Council Controlled Organisations not Rodney Controlled Organisations

The third Super City Bill needs to be changed to remove the clauses which detail Council Controlled Organisations (CCOs), the Green Party said today.

"The clauses in the third Super City Bill which establish CCOs need to be amended," said Green Party Super City spokesperson David Clendon.

"The legislation at the moment makes them Rodney Controlled Organisations, not Council Controlled Organisations.

"There is still opportunity for the Bill to be changed. The National-Act Government needs to reflect on the lasting impacts that setting up CCOs will have Aucklanders," said Mr Clendon.

Under the current Bill, CCOs would be set up for the Auckland City Council before its Councillors are elected. Aucklanders would not be able to change the CCOs or alter their powers for at least two years.

"Mr Hide wants a system that is fundamentally undemocratic. As we heard very clearly and forcefully from submitters to the Select Committee hearings on the Bill, it does not reflect the wishes of most Aucklanders.

"The Green Party will support any amendments to the clauses that force CCOs onto the Auckland City Council.

"It is time to reassert some basic democratic principles," said Mr Clendon.

"The current proposed structure is not transparent, it is not democratic, it is imposed and it is corporate.

"Councillors elected by Aucklanders should be able to decide what services are best provided through CCOs — if they want CCOs at all.

"Aucklanders want a super city, not a super corporation."

Mr Clendon expressed alarm that the legislation as it stands would lead to the CCOs being able to shroud almost all decisions behind a veil of secrecy.

"Inter-council factionalism will simply be replaced by inter-corporate factionalism."

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