I’m not a big fan of Ecan. However, there are essential environmental responsibilities which Regional Councils perform so to talk about disbanding them with a sweep of the hand is just irresponsible. Instructing local mayors to come up with a solution is like asking pigs to start believing abattoirs don’t exist.
What the local Mayors and Ecan need to do, in my opinion, is to appoint a panel which has their endorsement to consult local communities and to require this body to come up with a feasible plan that all can live with locally.
Otherwise, central government will make the decision for us and that may not be what will work. Central government decisions have ways of not working at a local level…………don’t we know that after Wellington bureaucrats came into Christchurch after the earthquakes.
Articles to read:
- Anne Salmond: We’re reforming the wrong part of government – Newsroom
- https://www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/360902427/local-government-overhaul-bold-and-overdue
Cap on rates:
Essentially this is central government using local government as a punching bag and a distraction from all their bad decisions. The ramifications of the rates ceiling must be debated publicly, town by town. It could lead to further lack of investment in infrastructure. The Press ran an excellent series of articles on who owns property in Christchurch.
One article asked the question what would be the impact on our rates if the government paid rates on their properties in Christchurch. According to the reporter our rates would be 3% lower this year if the government paid rates. The government also charges a tax on a tax, with GST being charged on rates.
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