Councils meet in private on union

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 3, Issue 35, 11 February 1986, Page 1

Councils meet in private on union

The formation of the proposed Waimarino district council was discussed in committee by steering committee members of the three local authorities at a combined meeting last Thursday evening. Independent chairman Fred Spindley, former district clerk with the Waipukurau County, suggested to councillors that they might consider excluding the press. "At times it is necessary for certain things to be kept in committee . . . to allow the free flow of comment and at the same time be uninhL bited," he ^aid. Press release He said however that there should be a press release agreed to by the mayors of Ohakune and Raetihi, and by the chairman of the Waimarino County Council, at the conclusion of the meeting, because "the people must be kept informed." Discussion followed, during which Cr Errol Sue of Ohakune said he thought it was minuted that the steering committee had voted at a previous meeting to allow the press to attend meetings. Cr Gavin Jones of the Waimarino County Council moved that the meeting be held in committee, and this was seconded by Cr Malcolm Whale. This was passed with one dissenting vote, that of Cr Ellen Gould of Ohakune. "Having the discussion in precis form rather than the ins and outs would be beneficial. . . " said Cr Jones. Earlier in the meeting Ohakune mayor Bill Taylor had welcomed Mr Spindley, and Mr Spindley outlined his experience with several local authority amalgamations in the Waipukurau area, which gave him considerable insight into the peculiar problems associated with such unions. He went on to point out to councillors that any decision they made should have the betterment of local government in the district as its aim. Profltable Although no press statement was issued all three council leaders said the meeting had been amicable and profitable. Apparently a tentative agreement was reached on the thorny issue of representation which has divided the three councils up to now. A formula of five councillors from the Waimarino County Council and three each from Ohakune and Raetihi Boroughs was agreed to, subject to approval by individual councils. This was a change from

the previous five-four-four proposal and, according to Bill Taylor, Mayor of Ohakune, it provided a satisfactory compromise as well as a council of reasonable size. Raetihi Mayor, Garrick Workman, said that the concession of one representative each by the two boroughs helped to get a decision made, and he was pleased that the linking of representation to the cost of administration had been laid to rest. Waimarino County Council chairman, Bruce Berry, said that he had moved an amendment that representation be six-three-three but this was lost on a vote. "We felt we were entitled to this but it will go to our council for approval — we have no intention of stirring strife, we must be united amicably," he said. The steering committee members confirmed other issues including the name of the proposed council, the Waimarino district council, the administration centre to be in Ohakune, the election of a mayor at large, and the ward system. The agreed proposal will be written up by the independent chairman, Fred Spindly, to be ratified by individual councils before final approval is made. Mr Taylor said that he hoped that the proposals would go to the Local Government Commission before the visit of the chairman of the commission, Mr Elwood, on 10 March.