Dialogue: Time for those being governed to say how they want it done

Local government affects us hugely, yet it has become increasingly distant and threatens to become even less accountable, writes DAVID THORNTON

The importance of local government is woefully underrated, probably because it is considered to be quite boring. Yet decisions made by our local councils are widely acknowledged as having more effect on our daily lives than many of the decisions of central government.

We start to think about the local council only when the beaches are closed because of sewage overflows or when traffic holdups start to raise our blood pressure; or perhaps when the rubbish is not collected or the neighbour's dog is causing problems - things that affect our local environment, and often our way of life.

This is particularly true of planning issues. Intensive housing and growth management are hot topics in many parts of the Auckland region, while down in Queenstown actor Sam Neil and his friends are trying to protect their rural lifestyles from increasing residential development.

And the decision-making on these purely local controversies is in the hands of local councils, all (except Rodney District) elected by local people.

The reforms of 1989 have led to bigger units of local government and resulted in a distancing of elected members from the people they represent. The reforms have acted against the best interests of individuals. Changes are needed if local democracy is to survive and if true local accountability is to be restored.

In their election manifestos, both Labour and the Alliance promised increased powers for local councils, and it seems the Government is about to deliver on those promises. A whole raft of reviews is floating around, complete with attendant discussion or consultation papers, and several bills are before parliamentary select committees.

Your Government wants you - Joe and Janet Citizen - to be involved. We have all been invited to submit our views on new voting systems, Maori seats on councils, new funding options for councils (instead of the manifestly unfair rating system), changes to planning laws, an "in-depth" look at our water and sewage problems and a host of other lesser issues. That adds up to a lot of consultation.

But how many of us have made - or are thinking of making - submissions on some of the basic issues which are under scrutiny? Submissions on some issues have closed, which means we are too late to have our formal say.

One particularly controversial issue (for which submissions closed last Monday) is the proposal to establish Maori seats on the Bay of Plenty Regional Council. Controversial? If it happens on one council, how long before it happens somewhere else? Or before it becomes compulsory?

Another issue being considered by a select committee is Green co-leader Rod Donald's STV Bill. It promises the single transferable voting system for local elections in 2004 and for the new health boards later this year.

Submissions for that closed last September. For those who have still to grasp the implications of an MMP vote for parliamentary elections, STV voting will add to the confusion and possibly lead to even fewer people bothering to vote at all.

Next on the public submission list is the Local Electoral Bill. This is a total revision of the law on local body elections - how you vote, when you vote.

This bill, if passed, will allow local councils to choose whatever method of voting they wish from a list approved by the minister. This must lead to variety of voting methods around the country, which seems to be a recipe for disaster if the recent experience in Florida is any guide,

The bill also allows for electronic voting systems to be introduced, for counting of votes to be permitted before voting closes without scrutineers being present, for candidate profiles to be sent out at public expense and for limits on expenditure by candidates.

Electronic voting? That could include internet voting - and how secure would such a system be? Only recently reports have emerged of widespread hacking of Government computers around the world. One good hacker could be able to change your vote as soon as you had cast it.

Public submissions on this lengthy Local Electoral Bill of 145 clauses and two schedules close on February 26 and the select committee will report to Parliament on April 30.

Another reform being introduced is for salaries for mayors and councillors to be set by the Higher Salaries Commission. This means that mayors and councillors will no longer be accountable to ratepayers - the people who pay those salaries.

Public submissions on this bill close next Monday and a select committee is due to report to Parliament in mid-June.

Apart from proposed legislation before Parliament, two other reviews which will affect all ratepayers are being carried out.

One is of funding powers for local government, looking at rating issues, user-pays and other methods by which councils can raise money to meet the costs of services. There will be no public input to this review until revised legislation is introduced to Parliament in May.

The second review is the long-overdue reform of the 1974 Local Government Act, described by Chief Justice Sian Elias as "soporific" legislation.

It is, indeed, a most complex and much-amended piece of legislation, and it does place limitations on the freedom of action of local councils. It does need rewriting. But proposals are emerging for scrapping any control on local councils by giving them a power of "general competence" - in other words, allowing councils to engage in whatever activity they see fit. Are you ready to let your council have such a free rein?

Another proposal is for the three-year council term to be replaced by a four-year term. While there may be some advantages in this, could it lead to more Rodney situations, with dysfunctional councils being replaced by a ministerial appointee?

Views are also being invited on the role of mayors - whether they should have executive powers (American style) and how they are elected - in a separate poll as at present or by the council from among its elected councillors (my preference).

This all adds up to a major overhaul of how we are governed at the local level. This year will be a golden opportunity for every citizen to have his and her say in the way our local democratic system should work. For many the challenge will be simply too hard. The majority take the view that "we elect you to office - get on with the job."

But there comes a time when that job needs to be redefined and the responsibilities of that office must be clearly set out. It seems that the time has arrived -time that the governed should make their views known to those who govern.

*David Thornton is a former member of the North Shore City Council and the Greater London Council.