Regional Council that is completely out of control.

We could blame the staff, but the truth is that this outrageous behaviour is sanctioned by our elected representatives on the Regional Council. They have no understanding of the “obligations of governance”. They sanction a CEO (and her Senior Leadership Team) who lead a Regional Council that is out of control – NOT out of funds. Our Regional Council is extremely wealthy, with close to $1.3 billion in investments and no net debt. Cr Jane Nees – your duty is to your shareholders (and that is us Ratepayers), so please do what you (and your fellow elected representatives) are paid for – stick to your knitting, and rein in this outrageous and unaffordable bureaucracy. Ratepayers have had enough!

If you have a view on these or any other local government issues, I invite you to email me at andrew@vond.co.nz

No vision in our current Tauranga City leadership .…

There has been a lot of talk lately on rejuvenating Tauranga’s CBD, but very little attention to it when Councillors deliberated on their Long Term Plan. I did submit on this, and am adamant that a vibrant CBD is essential for a city to have a “soul”. The key is to have vision, and unfortunately we have a Mayor who has led repetitive councils that have shown very little vision. I’m

sorry Stuart, but this is what leadership is all about, and you have continually failed to encourage a visionary approach. This is what is holding Tauranga back. It has to change…

If we are looking for a new leader for our city, then we won’t find it amongst our current councillors. We need to convince one of our up and coming business people to give six years back to the city. This will be a sacrifice, but that is what true community giving is all about. One way to encourage genuine leadership would be to have TCC councillors meet between 2pm and 7 pm, so that elected representatives can retain some core employment outside council. Our current councillors see council as a full time job, and yet they really have no appreciation of what good governance really looks like. They delve into the engine room of council, which is paid management’s responsibility, and yet don’t hold the Chief Executive to account. Just not being dysfunctional (ie the infighting that previous councils were infamous for) is not enough to qualify for good governance; but real vision and lateral strategic thinking is, and there remains a real lack of both at present. My challenge to our city fathers is to find a true visionary leader, and this mustn’t be “an old hack”. We don’t need some over 60 - burnt out businessman. We need real drive from someone who truly understands governance. We need a leader who will take this beautiful city forward; who can take councillors and staff forward, focused on efficiency and effectiveness. This is how we will manage our debt, and still grow our infrastructure, so that we stay ahead of the continual growth pains that are stifling us. We need true vision. Come on Tauranga – we have to find a true leader. The 2016 Local Government elections are just a year away. Let’s start the conversation…

If you have a view on these or any other local government issues, I invite you to email me at andrew@vond.co.nz , or visit www.vond.co.nz