Christchurch City Council will decide next week whether it will take Government cash in exchange for signing up to the first stage of the controversial water reforms.

The Government wants to take control of water from local councils and put it in the hands of a so-called ‘combined publicly-owned cross-regional water authorities’ – claiming it will increase water safety standards.

On Tuesday, elected members, will take advice from council staff, on whether to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government “to sharing information on its water services with the Government and neighbouring councils.

It means the council would be forced to work the Government and other parties on drinking water, wastewater and stormwater – to figure out how to deliverer water services in a more financially sustainable way.

Council staff are also recommending writing “immediately to the Minister of Internal Affairs expressing concern with the lack of consultation with iwi partners at a national level during this programme of water reforms.”

The agreement is non-binding and doesn’t commit the council to the second stage of water reforms, which involve councils forming a a regional entity to deliver water services.

If the Council enters into the MOU, it will receive a $20.26 million from the Government to spend on three waters infrastructure and service delivery.

It will also receive a share of a $50 million regional grant if at least two-thirds of councils in Canterbury enter into an MOU with the Government.

The Council will also consider a report on Tuesday about the findings of its own review into the delivery of Three Waters services. 

That review suggests improvements in service delivery and cost savings could be made if the Council moved to having a stand-alone business unit to deliver drinking water and wastewater services.

Council staff are recommending continuing with the current delivery arrangements for Three Waters, at least until there is more clarity over the shape of the Government’s water reforms.