Home - Minutes - 22 November 06

Notes from Referendum Working Party held 22 November 2005 at 2.30pm

Present: Mayor Michael Laws, Crs Randhir Dahya, Murray Hughes, Don McGregor, Dot McKinnon and Sue Westwood, Ian McGowan, Kevin Ross, Stuart Hylton, Helen Lawrence, Noeline Moosman, Julian Reweti and Jay Paterson. Minutes: Helen Couper.

Purpose of meeting is to sign of information package to be sent out by NZ Post on 5 December, and voting papers to be sent out towards end of January 2006.

The following points were raised during discussion regarding the information package. Helen Lawrence noted alterations required for Referendum publicity/information:

  • Related papers on website
  • Customer Services will pick up emails sent in and pass to appropriate person.
  • Someone must be responsible for providing reply - Action Kevin.

Water fluoridation

  • Water fluoridation - move as much of emotionalism from statements and verified statements.
  • Both sides have been given copy of each other’s contribution.
  • Agreed to change words to ‘lower socio economic families’.
  • Need to break up text on page 3 with pictures
  • Helen Lawrence complimented on referendum information document.
  • Fluoridation text complex for targeted reading age – agreed issue is complex issue and information is neutral.
  • Important staff are able to answer queries i.e. how much of the water that is fluoridated goes through our industrial area. Julian Reweti to provide information for website.
  • Frequently asked questions with answers to be provided for website.
  • Front page to advise that Council will host public meetings to give people the opportunity to attend meetings and ask questions.
  • Too much information in current form - more design work needed.

Representation

  • Representation – a lot of discussion regarding Local Government Commission – agreed to delete last sentence in 1 st paragraph.
  • Last sentence in last paragraph misleading - to be deleted.

Numbers of councillors

  • Cr McGregor suggested two changes to the disadvantages of reducing councillor numbers. The first change was voted on and lost. The second change, Councillors may have less contact with individuals in the community, was agreed to.
  • Agreed to remove last sentence of 3 rd paragraph.
  • More design work needed on fluoridation so it doesn’t dominate this paper.
  • Headings need to be bigger, maybe double the size.
 

Home || Introduction || Working Party|| Referendum '06 : The Topics

Wanganui District Council Web site