SOLGM Submissions

SOLGM has developed and submitted reports to provide policy makers in central government the managerial perspective on key issues and policies that affect local government. Some of the reports are done jointly with Local Government New Zealand. The most recent submissions include:

• Six of One, Half a Dozen of the Other
• SOLGM on the Rating of Maori Land
• Infrastructure...Joining the Dots
• Tuning up the Engine
• Managing for Sustainable Communities
• No Magic Answers
• Submission to the Justice and Electoral Committee

Six of One, Half a Dozen of the Other

18 June 2010

Six of One, Half A Dozen of the Other is SOLGM’s submission to the Select Committee on the so-called TAFM legislation. Our thanks to the individuals and organisations who prepared or responded to this draft – but especially to the members of the Financial Management and Strategic Planning Working Parties.

Click here to download SOLGM's submission (PDF 362 kb)

SOLGM says that:

• there is much in the Bill that SOLGM supports
• the Bill is based on a fundamental misunderstanding of why rates are increasing
• the proposals in the Bill may make it easier to identify key issues in plans and reports
• the Bill does not introduce “plain English” financial reporting
• performance comparisons have risks as well as benefits
• across the board reductions in regulation and compliance burden are limited at best
• whatever change is to happen, must happen in the next four months.

The Select Committee must report back on the Bill by 5 November – it appears the Bill is likely to become law around the end of November.

We will keep you posted on any developments as they happen. For further information contact Raymond Horan, Senior Adviser, Good Practice and Policy at rhoran@solgm.org.nz

SOLGM on the Rating of Maori Land

SOLGM has responded to the call for comments on a paper discussing issues around the rating of Maori freehold land.

The total effect of these proposals appears to be the removal of a substantial amount of Māori freehold land from the rating system, with a strong encouragement to remit rates on a portion of the remaining land. Little has been done to strengthen the enforcement of rates on Maori freehold land.

These proposals do little to reduce the degree of cost-shift that the Government’s Treaty obligations create for local communities.

SOLGM is not averse to extending non-rateability to Maori land that is truly held for conservation or heritage purposes, but considers that the proposals do not adequately distinguish this land from other land that is or could be used for economic benefit. We also have major concerns at the lack of any real teeth in the regime for enforcing rates on Maori land that is in economic use. While the Government's treaty commitments mean that sale of Maori land will never be an enforcement option - we think that the Maori Land Court should be under stricter direction around issuing of charging orders.

This is an instance where the Government is using local taxation policy as a social policy instrument - standard principles of good policy-making mean the Government should be compensating local authorities for the revenue foregone on Maori land.

Download the full full response (PDF 530 kb)

Infrastructure...Joining the Dots

SOLGM’s submission on the so-called precursor to the National Infrastructure Plan.
October 2009

This submission focuses on SOLGM's primary areas of expertise such as local government funding and accountability and how they link with the provision of infrastructure, rather than the more detailed issues involved in the day to day management of infrastructure.

The key points from the submission are:

• infrastructure contributes to all of the goals we pursue as a nation not just the economic
• an infrastructure plan should be about more than “building things”
• the assets/services provided by local government are poorly captured in the document – missing are flood control, stormwater disposal, solid waste disposal and recycling, coastal structures, community infrastructure, and the non-rail component of passenger transport
• there is no mystery as to why the costs of infrastructure provision are increasing, and the precursor should have given this issue a lot more attention

Download Infrastructure...Joining the Dots Report (PDF 314 kb)

Tuning up the Engine

Potential Changes to the Local Government Law
Submission to the Minister and Associate Minister of Local Government
March 2009

Download Tuning up the Engine Report (PDF 262 kb)

Managing for Sustainable Communities

Briefing document of SOLGM to the Minister of Local Government (Hon Rodney Hide)
December 2008

Download Managing for Sustainable Communities Report (PDF 722 kb)

No Magic Answers

Analysis of the impact of the recommendations from the Independent Inquiry into Rates on Rating Tools
Joint report of SOLGM and Local Government New Zealand
March 2008

Download No Magic Answers Report (PDF 922 kb)

Download No Magic Answers Press Release (PDF 174 kb)

Submission to the Justice and Electoral Committee

In February 2007, SOLGM made a Submission to the Justice and Electoral Committee on its Inquiry into the 2007 Local Elections.

Download Submission to the Justice and Electoral Committee (PDF 3.4 mb)