Catherine Stewart Tauranga City Councillor

Tauranga City Council is seeking submissions on its Draft Local Elections Policy.

Display of election signage has been increased from four weeks to six weeks to be consistent with the City Plan. The timeframe to make a variation to the City Plan is a long one and could not be completed in time to take effect for the forthcoming election.

Other proposed changes are deleting the exclusion of election signs on vehicles in the definition of sign, to ensure consistency of definitions between the policy and the Street Use and Public Places Bylaw.

Council Controlled Organisation assets are not to be used by any part and/or candidate to gain any electoral advantage. For example, the advertising billboards at Baypark could not be used by candidates for advertising purposes.

A map will be provided to candidates to show sites where elections signs can be displayed. There are now 31 roadside areas city-wide where signs are permitted. In the past a map was given to candidates showing where not to put road-side signs. This system appeared to work well. In the last three elections there were nine, 11 and seven complaints received by council staff. I understand some of the complaints were from council staff. It is up to candidates to monitor their signs and keep them tidy.

If you would like to have your say, put a submission in by 5pm Wednesday, April 27, 2016.