Councillors opposed to plan to remove wellbeing provisions

Undemocratic, dictatorial and an attack — a government plan for councils to refocus on core services has hit a flat note with Dunedin representatives.

At a Local Government New Zealand conference last week, Local Government Minister Simon Watts announced new legislation, removing the four wellbeing provisions — social, economic, environmental and cultural — in favour of a "renewed focus on core services".

"Kiwis are frustrated with rising rates, expanding bureaucracy, and poor value for money," he said.

"This Bill puts councils back to work on the basics, their core services, so ratepayers see real results for what they pay," he said.

Cr Mandy Mayhem said the wellbeing provisions were "exactly" what the city should be delivering.

"Dunedin has been highlighted as a great place to visit recently. We need to keep climbing and being aspirational," she said.

"Without a wellbeing focus, however, I fear the opposite will occur."

She said many of the council’s plans and strategies used the wellbeing provisions as a lens — removing them would reverse community partnership work.

"It is ridiculous and very undemocratic."

Cr Carmen Houlahan attended the conference and said few people were impressed by the announcement.

"It is unclear how some of this legislation will work when many things are core business of councils and have been for many years," she said.

"The majority of our current budget is being spent on infrastructure so I don't see this changing dramatically."

Cr Christine Garey said the call to refocus on core services was "a bit rich".

"Eighty-six percent of [the council’s] capital spend in the nine-year plan are for Three Waters, roading and footpaths, waste minimisation — everyone would agree [these] are core services.

"There’s an irony in this attack on the wellbeings which have been in and out of favour as governments have changed over the years."

Cr Sophie Barker said she agreed councils should be focused on delivering core services but the four wellbeings were an "important part" of shaping the city’s future.

"Especially when government keeps pulling out of delivering services itself, and also dumping unfunded mandates on us," she said.

"The National Party campaigned on localism ... now they seem to be taking a dictatorial stance towards councils like we’re naughty children, rather than elected representatives of our people."

Cr Andrew Whiley also said he agreed with the importance of focusing on core services, but central government needed to have clearer plans to support councils with long-term infrastructure spending and community investment.

"We cannot lump all the required expenditure on today’s and future ratepayers but the work has to be done," he said.

The Bill was expected to be passed by the end of the year.

ruby.shaw@odt.co.nz