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MANGAWHAI'S NO.1 NEWSPAPER
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Your Questions Answered - Diverse views on the issuesAt a Council meeting this week, Commissioners will consider the submissions made to the Council’s Draft Annual Plan for the year beginning on 1 July 2014 and ending 30 June 2015. We will make decisions on the requests and views provided by those who submitted, and ask the Council Executive to then incorporate changes in the final Plan which will be adopted at the 24 June Council meeting.
Commissioners are maintaining tight reigns over the Council’s expenditure. We need to do this in order to maintain financial sustainability and to slowly bring debt down. As I mentioned in my last Focus article, there are a diversity of views on many issues. A few of the more contentious issues include: Where should costs lie? * A few years ago, a 50 metre pool was built in Dargaville. The Council invested considerable funds to build the pool. The pool costs over $280,000 per annum to operate. The Trust that owns the pool secures a little of its revenue to cover these costs from entry fees, but this year is seeking more than $265,800 from Council. (Last year the Council granted the Trust $242,160). Some submitters argue that this cost should be borne by the residents of Dargaville where the pool is situated. * The Mangawhai Community Wastewater Scheme was funded largely by debt. This debt has been divided so that roughly two thirds is being repaid over time by those that are connected to or are connectable to the Scheme, and roughly one third is being repaid by all Kaipara ratepayers. Some submitters argue that all this cost should all be borne by those in Mangawhai who benefit from the Scheme. What is the business of Council? * There are those who argue that Council should stick to its “core” business, which they define as the physical infrastructure of maintaining and constructing roads, stormwater, public wastewater and, in urban areas, providing drinking water and parks. * There are those who might hold these views in part, but they also seek funding from Council to support community initiatives, like new amenities in parks and support for museums and social programmes. Litterbins? * There are those who seek more public litterbins, and those who see these as an invitation to be irresponsible with litter. There are places in New Zealand and worldwide where litterbins are being removed. What may have been perceived historically as a public responsibility to have collection points for rubbish, is being replaced by a philosophy that we should take personal responsibility for the litter we generate. Should we review Council’s policy, fund a campaign to promote personal responsibility, and remove litterbins in Mangawhai for instance? Council’s finances – an independent view. A financial “snapshot” of the state of local authority finance was recently completed by the accounting firm Grant Thornton. Four Councils out of the 78 in New Zealand were found to be “narrowly below” a “soundness” classification – Kaipara, Taupo, Waitomo and Western Bay of Plenty. In comments on Kaipara, the authors wrote: Kaipara District Council is dealing with the financial impact of debt created by construction of the Mangawhai Community Wastewater Scheme. The issues related to the Council management of this Scheme led to the appointment of Commissioners in September 2012. The Auditor-General also conducted an Inquiry into Council’s management of the Scheme during 2012 and 2013 and released a final report detailing her findings in December 2013. The Council has now adopted a new Long Term Plan with a financial strategy that will reduce debt and lift its financial position above the Sound rating line in the future. The report provides an independent assessment of the Council’s position. |
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