Talking council governance

Masterton District councillors have agreed they need to talk among themselves about the options for the future governance of Wairarapa.

At Wednesday's council meeting councillors said they needed to attend an informal workshop or meeting in the future to discuss the options further, in order to get a better understanding of the issue themselves.

Councillor Gary Caffell said it's great that the future governance issue was being talked about.

"What I'd like to see is a meeting of some sort or workshop of councillors," he said.

He said he had come up with a list of "basic things" he would like to know, which he thought the public may be wondering about too.

"One of the things I get asked a lot is where will the headquarters be," he said.

"We're going to find when we go to the public this is what they will ask."

Councillor David Holmes said he would also like to know more information on the issue.

"I think it's important we be kept up to date with every little bit of information," he said.

"It's going to happen here - there's nothing surer."

Councillor Lyn Patterson said although those answers are important, the councils are not quite at the stage where they are ready to discuss them.

"I think we've got to explain to our ratepayers we're not near those decisions," she said.

"I think we have to make sure that we say 'hey, we're going to have an open debate'.... but at this stage it's about making sure our community are aware this debate is happening."

She agreed council needed to talk more among themselves, especially about things like the draft legislation that would affect any decision.

"We as a council need to sit and look at it as part of a governance workshop," she said.

"Nobody's got the answers."

Deputy mayor Jane Terpstra agreed council is not at the stage where it could discuss details of future governance, although the public is being involved through avenues such as a Facebook page and website set up on the issue. "We've only just started the process, really," she said.

"The second step that we're going to have is actually getting quite complex."

Councillor Chris Peterson agreed with Mrs Terpstra.

"It seems to me the more we delve into this, the more difficult and complex it becomes," he said.

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