Hide’s move to sack Councillors is "curious"

(Mar 2010)

Local government watchdog Council Watch is questioning the measures taken by Local Government minister Rodney Hide after he gave Canterbury Regional Councillors their marching orders yesterday.

Rodney Hide’s sacking of elected officials of ECAN is being questioned in the face of accusations that the government is using the Local Government Act to take ownership of valuable water resources on the Canterbury Plains.

Council Watch spokesman Mike MacLeod says he was surprised at how rapidly the Local Government Minister moved in this particular case, when there are far more important and systemic failings within the local government sector. He also heralded a warning to citizens of New Zealand, say this action is “an overreaction, inconsistent and antidemocratic”.

Council Watch’s main concern is that Rodney Hide has thrown the baby out with the bathwater. “He’s sacrificing the people elected to this Council by the citizens of Canterbury. Not only the ‘bad ones’, but also the good ones,” says MacLeod, “His excuse is that there was poor management. So is he also going to sack the CEO and Senior Managers too?”

To date the media have referred only to a report from Wyatt Creech with no reference to the Auditor General’s report which has already taken action (or inaction) in respect these issues. Nothing in the foregoing makes any reference to the so-called “ECAN Four”, those councillors found by the Auditor General as having abused their position to influence water charges levied against Canterbury farmers, a group to which they belong.

“In view of the serious findings of the OAG,” asks MacLeod, “Why did the government not take appropriate action at the time and ask the Auditor General to prosecute or at least seek convincing arguments against prosecution? If such arguments were forthcoming – why take this action now?”

“It seems odd that the Minister would allow something so serious to pass, yet later sack the entire Council.”

By the numbers: water management is but one activity among many that ECAN administers. Is it appropriate that 14 councillors (only four of whom were ostensibly guilty of misconduct) should be banned from administering the business of the Council because of mistakes and concerns in one area? Surely this is an overreaction?

Says MacLeod “Even if we might be persuaded that this is not an overreaction there is a glaring inconsistency insomuch as the government has essentially ignored a damming OAG report which; had it been suitably acted upon, might have resolved all the (water) issues without impacting upon other activities and their legitimate governance.”

“This raises questions about the governments’ true agenda in these issues. What are they and what is the rationale for them? Why is the Minister not allowing the people of Canterbury to go to the polls this year and decide for themselves who should represent them? Who – in the long run – is going to be benefiting from a government-controlled Regional Council?”

“The Minister and the government are acting curiouser and curiouser. No wonder the Prime Minister is distancing himself from this bizarre and totally undemocratic decision.

Grovetown Residents' Association angered by Council

(May 2010)

A Blenheim residents' association have complained to the Office of the Ombudsmen over the actions of the Marlborough District Council.

Mayor Alistair Sowman admits that he and the Councillors received advice from the CEO Andrew Besley not to attend a public meeting organised by the Grovetown Residence Association.

Read the full story, published in the Marlborough Express, here.

Latest Research Reveals Senior Salary Levels

(Jan 2010)

A recently-released report by Council Watch provides an insight into salary levels for senior Council managers.  The report, available here, shows the average salary rate as $155,000; with little variance between the North- and South Islands.

Whilst only 41% of Council Chief Executives responded with the information we requested (thereby reducing the quality of the data) the outcome provides the following insights:

1. The spread of salaries for senior managers is very large, from $50,000 at the lowest end to $350,000 at the highest;

2. The average salary for senior managers is $155K per annum;

3. Salaries for senior managers were equitable for both North and South Islands;

4. The highest senior manager's salary ($350K) was greater than 85% of the salaries of CEOs that responded to the survey;

5. North Island CEOs get paid more on average than their colleagues on the mainland ($250K v. $239K);

6. The range of CEO salaries was $150K to $450K.

The reason most Councils gave when withholding this information was privacy of the individual, however this has been considered in the past by the Office of the Ombudsmen (see here) and as such we will be referring the matter on to that authority.  Click here to view other research from Council Watch.

Community leaders positive on the future of democracy

(Apr 2010)

New Zealand’s inaugural conference of residents’ associations attracted over 40 organisations on the weekend and sends a strong message to the local government sector: work with us or face the consequences.

Conference convenor Jarrod Coburn says that the unbridled passion – and in some cases frustration and anger – about issues in the local government and community sector took him aback and caused many to comment that “something needs to be done… or else”.

The Residents 2010 Conference – held in parliament’s Grand Hall on Saturday – attracted interest from residents’ organisations as far away as Auckland and Christchurch. The conference was a collaboration between the Federation of Wellington Progressive and Residents Associations (FWPRA), the Social and Civic Policy Institute (SCPI), and local government watchdog Council Watch.

Coburn, experienced in community engagement on both sides of the fence, says the “or else” could spell bad news for the local government sector and would come in the form of the increasingly vocal network of residents’ associations (over 1,500 across the country) turning their backs if the Government continue down their current path of tinkering with Councils.

“We’ve seen two instances of the National government stepping in to change local government in the past year: the so-called ‘Super City’ in Auckland, and the sacking of the democratically-elected members of Environment Canterbury.

“This Government has indicated without a doubt that they are willing to make some tough decisions when it comes to local democracy. My fear – and this is shared by others – is that we are seeing a major threat to the remaining Councils.

“The sector – through its own incompetence – is giving central government excuse after excuse to cast doubt over its effectiveness. Bizarre as it might sound; it might be residents’ associations and like organisations who have to come to their rescue!”

Mr Coburn says that the gathering of nearly 100 community leaders was a milestone in a growing movement toward citizen participation.
“People are becoming less tolerant with public employees now. There is more money around than ever before in our economy, yet Councils are pleading poverty and reducing their services.

“It is time for the local government sector to do some serious reflecting on their future, and whether or not they want the support of the communities they are legally obliged to serve,” says Coburn.

“Many delegates relayed stories of Councils making decisions using a bogus process of ‘consultation’ – basically an expensive way to justify their officer’s choices,” says Coburn, “Well after this weekend let it be known that citizens can also make choices, and have a voice, and have opinions that count with the people who hold sway over their futures!”

The conference delegates agreed to a number of recommendations, which will be communicated to the appropriate agencies and the public at large over the next few weeks. In the meantime work on finding ways to support residents’ associations across the nation will continue by the three organisations.

“Obviously you don’t hold a conference like this and then forget about it the next day,” says Coburn, “for SCPI, FWPRA and Council Watch the work has just begun. Already we’re getting calls from other organisations around the country asking how they can be involved in this movement toward stronger local democracy.

“One thing I will say is that we welcome approaches by anyone at any organisation to start a dialogue about improving the lot of residents’ associations in New Zealand. If it is to be done, it will have to be done cooperatively and in the spirit of democracy and equality.”

Jarrod Coburn says that the organisers will contact community leaders in Auckland and Christchurch soon and ask if they would be happy to co-host similar conferences in their areas in 2011.

Full details of the conference, including the proceedings and associated research, will be available soon on www.residents.org.nz.

Residents Association conference announced

(Feb 2010)

Council Watch is one of three sponsors supporting Residents2010 - a conference for residents' associations in Wellington.  The conference will be held in the magnificent Grand Hall of parliament buildings and is expected to attract delegates from across the greater Wellington region.

Council Watch spokesperson Jim Candiliotis says the conference is well overdue.  "It's about time the hard work of residents' associations is recognised," says Jim, "Residents' associations hold our system of local democracy together.  They are stalwart defenders of community's collective rights and do a great job for the citizens of this country."

The conference is on Saturday 10th April and is free to committee members of any residents' association or like group.  See the full article here or visit the Residents2010 website here.