Auckland Mayoral Candidate Penny Bright to give verbal ‘submission’ to the Local Govt Select Cttee Auckland hearing -supporting transparency and opposing water privatisation Thursday 19 August 12.15 – 12.30 noon.

Auckland Mayoral Candidate Penny Bright to give verbal ‘submission’ to the Local Govt Select Cttee Auckland hearing -supporting transparency and opposing water privatisation Thursday 19 August 12.15 – 12.30 noon.

585 Great South Rd Penrose

Suggest you come if you can!

I’ll be exposing what I consider to be the lack of transparency and corrupt practices in the contracting out of Council services – particularly water services.

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“1) I request that the call for an inquiry into the 7 United Water NZ contracts, as outlined in Petition 2008/002, is not lumped in with this Bill, but treated separately on its merits.

2) Regarding ‘open, transparent and democratically accountable’ local government.

On 9 March 2009, I submitted evidence to this same Local Government and Environment Select Committee, in support of Petition 2008/002: which:

“Respectfully request(ed) that the House urgently amend the Local Government Act 2002 to make it a mandatory requirement to ensure Councils and Council Controlled Organisations are open to public scrutiny by using Annual Reports to record contracts issued to the private sector for ‘goods, services and people’ as a means of providing openness and accountability in Council operations; and to help ensure ‘prudent stewardship’ of citizen and ratepayer resources.”

MY CONSIDERED RECOMMENDATION AS TO THE NECESSARY LEGISLATIVE CHANGE:

Publishing details of contracts issued’ in Council Annual Reports is not intended to add thousands of pages, containing every word written for every contract issued.

All that is required is:

a) The name(s) of the contracting company/contractor.
b) The $ value of the contract.
c) The term (length) of the contract.
d) The scope of the contract.

Eg: DOG CONTROL

a) Joe Bloggs Dog Control Services Ltd
b) $350,000
c) 2008 -2010
d) Enforcement of Dog Control Bylaw 123 for Auckland City Council (ward(s) covered)
e) CONTRACT NUMBER ACC 33333

www.parliament.nz/NR/rdonlyres/2AC1B203-C1C0-4ADF-82FD-DA8C3CB87C1D/101135/DBSCH_SCR_4282_6542.pdf

“It is our view that the issues raised by the petitioner are best dealt with as part of a comprehensive review and we recommend that the Minister consider the issues raised in this petition.”

Unfortunately – this Bill does not fix this problem.
The public still don’t know exactly where our rates are being spent.
This is NOT transparent.

It seems ridiculous that the public can scrutinise thousands of pages detailing Ministerial spending on credit cards – but the public are not provided with the above-mentioned ‘devilish’ detail which would clearly show where BILLION$ of residents and ratepayers public monies are being spent on private contractors.

Please amend this Bill to so do.

3) I believe that water privatisation covers both the operation and management, as well as ownership of the water services assets.

The income stream will flow from publicly-owned pipes to the private sector.

I believe that the legislative changes proposed by this Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill will make it easier for multinational water companies such as United Water to effectively gain control of water services in New Zealand. (United Water is 100% owned by Veolia Water – the world’s largest multinational water company).

I believe that the ownership, operation and management of essential public services – especially water services, which are vital for public health and sanitation, should remain under the direct democratic control of elected representatives, not ‘commercialised’ under the CCO (Metrowater) model or privatised under the Public Private Partnership (PPP – (United Water Papakura) model.

I believe that water services should not be operated and managed as a ‘profit-making business’.
CCOs – lead to PPPs ‘commercialise – corporatise – PRIVATISE!

Where is the evidence which conclusively proves that privatisation through ‘contracting out’ or PPPs benefits the public majority.

I am totally opposed to s. 31 and s.32, and believe they should be struck out.

4) I believe that it is a form of ‘corrupt practice’ for policy analysts producing ‘Regulatory Impact Statements’ for Cabinet, to treat bodies such as the NZ Council for Infrastructure Development (NZCID) as an ‘independent 3rd party’ when they represent financially-interested parties. ”

Penny Bright
Media Spokesperson
Water Pressure Group
Judicially recognised ‘Public Watchdog’ on Metrowater, water and Auckland regional governance matters.
“Anti-corruption campaigner”

Ph (09) 846 9825
021 211 4 127
waterpressure.wordpress.com