Brown accuses Banks of using bus lane fines to keep rates down

Len Brown. Photo / Steven McNicholl

Super City mayoral candidate John Banks' financial credibility came under attack last night when rival opponent Len Brown accused him of using bus lanes fines to keep rates artificially low.

Mr Brown compared his council's record of issuing six $150 fines in the past year in Manukau, which has 3km of bus lanes, with the 41,169 for breaches on Auckland City's 31km network.

"The issue here is the designated policy to get revenue ... so you can keep your rates low. It's not right."

Budget documents show Mr Banks and the Citizens & Ratepayers majority on the city council set a target to increase revenue from bus lane and parking fines by $12 million over the term of this council as part of a package to hold down rates.

The Auckland City mayor, who is fighting the mayoral campaign on a mantra of "affordable progress" and his financial credentials, defended his council's tough stance on bus lane fines at a debate hosted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Mr Banks said the council had learned some lessons in the past few weeks, but spoke up for the benefits bus lanes brought to the city.

Between 7am and 9am on weekdays, 229 buses carrying 6800 people used the northern busway and 227 buses carrying about 6500 people used the central connector down Symonds St to the city, he said.

"That is why we are absolutely committed to getting people out of cars and into integrated public transport.

"You can't have it both ways. You can't come here and parrot public transport, buses and ferries and trains, and then say 'hey, I'm not going to collect any money from people who transgress bus lanes'," Mr Banks said.

Answering a question on how candidates would serve the wider community if they became the first mayor of the Super City, Mr Brown said he would occasionally sit in on local board meetings, meet the 21 board chairpeople monthly and do "mayor on the chair", sitting in a chair on a main street somewhere in Auckland every Friday for up to 90 minutes.

The Auckland Council would also rotate meetings around the current seven council areas, he said.

Mr Banks did not know if he would have time to sit on a chair in the street, but would build a conduit between the Town Hall and the local boards.

He said he would meet the leaders of the local boards at least four times a year.

Local board chairpeople would be able to attend monthly meetings of the Auckland Council and present reports.

He said his office would have rural and seniors advisory committees, as well as the statutory groups for Maori, Pacific Island and ethnic communities.