On Wednesday 22 July Council met to discuss the findings of the recently conducted Head Start Pathway community engagements, and to determine the appropriate way forward for our district.
Over a five-week period there were close to 1,350 interactions. Those interactions derived from a diverse set of communication channels and pathways.
From the “Quick-Poll” face-book pulse survey respondents put everyday affordability first. Maintaining and improving infrastructure, value for money, strong local voice for communities, consistent services, keeping council debt manageable, reducing bureaucracy and improving efficiencies, also featured as priorities.
However, from the website survey, the key significances were prioritised with reliable core services and infrastructure first, followed by strong local representation and voice, protecting rural voice from urban dominance, and affordable rates and value for money last. Overall key findings were local representation, infrastructure and core services, and debt, rates and financial fairness.
The five criteria that every proposal will be assessed against are deliverability, supports the new planning system, simplifies local governance, economies of scale, and maintains local voice. These criteria are exactly what our communities have insisted upon.
Failing to submit a proposal by 9 August will not bode well. If we don’t decide, central government’s “Back Stop” substitution will. The risks from a back stop perspective could result in reduced local control, accountability without authority, financial and resource risk, reputational impact, and reduced flexibility. A back stop process would see reorganisation arrangements determined for the region rather than by it.
The evidence-based proposal, scheduled for ratification by Council on Wednesday 5 August, is a proposal built around the river and its communities. The Waikato District Council proposal seeks to converge with Hamilton, Waipaa, South Waikato, and Taupoo. The success of this proposal, depends on whether the parties agree to come together as a single Western Waikato Unitary Authority (“WWUA”).
The finer details are yet to be worked on. For example, ringfencing legacy debt, ensures that the debt each council brings, stays attached to them rather than being spread across the new entity. Moving forward, Council will determine the scope of the proposal, governance direction, Maaori representation and partnership, financial principles and risk appetite.
Mayor Aksel will release a statement shortly after the 5 August Council decision.
If you have a council related concern, please feel free to contact me either by email at marlene.raumati@waidc.govt.nz or by phone on 020 – 40012548.
