Council decides next steps on local government reform

7 june, 2013

Kāpiti Coast District Council has voted unanimously not to combine with Wellington Regional Council in submitting a joint proposal for a single city option for the Wellington region.

Councillors were heavily influenced by the results of a recent telephone survey revealing the majority of Kāpiti residents (55%) support retaining the current structure of local government.

“This was a large sample and a robust survey,” said Mayor Jenny Rowan. “Our community has clearly stated it doesn’t want whole scale change and we need to support that view.”

However, during a long debate, the Mayor and Councillors expressed the strong view that maintaining the status quo should not mean business as usual.

“Even if the structures don’t significantly change, the behaviours and processes will. We need to continue to work on sharing services, doing things smarter and gaining greater efficiencies and cost savings. Above all we need to break down the barriers that separate us. The Wellington region needs a strong unified voice if this region is to grow and prosper,” said Mayor Rowan.

If a single city model is preferred by the Local Government Commission, Councillors, guided by strong community feedback, stated a preference for a two tier structure that retained local structures such as community boards or their equivalent.

“This district is made up of very distinct communities that need their own voice and representation. That will be a vital requirement of any model we propose.”

In determining the next steps forward in Local Government reform, Councillors unanimously voted to:

• support the application to the Local government Commission by the Wairarapa Councils to become a single unitary authority.
• decline to put in a joint proposal with the Greater Wellington Regional Council on a single city option for the Wellington Region
• support an improved status quo model of a Kāpiti Coast District Council and Regional Council
• if the Local Government Commission prefers a single city option, Council’s preference would be for a two tier structure that preserved local democratic structures such as community boards or their equivalents
• advocate for effective partnerships and representation arrangements for tangata whenua.

ENDS

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