The council added its voice to growing concerns in the local government sector that changes proposed in the Local Government Amendment Bill could lead to local authority amalgamation by stealth, and local government losing legal powers.
Cr Jinty MacTavish said the proposed changes, which included making it possible for unelected council-controlled companies to set bylaws, cut "right to the heart of what democracy is about''.
"I think this comes to the fundamental tennet of no tax without representation.''
"It should concern any ratepayer anywhere in the country that these provisions even got to the point that they are,'' Cr MacTavish said yesterday.
Cr David Benson-Pope said the Bill was a symptom of the Government's negative attitude towards local government.
"The reality is ... they do not support local decision-making made by local people.''
He was particularly concerned about the extra powers it gave to the Local Government Minister to direct the Local Government Commission (LGC).
The Government was using a drive for efficiency as a "smokescreen for quite a vicious attack on local communities and local decision-making''.
Cr Aaron Hawkins shared a similar sentiment, saying the changes were part of a "sustained and systemic erosion of local democracy''.
This included the sacking of Environment Canterbury and the lack of influence Christchurch City Council had on the earthquake rebuild, Cr Hawkins said.
Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull said the changes were opposed by ``just about everyone in the local government sector''.
"The main concern is that it would appear the proposal gives the LGC the power to impose new arrangements on councils ... without necessarily consulting the councils concerned and even the communities.''
"It would appear to be pretty draconian and cutting across the responsibility that councils have to their communities,'' Mr Cull said.
The concern expressed was not so much about amalgamation, but how decisions were made on what services were amalgamated and how.
Councillors agreed on a submission the council will make on the Bill, which raised concerns that it could:
Grant additional powers to the Local Government Minister and the LGC to direct the reorganisation of services within and between local authorities.
Reduce the levels of democratic control local communities exercise over services delivered on their behalf.
Affect the authority and power of elected representatives.
Reduce the level of accountability between the community and service providers.
