Activist urges revolt over rates

DIANA WORTHY

A well-known civil rights' activist is urging residents to withhold rates payments if government plans for Council Controlled Organisations (CCOs) go ahead.

The cry comes from Penny Bright who is already well-known for her protests over CCO Metrowater, which manages services for Auckland City Council on the isthmus.

She was on the island on Saturday after being invited to attend a meeting at Waiheke Sports Club.

The meeting had been organised by resident Roger Bryant to discuss protests against the supercity and to hear an update about an application for the island to become a UNESCO biosphere reserve.

Ms Bright, who says her protests have led to 22 arrests but only one charge, was due to hold another rally outside the offices of the Auckland Transition Agency on Monday this week.

This week's protest against water privatisation was being timed to coincide with International World Water Day.

Meanwhile, she is urging all ratepayers to follow her own lead and break the law by refusing to pay rates while CCOs manage services for the supercity.

Ms Bright says the organisations are undemocratic and suggests people put aside their rates cash in protest.

She claims there has been no cost analysis done of CCOs to show ratepayers where their money has gone and why the organisations are better than council run services.

She also says it is up to councils to decide if they want to prosecute for non-payment of rates and nothing
has happened over her own refusal so far.

Ms Bright will be approaching Auckland Regional Council, asking it to give an undertaking to refrain from taking legal action against any ratepayers who follow her example.

Meanwhile, time is getting short for people to have their say over the Auckland Transition Agency's discussion documents about CCOs and powers for local boards.

The deadline for submissions is this Friday.

The agency has recommended CCOs must take account of views expressed by the new local boards.

It will be a requirement of the Statement of Intent, which all CCOs must have approved by Auckland Council and made public.

The new council will have a special unit to monitor CCOs' performance.

They will be required to report regularly to Auckland Council and be audited by the Auditor General.

They will also have to give effect to council's spatial plan and other plans.

The proposed CCOs have already been approved in principal by government but, along with already legislated Watercare and Transport Auckland bodies, have been coming under fire from politicians and the public.

Auckland City Council Hauraki Gulf islands councillor Denise Roche intends putting in personal submissions on both CCOs and Auckland Council Local Boards, and is encouraging locals to do the same.

"This is crucial stuff. It's how we'll be governed from the next elections indefinitely. It's really important people have a think about what powers they want boards to have and about how CCOs will operate. These will have a direct impact on our daily lives on the island."

She says Ms Bright is right about the lack of any cost analysis of CCOs.

Ms Roche is also opposed to contracting out services, believing locals should have more control.

"When you've got several layers between what's being delivered and decision makers, it means ratepayers lose the ability to have any questioning about it. It's what Penny has been fighting about with Metrowater."

People can comment online at |www.discussiondocuments.co.nz or by writing to Auckland Council CCO Feedback (and/or Auckland Council Local Boards' Feedback), Auckland Transition Agency, PO Box 99394, Newmarket 1149 by Friday, March 26.

- Waiheke Marketplace