Auckland Political Life After 1 November 2010

1. Auckland Political LifeAfter 1 November 2010

2. Why review Local Government in Auckland Auckland has been described as: Gateway Large and fragmented Cosmopolitan Beautiful, natural environment Lacks a heart Confusing  Relaxed Bland, generic, not distinctive Boring Untapped potential

3. Threats and opportunities Key threats identified for Auckland Competition from other cities, particularly Australian cities Loss of identity Environmental sustainability Auckland’s own lack of belief Weak and indecisive leadership Lack of unity across the region

4. Threats and opportunities Key opportunities identified for Auckland Conference and convention market Major events Maori and Pacific experiences Greater amenity (underwritten by visitor expenditure) More spirited and exciting region A unified region

5. Way Forward 7 strategic themes to make the Auckland visitor experience both distinctive and world class Vibrant CBD Amazing hinterland Host city Cultural city Harbour city Easy to move within Easy to understand

6. Increased Visitor Spend Great Place To Live And Work Greater Talent Attraction Increased Private Investment Leadership Long Term Public Investment Greater Wealth and Employment Greater Productivity And Profitability Figure 1 – Virtuous Cycle Initiated by an Enhanced Visitor Economy GREATER AMENITY WORLD CLASS DESTINATION The Underwrite VISION

7. Royal Commission Had a Minister for Auckland and an Auckland Cabinet Committee Mayor of Auckland elected at large with considerable powers Keep 6 local councils Move major infrastructure to Auckland Council Do away with community boards other than city centre and waterfront, Great Barrier Island and Waiheke Island

8. Royal Commission Additional Powers to Mayor Power to appoint Deputy Mayor Power to appoint the Chairperson of each committee of the Auckland Council Ex officio member of each committee of the Council Power to chair committees as he or she may determine Power to propose draft long term council community plan and draft annual plan

9. Royal Commission Additional Powers to Mayorcontd… Power to propose the budget Power to initiate and formulate major policy for consideration by Council Power to establish and maintain an appropriate staffed office Power to obtain independent advice

10. What did we get Auckland Council The Auckland Council will have 20 councillors and one Mayor. The Mayor will be elected at large (from the entire 1.4 million electorate) and the councillors from 13 wards. Each councillor will represent between 53,500 and 88,000 people The Local Government Commission has decided on 21 local boards, with membership ranging from 5 to 9. Legislation requires boards for Great Barrier Island (representing a population of 840) and Waiheke Island (population 8,300), and for Rodney and Franklin. The largest boards will represent over 100,000 people)

11. What did we get North Harbour sub-region Rural Rodney Ward – 1 councillor, 1 local board (9 members) Albany Ward (Albany and Hibiscus Coast) – 2 councillors, 2 local boards - Hibiscus/East Coast (8 members) - Upper Harbour Board (6 members) North Shore Ward – 2 councillors, 2 local boards - Kaipataki local board (8 members) Birkenhead, Northcote, Glenfield - Devonport/Takapuna local board (6 members)

12. What did we get Mayor’s role Articulate and promote a vision for Auckland Lead the Development Plans, policies and budgets for consideration by Council Appoint the Deputy Mayor Establish committees of the governing body of the Council Appoint the chairpersons of each committee of the governing body Establish and maintain an appropriately staffed office

13. What did we get Local boards(powers and duties developing) are to: Sit beside the Council rather than operate in a hierarchical relationship Enable democratic decision-making Enable promotion of the social, economic, environmental and cultural well-beings of communities within the local board area Adopting a local board plan to reflect the priorities and preferences of its communities

14. What did we get Local boards contd… Communicating with community organisations and special interest groups in its area Local boards able to propose mechanism to generate additional revenue to fund discretionary activities and initiatives in their areas. For example local board can propose a local targeted rate for local activities and amenities Any dispute between the Mayor and councillors and a local board will be managed through a process of binding resolution by the Local Government Commission

15. What did we get Local boards contd… Chairpersons of Auckland local boards will be authorised to preside at citizen ceremonies February 2009 Rodney Hide now adds local boards could be responsible for: “local facilities like swimming pools and parks, community programmes and local services like refuse collection and graffiti control, and maybe a regulatory function like liquor control.” Department of local boards at Auckland Council – will be the “back office” for local boards

16. Local boardscontd… • The formula for funding local boards must be in a way that provides equitable resources and support to each local board having regard to the following factors: • (a) The number of elected members of each local • board • (b) The size of each local board area; • (c) Any other factor identified by the Auckland Council • as significantly affecting the operational costs of • each local board; and • (d) The funding amount allocated to each local board What did we get

17. What did we get 3 CCO’s signed off by Cabinet - Watercare Services Limited in charge of Auckland’s water supply and wastewater - Auckland Transport to look after all aspects of transport across Auckland - Waterfront Development Agency

18. What did we get The Local Government Commission has proposed a spending cap of $580,000 on any electoral campaign for mayoral candidates The Auckland Council will have total assets of $28B and an annual budget of $3B

19. Auckland Transport Watercare Services Ltd Council Investments Economic Development, Tourism & Events Major Regional Facilities Property Holdings Waterfront Development Agency Auckland Council Auckland Transition Agency recommends 7 CCOs Auckland Council Elected Members Council Committee Advisory Board CCO Structure

20. CCO’s Council-controlled organisations are there to address inconsistencies and service delivery methods across the existing councils to achieve a consistent approach for the Auckland Council Only Auckland Transport CCO allowed 2 Councillors in CCO Board, all other 6 CCO’s no Councillors involved. Seeking experienced governance directors with skills CCO’s accountable to Auckland Council through detailed statement of corporate intent To eliminate multiple CCO’s with the same purpose to provide the Auckland Council with a consolidation of the entities

21. CCO’s Three CCO’s in place – Watercare Services Limited, the Regional Transport Authority and the Waterfront Development Agency Four new CCO’s proposed– Economic Development Tourism and Events; Major Holdings & Development; Major Regional Facilities; and Council Investments Consultation on final four CCO’s above

22. North Shore/North Harbour businesses and organisations Our research shows supercities prefer to work with larger organisations Direct access to the Mayor for any business owner has gone 3. Consider linking with major established advisory groups around Auckland such as Committee for Auckland or Chamber of Commerce 4. Lobby MP’s and government departments advising or linked to mayor’s office and CCO Board members

23. North Shore/North Harbour businesses and organisations Support best mayoral candidate who demonstrates an Auckland vision and North Shore/North Harbour/North West’s role in it 6. With no councillors appointed at large, seek councillors in northern and western wards that work together as there will likely be significant trade-off negotiations between wards. Think hard about who you vote for, we need the very best skilled councillor representation we can get Propose suitable people to chair local boards and encourage ward councillors and local boards to work together

24. North Shore/North Harbour businesses and organisations Lobby and support funding agreements for those local boards and targeted rate programmes in North Harbour sub-region to achieve vital local amenities Seek to have the very best experienced skilled appointments to the directors of the powerful CCO’s. In May the Local Government Minister will be calling for nominations 10. Seek to have the very best experienced and skilled advisers in mayoral office for mayor’s advisory team 11. Consider creating a significant lobby group in North Harbour sub-region to advise the mayor’s office and CCO’s on northern/western ward and local board activities, needs, threats and opportunities