The Canterbury Mayoral Forum has welcomed the final report from the Future for Local Government review panel.

Ashburton District Mayor Neil Brown says Council is hopeful that the recommendations in the report will lead to stronger local democracy with support from central government.

“The report has 17 recommendations and so Councillors need to digest the report and then form a Council view.”

Council submitted to the draft report earlier this year.

"With the reforms under way, it's vitally important local democracy stays strong,” Mayor Brown said.

“A more equitable, sustainable funding and financing system with central government is much needed.”

Forum Chair and Timaru Mayor Nigel Bowen says it will take time to absorb the details of the report, but he was pleased to see some of the forum’s feedback in the document.

“Regardless of the outcome, the Canterbury region has a really strong collaborative relationship, with a history of working together for the betterment of our communities.”

In particular, the issues the forum looks forward to seeing in the report are a strengthening of the partnership and increasing collaboration with iwi, along with a focus on localism, local voice and an emphasis on function rather than form.

The forum also wants to see the ability to build capacity in the sector and the significance and importance of a coherent government reflected in the report.

When it came to the relationship between central and local government, Mayor Bowen wasn’t pulling any punches.

“The relationship must change. Currently, over 90 per cent of tax take is held by central government while local government has most of the direct interaction with their communities and does a lot of the heavy lifting.

“It’s not just about the money though, it’s about trust. Central government needs to trust that we know our communities best. We need to create a local government sector that genuinely serves our communities.”