North Shore local boards set to lose millions
Auckland Council is currently considering a new funding model for local boards that will strip investment from the North Shore. Last week the Kaipātiki Local Board unanimously opposed it and pointed out that it may be illegal.
The new model moves away from funding local boards based on current assets and services, and instead redistributes funding based on a formula of Population, Deprivation and Land Area (80:15:5). This new formula would effectively strip millions of dollars from both the Kaipātiki Local Board and Devonport-Takapuna Local Board and give it to other local boards, meaning less investment into our area and possibly the closure of public assets (buildings, playgrounds, bridges, parks, etc) or cuts to local services. Both local boards already don’t receive adequate funding to maintain assets, so this is a real concern.
What we say:
Attached is our feedback on the proposal and an alternative fairer funding model that we have put forward. Instead of the Governing Body (Mayor and Councillors) receiving all income and allocating a small amount to be shared between the 21 local boards, we believe that each local board should instead keep a percentage of the rates raised from its own area, and then pay a levy to the Governing Body to cover regional expenses. We have provided figures showing that if the levy was set at only 33% of the rate take, that every local board would be better off and able to fulfil their obligations under the law. The Governing Body would still receive the lions’ share of 67% of rates. We have also suggested that any revenue generated from fees or charges (for example, Leisure Centre fees) should be allocated to the respective local board in addition to the rates amount.
We have also pointed out that it is potentially illegal for the proposed funding formula to not factor in the rates collected and the revenue generated in a local board area. The Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009 clearly states that the funding formula must have regard to both rates and revenue derived from each local board area. From what we can tell, these have not been considered, let alone included, in the proposed funding formula.
⚠️ DOGS DIE IN HOT CARS. If you love them, don't leave them. ⚠️
It's a message we share time and time again, and this year, we're calling on you to help us spread that message further.
Did you know that calls to SPCA about dogs left inside hot cars made up a whopping 11% of all welfare calls last summer? This is a completely preventable issue, and one which is causing hundreds of dogs (often loved pets) to suffer.
Here are some quick facts to share with the dog owners in your life:
👉 The temperature inside a car can heat to over 50°C in less than 15 minutes.
👉 Parking in the shade and cracking windows does little to help on a warm day. Dogs rely on panting to keep cool, which they can't do in a hot car.
👉 This puts dogs at a high risk of heatstroke - a serious condition for dogs, with a mortality rate between 39%-50%.
👉 It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act to leave a dog in a hot vehicle if they are showing signs of heat stress. You can be fined, and prosecuted.
SPCA has created downloadable resources to help you spread the message even further. Posters, a flyer, and a social media tile can be downloaded from our website here: www.spca.nz...
We encourage you to use these - and ask your local businesses to display the posters if they can. Flyers can be kept in your car and handed out as needed.
This is a community problem, and one we cannot solve alone. Help us to prevent more tragedies this summer by sharing this post.
On behalf of the animals - thank you ❤️
Worst Xmas ever?
There's a a lot of planning that goes into Christmas day and sometimes things just don't go to plan. But it can be a good thing - a family mishap or hilarious memory that you can laugh about in Christmases to come.
Whether you burnt the dinner or were stranded at an airport...
Share your Christmas mishaps below!
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