Lyttelton, Mt Herbert plan amalgamation

Press, 5 October 1987, Page 3

Lyttelton, Mt Herbert plan amalgamation

By

YVONNE MULDER

Two of Canterbury’s smallest local bodies are swimming against the anti-amalgamation tide. The Lyttelton Borough Council and the Mount Herbert County Council have drawn up a proposal for voluntary amalgamation. “The combined areas are well defined round the Lyttelton Harbour basin. It is separated from other places by a line of hills — a natural barrier,” ,said the Mayor of Lyttelton, Mr Mel Foster. Both the county and the borough would benefit from a single administration and a combined District Scheme and through the sharing of works equipment, he said. Mount Herbert County already shares many of the Lyttelton Borough’s employees, including the engineer and Town Clerk. Mount Herbert has only three full-time employees, all works staff. 1 The chairman of the Mount Herbert County Council, Mr David Collins, said the amalgamation would lead to efficiencies in the administration of

the area. The physical identification of the Lyttelton basin made amalgamation logical. "Most people do not know where the boundaries (of Lyttelton Borough and Mount Herbert County) are, and do not really care,” he said. For example, Diamond Harbour, directly across the harbour from Lyttelton, is surrounded by Mount Herbert County, but is actually part of Lyttelton Borough.

The two councils have submitted the amalgamation proposal to their residents for comment, and public meetings will be organised. The proposed new area would be called Lyttelton District and would come into effect no later than April 1, 1989. From the time of the union to the next council elections, due in October, 1989, the two present councils would combine — eight representatives from Mount Herbert and 10 from Lyttelton — to form the Lyttelton District Council. After the 1989 elections the new district would have 12 members including a ! mayor elected

from the whole district. In a newsletter to residents, the Mount Herbert County Council said the new Lyttelton District Council would give only half the representation per head of population as at present, and the new district would be dominated by the present Lyttelton area.

Lyttelton Borough has more than 3000 residents compared with Mount Herbert’s 1150. The newsletter also outlined the advantages of the amalgamation, including improved co-ordina-tion, planning and administration and a "louder and clearer voice” in the maritime planning of Lyttelton Harbour. The Lyttelton Borough Council has received an offer from another council to consider amalgamation. The Heathcote County Council formally invited Lyttelton to consider a joint administration or merger, but Lyttelton •sar'aLSO' •» Mount Herbert were complete, any consideration of a further amalgamation Was premature. ’ ■ . .