9:30 Hour Committee is Unacceptable

 

 

 

To the point it shows gross incompetence of (some) Councillors getting stuff done in a Committee of a Whole which means my ratepayers money is being wasted. It also does not inspire confidence from the City towards the Governing Body either….

The Auckland Development Committee took from 9:30am until around 6pm (with another hour for closed session) to get through Agenda of items which should have honestly taken no longer than until 3pm for the entire lot. However we seem to have four distinct problems with some of our Councillors that need to be rectified one way or the other. They are:

1. Unable to articulate a point quickly thus they waffle on and on and on when it should have taken no more than five minutes to put the point across if it is a complex one
2. Micro-Managing as Councillor Darby did with his amendments (which were rightfully rejected) in regards to the two Downtown items that came up for the vote. We do not Design by Committee, that is what workshops that include stakeholders and the public are therefore. Committees are there to receive information, ask questions, put forward some suggestions if need be for officers to consider then final vote.
3. A couple of Councillors behaving like trained seals when the media is present. They are fine when there is no media about but as soon as the media table is full the performances and tantrums escalate. Not quite sure what they are trying to achieve apart from being plastered as royal idiots across the media and social media verse such as two Councillors did on Thursday (trust me that is not a good thing either).
4. Not respecting the Chair when the Chair speaks. I don’t care what your beef is but when the Chair speaks you and everyone else is dead silence without a peep and WITHOUT backchat. Children are taught this by their parents and teachers so as elected representatives I expect the same AND more period – Councillor Mike Lee!

 

One Councillor though on Thursday does get mention for praise. Councillor Dick Quax (apologies if you just spilt the coffee) was the example (and a rare one) of a Councillor on Thursday who not only articulate his (in this case) points well with the Business Land, and Downtown Auckland agenda items, but a Councillor used his time to explore the topics at hand and contest ideas in the Chamber. This is something Councillors are meant to do rather than grandstand on their little boxes or try through resolutions micro-manage a future outcome (which never works any how).

There are other Councillors who just plod along (in a good way) and get what is required done without the theatrics and grandstanding speeches as well. You also deserve credit and praise and I give that too you.

 

But for our grandstanders, melodramatics, and micro-managers; take this post as a warning from me as both voter and ratepayer. Sharpen up your acts and stop wasting my money. Your antics are one of a few key reasons Council is seen in disdain and why it is hard to get decent voter turn out as well as public participation more than the three yearly cycle. Your antics also waste Councillor Officer time as they get caught up having to sit there for hours waiting to present their item (or sitting in the hot seat twiddling their thumbs) which means they are not doing their normal work. This again costs money – MY MONEY. The same applies to the public gallery who might be along to present an item (or listen in) but like the Officers get caught twiddling their thumbs waiting thus wasting their time especially if they have called time off from work. I have heard this instance cropping up more than once with the usual remarks of the Chamber is like a circus being touted. Again not good nor inspiring confidence.

 

Rant over! Time to go get another round of Local Government Official Information and Meeting Act requests sent off to Auckland Transport, as well doing some investigating on the Spatial Priorities.

Let’s hope I do not need to write this post again any time soon.