Timing of amalgamation hearings poor

BY ALICE COWDREY

The Local Government Commission's timing around public consultation on amalgamation is all wrong, says the Tasman District Council.

Yesterday, councillors expressed concern that submissions on an investigation into amalgamation options open this month, coinciding with the election.

The process follows a petition launched by Nelson City councillor Aldo Miccio last year, which achieved enough signatures from Tasman District and Nelson City residents to start the commission's investigation.

Mr Miccio has also raised concerns over the timing.

"I am concerned that this timing does put undue pressure on the staff of both councils.

"I would like to see that the councils have time to prepare the written material they need to prepare at the first submission," he told Local Government Commission chief executive Donald Riezebos in an email.

Mr Riezebos told The Nelson Mail he would raise the concerns with commissioners.

Two weeks ago, Tasman Mayor Richard Kempthorne asked Mr Riezebos for the consultation process to be held after the election.

This week, Mr Riezebos sent an email to the Nelson City Council and Tasman District Council chief executives, indicating when the ball would start rolling.

"The commission noted that the closing date for the submissions would be soon after the triennial local authority elections, and that the new Nelson City and Tasman District councils were unlikely to be able to formulate substantive submissions by that date.

"Commissioners considered it was desirable to progress the proposal as expeditiously as possible. Any delay to the timetable would then see it run into Christmas-New Year period and beyond."

Mr Riezebos said it had been suggested the councils could make initial submissions by November, but then submit more detailed information at the time of the hearing in December. This would give them an additional six weeks to lengthen their submissions.

Mr Riezebos said the time frames were a rough guide and dates had not been set in stone.

During yesterday's meeting, Mr Kempthorne said the commission would also be asked to carry out an independent financial analysis of amalgamation before consultation started.

Mr Kempthorne said the cost benefits of amalgamation needed to be explored, because there had been unsubstantiated claims that it would save $5 million a year.

"People will ask what it will cost them. That is extremely important for informed debate."

Cr Stuart Bryant said the proposed consultation time frame fell at a busy time for rural people. It wasn't fair if they missed out, because they would be potentially disenfranchised by amalgamation.

"I think they should leave it until the new year."

Cr Michael Higgins said he agreed a financial analysis should be done.

"I do look forward to our own consideration of the issue. It's an opportunity as much as a threat. We really need to do an unbiased review ourselves to see if it's the best thing."

Deputy mayor Tim King said the time frame seemed short for such an important decision.

Councillor Judene Edgar said when a financial analysis was done for Kaikoura and Hurunui during a look into amalgamation for the two districts, it took five months to prepare.

Mr Riezebos said financial analysis had been done in the past.

"Usually, we do it after submissions. The submission process is used to sort out the issues.

"When Banks Peninsula was amalgamated, that was done after the submission process. But for the thing to go ahead, there would be a further round of consultation and that process would have the benefit of any independent reports."

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