Bennett's cash options

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett wants local boards in the Auckland Super City to have a large degree of autonomy in deciding what social projects they would fund.

She also sees the social spending by local boards as being the likely way to keep freeuse of public swimming pools in Manukau City.

The 20 to 30 local boards to be set up under the larger Auckland Council will have more powers than present community boards but will depend on the council for their money.

They will be responsible for local issues such dog control, liquor licensing, graffiti control and local social projects.

Paula Bennett has taken a paper to the Cabinet on three main options for the Auckland Council to finance the social projects:

* Giving boards a lump sum to be used at their discretion but within the limits of pre-set criteria.

* Making boards bid for cash for their plans to the Auckland Council social services committee.

* Giving boards a portion of funding with the rest allocated by the council for larger projects.

Ms Bennett said she favoured the lump sum option, but wanted to hear submissions on it.

"From my perspective there is something in handing some money over and letting the boards have the real autonomy to decide how it is spent." Parliament this week will pass a law setting up the establishment board to oversee the transition to the Super City and creating the legal entity of the Auckland Council.