Excellent response to Councillor and Mayoral Survey

An independent survey of elected Council officials has received an “excellent response”, according to local government watchdog Council Watch.

The survey, conducted amongst 730 Councillors and Mayors across the country over the past month, was based on a similar survey undertaken in the United Kingdom last year. Whilst analysis is still underway it is apparent that the New Zealand local government sector is much more positive than their UK counterparts.

Council Watch researcher, Jarrod Coburn, says the survey is timely and will bring up issues of interest to the voting public this election. He says the response rate of 33% was much higher than expected considering it was carried out by an independent and community-owned organisation, and was the first of its kind.

“We questioned elected members on a range of topics from their personal work habits to the relationship they had with their communities,” says Coburn, “One of the more intersting set of responses we received was around questions on the successes and failures of central government in relation to the local government sector.

“Also of interest was the ‘School Report’ scorecard we got them to complete about their own Council’s performance in the past three years.”

Mr Coburn says that analysis will be completed in time for the run-up to the local body elections in September/October and that this survey would change the way citizens thought about their Councillors and Mayors.

“I have to say I scratched my head a couple of times, have had a few good laughs, and am left even at this early stage with a different perspective about the people representing us at the localand regional level of government.”

Details of the survey can be found here.

ENDS

© Scoop Media