1st July 2013

Auditor General asked to investigate Auckland Council consultation process on Unitary Plan.

[statement from David Thornton]

Many Councillors and Local Board members have been complaining that they have not seen the written feedback sent to the Council by the thousands of people who responded to the draft Unitary Plan.

The councillors have only received summaries of submissions prepared by staff and consultants.

Those summaries have been discussed at public-excluded Council workshops and interim directives given to staff to look at possible change to the Plan.

A report will be presented to a public meeting of the Auckland Plan Committee tomorrow 2nd July when Councillors will be invited to formally endorse those directives.

At many of the public meetings held during the ‘engagement period’ by the Council, Local Boards, and community organisations, there were many requests for the Council, in responding to feedback, to give adequate opportunity for further consultation by way of hearings on the feedback prior to the adoption and notification of the Proposed Plan.

My review of the consultation requirements of the Resource Management Act and the Local Government Act led me to question the Council’s Chief Executive on the process the Council was using.

It was my view that those who sent feedback had a right to know Council’s response to their feedback, and an opportunity to be heard on their feedback by way of public hearings.

The Council feels that it has met the requirements on consultants. I do not.

I have now written to the Auditor general requesting her to investigate the process Council used.

ends

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