Better access to government money might be welcomed by the Dunedin City Council, but not more government control.
The city council looks set to tell a panel reviewing local government the rating system is overburdened and local democracy should be strengthened by enabling local engagement and participation in decision-making.
It is poised to support or argue for "genuine partnership" between local and central government and authentic relationships with iwi, while cautioning against Government overreach.
A draft submission to a panel exploring the future of local government is to be discussed by the council tomorrow.
The panel has said local government must be revitalised for New Zealand communities to thrive and it made 29 draft recommendations to provoke discussion about how the system could be transformed to maximise community wellbeing.
They include reviewing funding mechanisms, lowering the voting age to 16 for council elections, universal adoption of the single-transferable vote (STV) electoral system, and central government exploration of a stronger statutory requirement on councils to foster Maori capacity to participate in local democracy.
The Dunedin City Council has indicated support for such measures, but flagged various concerns in its draft submission, including uncertainty arising from the Government’s reforms of Three Waters and resource management.
The draft submission includes commentary about "not undermining local decision-making power", and supporting "initiatives that will ensure councils have a better range of funding and financing tools".
The council "supports the view that local government has reached ‘peak rates’ and that other funding mechanisms should be introduced to lessen the funding reliance on the rating system".
The council "supports investigating potential system changes, such as co-investment with central government".
The council "agrees with the panel’s view that a lack of a sustainable and equitable approach to co-investment is undermining the potential for central, local government and iwi to work together for better community outcomes".
The draft draws attention to edicts, or "unfunded mandates" from central government, which put pressure on local government staffing and resources.
It also "questions how power imbalances between central and local government, between iwi and government and between larger and smaller councils will be managed in authentic co-design and partnership models".
Proposed system improvements should be "supported by an authentic partnership, and not restricted to central government making legislative changes".
A panel recommendation that central government lead a review of engagement with Maori was met by the comment that change should be developed and led by mana whenua and local and central government together, "rather than led by central government".
The draft submission signalled the council would be strongly opposed to amending employment provisions of council chief executives to match those in the wider public sector.
The council "feels strongly that the accountability of chief executives needs to be retained locally".
