Southern councillors reject “wrong” funding criticism

In the wake of last week’s decision on funding allocation for local board projects, councillors representing Auckland’s southern wards are disappointed by comments made by Manurewa Local Board Chair Angela Dalton.

“Councillors have been wrongly accused of abandoning their own local areas, after doing as much as practical to take account of preferences from 21 local boards,” say Manurewa-Papakura Councillors Calum Penrose and Sir John Walker.

“The most bizarre part of Ms Dalton’s comments is that they contradict the position of her local board.

“The information provided to Auckland Council officers was based on resolutions passed by local boards.

“At no point between 13 August and 22 October did the Manurewa Local Board formally reconsider their position, and it is that position that councillors must consider.

“The option passed by the 22 October Finance and Performance Committee meeting supports the original resolution that Ms Dalton moved at a Manurewa Local Board meeting on 13 August.

“They agreed to allocate 1% to Great Barrier Island, 2% to Waiheke Island, with the remaining local boards to receive their allocation based on 90% population, 5% deprivation, and 5% land area.

Importantly, this fund is a new contribution to boards – there are no cuts to their current budget. Manurewa will receive an additional $550,368 to ease their reliance on third party sources.

“Of course it is not unusual for new information to arise that changes opinions on a decision and there were whispers that local board members were reconsidering their preferred option.

“On the day of the Finance and Performance Committee meeting, Local Board Chairs Andrew Baker, Shale Chambers and Kay McIntyre spoke to the item on behalf of their boards.

“This was a last minute opportunity for members of the Manurewa Local Board to express their disagreement with their former position.

“Not only was this opportunity not taken up, but Ms Dalton did not attend the local board meeting prior to the vote (8 October) which could have been an opportunity to formally discuss the decision in a public setting with her fellow board members and, potentially, change the official decision.

“We can never please all the boards, but to have a chairperson turn back on the board’s decision is a slight on the governance of Auckland. It is vital that we continue to work together, local board members and councillors, to make the best decisions for Auckland.”

ENDS

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