by frog
If anyone had any doubt about what the Minister of Overseas Bonking Local Government has planned for Auckland following the gerrymander favouring right-wing voting areas, that doubt should now be dispelled. Rodney Hide has introduced the third supercity Bill, the Local Government (Auckland Law Reform) Bill, and it is set down for First Reading this week.
The Bill reveals a hardcore anti-democratic agenda for privatisation.
Sue Kedgley and David Clendon are preparing a submission guide, which should be available before the end of the week.
Meanwhile, they’ve alerted me to a few of the turds gems the Bill proposes to deliver:
- The Minister of Local Government, rather than democratically elected local politicians, will decide what Council Controlled Organisations to establish and appoint their initial directors.
- The new Council Controlled Organisation “Auckland Transport” will have between 6 and 8 voting directors, but only 2 of them can be elected members of the Auckland Council. This transfers effective control of transport-related powers and functions from elected councillors to unelected Ministerial appointees.
- Elected councillors will be prohibited from being directors of all other Council Controlled Organisations, again transferring effective control of vast areas of Auckland’s governance from elected councillors to unelected Ministerial appointees.
- Watercare Services Limited’s water pricing will not be subject to Auckland Council policy or direction from mid-2015, and the Auckland Council will be permitted to privatise it from that date.
- The Auckland Council will be permitted to sell strategic assets from mid-2012, meaning that privatisation plans can be completed before voters get a chance to have a say on them at the 2013 local elections.
- A tokenistic and toothless board will be appointed to advise on issues of significance for mana whenua and Maori within Auckland. The Auckland Council will have no obligation to follow its advice.
It is highly likely that the Bill will be open for submissions for little more than the summer holiday period to minimise opposition to it – another favourite trick of those who have no respect for democracy.
Update: Submissions on the Bill have been opened to close 12 February 2010. Sue Kedgley and David Clendon have now published a submission guide to assist people wanting to make a submission.
Published in Justice & Democracy by frog on Tue, December 15th, 2009
Tags: Auckland Council, David Clendon, privatisation, rodney hide, Sue Kedgley, supercity
on the trolls and those who are unable to keep on topic
yah. Provide your reasons please. One would think...
Like or Dislike:
5 
2 (+3)
Like or Dislike:
6 
2 (+4)
For example Tasman District in the South Island charges communities with Community Boards $336 per hour for the CEO, $172 ‘manager’, $110 ‘professional’ and $70 minute secretary.
These staff are employed regardless of whether there are Community Boards or not.
If similar charges are adopted by the Auckland Super City, communities will be priced out of meaningful local representation.
We must oppose this amendment and instead support the Local Government Commission’s request for an amendment which makes it absolutely clear that such charges are NOT permitted.
Like or Dislike:
4 
0 (+4)
Like or Dislike:
3 
0 (+3)
Rodney should have gone to Melbourne and Brisbane if he were genuinely interested in what works, rather than engage on his European and American bonkathon.
Like or Dislike:
3 
0 (+3)
So what Kermit is saying is that local bodies are charging local communities (board or no board) $688 per hour for a blooby meeting !!!!!
Is that right?
I too am thinking emigration. even if the ground is brown on the other side.
Like or Dislike:
1 
0 (+1)
@Kermit, Posted December 15, 2009 at 1:49 PM
Kermit, can you provide a link for that?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0 (0)
The link to the Cabinet Paper is:
http://www.dia.govt.nz/diawebsite.nsf/wpg_URL/Resource-material-Our-Policy-Advice-Areas-Local-government-transparency-accountability-and-financial-management-Cabinet-papers?OpenDocument
the paper is: Minute of decision (Cab Min (09) 38/16)(.pdf)200k
The item is: 31.3
Like or Dislike:
0 
0 (0)
To make it clear, these hourly charges form part of a targeted rate imposed on communities with Community Boards.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0 (0)