City Vision Guiding Principles and Policies for Auckland Council and Local Boards

Our commitment to all Aucklanders

• We will maximise the democratic process in the Auckland Council's operations, including Local Boards and Council Controlled Organisations (CCOs).
• We require open, minuted meetings.
• Local Boards should be the basis of Council decision-making.
• Elected members must engage with their local community.
• Our Councillors will attend their local Board meetings.
• We will achieve maximum accountability and transparency of CCOs.
• We will make sure that the CCOs work closely with Local Boards when any project or decision affects the local community.
• We will keep rates as low as possible and pass on any savings from amalgamation on to ratepayers.

Our Philosophy

We want a dynamic, democratic, diverse, inclusive and caring region. To achieve that aim we require the candidates and organisations we endorse to work for:

• Strong Democracy
• Public Control and Ownership of Strategic Assets
• Fairness in Rates and Service Charges
• Transport Solutions
• A Sustainable Environment
• Economic Wellbeing
• Protection of Heritage
• Healthy Community Development
• Opportunities for Leisure and Recreation

Strong Democracy

• Auckland Council, Local Boards and all CCOs must be open and accountable to the community.
• Our elected representatives will keep their promises and act in accordance with the values and policies they were elected on and actively engage with their constituent communities and be accountable to them.
• We will work to ensure maximum input and delegated decision making by Local Boards in promoting the interests of the neighbourhoods and communities they represent.
• We support the right of tangata whenua to have elected representation at Council level and will promote initiatives that will build Maori participation and engagement.

Public Control and Ownership of Strategic Assets

• Community assets that provide essential services or generate major income must be retained in Council ownership and control and be openly accountable.
• Ports of Auckland is a vital part of Auckland's infrastructure and must remain in public ownership.
• Water is a basic human right and must be provided by Watercare as an entirely publicly owned, controlled and delivered service.  It must be a sustainable and quality service at a not-for-profit, minimum price that is consistent with achieving and maintaining appropriate environmental standards. City Vision will insist that no profit-taking or price-gouging occur with water services provision. We will advocate to other Auckland Councillors that it is sufficient, in order to achieve water conservation objectives, to charge the minimum user-pays charge for water supply.  Waste water disposal should be included in the property value-based general rate, which is more closely related to households’ ability to pay than is user pays.
• We will enhance service to the public by both staff and elected representatives in our Council and Local Boards and the CCOs through responsible and sustainable social, financial and environmental approaches to the management of the region.
• Wherever appropriate, we support a policy of council work being done by council staff, rather than contracting out to private companies.
• Where it is necessary to use outside contractors and consultants, it is important that the Council retains in-house expertise so that staff are able to carry out effective monitoring and control.

Fairness in Rates and Service Charges

• We will be responsible guardians of Auckland's public accounts and assets. The rating system must be fair and take account of people's ability to pay.We will continue a modest business rate differential to help fund critical infrastructure, like wires, roads and pipes, and moderate the rates impact on low/middle income residents.
• We will abolish uniform charges that are an unfair flat tax so that important Council services are available to all Aucklanders.
• In recognition of the greater needs of lower socio-economic communities and the plans and projects identified by the Local Boards, we will develop a fair and equitable funding formula to allocate funds to Local Boards for carrying out their functions.

Transport Solutions

• Our vision is for people and goods to move around our communities and the Auckland region with ease.
• We will urgently progress major regional projects like the CBD rail loop and the airport rail link.
• We will prioritise public transport and the provision of better bus and train services together with integrated ticketing and timetabling, cycleways and safer walking routes.
• Give priority to efficient transport solutions for the movement of freight in and around the region.
• We will advocate for full government funding for roading and oppose tolling and public private partnerships so they are not introduced to make up funding shortfalls.

A Sustainable Environment

We will conserve and enhance our heritage by taking on the guardianship of the landscape features that make Auckland unique: our harbours, the Hauraki Gulf and the waterways that feed them; our beaches, volcanoes and the wonderful ranges that 'bookend' our region.

• We will ensure the protection of our ecological heritage scheduling mature notable trees.
• We will establish a heritage fund that will assist community groups and others to refurbish scheduled heritage buildings.Quality urban development is vital.
• We recognise the environmental and social costs of development and will limit urban sprawl to reduce the major environmental and social costs that sprawl brings.
• We will promote ecological sustainability, including biodiversity and biosecurity programmes.
• We must care for our environment by reducing pollution - water, air and land.
• We will work actively with businesses and the community to improve practices, particularly in high-risk activities.
• We will protect and clean up our waterways - our harbours, beaches, streams and coastal areas.

Economic Well-being

• We will work to build thriving communities with a sense of place and self-reliance, high employment and reduced inequality.
• We will support regional business enterprise and innovation, environmental sustainability, affordable housing and employment initiatives.
• Auckland should develop in a holistic way with the rest of the country.We will work to reduce red tape and compliance costs.
• We will ensure that the supply of land designated for business meets Auckland's needs.
• We will encourage the provision of employment opportunities close to where people live to reduce the need for long commutes and to strengthen local communities.
• We commit to working collaboratively with the business sector to identify and facilitate opportunities for Auckland, eg development of marine industry, film industry.

Community Development

• Council and Local Boards should provide more than just "core services" i.e. community safety, litter and graffiti control, well-maintained footpaths and decent public transport.
• Well-being also requires well-maintained local shopping areas, libraries, sports grounds and recreational cycling and walking facilities
• We will ensure the provision of exciting free arts and cultural events and ensure entry fees are not a barrier to the zoo and our museums and art galleries.
• We support a diverse city that welcomes new migrants and refugees and encourages participation of people from a wide range of social and ethnic backgrounds.
• We will engage with grassroots community groups who perform important functions in their local areas, and find ways to actively support and fund them.
• Urban design and good care of our town centres, main-streets and suburbs play a large part in making people safe.
• We will support agencies such as the main-street associations, Maori Warden and Ambassador schemes that enhance safety and security in our public areas.
• We support a Social Issues Forum with participation both by elected representatives working in partnership with voluntary social service and community agencies.
• We will retain at least the current amount of Council pensioner and affordable housing in the Auckland Council area. We recognise that ensuring the provision of an increased amount of affordable housing is an important need and challenge for the Auckland Council and Auckland residents and advocate that the Auckland Council work with central government and community housing providers through regulatory change and partnerships to ensure an increased amount of affordable housing is available in Auckland.

Opportunities for Leisure and Recreation

• We will retain our comprehensive network of regional parks and reserves and oppose any sale of them.
• We will preserve and expand our local parks and other public open spaces and maintain free access.
• We will continue to provide and sponsor appropriate organised free community events on our public open spaces and protect them from commercial use
• Libraries, sports and recreation grounds, swimming pools, community leisure activities, arts and cultural events are an integral part of vibrant region.
• We will work with our community organisations at Local Board and Council level to promote good services that are accessible and affordable to all.