Representation Review Final Proposal

Thursday 20 September 2018

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 mailout 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.