New Zealand / Regional

Brown sets out policy priorities for Auckland

09:51 am on 20 January 2014

Bringing forward Auckland's City Rail Link, using public private partnerships and lowering rates are some of the Auckland Mayor's top priorities this year.

Mr Brown says he has six areas he wants to focus on in 2014.

Len Brown has made public transport a top priority. Photo: RNZ

The other priorities are creating more affordable housing, encouraging engagement in council activities and boosting the city's economy.

The $31 million Skypath, a walkway and cycle track over the Harbour Bridge, will be the council's first public private partnership (PPP).

Mr Brown says he wants to limit the amount that rates can rise to 2.5% this year to keep them affordable.

But he conceeds that will reduce the amount of money the council collects and it will have to seek alternative forms of funding.

Auckland Council has forecast a funding shortfall of about $12 billion over the next 30 years, and Mr Brown says the council hopes to use PPPs or other funding options to build better waste management and major transport projects.

But an Auckland councillor is accusing Mr Brown of breaching his censure motions by speaking to media about his political strategies before councillors.

Mr Brown was publicly censured by the council late last year for breaching a code of conduct.

Cameron Brewer says part of the censure included the mayor agreeing to work more closely and inclusively with councillors to adopt a no-surprises policy.

But, Mr Brewer says that by sending an embargoed policy statement to media on Sunday on his top priorities for Auckland, before letting councillors know, Mr Brown has back-tracked on that agreement.

He says councillors will be disappointed that Mr Brown and his office have not changed and he wants the mayor to apologise to councillors.

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