Leaders oppose local board reduction

Local board leaders are slamming a council review proposing to reduce the number of boards labelling it a cost-cutting exercise.

Auckland Council recently released its ’’Governance framework review’’ report which stated: ‘‘Due to the complexity in supporting 21 local boards, reducing the number of local boards offers significant potential to increase efficiencies, decrease operational costs, and have a model more easily understood by the public and council staff.’’

The 160-page review scrutinised Auckland’s governance and how well the council structure and local boards, excluding council-controlled organisations, have performed since the amalgamation of the Super City in 2010.

Devonport-Takapuna Local Board deputy chair George Wood says the proposal to reduce local board regions was essentially a cost-cutting measure.

‘‘I think this report, the overall intent and impact, seems to be in the direction of cost-cutting but I don’t think democracy at the local level should be put on the skids, so to speak,’’ Wood says.

But Auckland Council governance director Phil Wilson says it was ‘‘premature’’ to suggest a change in local board numbers.

‘‘While the report notes how

‘‘I don't think democracy at the local level should be put on the skids’’ George Wood - Devonport-Takapuna Local Board deputy chair

challenging it is to support 21 Local Boards, the intent must also be to balance efficiency with effectiveness,’’ Wilson says.

Instead of the existing 21 local boards, the governance framework review proposes three alternatives.

One, reduce the number of local boards by merging some.

Two, reduce local boards and replace some with smaller ‘‘community boards’’ for areas with small populations.

Three, keep the same number of local boards, but spread support staff across a broader region.

A survey of local board chairs across Auckland’s North Shore all criticised the proposal to amalgamate local board regions.

‘‘The more remote we are perceived to be the less engaged our residents are likely to be. This may be a factor in low voter turnout,’’ Upper Harbour Local Board chair Lisa Whyte says.

Following the Governance framework review in November, Auckland Council has appointed a working party to review the findings and make final recommendations to Auckland Council’s governing body in July 2017.

The working party is made up of seven members from Auckland’s 21 local boards and seven members from council’s governing body.

Six years after the amalgamation of the Auckland Super City in 2010, Auckland Council is considering some major alterations to its structure of local government.