The district council has until August 9 to submit its proposal for how it will amalgamate with neighbouring districts or make a case to be a unitary authority as part of the Government restructuring local government. The public-excluded briefing followed a large community response to a council survey which received 6900 submissions. Initial survey results show 46% of respondents asked the district council to explore amalgamating with other neighbouring councils, and becoming a Selwyn-based unitary authority. Other results from the survey included 34% of responses
said only to explore becoming a Selwyn-based unitary authority, and 13.2% said the council should only look at amalgamation. The majority of submissions (36%) came from Rolleston, followed by Lincoln (16.5%) and West Melton (8.5%). Gliddon said the briefing was held in public excluded to allow councillors to discuss early-stage ideas, information relating to commercially sensitive council operations, and receive “free and frank” advice from staff. While no decisions were made, Selwyn Times understands the two likely options are Selwyn being a standalone unitary or
a merger of some kind with Ashburton, but Gliddon said it was too early to say whether a merger with Ashburton is a viable option. “We are aware Ashburton is consulting its community and respect that process. From Selwyn’s perspective, we are still working through our own community feedback and potential options.” Last month Christchurch City councillor Sam MacDonald made headlines for suggesting Selwyn and Waimakariri residents should be tolled if they do not amalgamate with Christchurch. Gliddon did not respond directly to a Selwyn
Times question if the MacDonald controversy was factor in going behind closed doors. All she would say was: “We want elected members to be able to test theories and assumptions without them being taken out of context.” District councillor Samuel Wilshire, who hit back at MacDonald at the time, did not believe it had any effect on it being a closed-door meeting. “It was more of a workshop; there were no decisions made; it was just sound boarding ideas with staff,” he said. Gliddon said
a public briefing will be held on July 15, which will include all information that is not commercially sensitive, including survey results, next steps and further community engagement. “We have been very open with the community on our process and will continue to do so as we work through this important work,” she said. Submitters’ top three priorities were affordable rates, reliable services, and effective management of regional services.
Selwyn district council, unitary authority, amalgamation, Ashburton, local government restructuring, Gliddon, survey results, Rolleston, Lincoln, West Melton, July 15 briefing, August 9 deadline, Sam MacDonald, Samuel Wilshire