Just more than a vote every three years

 

 

Participating in your democratic institution beyond casting a tick or two on a piece of paper every three years (if you even make it that far). It means (in able freely contest ideas as democracy requires) writing the odd submission, a letter to the editor or a blog post there and there, and maybe turning up to a Committee once and while to say your piece if not just listen and taken in the surroundings.

The rewards for participating more actively in the democratic institutions can be both positive and (to be blunt) downright pain in the arse material depending which way things can swing. Trust me I have been there with Local Government where the rewards have been positive but also case in just wanting to pull your hear out. The last Finance and Performance Committee would be such an example of hair pulling which had led to my presentation at the Auckland Development Committee on Thursday over some issues (see: Auckland Development Committee – October Agenda)

 

In any case participating in the democratic institutions is needed for our democracy to be healthy. It needs to draw on as wider range of people in contesting of ideas otherwise we start getting the tyranny of the minority situation from the more vocal groups in the City (and nation).

That is why when you see the following Tweet you click the link and get involved:

 

From Auckland Council

How to attend and speak at council meetings

Anyone can attend council meetings open to the public.

If there is any public-excluded business items on the agenda, the public will be requested to leave the meeting at that stage.

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Speaking at meetings

If you wish to speak at a public meeting, you need to contact the committee secretary no later than two workings days before the meeting. Contact details for the committee secretary will be in the meeting agenda.

The first 30 minutes of each meeting are dedicated to hearing from the public.

Each person may speak for five minutes. This time may be extended by resolution of the meeting.

Your request to speak must include the subject matter.

There are some things you cannot speak about at meetings:

• a matter that has already been considered and determined
• a matter which is going through a separate public hearing process
• items dealt through a quasi-judicial process
• issues outside the functions of Auckland Council.

For more information on how meetings are conducted view our standing orders.

Auckland Council standing orders (PDF 822KB)

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Attending council hearings

If you have made a submission on a formal consultation, you will have the opportunity to voice your opinions in person at a hearing, if you wish to.

Learn more about attending public hearings.

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Source: http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/AboutCouncil/HaveYourSay/Pages/attendingpublicmeetings.aspx 

 

Note: Council meetings include Local Board meetings as well. It is best to contact either your Local Board Chair or the respective Democracy Advisor attached to that Local Board for more information on speaking at Local Board meetings.

 

Even if you do not give a presentation to a Council or Local Board meeting the entire affair can be an educational one as well as meeting new people to talk to over Local Government issues at hand. It is also a good way to meet your Councillor(s) and even the Mayor if he is present.

So if you want to participate thus help shape your City beyond voting every three years then rock up to a Council Committee and start participating. Just a heads up though Committees can drag and I have sat through 9:30 marathon meetings before. I do not quite expect people to go through that unless they are really keen. Thus it pays to check the agenda of the Committee you plan to rock up to and see which item interests you and show up at the approximate time that item will be deliberated on unless you are participating in the Public Input section.

I am giving a short presentation at the Auckland Development Committee on Thursday which starts at 9:30am. The Committee this round should be a relatively short one compared to last month’s 9:30 hour slogger so if you want to have a nosy in on City Building issues come up to Town Hall, grab some filter coffee and a biscuit and take in the proceedings of the day.

 

Democracy requires active participation and constant contestation of ideas. So why not get involved actively? This is YOUR City at stake here….