Need some refinements before the general events start
As the 2015-2025 Long Term Plan consultation draws on the ‘Have Your Say’ sessions have been getting under way.
These sessions allow the communities and people to come together in a less hostile setting that would have been traditional hearings and talk to Councillors, bureaucrats, and Local Board members what they think of the Long Term Plan.
So are they going well these ‘Have Your Say’ sessions?
From the commentary from Councillor Quax and backed by Councillor Wood we seem to have some teething issues needing to be sorted fast:
Dick Quax (Thursday 19/2)Some commentary on the “Have Your Say” for the Pacific community at Manukau last night. There was an large crowd in attendance of about 60 – 70 and with bureaucrats for Africa to facilitate, take notes and answer questions. There were 4 councillors present, George Wood, Arthur Anae, Alf Filipaina and I plus some members of the local boards.
Rooms need to be large enough so that there is some distance between tables. A table next to ours became quite loud at one point and it was difficult to hear speakers at my table. Facilitators need to explain ground rules at the outset otherwise it becomes a free for all with the most dominant person hogging most of the time.
Councillors need to ask questions of submitters so they fully understand what the submitters position is.
Some questions are confusing even misleading. for example on alternative transport funding. The question is do you want to pay a toll every time you enter the motorway system or do you want to pay extra fuel tax leaves no room for anyone wanting to answer no to both options.
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I hope Council take note of the above concerns and remedy to help make the sessions more comfortable and informative.
The two sessions I will be at for the Long Term Plan are both the Otara-Papatoetoe, and Papakura Local Board areas starting next week 🙂
Talking Southern Auckland 