With around 600 survey responses received so far and drop-in sessions underway, some clear themes are emerging from the community.

The biggest concern is local voice. People want to know whether smaller communities like ours can still be heard under a larger council structure, and how representation would actually work in practice, not just in principle.

Financial questions are close behind. People want detail on costs, debt, and whether amalgamation would actually save money. There are specific concerns about how existing debt would be treated and whether councils that have managed their finances well could end up carrying costs from others.

Connected to this is a strong desire to protect local assets. People want to know that what this community has built and funded continues to benefit this community. Several people have asked about mechanisms like ringfencing, although this level of detail would come later if a proposal progresses.

There are also practical questions about what it means to partner with districts that face different pressures, whether that's growth, natural hazards, or infrastructure demands, and how those differences would play out in a combined authority.

Running through all of it is a strong feeling that central government's timeframe is too short for decisions of this scale. People want to understand the implications properly before significant changes are made.

The questions coming up at these sessions feed into council's workshops and decision-making on the proposal.

The survey is open until 30 June. Council will consider all community feedback and make a formal decision on the proposal at its meeting on 29 July. That meeting will be live-streamed.

Fill out the survey here.