Community board gets ready for its future

BY: DIANA WORTHY

The Waiheke Community Board will be discussing at its first meeting of the year what it wants from government's third super-city bill, with final submissions due next month.

A draft submission has already been prepared by board chairman Tony Sears.

It calls for more clarification in the bill over what powers boards will have, criticising a lack of detail about the relationship between the proposed new council's governing body and local boards.

And it raises serious concerns about what will happen if powers are delegated by the new council instead of being part of proposed local government law.

The draft submission lists delegated powers the board wants to see protected by legislation, including policy and funding decisions.

But under the third bill proposals, the Auckland Transition Agency (ATA) will initially allocate powers for each board.

Once it is up and running, the new Auckland Council can delegate powers at local level so long as they do not conflict with regional issues.

Associate Local Government minister John Carter told islanders last May they should let the select committee know what they wanted local boards to do so powers could be proscribed in law.

"We want a structure that allows local people to get those things done that need to be done in their communities. We need a list of functions the boards should carry out."

In December though Mr Carter said the third bill did not include a general list because "what might be appropriate for some may not be for others as each community is different".

"The ATA is charged with the responsibility of local functions and these would vary quite considerably from one area to the other.

"Once in place, the powers are there permanently unless there's an agreement between the board and council for a change.

"Differences such as water and transport will be taken into account," he vowed.

Waiheke Community Board is worried the differences will not.

Its draft submission cites concerns about the council-controlled organisations that will manage water (already devolved to Watercare Services) and transport.

The submission says it means ratepayers and residents are one step further removed from deciding what is best for them and their community.

It calls for the bill to be amended to specify in detail how the controlled organisations and boards will work together.

And it wants legislation to allow local transport decisions to be made by local boards.

Other key points in the board's draft submission include the need for local control over Resource Management Act decisions, sustainable practices in spatial planning decisions, and the inclusion of Maori representatives with voting rights on council committees.

Auckland City Council Hauraki Gulf islands' councillor Denise Roche says she thinks the draft submission is good but more could be added.

She will be discussing her views with fellow board members tonight and plans to recommend the inclusion of an additional disputes procedure.

The board's final submission will be sent to government following discussions.

Public submissions have to be in by February 12 but local boards and councils can submit supplementary material by the later deadline of 26 February.

- AAP