Paula Thompson BOP Regional Councillor www.boprc.govt.nz

Last year, Bay of Plenty Regional Councillors set its staff three-year efficiency targets – which were sustainable cost savings targets to be achieved by a range of efficiency measures.

The work is on-going. However, as part of the recent annual budget work, savings beyond the target have been achieved. The council expects the efficiencies to be continued to be delivered as part of a continuing focus on productivity gains and cost efficiencies. The staff are to be congratulated for responding to the challenges inherent in the targets – with the key one being creating sustainable efficiencies . This is a key thrust of the new local government operating environment.

As a part of considering how to do things more efficiently, the council is also looking at how it can better engage with community groups and organisations, to ensure council and community outcomes can be more effectively delivered. To me, this is a key part of the focus on increasing productivity in cost-efficient ways. Engaged and supported community groups and organisations can so often better deliver programmes, projects and initiatives than public organisations. I truly believe a fundamental role that local government should play is being the facilitator, enabler and supporter of community groups and organisations by working with, within and for a community.

An engaged community is a resilient and healthy community. To belong to such a community is a right for those of us fortunate to be living with the benefits we have access to. Local government should, in my opinion, aspire to make that right a reality for its citizens.