Auckland Council’s Annual Budget 2022/23 is open for consultation from 28 February until 28 March. You can have your say on the Have Your Say website.
To support meaningful participation in the consultation, we are focusing in on key budget topics here on OurAuckland, to go a bit deeper into the council’s proposals for the next financial year.
In this piece, we focus on how the council is proposing to increase the decision making local boards have on areas directly affecting their communities.
The proposal
“This proposal recognises the findings of the governance review which started several years ago. Through that process local boards and communities have told us that they believe local boards are best placed to make decisions on what community services and assets should be provided in their local areas,” Finance and Performance Committee Chair Councillor Desley Simpson says.
“We are now keen to hear what Aucklanders think."
Currently, the Governing Body (Mayor and Councillors) is responsible for decisions on the general location of new local service assets such as parks and libraries, investment in existing assets and facilities, and the allocation of funding to deliver services.
Local boards are then responsible for decisions in specific locations of new local service assets and facilities, and over the services and programmes delivered in their local area using this funding, including some decisions on keeping facilities fit-for-purpose.
The proposal aims to change these responsibilities so that local boards would:
- have greater direct influence on local community services such as libraries, community facilities and local parks
- be responsible for the prioritising services within the overall local community service funding envelope allocated to them
- be less reliant on advocating to the Governing Body to achieve local outcomes aligned to local community priorities.
Boards will also have the ability to partner with neighbouring local boards to develop multi-board services.
Changes would be rolled out over several years starting from 1 July 2022 when local boards become responsible for decisions on most local community services within existing budgets.
This will be followed by proposals to be worked through in the next 10-year Budget to allocate additional funding to enable new or improved services to be progressed.
This new way of working will also be reflected in the local boards’ three-year plans, which outline initiatives and projects to achieve a set of focus areas their communities have said are important.
Local boards develop these plans in consultation with the community. They are aspirational and require local boards to advocate to the Governing Body to support and fund their requests - decisions they will now be able to make themselves.
It is anticipated that between $2 million and $2.8 million a year will be required from 2022/2023 to cover the increased cost of providing local boards with advice and decision-making support. This will include resources to help boards to develop more strategic and forward-looking local board plans that will deliver even better community outcomes
Go here to find out more about the proposed changes and ways to have your say or review the supporting material before providing your feedback.
Feedback closes on 28 March.
What would the proposal look like in practice?
At an existing community hall or centre, local boards currently make decisions on what programmes are run there, approve leases to use the space.
If capital works are required to upgrade the facility this needs to go through the annual budget and work budget approval process. While boards can allocate funding for this, their budgets are limited and already allocated, limiting their ability to change anything.
Under the proposed model, they will have the ability to shift existing budgets around to make it happen if they consider it a high priority. They may do this by stopping or deferring services and activities to achieve this.
What would the proposal mean for new local facilities or services?
At the moment if the community believes a new facility, such as a community centre, new park, or library, is needed the Governing Body makes decisions on these investments.
Under the new proposed model, if the local board wants to acquire land for a new local park it will lead that process. It will do so with support and advice from staff informed by the council’s Open Space Provision Policy.
Boards would also be able to allocate budget for planning, a business case, design – which they currently have to advocate to the Governing Body. While the local board would not have the capital budget to develop the site under the current funding model, future proposals would consider the Governing Body allocating budget for the capital development.
Although the Governing Body will still continue to make decisions on some regional services where it makes sense for these to be delivered regionally such as library book circulation and internet access.
How can I have my say?
Feedback on the Annual Plan can be given online at akhaveyoursay.nz, by emailing akhaveyoursay@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz or at one of the many events being run across the region.
Details of all events can be found at akhaveyoursay.nz or you can call us on 09 301 0101.
Feedback forms and supporting information will also be available at local board offices and service centres or can be requested by emailing akhaveyoursay@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
Following consultation, all feedback will be considered, then the Annual Budget 2022/23 will be adopted in June 2022. Decisions will be widely communicated, and a summary report of the budget will be available online.
About local boards
Local boards provide governance at the local level within Auckland Council. They enable democratic decision making by, and on behalf of communities within the local board area.
There are 21 local boards with between five and nine members elected to each board (149 local board members in total).
Local boards are charged with decision-making on local issues, activities and services, and provide input into regional strategies, policies, plans and decisions.
