| Boundary and Social Policy Submission |
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North Shore Community and Social Services Inc. (NSCSS) is a not-for-profit agency providing broad services and advice to North Shore voluntary groups. We made a submission to the Commission in October 2009 on boundary and social policy matters. The publication of the preliminary plan by the Commission proposes multi-member wards as the basis for election of councillors. This is the only matter we wish to comment on. It was our earlier submission, supported by other Auckland wide agencies offering the same services as NSCSS, that the overwhelming public opinion is in favour of one elected member per ward. During the course of 2009 and in association with a related organisation (Raeburn House) we have conducted on a two monthly basis public forums addressing various social development and social planning issues that arise for the future Auckland Council. The overwhelming public opinion mentioned above has been sampled from those consultation forums. We have been amazed at the strength of public understanding that the new Auckland Council will rely on a solid democratic foundation. One elected member per ward is without any doubt the best model to follow. The Commissions proposal for two elected members per ward undermines the democratic process and allows for the abrogation of responsibility by elected members. This is the present experience with the Auckland Regional Council. We hope that you will reconsider the present proposal in favour of the basic democratic model that everyone understands. Given the democratic model which the Commission has used for the local board boundaries, there seems little difficulty in creating wards to serve a one member representational model. In that way the Commission will have met the challenge of providing a fair and equitable electoral base for the October 2010 election. Your consideration of this point would be greatly appreciated.
Yvonne Powley
Ph 09 486 4820
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