HOW WILL I FIX AUCKLAND TRANSPORT?

Auckland CCO’s - What would I do?
Firstly, we need to understand the construct.

Auckland has four Council Controlled Organisations. 

• Auckland Transport
  
• Eke Panuku Development
  
• Auckland Unlimited
  
• Watercare.
  

During the current Mayoralty, these CCO’s have been left to their own accord.They have had an easy run, semi-autonomous.

Each of them have their own unique issues in regards to fiscal irresponsibility, lack of accountability, and minimal standards of servicing the ratepayer.

For this statement however, I wish to focus on Auckland Transport - but bear in mind that the others will require a similar treatment.

The Board of Directors for a CCO is created by Auckland Council via the Appointments and Performance Review Committee.

The official role of APRC is as follows:

• Reviews the chief executive's performance
  
• Makes appointments to council organisations and council-controlled organisations (CCOs)
  
• Makes recommendations on CCO accountability policy.
  

Currently, the Appointments and Performance Review Committee consists of:

Chair: Mayor Phil Goff
Dep Chair: Cr Christine Fletcher

Members:
Cr Josephine Bartley
Cr Alf Filipaina
Cr Pippa Coom
Cr Richard Hills
Cr Chris Darby
Cr Angela Dalton
Ex officio: Deputy Mayor Bill Cashmore
Independent Māori Statutory Board member:
David Taipari

As you can see by the names on the APRC, it is stacked with Councillors from camp Goff. Thankfully Christine Fletcher is there trying to hold things together, but running through the names you can quickly see how she would be outnumbered. 

So from that APRC, we have the following appointments to the Auckland Transport Board of Directors:

Adrienne Young-Cooper, Chair 
Wayne Donnelly, Deputy Chair
Darren Linton
Kylie Clegg
Mark Darrow
Dr Jim Mather
Nicole Rosie
Abbie Reynolds
Tommy Parker

CCO liaison councillors:

Councillor Bill Cashmore
Councillor Chris Darby

Most of those members sit on a multitude of boards, it’s their profession. It should be noted that the Chair for Watercare is not an Aucklander… same will go for many members across the four boards.

You can go to this page to find out more on each member, their specialty. https://at.govt.nz/about-us/our-role-organisation/board-of-directors

Previously, Councillors Christine Fletcher and Mike Lee were on the AT Board with voting rights - but they were removed by Mayor Goff, and replaced by Councillors Darby and Cashmore. However those two positions are now non-voting.

So, again, what would I do?

Firstly, the Appointments and Performance Review Committee would be replaced by Councillors who listen to the ratepayer, Councillors who I feel would have a much better idea of what the people want - and would make better decisions towards who are on the Auckland transport board. I would place myself on this Committee as Chair. 

I do not want people who are captured and driven by ideology. 

I want people on the Committee and Board who understand that Auckland is more than just what’s between K’rd and Northcote. 

The refreshed APRC would then decide who stays and who goes on the Auckland Transport Board of Directors. 

As Mayor I would not place myself into AT, as there will already be too many other tasks requiring my attention. But I would have confidence in the new APRC to hold the CCO to account - as they currently have not been. 

Next, I would ensure that Councillors are reinstated to the AT Board - with voting rights. 

Finally, Auckland Council would produce a very firm letter of expectation to Auckland Transport, and use that set of standards to hold them to account. 

This is what I would do for you, the ratepayer and resident of Auckland. This is not just for AT, all four CCO’s need to be completely analysed from the top down.

You deserve better than what you are currently getting. Together we can make it right.