Chch amalgamation talks resume

Press, 4 February 1987, Page 9

Chch amalgamation talks resume

Local body amalgamation talks resumed in Christchurch yesterday with a special report on possible management structure for the proposed one-city council under scrutiny. Almost a full day was spent going over the 60page document, which was compiled by an independent , consultant and the four chief executive officers of the councils involved.

The local government conciliator, Mr Doug Pearson, said he was pleased with the amicable nature of the talks.

He has adjourned the talks until February 10 to allow the four councils to discuss the report. “I believe, significant progress will be made at the meeting next week,” he said.

After the meeting, Mr Pearson will reoort to the

Local Government Commission, which will make a final decision on amalgamation in Christchurch. The Heathcote County Chairman, Mr Oscar Alpers, said the report had filled in a number of gaps. He described the talks as a useful exercise.

He does not expect Heathcote, Riccarton, and Waimairi to change their opposition to the one-city council proposal, but he said that if the commission went ahead with forced amalgamation it would help clarify what changes might be sought to the proposed structure of the new council.

The Mayor of Christchurch, Sir Hamish Hay, said discussions on previously unresolved issues had been beneficial. He hoped that some form of consensus would be reached on February 10.

“The report may lead to the other councils’ seeing some merit in the commission proposal. I would like to think that we will see some consensus, even if it is not complete consensus,” he said.

The Christchurch City Council is the only local body to favour the commission’s proposal. The Mayor of Riccarton, Mr Richard Harrington, said the report was excellent considering the limited time in which it had been compiled.

He declined to comment on how his council might respond to the report when it meets on February 9 to discuss amalgamation.

The Waimairi District Chairman, Mrs Margaret Murray, said her council would also meet on February 9 to discuss the report.