Council backs independent legal advice for Cromwell Community Board

Funding for independent senior legal counsel for the Cromwell Community Board was approved by Central Otago District Council as it considers how to protect Cromwell's historic endowment land. The decision was made at Wednesday's Council meeting, following the Board's request for independent legal advice.

The land was granted to the Cromwell Borough Council in 1881 "upon trust as an endowment in aid of the Borough funds" and passed to Central Otago District Council after the 1989 local government reorganisation. The key question is whether the land, and the income from it, must continue to benefit Cromwell or is now held for Central Otago as a whole.

At its meeting on 1 September, the Board asked for further information and independent legal advice before deciding on its preferred approach. It also asked to select and oversee its own counsel, so the advice looks at the endowment from Cromwell's perspective.

Cromwell Community Board Chair Anna Harrison is pleased Council has agreed to support their request for independent legal advice for the Board.

“This is a good first step in moving forward for the conversations about Cromwell Endowment Land,” she says. “But from a CCB perspective there is still a lot of work to do not only in working with a KC but with ensuring that the endowment is secured for Cromwell."

The funds for the legal advice will come from future sales of Bannockburn endowment land, up to $50,000. The Board will be responsible for defining the questions and instructions for its counsel once selected.

An updated report will be presented to the Board at its meeting on 6 October. Further actions and decisions will come back to community boards and Council after the independent legal advice has been received.

More information on Cromwell Endowment Land, including all legal advice able to be released, is available on our website.