KEY POINTS:
Potential savings of $160 million a year are outlined in the Auckland Regional Council draft plan for reshaping Auckland.
In a surprise move, the regional council wants to abolish itself and establish a single "Greater Auckland Authority", supported by about 30 "community councils".
Chairman Mike Lee said most councillors believed the regional council had to get out of the way to allow for the "one and many" option of a Greater Auckland Authority with community councils, whose powers and responsibilities would be protected by law.
A single authority could save $160 million a year from removing duplication, economies of scale, fewer staff and expensive litigation between councils, he said. Furthermore it would lead to a "one-stop shop" with one rates bill, one common building consent, one resource consent standard and one set of rules.
Regional councillors have considered five options, ranging from the status quo to a beefed-up regional council and a single authority. A handful have reservations about the preferred model, which is expected to be approved at a special council meeting on Thursday.
It will go to the Royal Commission of Inquiry on Auckland Governance, which is calling for submissions on the future of local government by April 22.
The model has recommended using existing community boards as a starting point for community councils with more powers, responsibilities and funding than at present. In district councils that do not have community boards, the plan is to have three community councils in Rodney, two or three in Franklin and one in Papakura. The Greater Auckland Authority would have 21 constituencies and three Maori constituencies based on parliamentary boundaries. The 24-member council would elect a leader, from its ranks.
The Greater Auckland Council would include all seven territorial councils, except that part of Franklin district south of the Waikato River, which would be transferred to the Waikato district.
The regional council plan is similar to the draft submission by Auckland City Council for a single, 21-member Greater Auckland Council. Where the plans differ are Auckland City's draft submission calls for the axing of community boards and the regional council wants Maori seats.
Auckland City councillors are expected to modify chief executive David Rankin's plan for local democracy by adding 21 "neighbourhood councils" with four members each at a meeting today.
