‘Watchdog’ on KCDC holding two public meetings this week
By Alan Tristram
A new group campaigning for more local democracy, Kāpiti Concerned Citizens, is holding two public meetings this week.
The first is tomorrow, August 29, at 11.30am at the Presbyterian Church, Ngaio Road, Waikanae. The second is on Saturday, September 1, at 10.30am at the Rotary Hall, Aotaki Street, Otaki.
KCC Chair Jackie Elliot and Alan Tiora (former Green Plumber) will speak at the meetings.
Kāpiti Concerned Citizens was set up this year to prevent user-pays water schemes in Kāpiti, — and to campaign for increased democracy in Kāpiti’s local government. It also circulates information on other local issues.
‘Long-term watchdog on KCDC
Sam Buchanan, of KCC, says the group will be ‘a long-term watchdog on council activities.’
He says: “We are holding meetings to raise awareness of local issues and show how ordinary citizens can respond to them, rather than leave things to elected representatives who have frequently acted without mandate, and against the wishes of the majority.
“The KCDC has successfully created a large constituency supporting change in the way local government works.
“The amalgamation of councils, or a move to shared council services, is on the agenda and we need to be looking at these issues with care.”
‘Fishhooks in amalgamation proposals
He adds: “While change is clearly welcome, there are likely to be fishhooks in forthcoming proposals and a determination by those currently in power to maintain the status quo as much as possible.”
You can contact KCC by email at: < kapiticoncernedcitizens@gmail.com >
Rate payers should demand that a portion of our rates take goes to resourcing this group !
Sucks that we need to do this, seems like a global problem with governments of the west, hopefully we at a local level are not just putting a plaster on the problem.