​Auckland Council’s official call for change to legislation that ties up millions

Councillors call for an end to pre-amalgamation legislation that ties up millions of ratepayer funds.

Under current government legislation council has a statutory obligation to provide levies to the Auckland War Memorial Museum, Museum of Transport and Technology and Auckland Regional Amenities Funding Board, totalling $67.8 million or 3.4 percent of general rates this year.

At the Finance and Performance Committee after councillors expressed continued frustration with legislation several called for a formal recommendation for political advocacy.

The agenda report said council has few tools for accountability and performance monitoring of the organisations.

Cr Christine Fletcher said the current legislation needed to be repealed by central government and was the first councillor to call for a firmer approach.

“This has been a matter discussed on every single opportunity… I would like for it to be formally included in the recommendations, the need for focused advocacy and to request a change of legislation,” Fletcher said.

Earlier this year Fletcher made similar calls and said the legislation denied Aucklanders the opportunity to engage with how money is invested.

Mayor Phil Goff agreed with Fletcher and said he had been advocating to government for a change to legislation.

“The response I got back was that ‘there may be a case (for a change) but it is not a priority as this time,” Goff said.

Goff said the legislation had guaranteed funding for organisations before amalgamation when district councils could not agree but it was “no longer fit for purpose”. 

“We would have a better relationship (with the organisations) if it was a direct relationship.”

Deputy Mayor Bill Cashmore agreed the legislation should be “advanced into the modern era”.

Mayor Goff and Cr Fletcher helped to draft the recommendation together and Chair Desley Simpson quipped it was rare to see them agreeing with one another.