The purpose of the Southland District Council is to enable democratic decision-making to promote the social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being of

communities within the District in the present and for the future.

To accomplish this, the Council has overall responsibility and accountability in a variety of roles including:

Planning the District’s strategic direction alongside local communities within the District as part of developing the Long Term Council Community Plan to promote the

social, economic, environmental and cultural wellbeing of communities.

Facilitating solutions to local issues and needs.

Advocacy on behalf of the local community with Central Government, other local authorities and other agencies.

Providing prudent stewardship and the efficient and effective use of resources within the District in a sustainable way.

Risk management.

Management of local infrastructure including network infrastructure (eg roads, sewage disposal, water, stormwater) and community infrastructure (eg libraries,

reserves and recreational facilities).

Administering various legal and regulatory requirements.

Ensuring the integrity of management control systems.

Informing and reporting to communities, ratepayers and residents.

Council -

The Council consists of a Mayor and 12 Councillors - one from each of the District’s wards - elected by Southland District residents/ratepayers triennially. The Council

believes that its democratic election ensures that it is able to operate in the best interests of the District. The Council is responsible for:

Representing the interests of the District.

Developing and approving Council policy.

Determining the expenditure and funding requirements of the Council through the planning process.

Monitoring the performance of the Council against its stated objectives and policies.

Employing, overseeing and monitoring the Chief Executive’s performance (under the Local Government Act the local authority employs the Chief Executive, who in

turn employs all other staff on its behalf).

Community Development Area Sub-Committees (CDA’s) -

Throughout the District 16 Community Development Areas have been identified and established, which include local townships and surrounding areas. The purpose of CDA Sub-Committees is to further encourage local input in addressing the needs of local communities and assessing priorities. Committees operate with powers mainly limited to recommendations to Community Boards and/or Council depending on their locality.

Water Supply Committees -

The Council has constituted seven Water Supply Committees, which are each responsible for the overall governance of the respective water supply scheme and set priorities for the operations of the schemes in accordance with the policies of the Council.

In addition to the above committees, the Council has a working relationship with 52 Community Centre and Hall Committees and 16 Reserves Committees.