As
the first month of 2002 draws to a close it is a time to reflect on the year ahead.I will attend briefings from Strategic Development Group, Customer Services Group, Asset Management Group and Annual Plan/Finance, Community Board members are also invited to attend. In the last week of January a workshop will be held regarding the future of Hutt Park, I would appreciate your input on this issue. Please call me at home on this matter.
Now that I have received the official report on the focus group meeting that was held to determine criteria/guidelines for the selection of the four new ward committees I feel even more disturbed about the way in which these were conducted. The committee membership will be confirmed in the first week of February decided by Council, a rating system will be given to the nominees according to the outcome of the focus group meeting and then it is up to Council to confirm, change delete... I only hope that a fair outcome can be achieved but after witnessing what happened with community committees that are confirmed by Council I am not confident of the process. I am told that's politics - majority rules... Three years ago residents participated in a mock election (a so-called expression of interest) I firmly believe this is the only way to show true fairness and a democratic process has been carried out.
Back to the focus group - I said last month that I was very unhappy the Northern Ward was represented by five people, plus two from the local Marae. Of the five, four had strong links to the SV Community Centre and the other was a local vicar. Once again Taita/Pomare are missing out. The report I have received states 22 people represented the four areas, eight male 14 female. four NZ Maori, 13 NZ European, two PI, three other. Two - 15-24 years age bracket, four - 25-44, eight - 45-54, four - 55-64. four - over 65, five from Central, six Eastern, five Northern, six Western.
Submissions are being received to determine the direction Local Government will take in the future. It is interesting to read one of the points Hutt City Council made in its submission is conflict with what is actually happening. (Hopefully a determination will change that along with some equal form of community represenation across the city.) I refer to being elected to more than one position "Should a person be allowed to stand and be elected to more than one council or community board, Why? Why not?" Hutt Councils reply was: "It should be permissible to stand for more than one position, however candidates should not be able to be elected to more than one position. In the event that they hold an elected position within central or local government they should be deemed to have resigned on being elected to the new position. Duality creates difficulties in terms of the interrelationship between the bodies. In the case of councils and community boards, removal of the duality clearly provides for increased community representation"
This point was debated strongly at the National Community Board Conference I attended in Invercargill in May last year. A strong voice came through in agreement with the above.
This would affect the current situation in Wainuiomata where Crs Wallace and Slyvester occupy positions on the Community Board and in the Harbour Ward and where Maureen Burgess has a position on both Eastbourne and Petone Community Boards.
Please telephone or email me with any opinions, or queries I can help with.
I must end with my dismay at the amount of damage and vandalism that has taken place in the past month around Speldhurst Park, SV Community House and the shopping centre - sheer vandalism to the play equipment, with some pieces stolen, wood removed from seating, the rubbish bin destroyed next to the money machine, the SV Community Noticeboard smashed and replaced and now two large sheets of perspex have been taken. Tools appear to have been used. Neighbours saw cyclists ramming into the board. Were the police notified? We need to be looking out for things like this. Our community constable is away until early February, I wonder if some of this is a consequence..........
LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING THE NEW WARD COMMITTEE AND A BUSY THREE YEARS AHEAD.
Accountable, accessible, wanting to help,
Cr Julie Englebretsen
Manuka Cottage
Ph: 563-5179