Q: Local councils will be given greater power to make decisions over alcohol in their communities under proposed alcohol law reform changes. The proposed changes will allow councils to develop their own local alcohol plan (LAP) or revert to a national default plan. If you were Mayor, would you develop an LAP and if you did, what things would you like to see in it with the view to reducing alcohol-related harm in our community?
A: It won't be the Mayor's LAP [there is no such thing], but the work of elected members, staff, and outside experts (Public Health South, for example). My ambition is an LAP that respects what works well (we don't have the big city issues seen on TV), but also recognises that alcohol causes harm, and that community attitudes are changing.
Q: Would you be prepared to review/audit the past performance of council's tourism and development department's expenditure against results? Are we getting real value for money?
A: All council activities are subject to tough reviews during the annual plan process - also an opportunity for public involvement. We don't leave any stones unturned. As chair of the District Development Committee, I'm satisfied that our small team does a heroic job with very few resources. We should all be proud of them.
Q Would you consider freezing the rate take at, eg June 2010, then instructing the council chief executive to deliver core council responsibilities before any consideration of the non-core and often, non-essential, cost centres?
A: Rate freezes are blunt tools that around the world have caused irreparable harm. Are our rates going up too fast? Yes, and I've said so. Can we reduce rate rises in future? Yes, and I believe we will, and should. We don't do 'none-core' and we don't do 'non-essential'.
Q What unique personal qualities and experience do you possess which places you above the other mayoral candidates with regard to your ability to perform better than them in the role as mayor?
A: I bring a wide range of skills and life-long learning to the mayoralty. I've done it long enough to know what works, what doesn't and why. The 'experience' question is about track record.
Click the 'Resume' and 'Track record - what track record?' links at www.macpherson.co.nz for a longer answer.