CODC preparing its submission on Future for Local Government Review
Central Otago District Council (CODC) is encouraging its community to take an interest on the Future for Local Government review.
Council today (Wednesday 14 December) received a report to consider the process for its own Future for Local Government submission.
Central Otago District Council will not be undertaking formal community engagement on the topic due to time constraints, the complexity of the report and the fact the submission relates to government, rather than Council, decision-making. However, CODC has formed a working group of both staff and an elected member representative to dissect the report and provide advice to elected members to assist in the submission process. Its final submission will be approved early in the new year and made publicly available.
The Future for Local Government is a Ministerial Review into how our system of local democracy and governance in New Zealand should evolve over the next 30 years to improve the wellbeing of communities and the environment and actively embody the Treaty relationship. The review looks to address current, emerging and future challenges facing our sector and communities.
Over the last 18 months the review panel has talked with over 1000 people and received 5000 submissions which have fed into a draft report.
The draft report and recommendations on the future for local government, He mata whāriki, he matawhanui, was released on 28 October 2022. The 261-page report is considered a ‘provocation’, intended to promote discussion through a number of concepts, principles, ideas and outcomes. Submissions are invited to shape the final report and recommendations.
Members of CODC’s working group have undertaken an initial analysis of the report, attended sessions with Local Government New Zealand and met with neighbouring councils. The working group recommended a series of workshops with Council to develop the content of the submission.
Members of the community can find more information on the review and make a submission on the draft report by 28 February 2023 at www.futureforlocalgovernment.govt.nz.
