June 21, 2012.

Residents have their say on local government in the Wellington Region

The way the Kāpiti Coast District and the Wellington Region is governed is up for discussion and residents now have the chance to have their say.

Council today released a discussion document outlining five possible options for local body governance in the Wellington region. This follows the government’s recent introduction of legislation to make local government reorganisation easier across the whole country. It is also part of a wider consultation process being undertaken by other local authorities in the region.

Mayor Jenny Rowan says the release of the document marks the start of a four week consultation period in which Council is seeking feedback from its residents on this vital issue. The idea is to stimulate discussion and identify whether people want changes to how local government operates in the region and if so, what they broadly want that change to look like.

“There are many ways that local government could be structured in this region. However, in order to have a reasonably focussed debate we have identified five options that represent different degrees of change,” Ms Rowan says. She says people can also make proposals that fall outside of those five options.

The options range from keeping the current councils (including Kāpiti Coast District Council) in place but making formal arrangements to share services across councils in the region, through to amalgamating all councils in the region into one stand-alone authority.

“We have consciously decided not to express either a preferred option or any views on the advantages and disadvantages of each option. We are asking residents to provide feedback at this stage,” says Mayor Rowan.

“When we have received all the submissions, we will analyse them and make the results public. Officers will produce a report to Councillors in August recommending the next steps.”

She said all households would receive a summary document outlining the issue and possible governance options over the next few days. A freepost feedback form is included in that document.

Council will also hold a telephone survey to gauge residents’ views on this issue in early July.

The full discussion document will be available on the Council website from Friday night with printed copies available at the Council Service Centre in Paraparaumu and at the district’s libraries. Feedback can be given through the feedback form, or via the website, or via email to reform@kapiticoast.govt.nz. The deadline for submissions is 5pm July 20.

ENDS

FINAL_discussion_document_Fv7.pdf
90290KCDC_Regional_SummaryWEB.pdf
90290KCDC_Regional_govern_submission_formWEB.pdf

© Scoop Media