Councils cut projects as Super City looms

Auckland councils are putting the spending brakes on projects that may not be needed under the new Super City.

Costly improvements to new information technology and other internal systems, in particular, are being closely examined to see if they are a waste of ratepayers' money in the new political climate.

Local Government Minister Rodney Hide has warned Auckland councils to be careful about making decisions that could affect the new structure, but to continue delivering services on a "business as usual" basis.

The new structure will abolish the seven territorial councils and one regional council and create a super Auckland Council with 20 to 30 local boards.

A senior manager at Auckland City, Trish Langridge, said officers last week started going through business plans to see what projects could be cut in the coming financial year.

Two programmes to improve business and customer services with a combined budget of $16 million in the coming year faced cuts in the new political context. Some projects within the programmes, like work on a complaints management system where work had already started, would continue, she said.

North Shore City chief financial officer Dale Lott said the council was looking at savings in areas such as information technology to make sure they were still worth doing.

He said identifying projects and savings was a bit difficult at present because the Government had not set up the establishment board to oversee the transition to the Super City model.

Mr Lott said the establishment board could leave council services in place for some time and amalgamate things over a longer timeframe.

"Hopefully we will get some better direction as to what we should and shouldn't be putting in our [10-year budget] plans when the establishment board is in place."

A spokesman for Waitakere City said the council was focused on a "business-as-usual" approach to delivering services in the short term.

He said the council was seeking clarity on what functions would be retained and what would be transferred.