The Hutt Valley Chamber submission reported that its members' poll, differently worded from those above, found that 58.7% felt negatively towards the proposal and 41.3% positively. Business organisations that supported the proposal tended to support the idea of a ‘one for businesses, and as leading to the streamlining rules and district plans. stop shop’ However, there is some concern around commercial rating issues, and the possibility that some parts of the region may need to subsidise other parts of the region. A selection of the submissions from business organisations is summarised in the table below. Summary of submissions from Business Organisations Table 7- Name of organisation Key points on Proposal Preferred option/amendments Supports the direction of Local government funding Business NZ the proposal needs to be more rigorously addressed In favour of greater economies of scale and The role of local improved decision making government needs to be around local government established on a principled services. basis and properly circumscribed. Opposes the proposal but A new structure may Hutt Valley Chamber of supports further exclude the Wairarapa, Commerce consideration of change combine the Hutt regions, and combine Concern over loss of local Wellington/Porirua voice/absorbing other areas debts Would like to see its business community more Submitted that there was involved in debates no real evidence around efficiencies of scale Neutral but most members Wants to ensure any rating Kapiti Coast Chamber of support some form of system aligns costs and Commerce change benefits fairly Amalgamation could bring Does not want to see any resources/expertise to bear ring-fencing of debt on large projects in Kapiti Supports change to the Would like to see effective Retail NZ structure of local centralisation of decision government in principle but making to avoid the does not support the unnecessary duplication of proposal business processes Not convinced the proposal would result in savings for business (particularly SMEs) Supports the proposal (in Establishment of a Rural The Wairarapa Chamber of principle) Advisory Board Commerce Amalgamation would be a Wants to ensure needs of catalyst to improved rural community are met decision making/strategic effectively capacity
The Hutt Valley Chamber submission reported that its members' poll, differently worded from those above, found that 58.7% felt negatively towards the proposal and 41.3% positively. Business organisations that supported the proposal tended to support the idea of a ‘one stop shop’ for businesses, and as leading to the streamlining rules and district plans. However, there is some concern around commercial rating issues, and the possibility that some parts of the region may need to subsidise other parts of the region. A selection of the submissions from business organisations is summarised in the table below. Table 7- Summary of submissions from Business Organisations Name of organisation Key points on Proposal Preferred option/amendments Business NZ Supports the direction of the proposal In favour of greater economies of scale and improved decision making around local government services. Local government funding needs to be more rigorously addressed The role of local government needs to be established on a principled basis and properly circumscribed. Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce Opposes the proposal but supports further consideration of change Concern over loss of local voice/absorbing other areas debts Submitted that there was no real evidence around efficiencies of scale A new structure may exclude the Wairarapa, combine the Hutt regions, and combine Wellington/Porirua Would like to see its business community more involved in debates Kapiti Coast Chamber of Commerce Neutral but most members support some form of change Amalgamation could bring resources/expertise to bear on large projects in Kapiti Wants to ensure any rating system aligns costs and benefits fairly Does not want to see any ring-fencing of debt Retail NZ Supports change to the structure of local government in principle but does not support the proposal Not convinced the proposal would result in savings for business (particularly SMEs) Would like to see effective centralisation of decision making to avoid the unnecessary duplication of business processes The Wairarapa Chamber of Commerce Supports the proposal (in principle) Amalgamation would be a catalyst to improved decision making/strategic capacity Establishment of a Rural Advisory Board Wants to ensure needs of rural community are met effectively
Wellington-Summary-of-submissions-June-2015.docx