Making a Submission to Representation Reviews

Have your say on representation

In 2009 some councils are reviewing their representation arrangements. You can have your say by making a submission during this process. Visit your local council's website to see if your council is reviewing it's representation arrangements, and details for making a submission.

Reviewing representation arrangements

A council is required, at least once every six years, to review its representation arrangements. It must consider -

• Whether council members should be elected from the whole district, wards, or from a mixture of both on an ‘at large’ basis.
• The areas of wards and constituencies and their boundaries.
• The number of members to be elected from each ward and constituency.
• Whether there should be community boards in a city or district.
• If there are to be community boards, the number of members of the board, and the boundaries of the community.

Representaion review process

The process is as follows –

• The council develops a proposal for its representation arrangements.
• The public has one month to make a submission on the council’s proposal.
• The council considers the submissions and makes a final decision.
• People who made a submission may appeal against the council’s final decision.
• If the council amends its proposal anyone may object to the council’s amended proposal.
• Where appeals and objections have been lodged the Local Government Commission considers the appeals and objections and makes a final decision.

Councils will generally publish the results of their reviews on their websites, while the Commission’s reviews and determinations are available at Local Government Commission website.