Cats —or, Infrastructure spending, Council debt, and Disenfranchisement of Ratepayers

Council cat squad checking rego fees [supplied]

After the great floods, the common affliction amongst leaders, “water on the brain”.

█ The ‘thinking’ – DCC cat control remit for LGNZ AGM

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At Twitter:

Warming: The "cat rangers" are coming – if Local Govt NZ President & Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull has his way (Video) https://t.co/VHyv1Ns2sy

— Dave Goosselink (@davedunedin) July 26, 2017

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“There may be issues with cats but they also serve a useful purpose in controlling pests. The cat population doubled to two at my place last year, and we have more tui and bellbirds around than ever, as well as visits by kereru and eastern rosellas and fantails and waxeyes. The cats occasionally catch a bird but most often it is a sparrow or a thrush. But it looks like the Dunedin council and some others are keen on requiring the herding of cats. They kept as quiet as they could on cats during the local body elections, and now mid term they try to foist it on the public. Devious.” –Pete George at YourNZ

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Councils will now lobby the government to finish its National Cat Management strategy.

### radionz.co.nz 6:05 pm on 25 July 2017
RNZ News
Councils seek greater powers to control cats
By Michael Cropp – Wellington Local Government Reporter
The country’s councils are calling on the government to give them extra powers to protect wildlife from cats including microchipping, de-sexing and registration. Local bodies have the power to control dogs and their behaviour, but they only have jurisdiction over cats when they become a health risk. While the remit presented by Dunedin City Council at the meeting acknowledged the companion role of animals, it noted cats are a danger to wildlife. […] The controversial remit scraped through with just 51 percent of the vote at the Local Government New Zealand annual general meeting.
….Auckland mayor Phil Goff said his council abstained from the vote because it was not sure what it would mean for the 500,000 cats in the country’s largest city. “We are in favour of practical measures to protect native birdlife …. We’re not in favour of bureaucratic measures that might involve millions of dollars of council time and energy but doesn’t achieve the objectives that we set out to achieve,” Mr Goff said.
Read more

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More about ‘LGNZ The Blight’:

Local Government New Zealand – Media Release
Local government to debate four remits and elect new President at AGM
News type: National news | Published: 21 July 2017
The local government sector will voted on four issues when it gathers for its annual AGM in Auckland on Tuesday 25 July. There is a focus on litter legislation, local government funding, cat management and health in this year’s remits. The AGM follows this year’s LGNZ Conference, when over 600 delegates from local government and its stakeholders, industry and community will gather in Auckland for the two day event [23-25 July]. The theme of this year’s conference is Creating pathways to 2050: Liveable spaces and loveable places. Remits are voted on in a secret ballot and if passed will become official policy and be actioned by Local Government New Zealand. Local government will also be voting for a new LGNZ President to replace Lawrence Yule, who steps down after nine years in the role.
….National legislation to manage cats
The third remit was proposed by Dunedin City Council and asks that LGNZ lobby the Government to take legislative action as a matter of urgency to develop national legislation includes provision for cost recovery for cat management.
Throughout New Zealand councils are tasked with trying to promote responsible cat ownership and reduce their environmental impact on wildlife, including native birds and geckos.  Yet, territorial authority’s powers for cats are for minimising the impact on people’s health and wellbeing, and regional councils’ powers are restricted to destruction of feral cats as pests.  The remit seeks the protection of our wildlife and native species by seeking regulatory powers for cat control, including cat identification, cat de-sexing and responsible cat ownership.
….The LGNZ AGM is open to members only. Following the meeting, LGNZ will advise of the outcomes of all votes.
Read more

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Cat rangers and collars with bells on are some of the ideas Dunedin City Council wants to lobby Government for.

### Stuff.co.nz Last updated at 14:28, July 10 2017
Cat control: many Kiwi councils ready to lobby for national rules
By Libby Wilson
Councils around the country are looking to band together to rein in roaming moggies. Dunedin City Council has suggested its colleagues help it push the Government for national rules that could include cat rangers and shutting cats in overnight. Seven other councils around the country have given the idea, and its environmental focus, their backing ahead of a July vote at the Local Government New Zealand annual meeting.
Read more

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‘Vacuum of cat management policy and services in Dunedin’, local submission says.

### nzherald.co.nz 29 Jun, 2017 7:02am
Dunedin council proposes registration of cats in New Zealand
A Dunedin proposal that could result in the registration of cats in New Zealand will be discussed nationally. The proposal from the Dunedin City Council, in consultation with seven other councils, will next month go to a Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) vote. If it is successful, LGNZ would make it a policy, and begin lobbying the Government to have it made law. The proposal could see the Government called upon to develop legislation for cats similar to the Dog Control Act. It already has the support of the Otago Regional Council, one of 78 councils which will vote on the idea.
Read more

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### ODT Online Wed, 17 May 2017
DCC seeks support for cat control
The Dunedin City Council will seek support from other New Zealand councils to gain greater control of cat management. If additional support from councils was gained, a remit would ask Local Government New Zealand to call upon the Government to give councils statutory power to control cats. The DCC was researching a Wellington City Council bylaw on microchipping cats. However, the current bylaw could not be enforced by non-compliance fees. Cat management would focus on the control of wild cats.
Link

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S T O P ● P R E S S

At Facebook:

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Related Posts and Comments:
26.7.17 RNZ Morning Report : Guyon Espiner sticks claws in Cat Cull & Curfews
25.7.17 To borrow from Stevie Smith : ‘the truth is I think he was already stuck’
22.7.17 Regional state of emergency lifted in Otago (incl Dunedin & Waitaki)
21.7.17 Rainy Day reading —The Spinoff : Ministry of Transport fraud case
21.7.17 DCC ORC : Heavy rain warnings preparations #PublicNotice
1.7.17 LGNZ, don’t wish ‘his lordship’ on New Zealand #VoteRachelReese
3.6.17 ODT updates mayoral vehicle serious injury crash information
24.4.17 LGOIMA vehicle (DCC) : Hyundai Santa Fe (2016) written off Jan 2017
10.12.16 Oh christ ! [LGNZ bureaucratic dopefest]
21.7.15 Dunedin to host LGNZ 2016 conference —FFS TIME TO TAKE IT OUT
21.5.15 DCC and LGNZ, total losers
2.2.15 LGNZ run by Mad Rooster Yule, end of story
10.10.14 Cull consorts with losers at LGNZ
26.6.14 LGNZ #blaggardliars

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

This post is offered in the public interest.

DCC and LGNZ, total losers

TWO BLOG POSTS WORTH READING —AND DCC TWADDLE

Received.
‎Thu‎, ‎21‎ ‎May‎ ‎2015 at ‎8‎:‎25‎ ‎a.m.

### interest.co.nz May 20, 2015 – 12:53pm
Business
Inaugural extensive survey of over 3000 citizens and businesses scores New Zealand’s councils just 29 out of 100 on reputation
Posted by David Hargreaves
New Zealand’s local government has collectively scored just 29 out of 100 in terms of overall reputation in an inaugural, nationwide, comprehensive survey. The New Zealand Local Government Survey of close to 3000 citizens and businesses across New Zealand was conducted last year by research firm Colmar Brunton. Local Government New Zealand president Lawrence Yule said: “It is clear from this inaugural Survey that New Zealanders are seeking stronger leadership and performance than what they perceive us to currently provide. This gives us the mandate to lift the performance and perceptions of local government.” […] LGNZ says it and its membership councils are now embarking on “a significant programme of work to deliver improved performance and heighten the value that is delivered to communities by local governments across New Zealand”.
Read more + Comments

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‎Received.
Thu‎, ‎21‎ ‎May‎ ‎2015 at ‎12‎:‎56‎ ‎p.m. and 1:19 p.m.
█ Message: DCC’s spin and b…shit dovetails nicely with this survey.
█ Message: Time to look at the role and funding of the LGNZ – it’s the breeding ground for this crap!!

### whaleoil.co.nz May 21, 2015 at 10:00am
Unacknowledged time bomb: Our dissatisfaction with local government
By Cameron Slater (citing Patrick Smellie, Newstalk ZB)
“….The average score for performance, which covered factors such as value for money, financial management and ability to manage community affairs, came in at 28 per cent. Local leadership scores averaged 26 per cent.” […] I think LGNZ should consider this a wake-up call. Councils are seriously mismanaging funds – denying money for library services but setting up Maori boards and LGBT advisory panels against the wishes of the rate payers. […] There is an ill wind blowing. The people aren’t going take the sorts of squandering, minority pandering, empire building and excessive year-on-year rates rises much longer. Local government in New Zealand is seriously out of control, and the fact that less than a third of New Zealanders think they’re doing OK is a dreadful indictment.
Read more

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NOW, THE PUFF PIECE from nearest and dearest council bureaucrat-honkies WHO ARE SO CONTINUALLY AND RELIABLY DIVORCED FROM SUCCESS IN BUSINESS. Embarrassing. NO TRACK RECORD. FUTILE. DISTURBED. Lost a minimum of 152 fleet vehicles, blamed on one dead man.
Pssst, the mayor still admires and listens to Stuart McLauchlan of Delta, SCF, Rugby, UoO and other imprecise fame…….. ACE LEADERSHIP.

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Dunedin City Council – Media Release
DCC has Firm Focus on Helping Business

This item was published on 20 May 2015

Plenty of positive action is underway to help local businesses and promote economic development, the Dunedin City Council says.

Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) today released the results of its inaugural Local Government Survey, carried out from June to September last year, which asked the public and businesses about their perceptions of city, district and regional councils across New Zealand. This included a booster survey for Dunedin businesses.

Mayor of Dunedin Dave Cull says, “The national results show local government has an image problem in general. We need to do more to make the community aware of what we do. This includes highlighting the broad range of services we provide, from local roads, street lights and sportsgrounds to libraries, events funding, and kerbside rubbish and recycling collection. We also need to improve our overall performance at an operational and governance level.”

The LGNZ Dunedin business booster results showed Dunedin businesses were less satisfied with local government’s role in economic development and regulation compared with the national average, but a recently completed DCC survey gives a much more positive picture.

“The LGNZ survey was carried out last year and a lot has changed since then. We recently commissioned a business satisfaction survey to help us get a better idea of how the DCC is perceived and where we need to lift our game.” Mr Cull says it is important to recognise the LGNZ survey was about reputation, whereas the DCC business survey centred on satisfaction levels of businesses that had actually used DCC services. “They both matter, but they are different.”

Director Enterprise Dunedin John Christie says the online anonymous survey targeted businesses which have had direct contact with the DCC over the past year. The survey closed on 6 May. Preliminary high level results show that of the respondents, about half agreed the DCC provides an environment that is ‘business friendly’, a quarter were neutral and just under a quarter disagreed. Almost half the respondents also agree the DCC is effective.

DCC General Manager Services and Development Simon Pickford says the survey highlighted areas where the DCC needs to improve. “We already work closely with developers and large businesses to make the process as easy as we can, through initiatives such as the ‘red carpet’ project. However, we can do a lot more to help small and medium sized businesses. In general, they want to do it right and follow the rules, but we don’t make it as easy as we could and we are putting a lot of thought and resources into changing that. We want to make sure all businesses receive excellent advice and support and business friendly service from the DCC.”

Mr Christie says it is good to have some clear, current messages from Dunedin businesses and he thanked them for taking the time to respond to the survey. “We get both good and bad anecdotal feedback, but what we needed was more detailed information so we get an understanding of the service businesses are receiving and where we can do more. These survey results will help us identify and respond to specific issues.” The DCC intends to carry out a regular business satisfaction survey. Mr Christie says there are many Economic Development Strategy initiatives which are working well and getting real results for the city. These include work being done through Project China and Export Education, as well as Gigatown. Sexy Summer Jobs, Dunedin’s successful summer intern programme, has led to about 126 full and part time positions being created by businesses since the programme began in 2008. Enterprise Dunedin staff provide valuable input and assistance around cruise ship planning and hosting. They assist with major event promotion and brand development, which helps make the city a vibrant, attractive place in which to live, work, study and invest.

In the Regulatory Services area, which includes building consents and environmental health regulations, the DCC has a wide range of activities underway to help businesses expand and develop. Mr Pickford says, “We’re meeting developers and business people to get their views on how we can help. We’re working closely with Enterprise Dunedin, for example at the new business clinics, and we’re trying to have a closer liaison with relevant organisations such as Master Builders. Staff are working to produce a one stop shop guide for setting up a business in Dunedin. This will be available online and in hard copy. Staff are also introducing case management, which means individual staff will help business people and developers liaise with different departments. “We’re also streamlining regulatory processes where we can. This includes putting processes online where possible and, in time, we hope to have systems where people can log in and check what stage their building consent is at in the process, for example. The local government sector overall struggles to get recognition, particularly in the area of economic development. As well as our own business survey, our annual Residents’ Opinion Survey (ROS) results are more positive than the LGNZ survey results and recognise our work to retain existing businesses in Dunedin. It’s also important to see these results in a wider context. Our 2014 ROS results show more residents were satisfied with the DCC’s overall performance than in any year since 2003.”

The LGNZ Dunedin business booster survey had a random sample of 111 businesses. The DCC survey of businesses had 317 responses and the ROS achieves a sample of about 1200 residents.

The Local Government Survey is available at http://www.lgnz.co.nz. To see the results of the LGNZ Dunedin business booster and a Dunedin public booster visit http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/lgnz-survey. The high level DCC business survey results are available at http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/services/business-support/business-survey-report.

Contact Dave Cull, Mayor of Dunedin on 03 477 4000.

DCC Link

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr