The ‘One Stop Shop’. Why are we waiting?

The concept of a “Mayoral Council” seemed a step in the right direction, but such collaborations are only as good as the individual collaborators.

We have seen what kind of a “relationship” has evolved in the current Council and unless we wish to repeat it, voters must choose carefully on what sort of a team they put together.

While only a mere 12.3% of the constituency feels that the Council even listens to them, only 5.3% feel that the Council is responsive to what they hear regarding the public’s expressed needs and requirements. Overwhelmingly the constituency is saying that our two Councils disregard the public voice, with nearly two thirds (65.3%) convinced that the Councils are deaf.

71% of Whangarei ratepayers surveyed wished to retain ownership of the land at the Town Basin.
However......

As a Principle of operations, no WDC Councillor should serve as Chairperson of any Trust that is created by or funded to any degree by WDC.  Service on the Board of such Trusts could fulfill a useful purpose for efficient and effective liaison between the Council and Trust when appropriate to the Trust’s mission.  However, the Chairperson of such Trusts should be totally independent from Council influence in any way.  Only in this manner can such leadership best serve the public interest, be seen as free of hidden agendas (conscious or unconscious), free of perceptions of funding improprieties and avoid perceptions of seeking of political goodwill.