4.4.3 The mayor’s relationship with local boards
-
As leader of the governing body, the mayor can not be a member of any local board and does not have the right to participate in their decision-making (such as voting at meetings), nor to direct a local board in the exercise of its functions.
-
The local board chair is responsible for local board meetings, in accordance with any standing orders or adopted meeting procedures [1]. The mayor may attend a local board meeting and may speak at the meeting with the chair’s leave and in accordance with the board’s standing orders or meeting procedures.
-
The mayor has an important role in maintaining the governing body’s shared governance relationship with local boards. The mayor may represent the governing body to the chair and other members of a local board in relation to the council’s governance and decisions, including the Local Board Agreements and Plans. When doing so, the mayor will generally involve the members of the governing body who represent the particular area to present a consistent position. In addition, there has been a practice of quarterly informal meetings of governing body members and local board chairs to discuss items of shared interest.
-
Given the mayor’s role to articulate and promote a vision for Auckland [2], he/she may speak for the council’s governance arm when a decision has been made on a matter of importance to Auckland, or where the matter relates to both governing body and local board responsibilities. However, by convention, in acting as council spokesperson, the mayor respects the board chair’s role to represent the local perspective, (including where council decisions have been made by the local board). A consistent position on behalf of the council should be presented by the local board chair and the mayor where possible, although the mayor may generally take a broader, Auckland-wide focus.
-
The mayor, as chair of the governing body, has the power to determine the participation of local boards at governing body meetings [3]. However, local board chairs (or their nominee) have a right to speak at a meeting of the governing body about matters on the agenda that affect the board’s area, communities or responsibilities [4]. Additionally, as long as the local board gives one day’s notice, the board may provide general input at the allocated time, near the beginning of each public governing body meeting [5].
-
As chair of the governing body, the mayor decides whether the local board chair has the right to speak on an agenda item and waive the one day notice requirement [6]. The mayor may also uphold the standing orders that govern the topics on which a local board chair may address the governing body and his or her conduct at the meeting [7].
-
The mayor may use his/her powers, as well as leadership and influence, to build local board support for the objectives that will contribute to the mayor’s vision for Auckland [8].