Local Government Minister on QLDC trust survey: Action lies with the community
Minister Simon Watts: "Councils must consider the views of residents."
Local Government Minister Simon Watts has replied to Crux questions on the very low trust rating given by the community in the QLDC’s recent survey. We also pointed out to the Minister that the QLDC had decided to delete 50% of the responses as being “too negative.”
Here’s the questions and points we sent to the Minister last Thursday, June 12.
QLDC have today revealed they deleted around 50% of community responses from their own Trust and Confidence survey. (See links below) - community trust is now around 4% - minus 32.9 on the Deloitte trust scale (excluding the deleted responses.)
QLDC lied about, and covered up, the sewage crisis for five years while issuing thousands of building consents. Millions of litres of illegal effluent has gone into local protected rivers.
QLDC has lost around $100 million on a failed property development deal with an Australian developer - Lakeview - work now apparently abandoned.
QLDC spend around $128 million on a famous 670 metre “road to nowhere” - it was in fact supposed to connect with Lakeview.
QLDC spent $6 million on a condemned leaky house -at 516 Ladies Mile (SH6) and then demolished it.
QLDC lied about failing to follow their own procurement rules - spending $24 million on consultants with no competitive bids - jobs for mates.
They now want to build a $60 million CBD council HQ - against a 100% negative vote from the community.
The mayor voted the CEO a 15% pay increase last year in spite of a complete lack of community confidence - then the CEO made an unsuccessful bid to work for the Christchurch City Council on more money. He’s paid the same as the Prime Minister.
This is the full reply received today (June 16) from Minister Watts.
“Local councils are primarily accountable to their communities for their actions and decisions. On an ongoing basis this accountability can be strengthened through regular dialogue with residents, community surveys are one way to achieve this, alongside regular consultation and engagement.
“The Local Government Act outlines principles of consultation, including that councils consider the views of residents when making decisions.
“Voting in the upcoming triennial elections in October will also provide communities with a key opportunity to hold their elected representatives accountable.”
Crux is publishing the full consultation section of the Local Government Act below.