Local govt constraint study

Press, 19 June 1986, Page 9

Local govt constraint study

New Zealand’s territorial and regional authorities should receive a letter soqn asking their opinion of lifting constraints on their activities. The Minister of Local Government, Dr Bassett, is writing to councils and boards seeking their advice on increasing their functions. Local authorities can perform only those functions specifically listed in local government legislation. The Minister and the

Local Government Commission have said the law should be changed. That change could take the form of turning the legislation upside down so that authorities can do anything not specifically listed as prohibited activity. The Minister’s office confirmed yesterday that letters posted to councils commend to them the principles outlined in the Statement of Government Expenditure Reform,

1986. The section on local government in Mr Douglas’s statement says many of the principles applied to State trading could be applied to territorial authorities* trading. The Government wants advice on how to remove restrictions on local government Should “enabling legislation” or “powers of competence” legislation be introduced it would mean wide changes.

The changes would be some way . off yet, the Minister’s office said. Dr Bassett’s private secretary, Mr Brian Mason, said the office had received little correspondence about local government changes, which was as it should be. At this stage, people should direct their objections and comments to the Local Government Commission.