Waikato Strategic Planning Network

1. Waikato Strategic Planning Network Louise Cole, Regional Manager Central Local Government & Community Branch Department of Internal Affairs 25th February 2010

2. Purpose The Department of Internal Affairs serves and connects citizens, communities and government to build a strong safe nation

3. Outcomes Strong, sustainable communities/hapü/iwi Safer communities Trusted records of New Zealand identity

4. Our business groups Office of Ethnic Affairs Executive Government Support Identity Services Regulation and Compliance Chief Executive Brendan Boyle Local Government and Community Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management Office of the Chief Executive Business Services

5. Local Government and Community Branch Community Advisory Services • Advice and assistance to communities and groups on their community development initiatives • Broker relationships to support community development initiatives • Facilitation support

6. Local Government and Community Branch Community resources and information

7. Local Government and Community Branch Administers community funding schemesLottery grants – including Community, Marae Heritage & Facilities, Significant Projects, Environment & Heritage, Individuals with Disabilities, and Community facilities Crown funds – including Community Development Scheme, Community Internship Programme, Youth Worker Training Scheme and Community Organisation Grants Scheme (COGS)

8. Local Government and Community Branch • Linking local and central government • Connecting local government and community • Working with local and central government on issues • Auckland Governance • TAFM • Dog Control and Safety

9. Local Government and Community Branch Policy advice to Ministers Community and voluntary issues Local government issues Administration of legislation Local Government Act 2002 Charities Act 2005 Trust administration Chinese Poll Tax Heritage Trust Norman Kirk Memorial Trust Pacific Development and Conservation Trust Winston Churchill Memorial Trust

10. New Zealand’s system of local government • Largely autonomous of central government • power of general competence • works in partnership with central government • some activities required by central government • High level of financial independence from central government (central contribution approximately 13%) • Councils are accountable to communities through a three year local election cycle and other processes

11. The role of the Minister of Local Government • Responsible for the legislative framework within which local government operates: • Local Government Act 2002 – overall governance • Local Electoral Act 2001 – conduct of elections • Local Government (Rating) Act 2002 – primary funding • Local Government Act 1974 – residual provisions • Not involved in day-to-day operations or decisions • Limited powers of intervention, mainly in cases of serious failure or difficulty • Inquiries

12. Department of Internal Affairs’ role Advises and supports the Minister of Local Government and provides other Ministers with advice as required Administers the Local Government Act 2002 Supports the Local Government Commission, and undertakes, on the Minister’s behalf, territorial authority functions for some offshore islands

13. Changes in community planning and engagement • Improving Transparency, Accountability and Financial Management (TAFM) • Auckland Governance Reforms

14. Structure Current November 2010 73 Territorial Authorities 67 Territorial Authorities • 4 Unitary  5 Unitary 12 Regional Councils 11 Regional Councils

15. Auckland governance • Governance not working well, needs change • New structure to ensure growth and prosperity for the next 50 years • Want civic leaders to think regionally, plan strategically and act decisively. • The new framework balances the need: • need for strong regional governance • local communities to have a strong voice on issues closer to home

16. FULLER SELECT COMMITTEE PROCESS COMPRESSED SELECT COMMITTEE PROCESS Auckland governance legislation ACT 1 LOCAL GOVERNMENT [TAMAKI MAKAURAU REORGANISATION] ACT ACT 2 LOCAL GOVERNMENT (AUCKLAND COUNCIL) ACT Bill 3 LOCAL GOVERNMENT (AUCKLAND LAW REFORM) BILL INTRODUCED MAY 09 ENACTED 23 MAY 09 INTRODUCED MAY 09 ENACTED 22 SEPTEMBER 09 INTRODUCED DECEMBER 09 ENACTMENT - MAY 10 PROVIDES FOR INTERIM OPERATION OF THE AUCKLAND COUNCIL FROM 1 NOVEMBER 2010 ON-GOING GOVERNANCE ARRANGEMENTS COMPLETE TRANSITION PROVISIONS PROVIDES FOR AUCKLAND TRANSITION AGENCY with POWERS UNITARY AUCKLAND COUNCIL WATER INTEGRATION PROVIDES FOR UNITARY REPRESENTATION MAYOR with POWERS LOCAL BOARDS LGC POWERS BOUNDARIES PASSED UNDER URGENCY WITHOUT SELECT COMMITTEE PROCESS

17. Auckland governance

18. Auckland governance

19. The council planning framework Knowing the community and what people want Community Outcomes Knowing whether the council did what it said it would do Knowing the environment people live in Annual Report Long Term Council Community Plan (LTCCP) Knowing what the council is doing and why Annual Plan Knowing how it’s going to be paid for

20. Community outcomes • Desired state of affairs identified by communities at least every six years • Co-ordination and application of community resources • Guide activities of local authorities and others • Council leads communities in development • Collaborative process • Informs LTCCP development • Councils to monitor and report

21. TAFM package Better control of costs, rates, and activities • Pre-election report • Draws information together in accessible format • Councils to focus on core services • Must have “particular regard” • List based on commonly held view of core activities

22. TAFM package Simpler long term plans • LTCCP becomes “long-term plan” • Content changes • Financial strategy included • Remove operational policies • Streamline non-financial reporting

23. TAFM package Plain English financial disclosures • Plans and reports to show sources and application of funds for whole council and groups of activity • Improve inter-council comparisons • Consistent financial information classification • Standard groups of activities for infrastructural services • Standardise non-financial performance measures for infrastructural services • Asset management plans

24. TAFM package Community outcomes • Change the definition to those outcomes a local authority aims to achieve to maintain and improve the social, economic, environmental, and cultural well-being of its district or region – putting the focus on council outcomes • No longer required to run separate process to identify community outcomes or report on progress • Long-term plan becomes main vehicle for debating outcomes: prioritisation and affordability considered in broader context

25. TAFM package Community outcomes – What is required this year if community outcomes were adopted under s91&92 LG02 in 2004? • (a) requirement to produce the 3 yearly report on progress to achieving outcomes and • (b) carry out a consultation process to review outcomes for the next six years.