In the coming week, our five councils will go through the formality of adopting the new Hawke’s Bay Triennial Agreement, as required after each local election.
It’s largely a blah, blah, blah bureaucratic document where the councils promise they will share information, collaborate, not surprise one another and generally play nicely with each other.
Importantly, however, the Agreement also formalises the role of the Hawke’s Bay Mayoral Forum, consisting of our four mayors and the Regional Council Chair, supported by their respective chief executives. Mayor Craig Little is this year’s Chair of the Forum.
This group meets monthly – in closed session – and makes all the most important decisions affecting the entire region. Here are the responsibilities of the Forum, as set forth in its Terms of Reference:
“The Forum provides the primary mechanism for giving effect to the Hawke’s Bay Triennial Agreement – including its commitments to collaboration, communication and joint advocacy – and the work mandated by government reforms.
“In practice, the Forum will:
1. Lead region-wide strategy, advocacy and joint positions on matters of common interest.
2. Identify, prioritise and coordinate regional work programmes, including shared services.
3. Oversee development of regional proposals and transition plans to align with government reform.
4. Strengthen relationships with iwi partners, central government agencies, neighbouring regions and key regional organisations.
5. Share information openly, uphold the “no surprises” principle and minimise duplication across councils and regional groups.
6. Ensure matters requiring formal decisions are referred back to each council through normal processes. The Forum’s operating arrangements will be adjusted to remain consistent as the Triennial Agreement is updated and as local government reforms progress.”
And further:
“To get the best arrangements for Hawke’s Bay and to support a coordinated and cohesive response to local government reforms, the Forum is delegated by member councils to:
• Develop and recommend proposals that align with local government reforms.
• Provide joint regional positions and advice to central government on the best arrangements for regional functions in Hawke’s Bay.
• Oversee preparatory work relating to regional shared services opportunities.
• Commission joint analysis and prepare regional proposals, noting that final decisions remain with each council.”
In other words folks, the Mayoral Forum is where the rubber meets the road for all the really important public business of Hawke’s Bay.
With ZERO transparency.
There was a time, when (at BayBuzz insistence), at least the Agendas for the Forum meetings were released to the public, as well as Minutes issued thereafter. But without explanation, that practice discontinued.
I’ve discussed this with Mayor Little, who seems open to more openness. And based on that, I’ve submitted the following questions through him to the Forum for consideration at its next meeting (which happens to be Monday, 23 Feb):
- Will the Forum henceforth publicise its meeting dates, and provide meeting Agendas and Minutes to the public? [Such minutes to identify any invited participants]
- Will papers and work commissioned for the Forum be made public?
- Will the Forum invite deputations from members of the public? [as councils currently provide for in their Standing Orders]
- Will the Forum generally operate with the same openness recommended by the NZ Chief Ombudsman with respect to council ‘workshops’? [As Forum members would know, that advice treats open meetings as the default practice, with exceptions for personal privacy, commercial or legal sensitivity.]
- Will the Forum publish its budget arrangements and any costs associated with commissioned work?
Stay tuned for the answers!
I have to say I’m somewhat sick of government (local and central) seemingly always having reasons for “secret squirrel” meetings. Why is that necessary? The decisions they make affect us all – shouldn’t we know what they’re discussing so that we can have input if necessary – or, at the very least, have some understanding of the reasons behind said decisions – let’s face it – there’s more brain power among the general public than in the chambers of the ivory towers!
Over the years I have met with many business owner who love to be in business but wished they could do without customers……increasingly our elected representatives seem to adopt the same attitude: I love to be a councillor but I could do without constituents…..