Have Your Say on the Super CityA guide to making a submission to the

Auckland Governance Legislation Select Committee on the Local Government

(Auckland Council) Bill June 2009

This presentation

• Background on the super city idea• Why is this important?• Important issues from a Labour perspective• How to make a submission to the select

committee

Background

• Labour set up the Royal Commission to look at Auckland’s governance arrangements

• Widespread frustration with the way fragmented and dysfunctional local body governance is holding Auckland back

• Growing consensus that it is essential for NZ that Auckland performs well as our major international city and gateway

Background

• Royal Commission: Justice Peter Salmon, Dame Margaret Bazley, David Shand

• 18 months’ work, 3500 submissions, international research

• 800 page report, 169 recommendations• Comprehensive blueprint for strong regional

government for Auckland • Unitary authority (super city) stretching from

Rodney to Franklin

BackgroundGovernment quickly rejected recommendations of the Royal

Commission:– No Maori seats– Replace Royal Commission’s 6-7 local councils with 20-30 local

boards focused only on community engagement…and set out legislative timetable:1. First Bill pushed through under urgency in May, setting up

Auckland Council and transition agency2. Second Bill provides structure of super city council and

local boards – select committee hearings in July, intended to pass in to law in September

3. Third Bill – will wrap up remaining issues, expected to be tabled in House in October

Background

National are pushing this through in an undemocratic way– Broke manifesto promise to consult Aucklanders on Royal

Commission findings– Rammed first bill through under urgency– Legislated away Aucklanders’ right to a referendum on this

forced amalgamation– Provided less than a month for submissions to select

committee

Why is this important?

• Auckland is home to 1/3 of the population and a key to NZ’s economic success – we have to get this right

• Local government affects our lives: libraries, planning, water, public transport, trees, heritage

• Local communities want a say in local issues• The rules of democracy determine who gets

to influence politics, and who gets what

Why is this important?• National-ACT are using the super city process to

pursue their own political agenda and install their mates into power

• They want to weaken the voice of local communities• They are treating it as a corporate merger; we have

real fears they want to privatise Auckland’s assets (water, port, airport shares)

• Local Government Minister Rodney Hide wants to privatise, and roll back local government so it only focuses on roads, water and rubbish collection, and doesn’t engage with economic, social, cultural or environmental outcomes

Important Issues – Councillors

• The Royal Commission proposed 20 councillors, half of them elected at large, half from wards. Govt amended this to 8 at large, 12 from wards

• Labour believes – all councillors should be elected from single-member wards. At-large would advantage the wealthy suburbs. It would cost $250,000 to send a letter to all voters. Only the rich and famous need apply. Only single member wards would guarantee all communities would be represented.

Important Issues – Mayoral powers

• The Royal Commission proposed extra powers for the Mayor: power to appoint deputy, and appoint committee chairs, expanded staff, and propose budget. The Government agrees.

• Labour believes – this package of extra powers unbalances the relationship of the mayor and councillors. Labour would like to see committee chairs elected by council.

Important Issues – Second tier• The Royal Commission proposed a second tier

made up of 6 local councils loosely based on the boundaries of the existing councils but with many of their ‘regional’ functions pushed up to the Auckland Council. The Government rejected this, opting to centralise virtually all functions and powers in the super council, and installing 20-30 local boards as the second tier. Their purpose would be community engagement, and they would have few significant powers or responsibilities.

Important Issues – Second tier• Labour believes – the second tier boards or

councils need to be:– Big enough to be effective – we think there should

probably be no more than 10-12 of them– Mandated to deal with genuine local issues: local

roads, parks, footpaths, recreational facilities, local input into plans, community development, events etc.

– Responsible for budgets, policy and governance of these local issues – not just talk shops

Without an empowered second tier the Auckland Council will have to do everything, which risks diverting it from the big regional responsibilities

Important Issues – Second tier

• One issue that hasn’t been explored much is the relationship between the first and second tiers. How will they communicate with each other and ensure a whole-of-council approach? One suggestion has been that some members of local boards get to sit on council committees. Can you think of any other approaches?

Important Issues – Maori representation

• The Royal Commission proposed two Maori seats elected from the Maori roll, and one from mana whenua. Government has rejected any special arrangements for Maori representation.

• Labour believes – Maori representation is vital for the future of Auckland. We should use the system in place for parliamentary elections with Maori voters having the option to go on the Maori roll. This would likely provide two Maori seats.

Important Issues – Integration of water companies

• The Royal Commission proposed the integration of bulk water supplier Watercare with the Council water retailers to create an integrated publicly-owned non-profit water company. Government has adopted this

• Labour believes – this is a good approach. It will rationalise use of water assets, and allow for long term planning and investment in infrastructure.

Other important issues that won’t be considered by this select committee

• Public ownership of our assets (port, water company etc)

• The extension of the commercial arms-length governance model to council activities

• Certainty and fair treatment of Council staff during the transition

• The Royal Commission’s recommendations on social issues

• An integrated transport agency• A waterfront development agency

How to make a submissionThe committee will only hear submissions that address the

content of the Local Government (Auckland Council) Bill:

• Establishes the framework, structure, functions, powers, duties and membership of the Auckland Council – 8 members elected at large and 12 members from wards.

• Provides for 20 – 30 local boards and sets out their functions.• Provides for the Local Government Commission to establish the

boundaries of the wards of the Auckland Council and the local boards, and the number of local boards and their membership.

• Provides direction to the Local Government Commission on the Southern Boundary, and the division of Franklin between Auckland and the Waikato.

• It proposes the Auckland Transition Agency oversee the integration of Auckland's water supply and wastewater services by Watercare Services Limited.

What is a submission?

It is the presentation of views or opinions on a matter currently under consideration by a select committee. By writing or presenting a submission, you are providing the committee with your own insights, observations and opinions. The reasons that you provide for any changes that you believe should be made, or actions you believe should be taken, will give validity to your submission.

Written submissions• Please present your submission in a way that is ordered and easy to read.

You should include the following information in your submission:

• Heading: Head your submission with the name of the select committee to which it is addressed and the full title of the bill (Local Government (Auckland Council) Bill).

• Who is it from? Clearly state who the submission is from. State your name or give the name of the organisation you are representing. Include a contact address, an email address and daytime telephone number.

• Oral submission? Clearly indicate whether you would like to speak to the committee in person. If you wish others to appear in support, include their names and, if representing an organisation, designations.

Written submissions• Content: Address only the issues raised in the bill. You don’t

have to comment on every issue. Just choose the ones you feel strongly about. Present a clear and logically developed argument. Be simple and direct, what you think and the evidence or arguments you have that support your view. Be accurate and complete. Restate your recommendations in a conclusion at the end of the submission or an executive summary at the beginning.

• Writing on a bill: First, state your general position on the bill, whether you support or oppose the measure being proposed, and give your reasons. Then make more detailed comments on the clauses that are of concern to you. You might also like to suggest new wording for the clauses that you feel ought to be changed.

Oral submissions

Oral submissions provide you with the opportunity to reinforce what you have said in your written submission. They also allow the committee to clarify points with you. If the committee has decided to hear your submission, committee staff will inform you of the time and place of the meeting and the time allocated for your submission.

• Preparation: Prepare your presentation so you are able to present all relevant points and leave enough time for questions. An individual submitter may only get 5 minutes to present. Decide the 2 or 3 points you may wish to focus on.

Oral submissions• Introduction: At the meeting, when the committee is ready to

hear your submission, the chairperson will invite you to sit at the table. At this stage, you should introduce yourself and those who are appearing with you.

• Presentation: Briefly summarise the main points of your submission along with any recommendations. All communication with the committee should be addressed through the chairperson. Do not read your submission out. If you have any new information that you would like to present please provide the committee staff with 20 copies of any supplementary submission before the meeting or when you arrive.

Oral submissions

• You may be asked questions: After your presentation the members of the committee will usually question you to clarify points they are uncertain about or that they feel require further examination. If there are any other people appearing with you, you may wish to call on them to answer questions.

• Further information may be requested: Sometimes the committee will ask for additional information. You should forward 2 copies of each item of information requested to the clerk of the committee by an agreed date.

Sending your submission:Two copies of your submission should be sent to ALG@parliament.govt.nz

Or by snail mail to:Clerk of the CommitteeAuckland Governance Legislation Select CommitteeSelect Committee Office Freepost Parliament Wellington

The deadline for submissions is 26 June 2009.

ResourcesParliament’s Office of the Clerk’s guide on making a submission:http://www.parliament.nz/NR/rdonlyres/ACB8A16D-D905-416C-AE98-A6BFB07E34B5/103484/makingasubmission2007_1.pdf

Download a copy of the Bill:http://www.legislation.govt.nz/bill/government/2009/0036-1/latest versions.aspx

Read the Royal Commission’s report:http://www.royalcommission.govt.nz/

Labour views and opinions:http://www.labour.org.nz/newshttp://blog.labour.org.nz/