Unitary authorities study veto

Michael Laws.
Michael Laws.
The Otago Regional Council has decided against a proposal to engage with territorial authorities to support an independent study on establishing ''unitary authorities'' in Otago.

Regional councillor Michael Laws, supported by fellow councillor Maggie Lawton, moved that the council support the study to ''assess the merits and demerits'' of ''unitary authorities'' and ''disestablishing'' the council.

But council chairman Stephen Woodhead emphasised the council was already working hard with territorial authorities on section 17A service delivery reviews under the Local Government Act.

The council was not resting on its laurels, but was continuing to work ''very hard'' across the whole region, including over ''improving the service'', Mr Woodhead said.

The Otago Chief Executives Forum has completed a high level review and recommended to the Otago Mayoral Forum that detailed investigative work be undertaken on the ''potential benefits for service review'' of groups involving solid waste, regulatory services, waterways and harbours, under the Act.

Mr Woodhead said that investigating structural changes at this stage would be an unwanted ''distraction'' from the council's busy work programme, including continuing moves to improve Otago fresh water quality.

Last month, the Dunedin City Council unanimously resolved that DCC staff prepare a high level report for the city council outlining ''the advantages and disadvantages of becoming a unitary authority''.

But many regional councillors attending a finance and corporate committee meeting yesterday said they had detected little appetite for change among territorial authorities, and said collaborative service improvements should be the priority rather than structural change.

Cr Bryan Scott said there had been some recent criticism of the ORC, but the organisation was performing well in key areas and continued to play a vital regional role.

Add a Comment