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Local involvement in local governance
Auckland City Council
Media release
4 April 2008
Local involvement in local governance
More detail about local involvement in local governance will be included in the council’s draft submission to the Royal Commission on Auckland Governance.
This additional information will further inform council’s final submission before it is considered by the full council on 17 April.
Auckland City Council will conduct research with residents and ratepayers over the next few weeks on issues of local decision making, local governance and community leadership.
The research will help inform the council’s final submission to the commission along with the feedback received through the public and stakeholder consultation the council conducted in March.
Auckland city’s Deputy Mayor, David Hay says that the consultation showed people are interested in having a local voice and representation.
“People want to have a sense of engagement and know who is responsible for local services and support available locally,” says Mr Hay.
“We want to see bold, long-lasting change to Auckland’s governance. As history has shown, maintaining the status quo or tinkering around the edges will not achieve the outcomes required by the region,” he says.
“We are wanting a strengthened link between local government and local people.
“Declining public involvement in local decision making means we need to make it easier for people to get involved at a neighbourhood level with the activities of council.
“Our proposal of a neighbourhood-based councillor with stronger staff support, funding available for community liaison and a dedicated office will enable people to engage in ways that aren’t happening under the current structure.
“The last restructure of local governance in 1989 was effective for the time. The Royal Commission has asked us to look 20 years ahead and propose what would be best for the region.
“We believe that encouraging local involvement is something that our proposal will achieve.”
The draft submission to the Royal Commission is based on six key areas which are behind the success or failure of local government decision making and create the need for change.
People are invited to comment on the council’s draft submission at: www.aucklandcity.govt.nz
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