‘Think tank’ on local govt reform winds up

Press, 18 March 1988, Page 7

‘Think tank’ on local govt reform winds up

More than 30 local government officials! from throughout New Zealand will wind up a | “think tank” in Wellington today on the officials’ local government reform i document.

They hope to produce not a blueprint for local authorities’ response to the Officials’. Co-ordinat-ing Committee on Local Government discussion document but a j second discussion document summarising the thoughts of authorities and the “think tank” group. (

Authorities are required to make submissions on

the question-and-answer document, dubbed the Blue Book, to the Officials’ Committee on April 8. It was because of this tight timetable that the New Zealand Local Government Association got together the "think tank,” said its chief executive. Mr„Brian McLay, yesterday". “We have chief executives,' town planners, and financial people in the group to give different perspectives. Additionally, local authorities have been sending in their preliminary thoughts. Our

aim is to co-ordinate all of that into an overview which we will present to the Official's Committee and which we will send to authorities next week to help them) with their submissions,” he said. '.( | i The "think tank” would not direct authorities on what their response should be, said the secretary of I the Municipal Association, j Mr Colin Archer. |

“What is (produced will not be a blueprint for the response toj the Officials’ Committee, j Each authority will (have a different I I -

response. Rather we are sorting out ar;as where perhaps questions have not been asked, and coordinating the views so far.” j The submissions! of local authorities will be directed to thb Officials’ Committee through! the (Local Government Association. ( The Christchurch; City Council whose chief executive, Mr John Gray, is part of the " hink tank,” has called a special meeting on March 28 to debate the Blue Book.