Some Good News To End The Week - Local Government Reforms Will Be In By The End Of The Year.

Some good news at the end of the week.

The Local Government Minister, Simon Watts, has announced new legislation will be in by the end of the year to refocus Council Spending. This was announced in his speech at the LGNZ conference last week.

Thousands of Kiwi’s have been asking for this, directly to the Local Government Minster and also through the Taxpayers Union Campaign for rates capping.

Key reforms in the Bill include:

• A renewed focus on core services in the statutory purpose of local government by removing the four ‘well-beings’
• A requirement to prioritise core services when managing finances and setting rates
• New financial performance measures for councils, with a requirement for regular public reporting
• Mandatory disclosure of contractor and consultant spending
• Stronger transparency and accountability requirements
• Regulatory relief to reduce unnecessary compliance burdens

The link to Simon Watts full Press Release is here:

https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/refocusing-local-government-deliver-kiwis