Govt plans rapid response to report

The Government will consider a response to plans for an Auckland super city at next Monday's Cabinet meeting and hopes to make an announcement shortly after, says Prime Minister John Key.

Mr Key is due to meet members of the Royal Commission on Auckland Governance today to discuss their report. Cabinet yesterday got a briefing on the report from Local Government Minister Rodney Hide.

"We are working on this as a matter of priority because preparations need to be under way within weeks if the Auckland region is to be operating under a new governance structure in time for the local body elections in 2010," Mr Key said.

"The commission's report has generated a high amount of community debate and excitement. The focus is now on analysing all the detail on the report and being clear about the best way of moving forward if changes are to be made," he said.

The commission's report, received by the Government last Wednesday, recommends a bold shake-up of local government in Auckland, including a super council with a mayor elected at large and six local councils, whose only job will be to look after local matters.

The commission has recommended one rates bills, one charge for water, one district plan and one voice for Auckland.

However, the proposed model has got politicians and even big business anxious about grassroots democracy.

Mr Hide is one who has concerns about whether the report provides for adequate local representation in the city's diverse communities and wants to look more closely at the issue.

Mr Key echoed his concerns on breakfast television yesterday, saying there may be a need for a better structure to ensure people had input into their local community.

Commission chairman Peter Salmon, QC, is confident the model of six local councils, with two elected councillors representing each ward of about 40,000 people and staffed community offices, would provide for grassroots democracy.

The commission briefly considered a model of 20 local councils, but found it would have uncertain gains, impose high transitional costs and cause major disruption to staff and services.

It looked at a model of 11 local councils in more detail, but found there would still be significant start-up costs, complex transitional arrangements and potential disruption to staff and the public, at least in the short to medium term.

Mr Hide said he planned to address the functions and where they should lie to address concerns about the loss of local democracy.

He planned to talk to officials and local government leaders this week.

Committee for Auckland chairman Sir Ron Carter said the findings of the royal commission were appropriate for the future governance of Auckland and the next step was to hear the Government's response.