Council preparing for consultation on Te Arawa partnership proposal

The Rotorua Lakes Council is making preparations to consult with the local community on a proposal for a new partnership model with Te Arawa.

This follows a decision by the council in December to approve "in principle" the partnership model presented to the mayor and councillors by Te Arawa representatives, and to undertake a programme of consultation before making any final decisions.

The council's Strategy & Partnerships group manager, Jean-Paul Gaston, said a draft 'statement of proposal' was currently being finalised and that document would form the basis of community consultation.

"The draft 'statement of proposal' is to go to a special council meeting on February 17 for discussion and ratification, and for decisions on a consultation process and timeframe," he said.

"The consultation programme could include a series of community information meetings held across the district to help people to understand the proposal, and so they could make informed submissions to the council."

Submissions would be able to be made in writing, by email and online via the council website. Submitters would also be invited to speak to the mayor and councillors in support of their submissions at public hearings.

The council will follow the provisions of Special Consultative Procedures set out in the Local Government Act. These require councils to identify their preferred position, and to also identify the other options that have been considered in reaching that position.

"For consultation purposes the council's preferred position will be the partnership model proposal presented by Te Arawa in December and approved 'in principle' by a 10-3 majority vote of councillors," Mr Gaston explained.

Te Arawa's partnership model proposes the establishment of an independent elected Te Arawa Board sitting outside of the council, to replace the now-disestablished former Te Arawa Standing Committee.

The new board would have two of its members appointed by the council to its Operations & Monitoring Committee, and to the Strategy, Policy & Finance Committee, with voting rights. There would also be a single Te Arawa Board representative appointed to the CEO's Performance Committee and RMA consent hearings panels.

Next week's council meeting to confirm the process and timeframe for public consultation on the Te Arawa Partnership Model proposal is set for 1pm on Tuesday 17 February in the Council Chamber at the Rotorua Lakes Council Civic Centre. The meeting is open to the public.

For the full story, read tomorrow's Rotorua Daily Post.