Jane Nees BOP Regional Councillor www.janenees.co.nz

It's that time of year again, when we look forward and make plans for the year ahead. I have made the usual new year resolutions – like fitness (more of it) and food (less of it) – but also one I borrowed from Chris Liddell, the Matamata born CFO of General Motors. He tries to do at least one thing each day better than he did it previously. I think that if you can achieve that, you can't go too far wrong.

On the work front, it will be a busy year for the Bay of Plenty Regional Council. We start with the Annual Plan in the new year, but are already planning for the next Ten Year Plan. Major decisions on infrastructure funding, our rates review and headquarters location will have to be made. On the policy front, we will have hearings on the Regional Policy Statement (still out for submissions) and the Regional Pest Management Strategy, plus we have a full policy development programme for the year. The region is developing a new Regional Land Transport Strategy and that is a major bit of work which will be also open for public submissions. We will see announcements on treaty settlements in Tauranga Moana and these will bring change – but the one given is that the Tauranga Harbour will be the focus of a lot of research and restorative efforts.

The winds of change are also blowing strongly in the local government sector. In a recent speech to Federated Farmers, Rodney Hide announced he would be doing a comprehensive review of New Zealand's system of local government. The review will look at what local government is; why we have it; what it does; what we need it to do; what does it need to do its work efficiently and effectively; and how it should be funded. He noted that the Auckland governance reforms have implications for the rest of local government and that these need to be considered along with the relationship between central and local government.

A discussion document will be released in mid 2011 which will set out the strategic issues for local government and look at where to from here. The intention is that public responses to this document will provide the basis for further work after the 2011 general elections. I hope the review looks at how central government makes life hard for local government and how central government can be streamlined to simplify things for the local government sector.

I am skeptical about Mr Hide's claims that he has no preconceptions about the outcomes of the project. If he is still in Parliament after the next elections and is in a position of power, I am betting that we will see a stronger change agenda for local government as a whole.

Regardless of the strength of the winds of change – what local government should be doing now is focusing on how it can work efficiently and effectively while engaging responsively with its community. If we are doing the right things, the right way, at the right time, structure becomes less of an issue. Bring on 2011!

If you have any views on this or any other issue, please contact me on neesj@xtra.co.nz or ring me on 07 579-5150. Or you can check out my website at www.janenees.co.nz