The Local Government Minister says new legislation in the works will give councils clarity.

An amendment bill's been introduced to Parliament to make local bodies focus on core services.

It also demands regular public progress reports - and disclosure on the cost of consultants and contractors.

Simon Watts says it's a return to bread and butter duties.

"Previously, terms like social, cultural and economic type activities - they were all just catch-all. And as a result, some councils across the country were doing stuff that was basically wasteful spending."

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