Law change lets public talk to CCOs

Aucklanders will get the opportunity to have their say at public meetings held by the council-controlled organisations after the Government agreed to a last-minute amendment to the third Super City bill.

Local Government Minister Rodney Hide last night said the Government would support Labour MP George Hawkins' amendment which requires council-controlled organisations (CCOs) to hold two public meetings a year.

At these, there must be "a reasonable amount of time for the public to address the board".

Mr Hide said the Local Government (Auckland Law Reform) Bill had the requirement for public meetings added at the select committee stage "but the difficulty with that was the public wouldn't be able to have their say, they'd only be observers".

The amendment gave the public the opportunity to speak, "akin to a shareholders meeting".

Mr Hawkins, the MP for Manurewa, said the Government's decision was a victory for common sense.

"Aucklanders have been increasingly concerned about the process the Government has been following regarding the Super City," he said.

"CCOs will be incredibly powerful organisations under the new council structure, and without this amendment put forward by Labour, Aucklanders would have had no ability to influence their decision making."

Parliament last night continued to debate the Local Government Bill which is at the committee stage.

The Government hopes to complete the bill's third reading today.