1. THE major issue has to be the Current City Council which seems so out of touch with Christchurch Residents - and that is what motivated me to stand and offer Residents an alternative vote. The current Council has to be the worst in decades - Excessive spending and rates increasing almost 5% while we are in a recession, lack of accountability and decisions made behind closed doors is not the way to run NZ's 2nd largest city. Residents deserve better from their elected Representatives, don't you? Contact me jennybloxham@mail.com
2. Not THE major issue, but my organic (green) rubbish bin was not emptied because apparently "it was compacted" (I pruned the roses). Council staff handled it very well, but the issue is why is the bin so small that one mow of the lawns fills it (my lawn is quite small). Now that spring is here, the weeds will flourish so where am I to put them? Yes, one can get a larger bin at a cost of $170 a year, but why such a high financial penalty for recycling organic waste? Is this an issue for you? Please let me know jennybloxham@mail.com
3. Dog registration fees - do you get value for money? What are you paying for? As I walk my two mini-dogs, I increasingly hear people tell me if they got another dog, they would not register it. That tells me something must be done about reducing the level of dog registration fees for neutered/spayed dogs. As for the costs of the Dog Pound etc, my two wouldn't get lost even if I tried to leave them behind, so what exactly are we paying for? Are you a dog owner - what do you think? Please tell me jennybloxham@mail.com
4. These issues change by the day. I cannot believe the unfettered power given by Parliament on 14 September to the 7 Commissioners and 3 Minister appointed to oversee the earthquake recovery process. 22 different Acts have been suspended including The Local Government Act 1974 & 2002, The Ratings Valuations Act, The Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act, Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Act. I haven't had time to fully consider the total effect of suspending these Acts, but I am left wondering what the role of your democratically-elected Council will be, if anything. Worse, there is no liability, accountability or culpability on any of the Commissioners or the 3 Ministers Bill English (Finance), Nick Smith (Conservation) or Gerry Brownlee (Earthquake), nor are their actions subject to judicial review. I have never known such extraordinary power to be given to so few. Just one of my concerns is what this means for your rates. http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/law-experts-criticise-quake-bill-3805959. If this issue is of concern to you too, please tell me your thoughts.
5. I hear the gripes - Council has been rubber-stamping decisions made by Council Staff and the lack of consulatation on issues. I assure you that I am not a seat warmer or a rubber-stamper. Council needs a strong voice. Please vote and vote early.

No issues on file for Helen Broughton.

1. Making decisions in an open, democratic manner
2. Ending extravagance and reckless borrowing
3. Protecting our precious water
4. Working to reduce sewage overflows into the Avon and Heathcote
5. Restoring the $1.5m cut from community grants

1. Accountability for decision-making. A range of poor decisions have been made over the past three years by the incumbent Council, that have proved costly to ratepayers. They must be held accountable for their decisions!
2. Intelligent, open decision-making. Decisions are made on the hoof, by ill-informed Councillors who then make bad choices. I want proper, effective, considered decision-making.
3. Bring back Council Committees - these were abolished 6 years ago, with the effect that Councillors have reduced knowledge and understanding of core issues - and it shows.
4. Stop wasting ratepayers money on things like a blow-up igloo that may one day be put up in the square. And purchasing inner- city properties....
5. Earthquake recovery. The city is badly damaged and we need excellent decision making to fix and improve it, and ensure that all citizens are safely housed. I don't trust the current Council to make good decisions.

1. Open Decision makeing so the Council is led by the Elected Members representing the Community.
2. Stop spending on bailouts following decisions being made behind Closed doors.
3. Protect our water and waterways.
4. Plan a rebuilt city on safe ground.
   Listen to what the Community wish in the rebuild.
5. Restore funding and support for our ard working Community Groups.

1. Boy Racers - Excessive noise continues to be the major nuisance caused by "anti social road users". While I am very please to have been a member of a council that has introduced a tough new anti-cruising by-law, along with further "boy racer" restrictions on local roads, I will continue to lobby government for a reduction in noise emitted from modified vehicles from the current NZ limit of 95db to the lower world wide standard of 90db.
2. Canterbury water is our most precious and valuable asset. Having been brought up in Western Australia where there is only the occasional rain water, I understand and appreciate the quantity and quality of our water. As a community we must be forever vigilant in maintaining the quality of our water but at the same time looking for ways to enhance our economic wellbeing using this most valuable resource.

1. Community consultation on OUR WATER, conserving our rivers, our aquifers, our recreational lakes, such as Waihora and Wairewa. Having just a 40% 'clean bill of health' for the Avon/Okato is not good enough, nor is selling off our resources to CPW.
2. Effective controls on Alcohol especially the implementation of the FIVE PLUS solution as advocated by Alcohol Action New Zealand. Offering more addiction treatment and wider education is what is meant in the 'plus'.
3. Safe, accessible, affordable transport solutions, inclusive of/for our disabled community. Also recognising the need for altering bus stops for ease of access,more CCS parking in the areas where peple need to get to and access to schools, via better signage and money continuing for school patrols to operate safely.
4. No closed sessions in Community Board (or Council) meetings.
   An agreement on confidentiality for sensitive issues should suffice. All local body deliberations should be open to any interested member of the public who gives their time to attend.
5. Timely and informed responses to questions, from the community of ratepayers, back from their elected representatives. Action on issues taken by people (i.e. able to be scrutinisied) who work on/for the Council and Boards who need to realise they are employees of the ratepayers and answerable to the ratepaying community.