Friday, May 04, 2001

Hutt City Mayor makes $100,000 Botch-Up of Local Government Commission Review

The council, under the leadership of the Mayor, has totally mismanaged the Local Government Commission's review of community boards and council elections according to Cr. Scott Dalziell.

The Local Government Commission (LGC) yesterday declined Hutt City's application for two new community boards based on "super wards".

In it's determination, the Commission noted that the Council's proposal failed to take account of the views of the public; failed to take account of communities of interest; and would not promote "good local government of Lower Hutt City".

"It's a $100,000 botch-up", said Cr Dalziell, "The Mayor and his team have mismanaged the whole process from start to finish".

"What's worse is that this unfortunate outcome was clearly avoidable and only came about because of the mayor's refusal to take advice and his ignorance the LGC process", said Cr Dalziell.

Despite the overwhelming majority of public submissions being against the concept of super wards - the Mayor refused to listen and persisted with a super ward proposal.

The Mayor refused to take our advice to amend the council's application after a clear warning from the LGC that an application based on super wards would not find favour.

As late as a week ago, the Mayor claimed that the LGC could come up with a community board solution different to the super-ward proposal put by council. This was wrong - the LGC confirmed that they only have the power to accept or reject the council's application.

In this determination, the LGC has clearly rejected the concept of super wards, as they had done in their previous determination on council elections.

"After spending $100,000 of the ratepayers money on this review process, the only thing Mayor has got to show for his efforts is the loss of a councilor for the Western ward."

"It's a total waste - and all because the Mayor would not listen to advice", said Cr Dalziell.

Ends

Cr. Scott Dalziell, is leader of the Hutt 2020 Team and a Mayoral Candidate in the forthcoming local government elections

For more information please contact: Cr Scott Dalziell Hutt 2020 Mayoral Candidate (ph 567 1022) or Steve Hurring Hutt 2020 Campaign Manager (ph 576 1175)

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