Maniototo Community Board members are supportive of a review that could propose changes to community board delegations, so long as they are still listened to.

That was the general consensus provided at the group’s first meeting of the year on Thursday.

Central Otago District Council chief executive Peter Kelly addressed the meeting remotely, asking members to consider the proposed changes to the board’s role in decision making.

The same had been put to the Vincent and Cromwell community boards earlier last week.

Vincent Community Board members agreed with the proposed amendments, while the Cromwell Community Board resolved to provide a submission on its view by the closing date of February 11 on the proposed changes. 

Proposed changes would include 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.

Peter told the Maniototo Community Board the aim was to determine if the delegations, as they stand, were still fit-for-purpose and in alignment with legislative requirements.

“This discussion and this paper is purely about the delegation to the community boards. It’s not about what subsequent decisions would be made,” he said.

“The role of the community boards will not change, regardless of the decision that council makes. That role is enshrined in law and it is still part of the delegations right at the front end.”

Central Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan said the delegations had not had a substantive review since the formation of the Central Otago District Council following amalgamation in 1989, that there had been significant change in the past 30 years, and there would continue to be change against a backdrop of predicted rising rates and debt.

Maniototo Community Board member Cr Stu Duncan said the proposed amendments could work to the community’s advantage because the board could be asked for opinions on reports about district-wide matters as well as the grass roots matters affecting the Maniototo ward.

The board moved to accept the proposed changes.

The Teviot Valley Community Board will get a chance to discuss the proposal when it meets  on Thursday, February 8.