I have had numerous conversations about the CDHB over the past disastrous week. The week when brilliant leadership was sent up the road. Last night I received these thoughts from Bruce White about a subsection of the complex issue of public health:
I don’t know much about the inner workings of the CDHB, but the recent senior staff resignations have left me wondering about the governance.
One aspect that does concern me is that three current City Councillors are also on the CDHB Board. It is clear that both the CCC and CDHB are each under significant pressure. I suggest that those pressure circumstances with their increased workloads mean that governance people should be available to fully dedicate themselves to one significant organisation, instead of being stretched across two.
I know that each of the three Councillors / CDHB Board Members have been elected to those positions. Democracy at work? Or a broken system?
It’s worth noting that no person can stand at the same time for both a regional council and a local council in the same region. (Ref: https://www.lgnz.co.nz/assets/140832c350/Candidate-guide-to-local-authority-elections.pdf ).
Perhaps there should also be a similar ban on standing for a district health board at the same time as either a regional or local council role. Note only would that help the focus of each elected person, but it would also ensure wider representation of citizens.
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