BEGINS
.
‘Gutless and lacking vision’ is how Alderman Tony Mulder described Clarence Council’s overwhelming decision to run away from an elector poll on Council mergers. Only Alderman Traynor showed the courage to support asking the ratepayers their view on local governmment.
Clarence Council proved itself too afraid to ask its own electors about their views on Council Amalgamations. As such they have no authority to proceed with any talk of mergers and are clearly running away from the community they purport to represent. Being in touch with the people should be the strength of local government Alderman Mulder said, but here we have a Council too afraid to seek the views of its own consituency on such an important issue.
Alderman were diverse in their views on mergers, but almost unanimous in not wanting to ask the ratepayers for fear that the electors might not agree with their views. Here was an opportunity to seek community views and the elected representatives were too afraid to ask. Interestingly, all bar one of the speakers against the motion is coming up for election this year!
Recent changes to local government roles, such as water reform and planning directives, calls into question why we need local government at all. Aldermen were also afraid to address this issue, preferring instead to take their existence and the transfer of public assets as a God given right. “All I asked is that the people be consulted” Alderman Mulder said, “and if the cutrent crop of councillors are afraid of consulting the voters, then vote in councillors and a leadershihp who will!
Aside from Alderman Traynor I cannot support the election of any Alderman who is afraid of seeking the views of their representatives, nor a leadership that all too often flies below the radar on hard decisions.
