A move by Otago Regional Council chairman Stephen Cairns to get his council to consider restricting its activities to "core business" failed to gain traction at a meeting yesterday.
In December, he called for a policy paper looking at ways the council could focus on core business for the rest of its term.
That paper, written by chief executive Graeme Martin, was considered by the council yesterday.
It suggested the scope of regional council activities was restrained by statutory decision-making processes and ultimately by the decisions of the elected council itself.
The report made three recommendations: that the council would not undertake any activity or financially support a project that was properly the role or function of any other organisation; not already within the scope of its activities; or not an integral part of its existing budgeted work programme.
However, most councillors believed the recommendations were too "heavy-handed" or constrained the council's abilities.
Cr Duncan Butcher said the main problem was people approaching the council during annual plan time for financial support for their projects.
"We are not a granting organisation."
However, the council needed to be careful it did not "trip itself up" with policy, he said.
Cr Michael Deaker said the paper was valuable and a good reminder of the council's position, but would be better noted and kept in mind "in future assessments at annual plan time".
Cr Gretchen Robertson objected to the report, as she felt it was trying to shackle the community from coming forward to the council.
It was difficult to define "core business" and many of the activities the council was involved in could fall outside of too stricta definition, she said.
Cr Bryan Scott said the council needed some flexibility in what it chose to do and Cr Doug Brown thought the recommendations were a bit "heavy-handed".
Mr Cairns said he was disappointed, as he felt the paper was important.
He liked the recommendation that the council not undertake any activity or financially support a project not already within its scope.
"What I was trying to get was a more comprehensive policy, but the councillors said `No'," he said after the meeting.
He hoped the principles detailed in the paper would be communicated more widely during the annual plan process.
