A super Council for Wellington?
Stuff reports:
A group of regional councillors is promoting the establishment of a Wellington super-city, sparking accusations of underhandedness among mayors.
The group says a “super-council” could be up and running in two years and consist of just 11 members.
The plans for a new Wellington council are revealed in a discussion paper being circulated by Greater Wellington regional council chairwoman Fran Wilde and other regional councillors.
So what is proposed:
The regional council, Wellington City Council and seven district and city councils would be abolished and replaced by the super-council and local community councils. Wellington City Council currently has neither the political nor legal mandate to consider regional interests or issues beyond its boundaries, the document says.
There are currently 87 councillors, eight mayors and 13 regional councillors across the region. Under the new proposal, the 11-member council would be made up of a representative each from Wairarapa, Porirua and Kapiti. Hutt Valley would have three and Wellington four, and a leader would be elected separately.
I’m all in favour. We don’t need 100 councillors for our region.