Councils wield considerable power.  If you doubt that statement, imagine sitting in the public gallery of your local council chambers, listening as elected members debate a multi-million dollar project that will leave a legacy of debt for future ratepayers!

Besides providing essential services such as a water supply, sewage disposal, rubbish collection and 88% of the country’s roading network, councils also have a statutory duty to look after the economic, social, cultural and environmental well-being of their communities – and not just for the current crop of citizens but also for future generations.

In other words, the future prosperity and sustainability of your community lies in the hands of your local council yet many people take their local council for granted, and less than half the population bothers to vote.

The low voter turnout during the 2007 local body elections prompted me to spend the next few years researching local government, studying numerous reports from various sources and monitoring the web-sites of all city and district councils.  It quickly became apparent that councils are complex organisations, influencing the lives of New Zealanders in so many ways.

However it is not until a contentious issue arises that anybody takes much notice of what’s happening on council or who’s sitting around the council table.  Those conversant with council procedures will be aware of their right to send in submissions for consideration before significant decisions are reached; there are provisions to appeal to the Auditor-General, the Ombudsman or even the Courts for a judicial review. But unless there are serious flaws in the process or decision, these higher authorities will generally respect the mandate of the ballot box.

In other words, people voted into office pretty much have the freedom to make decisions on behalf of their communities for the three years of their tenure. My research suggests there’s no justification for New Zealanders to be complacent.

The operating expenses and capital expenditure on core infrastructure alone can be costly, amounting to millions of dollars annually. The more commercially sensitive projects are discussed in-committee – that is once members of the public have been asked to leave the council chambers.

Most council activities are funded either directly through rates, or indirectly as rent. With very few exemptions, no property owner can escape the annual rate demand. Rate rises have become the norm, rather than the exception.

So where are the constraints on council extravagance?

Changes to local government legislation in 2002 introduced measures which would encourage residents and ratepayers to become involved in local government in a meaningful way.  For instance, councils are supposed to conduct their business in an open, transparent and democratically-accountable manner.  In fact, the purpose of local government is to “enable democratic local decision-making and action by and on behalf of communities”.

For this reason, I wholeheartedly support the objective of Council Watch to help educate the public on the mechanics of local government.

How many people realise that councils are obliged to have a significance policy? This policy is supposed to ensure that any proposal that meets this threshold will be subject to full consultation before any decisions are made.  Only by knowing the rules, can members of the public curb the excesses of a council running rampant over the rights of its residents and ratepayers.

Lack of transparency creates a barrier between councils and the people they are elected to represent. Much like the fortified walls of Troy.

As a councillor who was first elected onto the Horowhenua District Council during the 2004 elections, I’ve always been prepared to share my knowledge as an ‘insider’ on council procedures and proceedings.

I’m really keen to help Council Watch in any way I can, because I believe that it is vitally important for people to understand how councils operate so that they can truly hold elected members accountable for their actions.  Transparency, accountability and genuine community engagement must become more than election platforms for those seeking public office.

They must become the foundation upon which local government is based.
My role then, in a sense, will be much like the Trojan Horse.