Often councillors come from the old way of looking at a problem; there is a need to control the problem and the process, but this in my mind no longer applies.
There are the group of councillors who have long-standing relationships with each other, including the mayor, and then there is a very small group of us who debate and often rail against the status quo, a very good thing and the essence of the democratic process.
It must be easy to "work" in a neutral position? No thinking or questioning required?
Our ratepayers need to know and understand the process of decision-making at the Hastings District Council. "We" are mostly disengaged, cynical and mistrustful of all processes as we, in the end, have to pay for it all. There needs to be more visible reporting on what councillors do for their ratepayers. This does not include how often you turn up to the opening of an envelope or how many times you appear in press releases or, as I like to call them, propaganda.
How many committees you are on is also irrelevant as the committees are another power and control mechanism of the council. They are a badge of honour for some councillors and you get paid more to chair them. Decisions are made at those meetings and taken to the full council to be supposedly debated and ratified. One councillor has a very good view of committees, which I agree with: "It's actually better not to be controlled regarding what you think and what you say." The good news is that it is possible to get to the council table and dispute the recommendation by a committee you sit on, not easy but possible. That made me happier but I still lost the argument. It was a done deal by the committee; think rates and parking meters.
I voted to bring back paying and I was a big fan of free parking so hold that thought.
It would be great to know how often a recommendation from a committee is lost at the council table - rarely or never?
The Opera House decision is that the strengthening will be done and it will be reopened.
All other decisions about everything else will be worked through, thanks to the people who took the time and effort to submit.
Tehei Heretaunga, building our cultural heart, did not hit a positive note with people as it was hard to understand and the story was not told to the people who matter, ie, the ratepayers, in a way that could be understood.
The best thing about the plan was it was put together by an independent committee who at least were local.
The Civic Square's $12 million spend seems to be off the table, which I am very happy about. Submitters, our people, have come up with much better ideas and these need to be worked through.
Remember there is $20 million in the District Plan accounted for in the next rate rise.
So if the strengthening of the Opera House costs $11 million on a good day what will happen with the other $9 million?
Keep your wits about you and keep an eye on that $9 million as it will no doubt be promised or dangled in front of a lot of organisations.
Let's hope we don't spend to much of it on talkfests and consultants.
- Adrienne Pierce is a Hastings district councillor and recently announced that she will be standing for Mayor of Hastings in the upcoming local government elections.
- Views expressed here are the writer's opinion and not the newspaper's. Email: editor@hbtoday.co.nz
