northland chamber

Copy of Questions sent to all Candidates in this years district local body elections


Questionnaire for District Council
Mayoral and Councillor Candidates

The Northland Chamber of Commerce believe the calibre of the local government candidates is an important issue in the coming local elections. We set to identify candidates who support and acknowledge various key actions and policies which will enhance Whangarei, Kaipara and the Far North as good districts to do business in and which is run effectively and efficiently from a commercial perspective. Responses to the following questions will be used by the Chamber to represent our members’ interests.


1. Please outline your vision for (Whangarei / Kaipara / Far North) district in 2011?








2. Name three key issues that you support and will campaign on?








3. Please outline the specific initiatives you will support to ensure that (Whangarei / Kaipara / Far North) has a business friendly environment.








4. Name five key priorities you see for infrastructural investment in the (Whangarei / Kaipara / Far North) district over the next five-years.









5. Do you support the use of public private partnerships when council is looking at building, operating or maintaining infrastructure?








6. What are your views on the council’s use of debt to fund projects? Do you think the council has an appropriate level of debt?








7. What is your position on whether Council should free up more land for residential housing?








8. What is your position on climate change and carbon neutrality?








9. Do you think Councillors should be paid in proportion to the number of meetings they attend, or a through a fixed annual fee, or in some other way?









10. What are your views on Council ownership of non-core assets including trading enterprises of Council i.e. those assets that are not essential to run local government? What do you define as core or strategic assets and why?








11. Do you agree that trading enterprises should be governed by a commercial board of directors and such businesses should be run on a commercial business basis?

Yes  No 

Comment







12. Do you consider there is a further need for local government reform? If so, what are your reasons?








13. What are your views on combining local authority service delivery, and amalgamations with neighbouring authorities?








14. Name three actions that you will take to ensure (Whangarei / Kaipara / Far North) district delivers better service and value to rate payers and residents.








15. Would you support a rates target so that council’s rates income does not exceed the combined rate of inflation and population growth per year?








16. Do you support the use of differential rates whereby business rate payers pay more than residential rate payers per dollar of rateable land? If you do, how would you justify this?








17. What are your views on council use of fees and charges?








18. Do you think the community should pay for its own water on a user pays basis?

Yes  No 

Comment







19. Please identify three courses of action you would want to promote to ensure vibrant towns and cities in your district.











20. List five keys issues that you consider need addressing by the Council in the next three-years












Name of person completing questionnaire:
Date:
E-mail contact:






Thank you for your time and responses.







Please return this survey to:

Chief Executive
Northland Chamber of Commerce

Email: ceo@northchamber.co.nz
Post: P O Box 1703, Whangarei


By 15 September 2007