News from Porirua City CouncilPorirua City Council today voted to submit an amalgamation proposal based on a single unitary council, supported by strong community councils, but said a referendum should be included in the next steps. At its meeting today, Porirua City Council added an amendment that a referendum should be held before the detailed design is submitted to Cabinet for decision. The two-level model follows the principle that regional decisions would be made at unitary level, and local decisions by the community councils. The community councils would provide an important role in maintaining local voice and representation. They might come up with a solution that doesn’t reflect our unique context, and local voice and representation could be lost.