31 August 2017

New Community Panels up and running

Members of Hutt City Council’s four newly established Community Panels were inducted at a Council workshop last night.

The panels replace the four Northern, Eastern, Central and Western Hills wards’ Community Committees, which were dissolved before the local government elections in 2016. Each panel consists of up to five community members, who sit on the panels in a voluntary capacity, and two ward councillors.

Panel members represent their wards, providing local views and feedback on issues affecting their communities and the wider city.

Each panel will also manage a three-year Community Projects fund of $114,250 to be used for community assets like playgrounds, community gardens or safety improvements that are not funded by Council’s annual budget. This fund, and the panels’ operation costs, come from the budget of the now disbanded Community Committees.

Lower Hutt Mayor Ray Wallace says the panels will provide an important connection between ratepayers and residents and Council.

“Council has a number of ways to seek residents’ views on its strategies and plans, and our panel members will provide that all-important grass roots perspective on issues that are important to their communities.”

Panel members and chairs will receive training on Council processes and their new responsibilities and receive ongoing support.

Panel members and chairs are:
Western Hills Ward Eastern Ward
Tracey Coleman (chair) Michael Ellis (chair)
Gregguil Besa Lorraine Dick
Ellen Jackman Christine Wakefield
Paul Caygill Luke Qin
Pam Hindmarsh Ted Heslin

Northern Ward Central Ward
Haley Small (chair) Jo Clendon (chair)
Dina Awarau Alex Bengree
Jay Waters Christopher Hay
Matesha Kells Prabha Ravi
Matt Renata

ends

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