Local Boards

Decision

Twenty to 30 Local Boards will be set up across the Auckland region as the second tier of governance.

Explanation

The Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009 provides that the governing body of the Council and the local boards will sit alongside each other and have distinct roles, rather than operate in a hierarchical relationship

Purpose of local boards:

enabling democratic decision making by, and on behalf of, communities within the local board area
enabling the promotion of the social, economic, environmental, and cultural well-being of communities within the local board area, in the present and for the future.

Decision making responsibilities:

the non-regulatory functions of the Auckland Council, except where decision-making on an Auckland-wide basis will better promote the well-being of the communities across Auckland. (The non-regulatory functions of the Council for which local boards are responsible will be identified in the Council’s long-term and annual plans)
identifying and communicating the interests and preferences of the people in its local board area in relation to the content of the strategies, policies, plans, and bylaws of the Council
adopting a local board plan to reflect the priorities and preferences of its communities for local services and facilities
identifying and developing bylaws specifically for its local board area, and proposing them to the governing body
the agreement reached with the governing body for local services and facilities.

Functions, duties and powers:

exercising the decision-making responsibilities listed above
monitoring and reporting on the implementation of the local board agreement for its area
communicating with community organisations and special interest groups in its area
any responsibilities, duties or powers delegated to it by the governing body
considering and reporting on any matter of interest or concern to the local board.

Funding of local boards:

The Auckland Council must adopt a local boards funding policy setting out –

how funds for meeting the costs of funding local activities and administrative support will be allocated to each local board
what other funding may be available for local boards and the criteria by which it may be allocated.

More information about Local Boards is available here: Local Boards FAQs

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