Councils' spending bolting, says Hide

Spending by Auckland's councils is out of control, Local Government Minister Rodney Hide told a meeting of 330 North Shore Grey Power members.

Mr Hide was applauded when describing himself as the "Minister for Ratepayers".

He said the simple solution to getting rates under control was to ensure a better and simpler governance structure.

That was why he pushed for the Super City, with local boards to reflect the different communities in New Zealand, he told the Friday meeting.

Grey Power North Shore president Barrie Church said Mr Hide was a persuasive speaker.

However, many members had reservations about the benefits of a Super City.

"Most don't like the fact that it seems a done deal, whether we like it or not."

Mr Church said North Shore's proposed rates rise was the highest in the Auckland region.

For the first time, members' rates bills would feel the effect of the Regional Amenities Funding Act, which Grey Power opposed. The region-wide amenities levy amounted to an extra $18 on the average rate.

North Shore Mayor Andrew Williams offered a small consolation.

He said the city council had proposed to meet its costs with a rate rise of 5.9 per cent for the coming year.

However, some of the predicted budget expenses, such as interest costs, had changed. "I'm hoping we can shave 0.4 per cent off that," he said.

The average rates rise of $116 a house would be reduced by $9.

"It could be more but we have to listen to 500 submissions to the draft city plan asking us to help struggling community groups which haven't had an increase in grants for years."