XN000022-1987-02-26 — Page 5

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1987

THREE TIERS OF GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE *****

THE CHIEF SECRETARY MR DAVID FORD TOLD MEMBERS OF THE REGIONAL COUNCIL TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT THE GOVERNMENT ATTACHES GREAT IMPORTANCE TO THE WORK OF THE COUNCIL AND THAT IT DOES NOT INTEND TO DO AWAY WITH ANY OF THE THREE TIERS OF GOVERNMENT.

HE SAID THAT IT IS A VERY FUNDAMENTAL PART AND A VERY IMPORTANT POINT FOR EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE THREE TIERS OF GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE.

+ IT IS NOT PART OF OUR THINKING THAT ANY OF THE THREE TIERS OF GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE MERGED WITH ANY OTHER OR DELETED FROM OUR FUTURE ARRANGEMENTS,+ SAID MR FORD.

MR FORD SAID THAT THE GREEN PAPER WHICH IS DUE TO BE PUBLISHED THIS YEAR INDEED WILL REVIEW THE THREE-TIER SYSTEM OF THE GOVERNMENT. HE ADDED THAT IT IS NECESSARY TO LOOK AT THE VARIOUS LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, THE DISTRICT BOARDS AND THE MUNICIPAL COUNCILS AND THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, TO SEE WHAT PROGRESS WAS BEING MADE AND WHETHER ANY IMPROVEMENTS COULD BE MADE.

+THERE ARE DIFFERENT RESPONSIBILITIES AT DISTRICT LEVELS, AND AT THE LEVELS OF THE REGIONAL AND URBAN COUNCILS, AND INDEED AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,+ HE SAID.

+1 BELIEVE THAT WE MUST EXAMINE THOSE ROLES TO MAKE SURE THAT DELINEATION OF RESPONSIBILITIES IS VERY CLEARLY DEFINED BETWEEN THE THREE TIERS OF GOVERNMENT AND THAT WOULD BE PART OF THE EXERCISE OF THE GREEN PAPER, HE ADDED.

MR FORD POINTED OUT THAT THE COUNCIL SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID OF THE GREEN PAPER OR FROM THE PUBLIC CONSULTATION WHICH WILL STEM FROM IT.

+THE PUBLIC REACTION SO FAR ON THE WORK OF THIS COUNCIL HAS INDEED BEEN VERY FAVOURABLE, HE SAID.

+ YOU HAVE ESTABLISHED A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DISTRICT BOARDS, AND YOUR WORK, I BELIEVE, ON THE DISTRICT COMMITTEES, IS BEARING FRUIT AND IS A VERY PROFITABLE AND USEFUL WAY OF PROCEEDING,+ MR FORD NOTED.

TODAY'S VISIT TO THE REGIONÁL COUNCIL WAS THE FIRST ONE MADE BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY.

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