Representation Review 2018: Have your say on the Initial Proposal

UPDATE 21 September:

MEDIA ADVISORY

20 September 2018

Representation Review Final Proposal

Western Bay Council has adopted its final proposal for the review of representation arrangements for the 2019 and 2022 triennial elections.

Council is proposing a mix of community boards and ward councillor committees.

The final proposal follows a comprehensive consultation and engagement process to gain better understanding of the Western Bay community’s views on fair and effective representation, and communities of interest.

The final proposal would see:

• the number of councillors elected from the existing three wards remain unchanged at 11, with the Mayor elected on a District-wide basis.

• the first-past-the-post voting system retained

• a minor boundary adjustment between the Katikati/Waihi Beach and Kaimai Wards

• the Waihi Beach, Maketu and Te Puke community boards retained in their current boundaries

• the Katikati Community Board retained in the adjusted boundary

• the Omokoroa Community Board disestablished

• the establishment of ward councillor committees for the following areas:

• Kaimai Ward (including Omokoroa)

• the eastern end of the Maketu-Te Puke Ward (all areas not covered by the these two community boards – ie Paengaroa, Pongakawa, Pukehina and Otamarakau)

• the Matakana Island and Rangiwaea Island parts of the existing Katikati/Waihi Beach Ward (all areas not covered by the these two community boards)

This means that from 2019 Council would have four community boards - Waihi Beach; Katikati; Maketu and Te Puke: and three ward councillor committees - Kaimai; Eastern and Matakana/Rangiwaea Islands.

Mayor Garry Webber says the decision is the most pragmatic solution that Council could achieve in order to acknowledge the wishes of all the District’s communities.

“This will satisfy the requests of the majority of submitters and shows that we are happy to go out and talk with our communities, listen and to respond.”

Council undertook a preliminary informal engagement process in March and April this year including a mail-out to every household in the District. The 970 responses received helped Council develop the initial proposal.

The initial proposal was to replace the five existing community boards with three community committees, whose boundaries would match the wards and have a membership of people nominated from the community through an expression of interest-style process. The intention was to create a fairer and more effective way to represent all our District’s communities of interest.

Further consultation events took place on this proposal through July and August, including nine community have-your-say meetings, resulting in 460 submissions. Council considered this feedback when framing its final proposal.

The final proposal will be publicly notified on 2 October 2018 followed by a one-month appeal/objection period through to 2 November 2018. If any appeals or objections are received a final determination will be made by the Local Government Commission (which is independent of Council) by April next year.

Council is required to review its representation arrangements every six years, including the shape of the District’s voting wards, the number of elected councillors and to ensure that individuals and communities are democratically represented.

Ends

Is there a better way?

Every six years Western Bay of Plenty District Council reviews the way its communities are represented.

Council has been talking with Western Bay communities to get a feel of how our diverse District could be better represented.

We’re proposing two changes:

• To make a minor boundary adjustment between the Katikati-Waihi Beach/Kaimai wards to embrace a wider area of community interest

• To replace the five elected Community Boards (Waihi Beach, Katikati, Omokoroa, Te Puke and Maketu) with three appointed ward-based Community Committees. This aims to create opportunities for broader representation at a local level, to enable residents and ratepayers to have a greater voice and play a key partnership role with Council.

What do you think?

Please read the Representation Review Initial Proposal before making a submission.

How to have your say

• Online: Make a submission online by filling out the form below.

• Attend a community event: There are nine events throughout the District where you can find out more about the initial proposal.

• Community groups: If you belong to a community group and would like more information, call Council on 0800 926 732 (freephone) to request a meeting before the consultation period ends on Friday, 24 August 2018.

• Hardcopy: Printed copies of the initial proposal and submission forms are available at our service centres, please phone 0800 926 732 (freephone) or email haveyoursay@westernbay.govt.nz

• Hearings: For those of you that wish to make an oral submission to Council as part of the hearings process on Monday 3 September, please ensure you indicate that on the submission form.

The consultation period is open on Tuesday 24 July and closes at 5pm on Friday 24 August 2018.

Our commitment to your feedback

Your feedback is important to enable the completion of the Representation Review. Once the Review has been completed, every submitter will receive a Decision Story detailing the key decisions. The Decision Story will also be available on Council's website for anyone to access.