Kia ora everyone,
The months have raced by, and the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board is looking forward to our final business meeting of the year, 10 December . It’s been a good year for the local board, no storm events, pandemics or elections to throw us off our stride and we’re proud of the projects we’ve advanced and the collaboration in the room.
Early next year we’re going out for consultation (again) on the Annual Plan which asks you to weigh in on the direction of both your Local Board and Council. As it’s year two in the ten-year Long-Term Plan that has just been adopted, it’s very much a ‘business as usual’ proposal. That’s not to say there won’t be local impacts.
Year Two of the Long-Term Plan contemplates a 5.8% rates increase, a debt to revenue limit of 250% (well below target of 270%), an additional $47million to be found in organisational savings, alongside a $4billion capital budget.
The consultation will ask if you support the above, as well as whether you support Council trying to get Government across the line in progressing visitor bed night levy legislation. Without that, there is a $7million funding gap for our events and economic development activities. This puts at risk some of our key regional events that make our city vibrant and exciting.  
In the Mayor’s proposal there’s a massive piece of work proposed that will reform most of the Council Controlled Organisations(CCO). This would bring many functions delivered by Auckland Transport, Eke Panuku and Auckland Unlimited in-house to provide for more political oversight and reduce duplication. As there will be no material changes to their budgets or work programme delivery, he’s proposed that this takes place without public consultation. There are definitely pros and cons to bringing the CCOs in-house, so it will be interesting to see what the governing body agrees to. The Mayor is only one man and one vote around the table, after all.
Locally though, it really is business as usual. I may sound like a broken record but our Local Board were not recipients of additional budget, so we’re left with a limited capacity to do things in our patch. It’s a serious risk to our service delivery, given that the cost of contracts has increased along with wage increases and other operational costs. Without additional budget to meet those costs, we’re going to have to keep reducing what we do to cut our cloth. This is not acceptable at all when it may mean a reduction in our library and leisure services, less funding to support tree planting and restoration, reduced operational grants for our arts partners and more. We continue to advocate strongly to the governing body so that they are aware of the unintended consequences of the Local Board funding model shift.
With no additional capital budgets either, we’ll never be able to realise some local aspirations and opportunities. We hear all the time from our sports clubs how they want more investment in their grounds and facilities to meet demand. It’s frustrating that we can’t help them. We’re also burdened by a large portfolio of heritage assets that must be restored and maintained. A good example is the Clay Store at 27 Lake Road, a listed property, with the downstairs occupied by a Men’s Shed. We approved a $1.24million budget for its renewal which we expected would restore the upstairs area, include a lift for accessibility and provide a community space cherished by all. It’s in a current state of dilapidation with the upstairs closed off for health and safety reasons. When the final quotes came in we were staring down the barrel of a $3.65million renewal. The Local Board has no choice but to keep the property closed upstairs and do the bare minimum. Of course we’ll hear the cry that Council doesn’t look after or invest in its assets, and I can’t help but agree. The Local Board will be pointed at for being the local decision maker, but we’re not the ones who make the decision on local budgets, we can only do so much with the little we get. So if you do jump online in the new year to have your say on the budgets, perhaps you can weigh in on this topic and help our Local Board out.
Well, that’s enough doom and gloom for one day. I want to end this column with some gratitude and thanks, because it’s important to remember we live in paradise. We’re a connected and warm-hearted community where volunteerism and care are our currency. I do love it when I get little emails from readers telling me they’re following these articles, so please do let me know if you find the content valuable. The Local Board is here to represent you and we are grateful for the opportunity to do so. Thanks from me to the good folk at Channel Magazine who produce a wonderfully upbeat publication that celebrates our place. Thanks to all my Council staff and staff from our CCO family who devotedly support the Local Board to act on your behalf. Thanks to my Local Board members who enjoy good robust conversation around the table with me, but do so with humour and respect, and thanks to all of you living and loving life in our Local Board area. Have a fabulous Christmas with the people you love most.
Until next year…

Toni van Tonder, Chair, Devonport-Takapuna Local Board
toni.vantonder@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz