Independents stand for Chch City Council

Press, 29 August 1986, Page 5

Independents stand for Chch City Council

' Four Independents have put their names in the Christchurch City Council hat for this year’s local body election. The four are sponsored by the Christchurch Ratepayers’ Protection Committee. Two will be candi- - dates in the West Ward and two in the East Ward. They are the Merivale rates revolt leader, Mr Kim Pettengell; a Christchurch City Council employee, Mr John Thacker; and two East Ward ratepayers, Mrs Ann Lewis and Mr Peter Foster. Several of the issues before the council at present have promoted the independent nominations.

Messrs Thacker and Pettengell oppose amalgamation and want rates

reduced. Mrs Lewis is a member of the Opawa-St Martins Neighbourhood Association that opposes the use of Hansen Park as a softball headquarters. Mrs Lewis, with Mr Foster, believes the administrative costs of the City could be reduced. She is keen to see improved council accountability.

Messrs Pettengell and Thacker are standing in the West Ward, Mrs Lewis and Mr Foster in the East Ward. All subscribe to the ratepayers’ committees policies. Those policies are aimed at reducing local government costs. They include using outside consultants and the tender system to provide

services cheaply, opposing speculative investment of ratepayers’ funds in commercial enterprises, decentralisation, open government, modernising and restructuring the City administration, delegating, decision-making to officers, reviewing bylaws and regulations, reviewing departments for cost efficiency, reviewing ad hoc bodies services, and using more democratic survey provisions to decide amalgamation issues. Nominations for all local authorities will close today at noon. Election day is October 11. This year the Christchurch City Council, and the city’s ad hoc bodies will have postal voting.