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Rodney Hide - Source: ONE News
A softening of stance by Local Government Minister Rodney Hide on council spending has drawn a mixed response from local authority representatives.
With high rates rises common among many councils, Hide has been keen to see spending focused on core infrastructure, rather than social services.
A spokeswoman from Hide's office said on Tuesday the issue had always been about prioritising spending and ensuring basics, such as roading and water, came first.
Hide's intention was to see any plans to spend outside core services done only with community support, she said.
Ratepayers were this year upset when there were suggestions council funding of social services would be stopped.
In Cabinet on Tuesday, Hide is expected to propose changes to bring greater financial accountability and transparency to councils, and present papers on changes to Auckland's council structure or "super city" plans.
He would not comment until after the meeting.
Labour Party Auckland issues spokesman Phil Twyford said Hide had appeared to have had a change in attitude in his council spending views.
He told Radio New Zealand that was likely to have been at the urging of Prime Minister John Key, who he said wouldn't want to see an alienation of ratepayers, as had happened with the handling of the super city.
But Auckland Mayor John Banks said ratepayers had had enough of big-spending councils treating them as "a herd of cash cows", and a hard line needed to be maintained.
He told Radio New Zealand councils should concentrate on providing and maintaining core infrastructure. If the government wanted councils to also provide social services it needed to contribute financially.
Local Government president Lawrence Yule said Hide had been around the country visiting local authorities and realised that core services were different to different councils.
Local Government Forum chairman Charles Finny said it appeared Hide was comfortable with referenda being used by councils when there were plans to spend outside core services.
Finny said the forum was comfortable with that happening.
He said there wasn't enough scrutiny on local authorities and the forum also wanted it to be easy for ratepayers to understand the true state of finances within their councils.
