The public will be given an opportunity to say how they think the Waitaki District Council should be structured and whether they want changes.
The council has decided to keep the existing structure - a mayor elected by the whole district, six councillors for the Oamaru ward, two for Corriedale and one each for the Waihemo and Ahuriri wards, along with five members elected for each of the Ahuriri and Waihemo Community Boards.
This decision follows a special representation sub-committee evaluation of options in a review the council is required to carry out before next year's election. The committee recommended no changes, which the council endorsed.
Other options looked at by the committee included whether the two community boards should continue, the Ahuriri ward should have its own councillor even though its population was considerably below the average per councillor for other wards, and whether wards should continue or councillors be elected across the whole district.
Before the council can make a final decision, it has to call for public submissions, which close on August 10.
The council will then make a final decision, which can be appealed to the Local Government Commission.
