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The Hibiscus & Bays Local Board, along with Takapuna-Devonport and Kaipātiki Local Boards, continue to call for better enforcement of bylaws after low compliance in their communities.
Representatives of the three local boards presented examples of the effects of non-compliance to Auckland Council’s Regulatory Committee meeting last month.
All three boards had submitted notices of motion to the committee detailing how flytipping, dog control, illegal camping, driving on beaches, sedimentation and noise complaints to Council had fallen on deaf ears (HM March 7).
Devonport-Takapuna Local Board chair Ruth Jackson said there was a backlog of 1700 complaints from her area alone.
“The most common complaint we get is frustration about council being unable to effectively enforce bylaws,” Jackson said. “Residents had been told ‘we can’t help you,’ when they complained to Council staff.”
Jackson pointed to staff shortages and travel time as obstacles. She said it was an organisational issue and not a criticism of staff.
“Staff are fantastic. We don’t want to lose them. We want more like them.”
Hibiscus and Bays Local Board member Alexis Poppelbaum said the bylaw system was immensely complicated and broken.
“People see this as a core function of Council. People are dejected and frustrated,” Popplebaum said.
She said Council and Auckland Transport were battling over who should enforce bylaws related to people driving on beaches.
“We don’t care who does it – just enforce it,” she said.
Popplebaum wants to see a comprehensive review of bylaw enforcement across Council and its organisations.
In response, Council staff told the committee that a key issue is a lack of ability to issue fines.
Licensing and Regulatory Compliance general manager, James Hassall, said he wants the Local Government Act to change and allow infringement when bylaws are broken. He said in the meantime, many bylaws can only be enforced using education or lengthy and expensive court prosecutions.
He also said that staff increasingly face violence when they take enforcement action.
“There has been a huge increase in aggression,” Hassall said. “In many animal management cases, we have to send two officers. It has halved my compliance staff.”
The board members were invited for further talks on the issue with MPs and police officials by Cr Sharon Stewart.
After the meeting, Poppelbaum said that the local boards need to keep up the pressure “so that we see meaningful organisation-wide changes, not just a plaster over the problem.”
