Local Government made Simple

Questions PRRA sent to the Mayor for the July Meeting

 

1.     "Before discussing any future governance model, can you clearly define the specific problems that the current local government structure is failing to solve, and what evidence Council has relied upon to conclude that structural reform is necessary?"

 

2.     "Has Council identified the measurable outcomes that would define success for any future governance model—for example infrastructure delivery, financial sustainability, service levels, democratic representation or affordability—and how will these be assessed?"

 

3.     "What national or international evidence has Council evaluated when considering future governance options, and what lessons—both positive and negative—have been drawn from previous local government amalgamations?"

 

4.     "If regional governance expands, what principles does Council believe should underpin local representation to ensure that communities such as Tauranga, Western Bay, Rotorua, Whakatāne and Ōpōtiki retain meaningful influence over local decisions rather than simply advisory roles?"

 

5.     "To what extent does Council consider a regional water utility to be the logical first stage of reform, and how might that influence or reduce the need for wider council amalgamation in the future?"

 

6.      "Can Council outline the strategic framework it is using to guide its response to Government, including the sequence of defining the problem, establishing desired outcomes, evaluating options, engaging with communities and only then determining the most appropriate organisational structure?"

7.     "What options has Council evaluated between maintaining the status quo and creating a full unitary authority?"

Examples…..

  • shared procurement,

  • regional infrastructure planning,

  • a regional water utility,

  • shared regulatory services,

  • combined asset management,

  • with a staged pathway toward wider integration.