Using nothing short of stand-over tactics, we have to either give this equipment to them or maintain it for their use at our cost.
These assets were paid for by ratepayers and are owned by council. Central government has failed to genuinely engage our community over this, despite many meetings, and it is a process happening nationwide. For the Minister, Peter Dunne, it was a "done deal" from the start.
This issue reflects an attitude that pervades the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill (No.2), currently before Parliament. The intent of this legislation is to provide for local authorities to consult their communities before amalgamating the delivery of their core services across several territorial authorities (councils).
What is perfidious is that few within our communities are likely to understand what is proposed and, therefore, become engaged over this. Councils can interpret the views expressed in this consultation process as they desire.
The services involved are our roads and the three waters (potable water, wastewater, and stormwater).
Councils own these horizontal infrastructural assets for the most part and, if they do not, they are still responsible for their maintenance and delivery.
Amalgamation -- I offer as an example Whanganui, Ruapehu, Rangitikei, Manawatu, Tararua, andHorowhenua District Councils, along with Palmerston North City Council (how large, or watered down, do we want to get?) -- would have these assets managed by council-controlled organisations (CCOs).
Directors of CCOs are neither elected, nor can they be elected, councillors or community board members. They will be appointed by the participatory councils, with director numbers based on the relative size of the councils.
Central government would see our self-determination around these core activities diluted or removed.
Government argues this new model will bring efficiencies for ratepayers. I doubt that. It counts for nothing, apparently, that local governments can, and do, already share services and achieve the cost-saving objectives sought by the proposed bill while leaving local control with elected councillors.
What is even worse is that if local authorities decide such an amalgamation is a good thing, government can veto it.
This is possible as the power of veto sits in the hands of the Local Government Commission, and -- get this -- the Local Government Commission is a body of between three and five people appointed by the Minister for Local Government. Unbelievably, it is required that only one of the commission members need have any local government experience whatsoever.
Further power is given to the commission to resolve disputes within a CCO. Effectively, total control lies in the hands of the minister, through the commission.
Surely, the recent overwhelming citizen rejection of proposed amalgamations at electoral level in Hawke's Bay and Wellington would have alerted our parliamentarians to a distaste for amalgamation of any sort in local government affairs. But no -- out the window goes local democracy.
The last redrafting of local government legislation saw the removal of the focus on societal well-being in favour of a focus on core business that was not able to be better provided by the private sector.
Now, our control of these core functions is under threat. It is important to recognise that they represent by far the lion's share of our spending.
So, we will pay the rates and appropriate council charges but we will lose our democratic right to fine-tune how these monies are spent.
Whanganui District Council made a submission, along with 65 other territorial authorities, when this legislation was proposed. And just as well, for the proposals were initially even more draconian.
Our council made a cogent submission but was still far too timid. It should have suggested the legislation be kicked for touch in its entirety.
Incidentally, the legislation reached the floor of the House of Representatives on the strength of one vote, and it will pass on the strength of that one vote: Todd Barclay's.
Nevertheless, on the substantive case this legislation that seeks to rip the guts out of local government and participatory democracy should fail.
Alan Taylor is a Whanganui District councillor and former chairman of the Whanganui Rural Community Board
