Council progresses work on Head Start proposal

Invercargill City Council has agreed to continue developing a proposal for one Southland council through the Government's Head Start process, with a final decision on whether to submit it to the Government to be made on 6 August.

Council considered a staff report, community feedback, recommendations from the Local Democracy Enhancement Working Party, Ngāi Tahu ki Murihiku and Environment Southland at an Extraordinary Council Meeting yesterday (23 July).

Councillors unanimously agreed to options for how local democracy could operate under a one council model. This included having ward boundaries based on Invercargill, Gore and the Freshwater Management Units used by Environment Southland, equal rural and urban representation, between of 12-16 Councillors, and local boards, instead of community boards, to ensure communities continue to have a strong local voice.

Mayor Tom Campbell said the work reflected Council's commitment to exploring what would best serve Southland's future.

“We've consistently said that our starting position is One Southland because we believe it has the greatest potential to simplify local government, strengthen regional decision-making and deliver better outcomes for our communities. While we’re currently progressing this process alone, we’re still open to working collaboratively with our neighbouring councils.

“The decisions made today support much of the feedback we have received, which indicated governance should be done on a local level where possible and on a regional level where necessary. Now we can continue developing our proposal so Councillors have the fullest possible picture before making a final decision on 6 August.”

Council would continue refining a proposal for a single unitary authority across the Southland region to submit to the Government by the 9 August deadline, building on technical advice, financial modelling and community and iwi feedback gathered over recent weeks.

While most resolutions were passed unanimously, the decision to continue developing a Head Start proposal was carried 6–3, with Mayor Tom Campbell, Deputy Mayor Grant Dermody and Councillors Darren Ludlow, Trish Boyle, Barry Stewart and Ria Bond voting in favour, and Councillors Alex Crackett, Steve Broad and Andrea de Vries voting against.

The meeting also follows the Local Government Commission's announcement that it will undertake further modelling and public engagement on two governance options as part of its independent review either a single Southland-wide unitary council supported by local boards or, two unitary councils with one based around Invercargill and one covering Southland and Gore, each supported by local boards.