Nelson City Council supports independent review of local government

At its fortnightly meeting yesterday, Nelson City Council resolved to support the Local Government Commission’s independent review of governance in the region. Earlier in the month, a petition for the union of Nelson and Tasman unitary councils had been confirmed as reaching the necessary number of signatures to require a review of council options for the region.

Nelson City Council Chief Executive Keith Marshall said the review process is complex.

“The Local Government Commission will coordinate the review and they have been in touch with us to outline the complicated process. Broadly speaking however, the Commission will conduct a two month public consultation and carry out other enquiries to draw a clear picture of the region before making a recommendation – either a draft reorganisation scheme or abandoning the proposal.”

Mr Marshall said the timetable for the review has not been set, but that it is expected to start later in the year.