Basil Morrison
Local democracy arouses passionate debate and strong feelings. That is how it should be.
The quality and affordability of local government impacts on the lives of communities and it is only right that residents should have the opportunity to decide on the form of representation that they think will best service their community's needs and aspirations.
These principles are enshrined in the Local Government Act 2002 and it is the responsibility of the Local Government Commission to see that they are upheld; to help enable local decision-making and action by and on behalf of communities; and to assist those communities to meet their current and future needs for good quality local infrastructure, local public services and cost effective regulatory functions.
This week, the commission has made a decision to proceed with its proposal to establish one council for Hawke's Bay, called Hawke's Bay Council, with five strong local boards. If it goes ahead, this will be a unitary authority with responsibilities currently held by district councils in the regions and those of the Hawke's Bay Regional Council.
It will cover Napier City and Wairoa, Hastings and Central Hawke's Bay districts.
Some readers will have observed the commission has taken a different course with Wellington and Northland reorganisation applications. This is because there was very little support for the proposed structural changes in these regions, whereas in Hawke's Bay there is sufficient public support for the proposal to proceed.
In the commission's view, one Hawke's Bay council will make it possible to move with speed and agility to address the issues and opportunities the region faces.
Hawke's Bay region is diverse but also strongly interdependent, with shared infrastructure, services and regional economy. One new council will better support the region's development and its future. It will also save up to $260 million over 30 years to invest in the region or minimise the burden on ratepayers.
Some residents have expressed concerns about the loss of identity and local services. We have recognised this by requiring permanent local area offices in Wairoa, Napier, Hasting and Waipawa; and requiring all local boards to have councillor representation so they can take local issues and plans to the decision-making body they are part of.
We are confident the final proposal achieves the right balance between meeting the needs of diverse local communities and interests while also recognising that the region as a whole will achieve more, and achieve it more quickly, together.
It is important to note that the commission acts in response not to some whim of its own, but to community wishes; and that, in the end, the community has the opportunity to make the final decision by requesting a poll.
The Hawke's Bay process began in February 2013, when the commission received an application for local government reorganisation in Hawke's Bay from A Better Hawke's Bay Trust. It then called for alternative proposals. It consulted widely, meeting a broad range of interest groups, experts and members of the public.
In November 2013, the commission released a draft proposal and over the next eight months received public feedback through submissions and hearings. Feedback included, but was not limited to, the case for change, the number of councillors, the importance of the regional role, access to services and the difference between community boards and local boards.
In November 2014, having considered that feedback, the commission released a position paper proposing a single council for the region with one mayor, 18 councillors and five local boards, each consisting of two councillors and six to nine members elected in wards.
It followed this up by publishing a pamphlet outlining the position paper's proposed changes and conducted a survey of 2000 Hawke's Bay residents in March 2015.
The commission is satisfied that it has conducted a thorough and fair process in arriving at the best possible proposal for local government reorganisation in Hawke's Bay.
We urge the Hawke's Bay community to familiarise itself with the final proposal which sets out the reasons for our decision in detail.
How the region proceeds is now in your hands.
What happens now:
* Communities can elect to trigger a poll.
* Electors have 60 working days to sign a petition seeking a poll.
* A poll would take place around three months after the commission receives and verifies the petition -- so it is likely to be late September at the earliest and early December at the latest.
* The threshold for a poll is 10 per cent of registered electors in any affected area -- in Napier City and Wairoa, Hastings and Central Hawke's Bay districts.
* Results of a poll are binding and require a simple majority for or against to determine the outcome.
* If no poll is requested or the poll shows support for the proposal, the reorganisation scheme is implemented.
* A Transition Board with two elected representatives from each of the current councils and an independent chair would then be appointed by the commission to work through detailed arrangements for the new council which would be elected in 2016.
Basil Morrison is the chairman of the Local Government Commission.
Business and civic leaders, organisers, experts in their field and interest groups can contribute opinions. The views expressed here are the writer's personal opinion and not the newspaper's. Email: editor@hbtoday.co.nz.