Community Boards How Christchurch 2021 makes a difference through Community Boards
What is a Community Board?
The community board is the first step of elected government at a local level to tackle social and environmental problems and enhance our community. There are eight community boards within the city of Christchurch. Each Community Board has five directly elected members and two appointed Councillors. The exception being Banks Peninsula ward which elects only one councillor. Currently 14 of the 30 Community Board elected members belong to Christchurch 2021.
How many people do Community Boards represent?
There are six Community Boards in metropolitan Christchurch each covering a ward of 50-60,000 people:
What does a Community Board do?
A Community Board deals with all local issues: local roads, local parks, footpaths, traffic engineering, community facilities, community safety, community development and any other social and environmental problems that are brought to its attention.
The role is to "represent and act as an advocate for the interests of the community". This includes promoting ideas or concerns to Council staff and Councillors, and having community projects confirmed by working collaboratively with Council. However, sometimes the Community Board decides to take an opposing position to the Council. Community Boards recently opposed the Council proposal to allow the unrestrained growth of pokie machines in Christchurch.
There is also an important consultation role. The Community Board acts as an interface between the council and the community. Board members need to hear a diversity of viewpoints and concerns in the community, represent and communicate these to the council, and work towards a common understanding. Community Boards contribute to the development of community board policy and make submissions on council policies.
Community boards also "maintain an overview of services provided by the Council within the Community". Much of these relate to transport and streets as well as reserves and park issues.
Another Community Board role is to distribute funds from Council to community groups and organisations. Each year $390,000 is made available to each metropolitan Community Board to fund local community projects. This sum is divided into various funding streams. Community board funding is a good investment and develops the social fabric of our community.
Initiatives by Community Boards
Community Boards are not restricted to the activities listed above. They can undertake any initiative within their legal powers, as the funding referred to above gives them some financial independence. One Community Board has developed a community gardens outreach programme and published a services directory for older persons. Another has championed a major waterway restoration project.
What ward do I live in?
When your voting papers arrive in late September they will be specific to you and
your ward. If you want to know what ward you live in contact Christchurch
City Council or contact us.
How do Christchurch 2021 Community Board Members do their jobs?
Community Boards in Christchurch, formerly a model for the rest of New Zealand, have experienced a setback under the current City Council. Frequent staff changes have hindered their work. Corporate managers have attempted to restrict rights they had exercised since their establishment under the Local Government Act in 1989. In some cases they have been refused access to such basic information as the 5 year roading programme. The funds which each board receives for projects and distribution to groups ($390,000) has been eroded by inflation, as it has not been increased since 2001.
Strengthening Community Boards
The policy of Christchurch 2021 is to provide Community Boards with stable staffing and with the information they need to do their job. A Christchurch 2021 Council will ensure their funding is increased in line with inflation so that they can continue to respond to local community needs and to support a range of community, recreational and sporting groups.
In summary, Christchurch 2021 believes the role of a Community Board Member is to know the community, to consult the residents, listen to them, represent them, and enable them to participate in the decision-making. Christchurch 2021 believes Community Boards are a valuable part of local democracy.
River Raft Race Day - Sponsored by Spreydon Heathcote Community Board
Home the Range - Community Planting at Charlesworth
