When the council meeting opened last Wednesday morning, councillors heard from representatives of three of the district’s community boards.
Mayor Tim Cadogan said Maniototo Community Board chairman Rob Hazlett had declined to speak at the meeting, saying the board was "fairly neutral" on the matter.
Cromwell Community Board chairwoman Anna Harrison said while the board’s view was "not contrary" to districtisation, it was concerned local voice would be lost in decision making.
"It’s going to be really important, as we progress through these changes to representation, districtisation and delegations, that we put in place things that ensure that whoever is sitting around the table . . . local community voice is heard."
It was vital there be local input into council management of endowment land in the Cromwell Ward, to secure maximise benefit for Cromwell and carefully plan the use of proceeds from any land sale, she said.
"That is something that should be driven by the Cromwell Community Board . . . we get one shot at [a sale]."
Teviot Valley Community Board chairman Norman Dalley said the board had hesitations about districtisation but ultimately supported it.
"[The board] is nervous about the impact on our ratepayers of the districtisation of the remaining council services," he said.
However, it was "one of those changes which has to come".
The ward’s reserves should be used in the valley and the board needed to have ongoing input into council decisions in the area, he said.
"It’s really important that the advocacy process is given a great degree of thought.
"This comes back to us being able to have an equitable position at the table in terms of promoting growth in a ward that needs it."
The board supported change with the rating adjustment for the Teviot Valley ward to account for their community-run pools.
Vincent Community Board deputy chairman Jayden Cromb said change was necessary when the district faced record rates rises and the council was projected to meet its funding cap in the 2025/26 financial year.
"It is better to embrace change now while we have the chance, rather then being forced to do it later because we waited too long."
While there were risks to districtisation, the board believed the positives outweighed the negatives.
Having community boards continue to approve projects without having a district-wide lens was counterproductive, he said.
"Anyone that has spent time at Kmart knows it is not big ticket items that [push] your bill up, it’s little $5 and $10 items that leave you scratching your head at the checkout."
Mr Cromb was confident the community boards would still have a strong voice, particularly compared to others across the country.
"We need to ensure that we continue to work together through this process and not get caught up in an ‘us versus them’ mentality.
"It’s time we start paddling the waka in the same direction."
The council also heard 11 verbal submissions from residents and considered 336 written submissions.
