For
Mayoral Meetings Go to Megan
for Mayor and click Get Active
Mon Sept 24, 2007
7.00pm Shirley Papanui Ward
Council & Community Board Candidates Meeting
Papanui Baptist Church
144 Sawyers Arms Road
Mon Sept 24, 2007
7pm Spreydon Heathcote Ward
Council & Community Board Candidates Public Meeting
Cracroft Community Centre, Old Stone House (Shalamar Drive,
Cracroft)
Tues Sept 25, 2007
7-9pm
Public Meet the Candidates
University of Otago, Christchurch,
School of Medicine & Health Sciences.
Followed by Q&A Chaired by Mike Yardley
Welcome to the Christchurch
2021 Website.
It's not too late to vote!
Tonight 2021 Mayoral candidate, Megan Woods condemned
Christchurch City Council¹s decision to proceed with deciding
the new site for the proposed civic offices, and in particular
Bob Parker¹s broken election promise. She and her 2021
team are taking action to ensure that those voters who have
yet to return their papers are able to do so.
Woods said she had been flooded with emails and
phone call all day from voters irate that once again City Council
was ignoring their views. ³Many people have been motivated
to vote by this action and 2021 and I plan to make sure they
can. People have until midday on Saturday 13th to lodge their
votes with the returning officer in Tuam Street. If you are
unable to get into either a service centre or Tuam St to drop
off your papers, my 2021 team will arrange transport to ensure
that every vote is counted. Just ring 980 5949 or txt: 021 0596047².
Woods reminded voters that "this is not the
way it needs to be. If you were holding out for a reason to
vote here it is. I urge those who have not yet voted to send
a clear message - that this is not the style of local government
that they are prepared to tolerate. A vote for me and for my
team is a vote for people who are committed to delivering a
far more honest, accountable, open and transparent Christchurch
City Council. They can ignore your opinions but they cannot
ignore your votes. ".
"The proposed new building is a contentious
election issue that my team and I, along with other candidates,
have issued a clear alternative position for voters to consider
in this election. This election is finally offering the citizens
of Christchurch an opportunity to have their say on the building,
its location and its price tag. It is outrageous to deny them
this opportunity. This is what this decision does", said
Megan Woods.
"No one knew this was coming as they cast
their votes over the last days. This item was introduced by
stealth. There was nothing open or transparent in this decision.
That it was an eleventh-hour additional item debated in a public
excluded session encapsulates everything that has led to plummeting
levels in public satisfaction with this council and its decision
making. It was a hurried decision that failed to follow proper
process. Councillors did not have adequate opportunity to digest
and analyse the information on what is a huge decision for the
city. And, once again it was a secretive and behind closed-doors
decision that the public were denied access to. Councillors
did not receive the staff report until they went into their
public excluded session and then had around 15 minutes to digest
the complex information along with their lunch.".
"Throughout this campaign, I, and my team,
have campaigned for more open and transparent decision making.
We know that this is what the public want. I believe that this
starts with my campaign. From day one I have been upfront with
you. You know what I want to do. You know who is backing my
campaign."
Furthermore, Woods pointed to Bob Parker¹s
broken election promise. ³This must be a world-record²,
said Woods, ³the voting has not even closed and Bob Parker
is going back on what he has said he will do². On 18th
September, at The Press Mayoral debate (as reported on the 19th
October 2007 http://www.stuff.co.nz/thepress/4206947a24175.html),
Bob Parker clearly stated that he was prepared to move a motion
to defer any decision on the building until after the election.
Bob Parker did not move such a motion and voted in favour of
the proposal.
For further information contact: Megan Woods
Home: 960 8072
Mobile: 027 669 0457
Media Release
10 October 2007
Megan
Woods calls on Council to defer decision on site for proposed
new Civic Offices
Tonight, 2021 Mayoral candidate Megan Woods has
called on sitting Christchurch City Councillors to defer the
selection of the site for the new council offices to the new
council.
At around 8pm this evening, Christchurch City
Councillors received an addition to the agenda for their final
council meeting of the term. At tomorrow's meeting they will
make a decision on the site for the proposed new Civic Offices.
"The cost and location of the proposed new
building is a contentious election issue that my team and I
have issued a clear alternative position for voters to consider
in this election. This election is finally offering the citizens
of Christchurch an opportunity to have their say on the building,
its location and its price tag. It is outrageous to deny them
this opportunity. This is what any decision tomorrow will do",
said Megan Woods.
"The eleventh-hour addition of the item as
a public excluded item to tomorrow's final council agenda encapsulates
everything that has led to plummeting levels in public satisfaction
with this council and its decision making. If allowed to proceed,
this will be a hurried decision that is not following proper
process. Councillors have not been given adequate opportunity
to digest and analyse the information on what is a huge decision
for the city. And, once again it will be a secretive and behind
closed-doors decision that the public are denied access to".
"Throughout this campaign, I, and my team,
have campaigned for more open and transparent decision making.
We know that this is what the public want".
Woods reminded voters that "this is not the
way it needs to be. I urge those who have not yet voted to send
a clear message - that this is not the style of local government
that they are prepared to tolerate. A vote for me and for my
team is a vote for people who are committed to delivering a
far more accountable, accessible, open and transparent Christchurch
City Council".
For further information contact: Megan Woods 027
669 0457
Value
for your rate dollar - 2021 rates policy
2021 has a track record of modest rate increases.
A 2021 Council aims to reduce rate increases to CPI (Consumer
Price Index) in our first term of Council. We will do this by:
1. Cutting extravagant spending
2. New processes to enable us to better scrutinise
the Council budget and to exercise financial control
Introduction
In the current Council's three year term, rates
have increased 20% and the current community plan approved by
the Council has rates increasing 26% over the next three years
(1).
Because each successive increase is on a slightly
higher base the cumulative increase for the past three years
and the next three years is 54%. A 54% increase in 6 years is
unsustainable.
Few Councillors have spoken out against these
unsustainable increases that are hurting our most vulnerable
citizens. Most concerning, people do not feel that they are
getting more or better quality services as a result of these
increases. The lack of scrutiny of the Council budget, lack
of detailed information, and the culture of extravagance must
be put right.
2021 acknowledges that the big increase in the
cost of petroleum products (petrol, diesel, bitumen) has had
an unavoidable impact on rates but does not regard this as a
justification for continuing annual rate increases in the 8-9%
range. 2021 believes that a prudent council should limit new
expenditure to levels that are generally acceptable to ratepayers
and that this can be achieved whilst maintaining infrastructure
and services at a high standard.
2021 track record of modest
Council rates rises
2021 has demonstrated under its leadership of
the City Council 1995-2004, that it can maintain rate increases
at modest levels (2) while still increasing the level of services
and new community facilities. During its leadership, the City
Council gained an AA+ credit rating, one of only three local
authorities in New Zealand to have this high rating, and effectively
paid off all debt.
Under a 2021 City Council, the value of our trading
companies doubled and there was a significant increase in the
levels of dividends to moderate rate increases.
This was despite pressure to sell these local
assets. We held the assets on behalf of and for the benefit
of the community. We pledge to retain these community assets
in Council ownership and not to sell them off.
What 2021 will do: Cutting extravagant spending. 2021 has already made
a policy commitment to cap spending on the new civic office
to a maximum of $60 million, a saving of at least $40 million
to ratepayers.
The figure of $60m is based on professional advice
and official reports to the Council. Some other examples of
extravagant spending. Expenditure on City Mall was initially
budgeted at $2 million. This has ballooned out to $10 million
and could potentially cost ratepayers $16 million depending
on decisions the council makes in the next month about extensions
to the tram route. 2021 will review this expenditure and develop
a more modest proposal in consultation with the community.
We will reduce the costs
of council propaganda.
Under the current regime, costs of "marketing" and
public relations have soared, with full page newspaper advertisements
justifying council decisions and praising council projects.
Significant savings can be made in this area. We will reduce
the costs of consultation by focussing on information rather
than glossy public relations-style consultation documents.
New processes to enable
us to better scrutinise the Council budget and to exercise financial
control. More effort must be made to scrutinise council expenditure
and budgets. Councillors will work harder and standing committees
will be re-established. The Strategy and Finance Committee under
the leadership of David Close and subsequently Alister James
was successful in maintaining rates at lower levels. Greater
effort and leadership in this area ensured modest rate increases
but no councillor under the current regime has responsibility
for this demanding role. 2021 will re-establish a finance committee,
with a chairperson. Its role would be to scrutinise budgets
and monitor expenditure.
A 2021 Council will insist on adequate financial
information being made available to elected members as a matter
of course, and to members of the public who request it.
In consultation with the community, a 2021 Council
will review all planned capital expenditure to review the scale
and method of funding of the projects and whether timeframes
are realistic. A 2021 council will guard against budget blowouts
for big new projects like the extensions to AMI stadium.
A 2021 council will make it clear to Christchurch
City Holdings that it will not approve any sell-down of council-owned
companies, such as Lyttelton Port. A 2021 council will expect
realistic dividends from CCHL to offset rate increases so that
all city ratepayers and residents.benefit from the profits of
the companies.
We are concerned about the increasing rates burden
on all ratepayers, including those on fixed and low incomes.
We will work with Government to ensure that adjustments are
made to the rates rebate scheme and to ensure it is easy for
those in need to defer rates charges against the capital value
of their property. These measures are to assist ratepayers who
are struggling with increasing rates bills. We will also work
to ensure Christchurch gets its fair share of Central Government
resources.
1) Current council
2005-06 3.49%
2006-07 8.20%
2007-08 7.35%
Current projections
2008-09 8.77%
2009-10 9.02%
2010-11 8.20%
WHAT THIS ELECTION IS ABOUT A Voice for You(th) – 2021 Youth Policy
In matters affecting the whole city there has
been a failure to give young people’s contributions meaning
and significance. They feel alienated and that they have not
been provided with a chance to formally interact with Council.
2021 appreciates that youth can be a valuable
critic and conscience of society, and that people of all ages
are mentors and role models for each other in different ways.
Our approach to youth in Christchurch will seek to harness the
creative, exuberant energy and fresh thinking of young people
for everyone’s benefit.
To give youth representation and voice,
2021 will…
Bring together youth organisations across
the city to have formalised and collective input into Council
decision making
Hold 3 forums with young people each year
Once every three-year term hold a “Youth
Council” for three days – similar to the “Youth
Parliament”, where young people take on the role of
Mayor, Councillors, media, Council staff etc.
Enhance local government civics education
programme in partnership with schools.
Reinstate the Youth Advocate role from within
the council’s Community Development team
Bring engagement into the 21st century by
directly engaging with young people via online network websites.
To give youth facilities and to enhance their safety,
2021 will…
Better utilise existing public space and use existing
budgets to provide:
Outdoor music events in City Mall and the
Square
Investigate occasional Saturday night movies
in the Square
Investigate drive-in movies to be held at
other council owned land and facilities
Establish partnerships to increase the number
and variety of youth-oriented venues across the city
To enhance young people’s safety
in Christchurch we will:
Lobby for extension of coverage and hours
of late night bus and advocate for making the late night bus
safer
Work with young people and industry to increase
youth safety on taxis
To enhance intergenerational understanding, 2021 will…
Develop an intergenerational mentoring and
volunteer project between retired citizens and young people
Work with youth and student organisations
to encourage enrolment and voting in local body elections
A Voice for you and Value
for your Rate Dollar: 2021 Civic Building Policy
There is no doubt that the current Civic offices
are overcrowded and that staff need better working conditions.
However, there are cost-effective options that need to be considered,
including a more modest no-nonsense civic office re-development;
the refurbishment of the existing building and the better utilisation
of existing service centres.
Christchurch 2021 will cap expenditure at $60 million
(2007 dollars), a saving
to ratepayers of at least $40 million. This will restore the cost
of the project to the original budget of $53.7m set in the 2004/2005
LTCCP with further allowance for increases in building costs.
