Recent Council Meeting News
Held 23 July 2002

1. Single Transferable Voting

Council discussed various options for altering the way in which councillors are elected. Discussion of this matter was prompted by the suggestion from Christopher Paul that Council adopt the Single Transferable Voting (STV) System. Mr Paul argued during public comment time that the STV System is fairer in that everyone's vote is counted.

Council decided not to canvass support for changing the electoral system from a first past the post system to the STV system. The main reasons for choosing not to take any action at present were as follows:

• STV is a complex electoral system that may be confusing for electors.
• It is prudent to wait until the system is used by the District Health Boards during the next triennial elections, to see how it worked.
• Council should adopt a low-risk position until more publicity and information is available.
• There is no apparent call from the public to adopt the system.
• It would be expensive to conduct a poll without any apparent public call for it.
• Council considers that if there is enough support for the adoption of the STV system ion the community then the 5% support needed for a poll to be conducted is not too demanding.

2. Restrictions On Public Comment

A proposal was put forward to have anyone wanting to make public comment at a meeting give written notice by 12 noon the day before the meeting. It would also have allowed the Mayor to have the right to veto applications to speak. The planned change to standing orders needed the support of two thirds of councillors in order to pass. The proposal was rejected with four of the 12 councillors voting against the motion. Please read the August Stokes Valley Times Online Editorial for more. 

3. New Computer Equipment Etc...

The Council meeting room has been fitted out with new equipment, including $23,000 worth of slim-line plasma computer terminal screens.