What is a community board?

Overview | Purpose of community boards | Delegations of community boards | Principles of delegations to community boards | Community board members' contact details

Purpose of community boards

The Local Government Act 1974 (Section 101ZY) states that the general purposes of a community board shall be:

consideration of and reporting on all matters referred to it by the territorial authority or any matter of interest or concern to the community board
overview of road works, water supply, sewerage, stormwater drainage, parks, recreational facilities, community activities and traffic management within the community
preparation of an annual submission to the budgetary process of the territorial authority for expenditure within the community
communication with community organisations and special interest groups within the community
performing of functions delegated to it under the authority of Section 101ZZ of the Local Government Act 1974.

Notes:

Under Section 101ZZ of the Local Government Act 1974 the following functions cannot be delegated to community boards:

powers and duties conferred or imposed on the council by the Public Works Act 1981, or those powers listed* in section 34(4) of the Resource Management Act 1991
power to borrow money, to make a rate or a charge in lieu of a rate, to make a bylaw, or to enter into a contract otherwise than in accordance with Section 4 of the Public Bodies Contract Act 1959
power to institute an action for the recovery of any amount in excess of $5000
power to acquire, hold or dispose of property
power to appoint, suspend or remove staff.

* NB The listed powers include:

approval of a district plan or any changes to a plan
making a recommendation on a requirement for a designation or a heritage order
granting of a resource consent for a notified non-complying resource consent application
further delegation of any functions, powers or duties delegated (to boards) by council under the Resource Management Act 1991.

The council may, however, delegate to a community board, power to do anything precedent to the exercise by the council (after consultation with the community board) of any of the above powers.

community board may establish committees and may delegate any of its functions, duties or powers to them. (refer to Sections 101ZU Local Government Act 1974. See note above, for restrictions on delegation under the Resource Management Act 1991).
ward managers are required to inform the manager committees of any committees established and their membership, and also details of any delegations given, for record purposes.

Updated April 2008