Publisher's Synopsis
This Bill provides the legislative basis for proposed reforms to local government and gives effect to the Executive's decisions on the future shape of local government. This includes: rationalising the current 26 district councils to create 11 new district councils; introducing new governance arrangements for councils to ensure the protection of the rights of all people and also provide for fair, transparent and efficient decision-making; developing a new council-led community planning process and introducing a power of well-being; transferring a range of functions from central to local government; and developing appropriate performance management systems for district councils. The reforms are comprehensive, impacting on every aspect of the operation of councils, including how decisions are made, how positions of responsibility on a council are shared across the political parties, and how improvements in the delivery of council function
