Council efficiency urged

Press, 12 June 1986, Page 6

Council efficiency urged

PA Dunedin Inefficiencies in local government must be “ruthlessly tracked down” and eliminated, says the Mayor of Dunedin, Mr C. G. Skeggs. Welcoming members of the. New Zealand Counties Association to their annual conference, Mr Skeggs said local authorities must adopt modern “hard-nosed” business methfcs and move away from* the bureaucratic

model used for so long. Supporting the Government’s user-pays principle, Mr Skeggs said that without it “we haven’t got a show of coming into line with what is happening in the big, bad world.” He outlined steps already taken by his council to remodel its operation on the corporate management structure. “As local government politicians we must come to terms with the situation being faced by our coun-

terparts in central Government — the fact that good economics is so often bad politics. “While people of high quality continue to offer themselves for local government service, matched with skilled and efficient administrators, local bodies can continue to improve their services to the people and ease the burden placed on them by rating, streamlining and cutting costs.” he said.