THE QUIET REVOLUTION. EMPOWER COMMUNITY BOARDS

 

Ride the Kāpiti wave of a national campaign for Localism. Review the role of Kāpiti's four community boards to empower them to better engage and shape our unique communities. 

 

Under this Quiet Revolution the boards would be empowered to become dynamic and exciting social, economic, environmental and cultural hubs of our communities.

 

This will be done as part of the Government's reinstatement of the four well beings into the Local Government (Community Well-being) Amendment Act 2019. 

 

More immediate. Local Government New Zealand (representing  78 local councils) and think tank, The New Zealand Initiative, have launched a nationwide campaign on "Riding the Localism Wave: Putting Communities in Charge". They argue that New Zealand's decision making is  too highly centralised and returning power to local communities will increase productivity and civic participation. I agree, but note that this campaign is largely aimed at central government. Early in this debate I have argued the same applies to councils which also need to decentralise where possible and empower our local communities.

 

LGNZ has endorsed this:

 

"Greater localism posed a challenge for local government as well, as it required councils to also devolve decision making to communities....

It's time to let go and give power back to communities...decision making can be handed back to communities in phased and gradual ways... matched by improved capacity and capability."

(LGNZ President Dave Cull)

 

The community boards of Paekakariki, Paraparaumu/Raumati, Waikanae and Otaki serve Kāpiti's distinct communities. Our Long Term Plan consultations have repeatedly shown that local communities appreciate and treasure their unique identities. To empower them I will support:

 

1. Significantly increasing council funding of the boards. Explore bulk funding and the potential use of a Participatory Budgeting system. This is where board members could opt to collaborate with the community on what projects or activities should be funded. Boards, with community support, can also request council to use targeted community-specific rates for projects with proven significant community support.

 

2. Boards having an increasing role in community safety. Become a partner of the local police to encourage the establishment of Neighbourhood Support Groups and ensure every street within their Ward is linked to a NSG. Ensure these NSG are also part of Council's Civil Defence preparedness. Local police and local community patrols to present regular reports to the respective boards on the state of community safety. Each board will be armed with the cutting edge analysis of their communities using the Index of Multiple Deprivation. Using this multiple data source boards will have a detailed knowledge of their neighbourhoods.

 

3. Decentralisation of the council. Working with senior council managers to explore areas where those decisions affecting local communities can be better made at the local level without undermining council efficiency. An example is where Boards, in consultation with local beautification groups, can decide on the type of plants to plant in public areas. Paekakariki, Otaki, and Waikanae may want to have their own public art panels. These, and other such devolved decisions, identified in partnership with council, will allow boards to work with local interest groups to shape their communities and celebrate their uniqueness.

 

4. Give community boards more say in supporting a thriving local village economy i.e weekend markets. 

 

Local Government New Zealand has launched its nationwide campaign "Riding the localism wave: Putting communities in charge" . I ask the people  to ride the Kāpiti wave of this campaign.