The Wellingtonian has run an editorial concerning issues of how accountable our councillors are. They have floated the idea of our elected councillors running offices in their wards, similar to those that electorate MPs have.
The more dealings they have with residents, the better informed they’ll be about the pressing local issues and what needs to be done.
Surprisingly, there is no particular job description for city councillors.
They get paid a large amount of money and are left to make what they can of their role. Some of them choose to make very little of it, yet are clearly “career city councillors”.
If they had to sit in their ward offices every Friday and meet residents they might be forced into action. Then they’d at least be going some way towards earning their pay.
A throughly good idea whichever way you look at it.
WCC Watch 
This is one thing that I’ve been hearing loud and clear from the people I’ve spent the last 7 months speaking to – they want better engagement with their elected representatives, and councillors who listen.
If I’m elected the people of the Southern Ward will have a councillor who will have setting up an office (either in a shared community space or otherwise) as a priority. Not only that, but we will have genuine two-way consultation – people won’t have to wait until 2013 to hear from me again!
Voting papers are out today – I’d urge you all (in the Southern Ward) to please consider voting Paul Eagle 1.
personally, i think this is awesome.
i’m in the northern ward and AFAIK none of our councillors even live out here.
having them front local issues would make that rates bill a little more meaningful!
Former Council Labour leader Helene Ritchie drives past every once in a while on the way to the Kapiti from her place in central Wellington.
The Wellingtonian diagnoses a problem, and I agree that this council has not always done a great job of engaging with its citizens. I find a high level of mistrust and cynicism brought about by a variety of experiences from maintaining sports grounds to diesel buses in Mt Vic. However in the case of the Lambton Ward I don’t think that an office is the answer. Where would it go? Brooklyn? Kelburn? Molesworth Street? Te Aro might be the most central but isn’t wildly convenient for all. I think in the case of the Lambton Ward (and I accept it’s different in the south), it will be better for the councillor to go to the people. I will.
I hope you don’t always find yourself so hopelessly confounded by simple questions as ‘where could an office be located in Lambton Ward’.
No you won’t, John: Lambton will elect councillors who actually care about communities (just like the three we’ve actually got now), not a former ACT Party spin doctor.
“However in the case of the Lambton Ward I don’t think that an office is the answer.” JB
I think that must be because the Council buildings are actually already in Lambton Ward, just off Civic Square before you get to the Duxton. The three CCCs is the nearest pub. My favourite beer is Kentish Strong Ale known as Bishop’s Finger. http://www.bishopsfinger.co.uk/.
Helene Ritchie looked really angry while she was parked up by the Jville onramp the other day. It was more than a little offputting.
I had a Wobbly Boot the other night and a very pleasant drop it was too.
Council are making cuts to every budget, except engagement – which speaks volumes about the exiting bunch. The answer is easy. Spend a day working in every community centre in your ward. Then we wouldn’t need to increase councils engagement budget. I think everyone has had enough of council spin and waffle words from councilors. Councilors have 3 years to do this and haven’t – they lack the capacity to think outside the square. We need fresh new ideas.
An office isnt the answer if it is just another cost for the ratepayer to bear. However, why can’t councillors run regualar weekly community clinics through the council facilities in the different wards – most areas have a library or community centre.
It is up to the councillors to do it – the reality is there is nothing stopping a councillor from running such clinics. I know the good councillors in Porirua do this regularly already. Hopefully this election will rid us of the lazy career councillors with noses firmly in the trough.
there’s also nothing to say that they have to have “offices”. they could just front at the local community centre, or a church, or a hall.
just front and talk to the people you’re supposed to be representing instead of living off the WCC catering.
Normally when I go to church it’s to confess my sins not meet my councillor, although they might be interested in my sins – I have committed some rather good ones lately