"From the time we started this process of looking at how many councillors and community board members there should be for the 2004 local body elections we expected that it would eventually go before the commission," Cr James says. "The Council expects the ultimate decision to be taken by an independent body and people interested in the process need to know that they still have an opportunity to object to what we propose and that those objections will be considered by the commission before it makes a decision."

The initial proposal put up for public consultation was for a Council of 16 members and the Mayor. The city would be divided into eight wards, with two councillors and four community board members elected from each.

The Council's Strategy and Finance Committee last month heard and considered the submissions. Because of a tight deadline, the committee had been given power by the full Council to make a decision following those hearings.

The committee, on behalf of the Council, decided to adopt the initial proposal as the final proposal, with some changes:

• Renaming the Waimairi Ward as the Fendalton Ward
• Renaming the Wigram Ward as the Riccarton Ward
• Renaming the Pegasus Ward as the New Brighton Ward
• Moving Brookhaven and the Ferrymead commercial area from the Linwood Ward into the Port Hills Ward
• Moving the area bounded by Straven Rd, Matai St West, Matai St East, Deans Ave and the Avon River from the Riccarton Ward into the Fendalton Ward
• Moving Kennedys Bush Rd, Halswell Quarry Park and the surrounding area from the Port Hills Ward into the Hillmorton Ward

The Council believes these changes to its initial proposal will result in more effective representation and more accurately reflect communities of interest within those areas.

Rights to appeal/object

Anyone who made a submission on the initial proposal can appeal against this decision. Their appeal must relate to the matters raised in their submission. As well, anyone who did not lodge a submission but objects to the final proposal can object to it. The Councilfs proposal and any appeals and objections will then be sent to the Local Government Commission for consideration and a final decision.

• Appeals and objections must be in writing, and must say which part of the final proposal is being objected to. They must be in by 4pm on 19 December 2003. Send them to the Council Secretary, Christchurch City Council, PO Box 237, Christchurch.
• A public notice detailing the Council's decision regarding the submissions on its initial proposal was published in The Press on 18 November
• The 2004 council and community board election date is 9 October 2004, with postal voting in the three weeks leading up to that date. Earlier, the Council asked the people of Christchurch if they wanted to change the electoral system to the single transferable voting (STV) system. They decided to stay with the firstpast- the-post (FPP) system