XN000022-1982-10-06 — Page 11

NESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1982

ON DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, SIR EDWARD SAID THE MATTERS WITH WHICH DISTRICT BOARDS DEALT WITH HAD A DIRECT BEARING ON THE DAILY LIVES OF THE PEOPLE AND THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT THEIR VOICES SHOULD BE HEARD.

+WE MUST ENSURE THAT THE VIEWS THEY EXPRESS ARE GIVEN DUE WEIGHT WHEN DECISIONS ARE BEING TAKEN. THIS THE GOVERNMENT WILL DO, HE SAID.

THE 18 DISTRICT BOARDS THIS YEAR HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED NEARLY $30 MILLION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.

+WITH THESE FUNDS, THE BOARDS CAN MAKE THE IR CONTRIBUTION TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT, AND ORGANISE CULTURAL, RECREATIONAL, SPORTING AND COMMUNITY-INVOLVEMENT ACTIVITIES IN WHICH PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND WALKS OF LIFE CAN TAKE PART, HE SAID.

THE GOVERNOR SAID NEXT MARCH WILL SEE THE COMPLETION OF THE REFORMS INTRODUCED BY THE WHITE PAPER ON DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION WHEN THE NEW URBAN COUNCIL ELECTIONS WILL BE HELD.

THE ELECTORATE, HE SAID, WILL BE MORE THAN 20 TIMES THE SIZE OF LAST YEAR'S ELECTORATE AND FOR THE FIRST TIME URBAN COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL BE ELECTED ON A CONSTITUENCY BASIS.

+THE COUNCIL WILL BE INCREASED IN SIZE FROM THE PRESENT 24 MEMBERS TO 30 FIFTEEN APPOINTED AND FIFTEEN ELECTED MEMBERS. ALL URBAN COUNCILLORS WILL SIT ON DISTRICT BOARDS, ELECTED MEMBERS SITTING ON THE BOARDS FOR THOSE DISTRICT WHICH INCLUDE THE IR CONSTITUENCIES, SIR EDWARD SAID.

HE NOTED THAT RELATIONS BETWEEN THE URBAN COUNCIL AND DISTRICT BOARDS WERE ALREADY CLOSE, BUT WITH THE ADVENT OF CONSTITUENCY BASED ELECTED MEMBERS HE WAS SURE THAT CO-OPERATION WILL BECOME CLOSER.

CONCEPT OF LAND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO BE STUDIED

*****

THE GOVERNMENT EXPECTS TO EMPLOY CONSULTANTS TOWARDS THE END OF THIS YEAR TO STUDY THE CONCEPT OF A LAND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND TO MAKE KNOWN THE IR FINDINGS BY THE MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

THIS FOLLOWED A RECOMMENDATION BY A WORKING GROUP UNDER MISS LYDIA DUNN'S SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON LAND SUPPLY IN JULY, THE GOVERNOR POINTED OUT.

+A CONTINUING PROGRAMME OF LAND PRODUCTION IS VITAL TO OUR PLANS FOR THE PROVISION OF HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND BASIC COMMUNITY FACILITIES, SIR EDWARD SAID.

+ THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY IS THAT FORMED AND SERVICED LAND SHOULD BE READILY AVAILABLE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR, INCLUDING INDUSTRY, HE SAID,

/ABOUT 994