2011-2012 Annual Report - Full Version - PDF - Palmerston North ...

Activity - Councillor Leadership and Decision MakingWhat the Council doesThe Council provides services that allow citizensto participate in its democratic decision makingprocesses. The Council also provides informationto the community about its plans and actions.It does this through committee meetings, informalcommunity meetings, other public meetings,public consultation, the Square Circular, mediareleases, civic functions, running elections andother communications.The Activity also helps Council ControlledOrganisations meet their Constitution and TrustDeed requirements, and meet the requirementsof the Council’s policy on the Appointment ofDirectors to Outside Organisations.This Activity also includes the Mayor’s and ChiefExecutive’s office support.Why the Council does this and itscontribution to Council vision andmajor goalsBy making decisions on what the Council will dothis Activity contributes to all five of the Council’smajor goals.In particular it contributes to the Council’s goal ofthe Council understanding the diverse views ofthe City’s people, makes prudent decisions, andensures that people know what the Council isdoing and why.A strong local community depends upon peoplehaving the ability to contribute to the Council’sdecision making process, so that the Council canunderstand what people want.The Council ensures that all policy, proceduraland statutory requirements for decision makingare met to uphold the effectiveness and integrityof local democracy. This means that residentshave an opportunity to influence the Council’sdecisions.In the same way the Council promotes transparencywith its decision making process to maintainaccountability to the public. This means that theCouncil tells residents what it is doing and why.This helps close the decision making loop.What happened in the yearThe Council has continued to perform its legislativefunctions and responsibilities with significantcommunity consultation during the year.Throughout the process of preparing andadopting the Long Term Plan for the next ten yearsthe Council sought to engage and consult withthe community and made available a range ofopportunities for the public to be involved in whatthe Council proposes to achieve in the future andat what cost to the ratepayer. The Council received357 submissions to the draft Long Term Plan withthese considered as an active part of the Council’sdecision-making process in finalising the Plan.This feedback on major City issues is an importantaspect of enabling Elected Members to properlyexercise their judgement and be accountable.A strong local community dependsupon people having the ability tocontribute to the Council’s decisionmaking process, so that the Councilcan understand what people want.A full schedule of Council and Committee meetingswere held along with Community meetingsthroughout the City across February, April, June,August and November. Community meetings areanother opportunity for members of the publicto meet with Elected Members and express theirviews or ask questions which relate to decisionsmade by the Council.During the year five Citizenship Ceremonies wereheld, at which 276 residents became New ZealandCitizens. Two Civic Honour Awards were presentedin October 2012. Additionally, in April 2012, theBachelor of Resource and Environmental Planningawards were held at a Council meeting where fourstudents were presented prizes and acknowledgedfor their achievements.Representation matters have been consideredduring the year. In August 2011, the Councilresolved to adopt the Single Transferable Votingelectoral system for Council elections to be heldin 2013, replacing the First Past the Post electoralsystem. At the same time, the Council decided notto establish a Māori ward or wards.What the Council Does Councillor Leadership and Decision Making LeadershipPalmerston North City Council Annual Report 2011/1233