Region delegates meet informally

Press, 8 October 1988, Page 1

Region delegates meet informally

By

KAY FORRESTER

Representatives from authorities within the new Canterbury region met informally in Christchurch yesterday to set an agenda for the first formal meeting of the transition committee for the new region.

That committee has the responsibility of implementing the Local Government Commission’s proposal for the region. It would meet formally on October 19, said the chief executive of the Canterbury United Council, Mr Malcolm Douglass, yesterday. The United Council has two members on the committee, each with three votes. Other authorities with representation are the Aorangi United Council (two), the North Canterbury Catchment Board, South Canterbury Catchment Board, Lyttelton Harbour Board, Timaru Harbour Board, and pest destruction boards and

South Canterbury Wallaby Board (one member each). The transition committee for the new Christchurch City is unlikely to meet before the November 10 closing date for submissions to the commission on reform proposals.

That committee has representatives of the seven uniting councils, including Lyttelton Borough and Mount Herbert County, which have vowed to fight their inclusion in the city. It would be virtually impossible for the transition committee to pursue its task of implementing the Christchurch City proposal when two of its member authorities are attempting to have the proposal altered. Instead, the authorities are likely to wait until submissions have closed and any changes to the proposal, the new Christchurch City and the transition

committee are made.

The Christchurch City Council’s local government working party has prepared a set of terms of reference for the transition committee as it stands and sent these for discussion to other affected authorities.

The future of the Banks Peninsula District, which at present includes Akaroa and Wairewa Counties and most of Mount Herbert County, is uncertain after special meetings in Lyttelton and Little River this week. On Thursday evening Lyttelton and Mount Herbert decided to push for their exclusion from Christchurch City and inclusion in Banks Peninsula District. Yesterday, Wairewa decided to make strong submissions for its exclusion from Banks Peninsula District and inclusion in Selwyn District, with which it had much stronger links, said the County Chairman, Mr Bill Thompson.