Peninsula plans to delegate reserve work

Press, 6 October 1989, Page 38

Peninsula plans to delegate reserve work

By

ANABRIGHT HAY

The Banks Peninsula transitional committee hopes the area’s reserve boards can be largely self-governing after local body amalgamation. It plans to delegate the maximum amount of reserve work to the boards. The committee, meeting in Duvauchelle, agreed there would have to be further consultation with the peninsula’s reserve boards to decide how this could be done. Discussions with the Audit Department will be held on the legal status of

the boards and how much financial autonomy they can have. The principle of delegating as much work and power to community boards as legally possible has also received the support of the committee. The Banks Peninsula district manager, Mr John Stott, said it should be the objective of each authority to provide the maximum opportunity for community input to deci-sion-making. He said the community board would provide a prospective overview of each local community,

which may not otherwise be available to the council. To provide community boards with a meaningful role it is essential the district council delegate full power when possible rather than only recommendatory' powers. The chairman of the transitional committee, Mr David Collins, said it was important the responsibilities of community boards be known as early as possible. Tannery approved The establishment of a small tannery at Birdlings Flat received approval at

the Wairewa County Council’s final meeting. Mr W. J. McEwan, a tanner recently made redundant plans to start a tannery at Forest View Road using animal skins from peninsula farms. The finished products will be marketed through craft shops on Banks Peninsula and in Christchurch. The application has been discussed with the county planner and the Christchurch City Health Department and is subject to conditions on drainage, waste disposal and chemical storage.