Last July the commission said it would undertake an investigation in relation to the Southland District Council’s reorganisation initiative, which aimed to reduce the region’s authorities to two.
The commission had just completed the first phase of its investigation when Head Start was launched in May, giving councils around the country three months to deliver a proposal for organisation.
Failing that, the decisions would be made by the government.
Gore Mayor Ben Bell had previously suggested reorganisation could expand to include Central Otago and the Clutha councils, as they already had ties through the new water council-controlled organisation and shared services, and would benefit an economy of scale.
Commission chief executive Linda Canton said in a statement it had to continue with its investigation.
‘‘The commission is required to continue working within the current legislative framework, which means that our roles and responsibilities remain unchanged.
‘‘With that in mind, our focus remains on progressing the current investigation in line with the established investigation process, while remaining aware of wider developments and any implications they may have over time.’’
Phase two of the investigation is expected to continue until November, and ‘‘involves assessing potential local government reorganisation options in response to the matters identified during phase one’’, such as cost benefit analysis, gathering information from communities of interest, and potential impacts and opinions of communities.
‘‘As part of this, the commission will engage with councils and Te Ao Mārama Incorporated (on behalf of Ngāi Tahu ki Murihiku and Papatipu Rūnanga), stakeholders and the wider community
‘‘At the conclusion of phase two, the commission will publish a report and decide whether the investigation should proceed to phase three,’’ she said.
‘‘If it proceeds, a draft reorganisation plan would be released for formal public consultation’’.
She could not provide information on the cost of the ongoing investigation as it was being covered within the commission’s existing operational budget, with expenses being for staff time and ‘‘external specialist expertise’’.
Those costs were open to change as the investigation proceeded, Mrs Canton said.
When asked if there could be differing outcomes between the councils involved in both Head Start and the commission’s investigation, Mrs Canton said it was not her place to speak on what would happen afterwards.
‘‘The commission’s role and processes are set out in legislation and it is required to act within that framework.
‘‘It is not appropriate for us to speculate on other possible processes or outcomes.’’
