Hamilton 10 Year Plan public consultation rules tightened

Hamilton City Council wants to hear your views on the proposed 10-year plan - preferably in writing rather than interpretive dance - and use your real name and contact details. Photo / File

Hamilton City Council is asking people having a say on the upcoming 10 year plan to take ownership of their views and not use fake names when making submissions to the council.

It appears that names of cartoon characters have been used on past submissions and during discussion one councillor told of a submission being made in interpretative dance,

Councillors voted at a recent meeting for names and addresses to be mandatory information when making a submission to the 10 year plan. However, staff will not be asked to verify the information against the electoral roll.

Anyone living anywhere may make a submission to a council's 10-year plan.

At the Hamilton meeting Councillor Paula Southgate was the only elected member who voted against the motion, calling the system a 'mockery.'

"There are flaws in the system, all people are people whether they put their name and address or not," Ms Southgate said.

"It is up to us to weigh up, as it always has been, the merit of their submission point."

"Obviously if they have given their name and address and details of their expertise we are going to weigh that more highly because that is a normal process in a hearing."

She referenced a previous hearing she had sat in on where a submitter performed an interpretative dance.

"She was entitled to her interpretative dance. She never said a word, she just did the dance and we were obliged to give her some space because that is democracy."

Two other options were also put to councillors.

One would have required mandatory contact information that would have been verified by council, however the disadvantages and cost outweighed the advantages.

The cost to verify all submissions would be an additional unbudgeted cost. Based on an assessment of 1000 submissions, the estimated cost

would be $15,000 to $20,000.

Not all submitters will be on the electoral roll or able to be verified via the electoral roll.

The other option would have asked for all information to be requested but would be completely voluntary.

The option agreed on will still allow submitters the ability to make submissions with non-specific details.

Councillor Geoff Taylor said that it does not take much effort to put a name on a submission.

"I am not worried about staff going to the effort of spending extra money to grimly try and check details against the electoral roll," Mr Taylor said.

"I'm also a supporter of people having the courage of their convictions to identify themselves and to stand by their views, just as we have to.

"I would pay more attention to people who will stand up and have their say."

Councillor Mark Bunting said it worked both ways for councillors and the public.

"If you do want to be taken seriously and do want to have your say it is all about accountability," Mr Bunting said.

"Putting your name in there and holding yourself to account shows the value you put on that dialogue."

Councillor Garry Mallett said councillors should know where the evidence is coming from, however admitted that there is a huge irony in the process.

"The most fundamental message we ever send to an elected member is voting and voting is done in anonymity," Mr Mallett said.

The council voted 11 in favour and one against with councillor Southgate against.