Bill Dalton

Last week I suggested that the Napier City Council should make representation to do away with the stupid system that requires 6 councillors to be elected across the electorate and 6 to be elected in wards.  I also suggested we did not need 12 councillors – that 8 was plenty.

Boy – did those comments stir up a fuss.  Without exception the calls I had from the public were in sync with my views.  One or two of my fellow councillors were not too keen on the numbers dropping to 8 for obvious reasons and one – also for very obvious reasons – was dead against doing away with some sort of ward representation.

What error of history has given Hawke’s Bay such a stupid local governance set-up.

At the Napier City Council we spend half our time worrying about money.  How can we fit essential works into the budget – what works are not essential so we can make budget – what projects should be funded by loans – what projects should not go ahead because they can’t service loans – how do we keep rates at an affordable level whilst maintaining service.

At the Hastings District Council I am sure they have the same debates although their accounts suggest that they don’t have the same reluctance to borrow as we do.

And at the Regional Council they appear to spend a lot time debating what to do with all their dough.  What to do with the $30m in the bank.  What to do with the $50m equity in the Port of Napier.

How silly is this situation.  Two local authorities that are largely dependant on rates for income and are therefore struggling, borrowing at commercial rates and scrimping on services to their ratepayers – and one local body – that serves the same people – that has money coming out their ears.

I don’t know about you but it seems absolutely ridiculous to me to have the Napier and Hastings councils having to borrow at commercial rates and the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, laying off their millions of surplus dollars at whatever the bank will give them.

We are now nearing the halfway point of our term as City Councillors and it is probably a good time to reflect on how things have gone.

Frankly the Napier City Councillors have worked pretty well as a team. There has been none of that petty squabbling that characterized previous councils – we have simply got on with the job in a good working atmosphere.

There are some things however, that we need to be considering right now, with a view to elections in 2010.

Do we need a ward system – of course we don’t. It has offered absolutely nothing in terms of the governance of the city – the ward system is a total waste of time in Napier. Napier is one of the most compact local body electorates in the country – you can drive across it in ten minutes – why do we want wards? And don’t start me on the ridiculous system of half ward and half city wide. Our present system is a typical compromise – it pleases no one – it is a complete nonsense and must be replaced.

What we want is to elect the best team of councillors we can from those who make themselves available.

And how big should the team be? Do we need a Mayor and twelve councillors – of course we don’t. A Mayor, a Deputy Mayor and seven Councillors would cope with the work-load well.

At the moment we have a Mayor, a deputy Mayor, seven committee chairs and 4 hangers on – the three first termers and the longest serving councillor, Harry Lawson. All councillors serve on all committees so a total team of nine would handle the job admirably.

What would cutting down the numbers achieve? For a start efficiency would improve. I’m not saying we are currently inefficient but a smaller team would be more efficient. There would be all sorts of savings in stationery, printing, communications etc.

We could pay Napier City Councillors more which means their stipends would edge a little closer to those of the Hastings District and Hawkes Bay Regional councillors and over time we would attract more people to offer their services, giving voters greater choice.

In the mean time we have a good team and the city is in good heart despite the recession and – I don’t know about you – but I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.

Last week I had a go at the greedy Regional Councillors for sticking their grubby mits out for every cent they could get from the public purse.

Frankly the Hastings District Councillors are no better – they too have grabbed every cent they can.

The Napier City Councillors, our Mayor and Chief Executive are alone in our region in saying – “we will give a lead to our people – we will take no more until economic conditions improve”.

And do you know what? Only one of those Regional or Hastings District Councillors has contacted me to try and justify their position. Only one has tried to tell me that my view is wrong. Does that tell you something? Christine Scott tells me she voted against the increase in salary.

On the other hand I have been inundated with comments from good solid Hawkes Bay people who have said – “well done Napier City Councillors, we are proud of what you have done”.

It’s not hard is it? I look around the table at Napier City Council meetings and I see a group of people who are there to do their bit for the city. Several are not in a strong financial position but to a person they all agreed to forgo an increase in stipend.

It’s just a shame that others in the region didn’t have that sort of guts.

Rates have been the hot topic at council meetings throughout the region over the last week or two. Frankly, unless a decision is made to borrow for essential services and council responsibilities, reasonable rate increases are inevitable.

Napier looks at this stage like incurring a rate increase of around 2.7%. Frankly if we want to continue with curbside recycling – which I believe is essential – the increase could be up to 3.5%, depending on what arrangements can be made with the collection professionals.

Whatever happens, Napier City Councillors, their Mayor and Chief Executive can sit comfortably. No increase in their stipend is built into the rating mix.

A recent newspaper report states that our Hawkes Bay Regional Councillors – with the exception of Neil Kirton – have agreed to take every cent they can get from the public purse.

Shame on them.

All Napier City Councillors, the Mayor and our Chief Executive, have agreed to take no salary increase. That is our lead to our community. If the Remuneration Authority forces us to take more of your money we will give it back to the community.

Alan Dick is quoted as saying that his increase in remuneration is a cost of living adjustment and not a pay rise as such. Well Alan, for your sake, I hope you were misquoted because you and I know that is absolute rubbish. Tell the pensioners who have seen the interest rates on their savings go from 8% to 3% and therefore their income decimated, that a $3000 increase on an already generous salary of $106,000 is just a cost of living adjustment and not a pay rise as such. It’s just nonsense, isn’t it.

As a Napier City Councillor I work 15 to 20 hours a week and receive $30,000 a year. A Regional Councillor works no harder – no longer hours and yet they receive $43,000 a year. Despite the fact that that is plainly stupid, you can rest assured I am not complaining one little bit. I am delighted to be able to serve my community.

What I am saying is that we – the Napier City Councillors have tried to give a lead in these traumatic economic times and frankly my friends at the Regional Council have chosen not to.

The current economic recession the world is facing is the worst downturn I have seen in 30 years in the financial services industry. It is probably the greatest crisis since 1929 and some would suggest it is worse. How can elected representatives put their hands up for a healthy increase in stipend at such a time.

Ratepayers are hurting. We all need to share the pain. Councillors are also ratepayers and we know – or should know how difficult it is to find the dough to pay the rates bill.

Perhaps Councillors stating they don’t want any increase in salary is purely symbolic but surely it is not a bad lead to give our constituents in these difficult times.