Report on future of ECan sent to Cabinet

A report's gone to Cabinet on what will happen with Canterbury's Regional Council.

Environment Canterbury's been run by commissioners since May 2010 after the Government sacked the local authority's councillors.

That system is to remain until next year, but it's unclear if ECan will be subject to local body elections and a return to having elected councillors.

A spokesperson for Local Government Minister David Carter says a report on the matter has gone to cabinet and announcements are likely to be made in the next few weeks.

However no details have been given as to whether ECan will have elected councillors, or instead have a mix of councillors and commissioner.

Ex-councillor Sir Kerry Burke says he hopes the Government is bold enough to return to the old system and get rid of the commissioners.

"There has to be a responsible authority that is answerable to the community, democracy has almost become extinct in Canterbury at the moment."

Sir Kerry says the idea of a mix between elected councillors and a commissioner would be better than the system that's in place at the moment.