Council and Committees

Ordinary Council Meetings

Ordinary Council Meetings undertake decision-making business. Council meetings also include public forums and citizenship ceremonies, when required, and any other relevant Mayoral presentations.

Extraordinary Council Meetings

Extraordinary Council Meetings undertake urgent decision-making business. Extraordinary Council Meetings include only the urgent business, reasons for urgency, and not the usual Ordinary Council Meeting reports and business.

Open Workshops

Open Workshops are an informal forum for staff to bring information items or presentations to Council which, if undertaken at a Council meeting, could take a significant amount of time, and therefore restrict other business from being transacted.

No decisions or resolutions are made. Brief agendas are prepared and available on the Agendas and Minutes page.

There are no legal requirements relating to a quorum and Standing Orders do not apply.

Members of the public are welcome to attend but do not have speaking rights.

Closed Workshops

Closed Workshops are held occasionally, usually following Council Meetings, or Open Workshops in order for Council to discuss or receive information that is confidential due to various reasons. Often there is a need to hold Closed Workshops while Council is discussing the Annual Plan, Long Term Plan, budgets, negotiations or sensitive information.

The Audit and Risk Committee is to provide independent assurance and assistance to the Council on the risks, control, compliance framework and its external accounting responsibilities. This Committee is advisory only and should not assume any management functions or make decisions that are the statutory responsibility of the Chief Executive.

The Chief Executive's Performance Review Committee is responsible for undertaking and recommending to Council all matters pertaining to the annual performance review of Councils Chief Executive.

The Waimate District Council Appeal Panel has the power to receive objections as defined in the Dog Control Act:

1. 1996, primarily Barking Abatement Notices, Menacing Classifications, Dangerous
2. Dog Classification Disqualified Owner Classification and Probationary Owner Classification.

As at 28 March 2023, this Committee has not met since the Local Body Elections.

The Timaru, Mackenzie and Waimate District Licensing Committees (DLCs) are responsible under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 and its regulations, in the respective districts.

Functions of the DLC include:

• Determining applications for licences, managers’ certificates and renewals;
• Determining temporary authority applications;
• Varying, suspending or cancelling special licences;
• Referring applications to Alcohol Regulatory & Licensing Authority (ARLA);
• Conducting inquiries and making reports as required by ARLA; and
• Other functions conferred on it by any Act.

As at 28 March 2023, this Committee has not met since the Local Body Elections.

The Waimate Community ANZAC Group is responsible for facilitating the annual Waimate Community ANZAC Service, and assist alongside the Waimate RSA with the promotion and management of other ANZAC services.

The Waimate District Civic Awards Committee is responsible for the receiving, assessment and granting of approval for Council’s annual Civic Awards.

Creative Communities Scheme Committee

Administered by Council on behalf of Creative New Zealand the Committee is responsible for the assessment of applications and distribution of funds.

WDC Community & Sports Grants Committee

Administered by Council on behalf of Sport New Zealand the Committee is responsible for the assessment of applications and distribution of funds from Council’s Community and Sports Grant and the Rural Travel Fund Scheme.

Heritage Grant

Grant applications are taken directly to Council to make decisions.

Recreational Track Grant

Grant applications are taken directly to Council to make decisions.

The Rural Water Scheme Committees’ objective is to represent the needs and aspirations of the consumers in the provision of an adequate and wholesome water supply. The role of the Scheme Committee is to make recommendations to Council for its approval.

Hook Waituna Water Supply Committee

Waikakahi Water Supply Committee

Cannington-Motukaika Water Supply Committee

Otaio-Makikihi Water Supply Committee

Waihaorunga Water Supply Committee

Lower Waihao Water Supply Committee

There is no current committee.