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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1986
+THE URBAN COUNCIL BILL SEEKS TO REDEFINE THE JURISDICTION OF THE URBAN COUNCIL AREA BECAUSE THE EXISTING ADMINISTRATIVE BOUNDARY OF THE COUNCIL IS DIFFERENT FROM ITS ELECTORAL BOUNDARY, MR WIGGHAM SAID.
PROPOSALS IN THE BILL ALSO SEEK TO LIFT CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS TO ALLOW THE TWO COUNCILS TO PROVIDE RECIPROCAL ACTIVITIES IN RECREATION, CULTURE AND TRAINING.
✦UNDER THE ORDINANCE ALL THE URBAN COUNCIL'S POWERS ARE CURRENTLY RESTRICTED TO THE URBAN AREAS, WHICH IS CONSIDERED UNDULY LIMITING,+ MR WIGGHAM SAID.
+THE BILL THEREFORE PROPOSES THAT IN FUTURE THE URBAN COUNCIL, LIKE THE REGIONAL COUNCIL, WILL ONLY BE RESTRICTED TO ITS JURISDICTIONAL AREAS IN TERMS OF ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING PUBLIC PLACES AND FACILITIES RELATED TO RECREATION AND CULTURE.
THIS WILL ALLOW THE URBAN COUNCIL TO ARRANGE, FOR EXAMPLE, SPORTS TRAINING CAMPS AT THE JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE. IT ALSO PERMITS THE TWO COUNCILS TO ACT TOGETHER, FOR INSTANCE IN CONSTRUCTING AND RUNNING A STAFF TRAINING SCHOOL, HE ADDED.
+THESE ARRANGEMENTS ARE CONSIDERED HIGHLY DESIRABLE IN TERMS OF PROVIDING A FULL SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC, COST EFFECTIVENESS AND ADMINISTRATIVE CONVENIENCE, HE SAID.
AT PRESENT. THE URBAN COUNCIL'S SURPLUS FUNDS COULD BE LEGALLY INVESTED ONLY IN SUCH INVESTMENTS AS THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY CONSIDERED APPROPRIATE.
+THE BILL PROPOSES TO RELAX THIS REQUIREMENT BY ALLOWING THE COUNCIL TO DEPOSIT MONEY IN A LICENSED BANK WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, AND IT ALSO SPECIFIES THAT THE COUNCIL IS EMPOWERED TO ENTER INTO CONTRACTS OR ENGAGE FULL-TIME OR PART-TIME STAFF, SAID MR WIGGHAM.
+THE BILL ALSO CLARIFIES THE STATUS OF THE URBAN COUNCIL IN THAT IT IS NOT, AND NEVER HAS BEEN A SERVANT OR AGENT OF THE CROWN, HE ADDED.
+PROVISIONS CONCERNING THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE COUNCIL ARE ALSO INCLUDED TO BRING THEM INTO LINE WITH THOSE APPLICABLE TO MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, REGIONAL COUNCIL AND DISTRICT BOARDS, MR WIGGHAM SAID.
AS FOR THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND URBAN SERVICES BILL. MR WIGGHAM POINTED OUT THAT THE AMENDMENTS WOULD EMPOWER THE REGIONAL COUNCIL TO MAKE SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION AND TO SET FEES IN RESPECT OF ITS AREA.
THE REGIONAL