Delegated authority given to community boards looks set to change for the first time in more than 20 years, under a local government review, so far with mixed reaction.

New Central Otago District Council chief executive Peter Kelly presented both the Vincent and Cromwell Community Boards this week with a report for discussion, proposing a more district-wide view of critical decisions.

Community boards would be tasked with advocating and gaining feedback from a grassroots level within their wards in accordance with provisions in the Local Government Act 2002, and then be able to feed this back to council.   

“These changes acknowledge the ongoing importance of the community boards in being a strong voice for their community . . .,” his report stated.

Examples such as the Long Term Plan would still need individual community board views, whilst decisions about Three Waters would obviously be made at a council level.

Mayor Tim Cadogan added that reports from each ward would be presented in person (or by zoom) to the council each meeting, while deputy Mayor Neil Gillespie questioned whether that would make more work overall. However, given that there had not been a review since 2001, he said the timing was right.

Neil said it was important that council was supportive of what community boards were trying to do.

“Maybe too often throughout the process it’s been more of a ‘rubberstamp’ situation without too much understanding,” he said, referring to past issues.

Regarding the Cromwell Hall, he said looking at the “eyewatering” numbers for the rebuild, it was appropriate that the council has a far closer look at what was going on.

“But, please don’t take away from the community boards what they set out to do. They are the eyes and ears of the community," he said.

Board chair Anna Harrison questioned whether the review would lead to a loss of local decision making, reminding the meeting about how vocal Cromwell members were regarding the way the council handled the hangars at the airport.

Members will have the opportunity to discuss the proposed changes and make submissions by February 11.

Submissions would be collated into a report that will be presented to council at its February 2024 meeting.  

Mayor Cadogan concluded that information circulating in the community about boards losing their assets was incorrect, as the land in each ward was owned, and always would be, by council.