Chairman sees chance for public say

Press, 20 February 1986, Page 5

Chairman sees chance for public say

Democracy was a word that featured large in Mr Brian Elwood’s announcement of local government reform for Christchurch last evening; participation was another.

Mr Elwood, the Local Government Commission’s chairman, emphasised that the commission had no wish to create a “remote, monolithic bureaucracy divorced from the people it is intended to serve.”

“We are looking for more participation by residents. It is time citizens took a greater part in their own government.”

Several alternatives existed to ensure that the public had a say in government even with the larger councillor to ratepayer ratio that would exist under an amalgamated council. One was for citizen participation in council committees. “We would like to see

residents taking part in committees, sitting on them and contributing,” he said. Another was for ward committees to support ward councillors. This would give councillors and residents a chance to discuss issues and councillors the opportunity to assess how their electors felt.

Mr Elwood said the commission’s intention was for community-based service centres, spread about Christchurch. While administration and records would be centralised, services would be decentralised, he said. A computer hook-up would link the centres to the council headquarters. “That, I believe would get over the problem of a seemingly remote council aloof from its voters,” he said.

Mr Elwood said the commission was concerned to ensure the max-

imum opportunity for citizen involvement and influence, but only limited possibilities existed within the present law.

“If the one-city proposal is finally implemented the commission will discuss with the Government ways and means of improving the democratic process by allowing for increased citizens participation. We are seeking to strengthen local government, make it more efficient, and increase its democratic processes.

“Our objective is to encourage the people of Christchurch to have the vision and courage to accept a new system of local government which will give benefits, flowing from rationalisation, while we seek to expand the opportunity for people to get service and participate at the community level,” he said.