The People’s Choice- Independent - 2021

I love where I live ... Linwood. My neighbours are friends. Services and facilities are handy so I’m happy with much of what Council delivers. But, in many ways, the current Council has lost touch with the community. I want to see the next Council put priority on providing more for the lifestyle of all residents and less on the livelihood of the few.

I want a Council with no secrets, no surprises and no reckless spending. Community funding restored. And ideals like planning to STOP discharge into the rivers rather than adding more. That’s why I’m standing for the Hagley Ferrymead Ward, sharing the vision with 2021

 My background is in corporate communications and events, running my own company in Wellington for 10 years. I’m now the Fundraising Manager for a charity. Previously, I was the Christchurch City Council Events Manager.

Top 5 Issues

1. Residents the Priority
   
   The Council is elected by us, the ratepayers, to provide the services and quality of community that we want. I want to see that the next Council works to that. The incoming Council must re-establish performance measures that are Resident-Opinion based.
   
   It is important to me that the Christchurch City Council LISTENS to the communities (which is why I am standing for my local community board) and then it ACTS on that information and advice.
   
   I want to see the residents of Christchurch return to living in a city truly served by a
   Council that restores and enshrines the emphasis on:
   
   • quality utilities
   • the healthy and tidy environments
   • a genuine and generous care of the
   disadvantaged
   • a fostering and enjoyment of the local
   culture
   • ... all the good things about living in
   Christchurch that give us our community
   pride ... that intrigue and attract others to
   come here.
   
2. Accountable Spending
   
   The Council is not a commercial corporation and should not attempt to run like one.
   “Commercial and In Confidence” should be the Press-Headline exception rather than the rule.
   
   There should be no discretionary room in the budget to buy up multi-million dollars worth of property and yet increase Council rents.
   
   It must not be possible to spend millions of dollars on a flower show that residents then have to turn round and pay to get into, while cutting the free events.
   
   We can not afford to provide Councillors with “discretionary funds” and Directors Fees while ticking off a programme of reducing community funding.
   
   Function, fairness and efficiency must be the financial drivers.
   
3. Environment
   
   The residents of Christchurch today are caretakers of the Christchurch for residents in the future. The legendary purity of our city’s drinking water must enshrined as a mandatory for now and years to come.
   
   The Clean Air programme has been working well. I’d like to see a Council initiative aimed at sustaining it.
   
   I’d like to see a count-down clock in Cathedral Square to the date when all sewage overflows into the waterways of Christchurch are closed and water discharged into the streams and estuary are “shellfish safe”.
   
   Let’s measure the effect of our city’s parks and trees versus the city’s emissions and
   set environment performance standards in line with that outcome?
   
   And could we please have one, standard design and bright colour rubbish bin throughout the city – but especially beside bus shelters?
   
4. Responsibilities
   
   There should be no Council involvement in any activity or expenditure not specifically directed at maintaining or improving the quality of life of the ratepayers of Christchurch.
   
   Elected representatives are rarely exceptional business people or renowned experts in any particular field where Council-owned companies are concerned so having Councillors appointed to their Boards is ineffective. Each Company should have to present a report directly to Council on a regular basis.
   
   Commercial events (Ellerslie and the Rugby World Cup) and event bidding should be run by the Canterbury Development Corporation and Christchurch & Canterbury Tourism as they are the council-funded specialists in economic development and attracting visitors.
   
5. Accessibility
   
   The Christchurch City Council office/reception should be open from 8am to 6pm which is more in tune with ratepayers’ and residents’ working and availability hours.
   Possibly Saturday morning as well?
   

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