Council confirms final proposal for representation review

This week Stratford District Council considered the submissions received on its initial proposal regarding representation arrangements for the 2022 local elections.

A total of 17 submissions were received during the consultation period and 2 submitters spoke to their submissions at the hearing on Tuesday afternoon.

After reviewing the submissions, elected members discussed the options available to determine whether they retain their initial proposal or make amendments based on the feedback received.

Two elected members advocated for the introduction of some ‘at large’ seats as a change to the initial proposal, but this wasn’t supported by the majority and the proposal was put forward as it currently stood.

Council’s final proposal is that:

• there be 11 Councillors plus the Mayor;
• Councillors be elected by 3 wards (Urban, Rural and Māori Ward);
• the number of councillors for each ward be:
  • Rural Ward (4)
  • Urban Ward (6)
  • Māori Ward (1)
• the boundary of the urban ward be amended to include additional residential properties that associate more closely with the urban ward than the rural ward. This includes an area of Pembroke Road to the west and Mercade Estate at the east end of Pembroke Road.
• no community boards are established.

Council will meet in an Extraordinary Meeting on 26 October 2021 to adopt the minutes from the Representation Review Hearing held on Tuesday 12 October 2021 and adopt the Final Proposal.

Public notice of the Final Proposal will then be made before 31 October 2021, and the Final Proposal will be open for appeals and objections for one month following the notice.

If there are no appeals or objections then a public notice will be given that the Final Proposal constitutes the final representation arrangements for the next two local elections.