13 April 2023
Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: Government announcement on Three Waters reforms changes
Enquiry
was wondering if Tania would like to give some comment and opinion on how this is likely to impact on Rotorua, and local government here? It is allowed to be published after 11am so appreciate any comment as soon as is possible, many thanks!
Is it known who will make up the professional board? If not names, what kind of people? (council employees, councillors etc)
How does the mayor view the reformed reform?
What things were of concern and how does this change impact those?
How important, in your opinion, were these changes?
How do you think these changes will be viewed by the Rototua public?
Did Rotorua's council work with central government to make changes?
Any other comment?
Response
Mayor Tapsell provided the following statement and responded to questions from reporter as below:
STATEMENT
Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell responds to Government’s Three Waters announcement:
Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell responds to the Government’s announcement today on Three Waters Reform and the need to protect a local voice in decision making.
“Today’s announcement does not solve the core issues that our community has been raising to keep a local meaningful voice in decision-making on Three Waters Reform.” Says Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell.
“Apart from promises, there is still no evidence on how it would be a fair deal for Rotorua. Calling it ‘Affordable Water Reforms’ doesn’t make it any easier for a community to pay for.”
“The Government still needs to prove that smaller communities will be looked after and we won’t see funding drained on large population centres like Auckland and Wellington, or in our case, Tauranga.”
Mayor Tapsell says that today’s announcement around projected savings for households cannot hide that there will be long-term affordability effects on the communities that Councils represent.
“These are not genuine savings, they are just alternative ways of funding infrastructure in the short-term. There’s a real risk for places like Rotorua, who are investing well in our water infrastructure that we’ll be picking up the bill to bring everyone else in a large region up to the same sustainable standard.”
Is it known who will make up the professional board? If not names, what kind of people? (council employees, councillors etc.)
No sorry. We’ve had no information from Government on who will be representing Rotorua on this board and how we can guarantee that Rotorua is well represented when merged into a larger region.
How important, in your opinion, were these changes?
The changes still don’t do enough to address the core issues of Councils being limited on the investment they can make. Instead of taking decision-making away from local communities the best solution would have been for the Government to simply provide on-going long-term funding to Councils. We are the best people to manage and make decisions on Three Waters infrastructure, and have been doing so successfully already.
How do you think these changes will be viewed by the Rotorua public?
The Rotorua public is right to feel uncertain on how we will be better off when actual evidence has not yet been provided.
Did Rotorua's council work with central government to make changes?
This response is to be attributed to Stavros Michael, DCE Infrastructure & Environment:Council has made submissions to the reforms and Council officers have been engaging with the Department of Internal Affairs and the National Transition Unit on a variety of technical, operational, legal, financial and resources aspects encompassed by the reforms. In all interactions Council has recognised the challenges faced by the critical three waters services but have always advocated and raised concerns about the potential loss of opportunity for the local community to set our strategic priorities and our own wellbeing aspirations.
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Media: Waikato Times/Stuff
Topic: Elected member forums
Enquiry
I was hoping to find out if Rotorua Lakes Council holds closed-door workshops for councillors or if they are open to the public?
Hamilton City Council has them open and Waikato District Council has just committed to putting the details on their website.
If so, why are they closed door? Around about how many are held? Would opening them to the public be considered and why? What kinds of things are discussed in these?
If some are open to the public/media, what ones? and why?
Response
We provided the following:
We linked the reporter to a story about workshops/forums that Stuff ran recently (CLICK HERE) and sent her the comment that was provided at that time which covered off her questions (see below):
From DCE District Leadership and Democracy, Oonagh Hopkins:
Any change to the current forums process would be at the request of elected members.
Forums are a way to support informed decision-making. They are to brief elected members on emerging issues, and/or get an indication of councillor preference before initiating a policy or project, and/or provide an opportunity for elected members to develop ideas and be informed of options.
Forums are not open to the public or media and no minutes are recorded from these because, unlike Committee or Council meetings where decisions are made and minutes must therefore be recorded, no decisions are made during forums.
Matters discussed in forums become public when reported and presented at formal committee or Council meetings, which are open to the public and where matters can be debated and discussed ahead of decisions being made.
There have to-date been 18 forums held with the current Council and community boards, 14 of which were induction workshops following the 2022 Election. None have been open to the public or media. (please note these numbers are still current today).
One thing to note since your paper ran the story, Council now has on our website dates of Council Forums and which councillors attended them. CLICK HERE.